May is here and, for our grades 3 and 6 students, this means that the EQAO assessments are quickly coming up. These assessments, which are closely monitored by the Education Quality and Accountability Office, are scheduled for the mornings during the week of May 26th. These assessments are designed to help the province collect data to assist with understanding how students are interacting with the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum documents for the primary grades (Kindergarten through to grade 3) and the junior grades (grades 4 to 6). The best way to support your child during the week of the EQAO assessment is to ensure that he or she is getting sufficient sleep and a nutritious breakfast each day, and is not feeling anxious about school that week. The results of the assessment do not have any impact on a student’s report card. The school will receive data from the assessment in September 2014 to assist the school in reviewing teaching practices and to decide where funds may need to be allocated for additional resources. Teachers of all grades will also be finishing up subjects and final units so that students can complete culminating tasks or write tests for report card grades during late May and into the month of June.
Cate Spidle