Assessment and Reporting

On January 8^th the students brought home their first report card of the 2015-16 school year. For those families who are new to the CBE or who have younger students moving from kindergarten into the grades, the report card might look a little different. There are many resources on the CBE website to assist parents in understanding their child’s report card. 

http://www.cbe.ab.ca/programs/curriculum/assessment-and-reporting/Pages/default.aspx

We thought we would use this week’s blog post to address some of the common parent queries.

A report card is divided into subject areas and within those areas into specific REPORT CARD OUTCOMES that describe what your child is expected to know and be able to do (by the end of the school year) according to the Alberta Education Programs of Study. Multiple assessments, along with the teacher’s professional judgment are considered when evaluating student achievement against the CBE report card outcomes.

Rather than receiving one overall grade for a subject, students receive INDICATORS showing the extent to which the child has demonstrated achievement of the report card outcomes. In the fall of 2014 the report card indicators changed from a 5 point scale to a 4 point scale; 1 (Not Meeting) to 4 (Excellent). There is no direct translation from the 5-point indicator scale used in previous years to the 4-point indicator scale that we use now. In other words the new ‘2’ is not the old ‘3.’ 

A ‘2’ in the 4-point indicator scale means that the student has achieved grade level expectations for that report card outcome and that the depth and breadth of their understanding is at a basic level.

Kindergarten is often a child’s first experience with formal schooling. Although many of the report card outcomes are the same as in the higher grades, the outcomes specific to Kindergarten reflect this first exposure to academic life for our young learners. For example, the literacy outcome in Kindergarten, “Uses early literacy strategies to explore, construct and express ideas,” honors the child’s early encounters with text and recognizing the many experiences that ‘grow’ a reader.

The move from grade to grade is always a big one and the leap from Kindergarten to grade one is particularly so! It is important to remember that each grade has a new set of learning outcomes that in many cases build on the year before while also presenting your child with brand new and exciting concepts through which they can explore their world.

Studio Artist Update!

CALLING ALL DDS STUDENTS...

Miss. Sarah (our ACAD Studio Artist) needs our help! Please see her message below for more information on some exciting projects happening in her studio space in our Learning Commons!

HELLO DOUGLASDALE STUDENTS,

You have all been so thoughtful in coming up with ideas on what I should create next and I have to say I am very inspired! I did a lot of brainstorming over the holidays and I think I have come up with a new painting idea, but I need your help before I get started!

If you want to take part in my project coming up, there a few things you can do to get involved!

1)   THINK TANK– Jan. 6^th – 22^nd, 2016

Stop by my studio in the Learning Commons and add your favorite toy ideas to the boxes at the Think Tank!  

2)   MAKER CHALLENGE– Jan. 6^th – 22^nd, 2016

Participate in the Maker Challenge (beside my studio) and submit your blueprint to help make the wooden easels more stable! I’ll be doing a draw from the submissions in a few weeks and the winner will get a special prize!

And last but not least…

3)   TOY DRIVE – Jan. 6^th – 29^th, 2016

I am looking to collect some old toys! If you have ONE old toy or game that you aren’t using anymore and you would like to donate it to the project (meaning you won’t get it back!), please drop it off in my studio! I’ve got a bunch of exciting ideas but before I get started I need to get my hands on some old toys, and hopefully you can help me out!

I can’t wait to see all of your submissions and what you all bring in! I’m in the studio every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 8:30-11:45am and all day on Thursdays until the end of the school year, so if you have any questions feel free to stop by!

SINCERELY, 

MISS SARAH