Eventually, students in Chilliwack won91裸聊视频檛 receive letter grades on report cards until Grade 9, the first year of high school.

The change was discussed during a presentation by local principals to the school board on Tuesday night, as part of an overview of changes to curriculum and grade configuration. Both have figured heavily in what school looks like at each level. New curriculum has been rolling out over the past few years from the Ministry of Education, and this was the first school year that grades shifted at the elementary, middle and high school level.

One of the biggest changes still to be seen is a shift from letter grades to a 91裸聊视频榩roficiency scale.91裸聊视频� Elementary students and their parents will be familiar with this scale, which shows how a child is handling different skills in the classroom. There are four levels of achievement 91裸聊视频� beginning, developing, applying and extending.

That type of scale puts the 91裸聊视频渇ocus on the process of learning rather than the product,91裸聊视频� said Angela Utley, principal at Unsworth elementary. 91裸聊视频淭he narrative is more important than any letter grade could be.91裸聊视频�

Paula Gosal, principal at Chilliwack middle school, and Danielle Wicker, vice-principal at Mt. Slesse middle school, added that the lowering of middle school grades has meant some big changes in their schools. And soon, letter grades will be another change.

91裸聊视频淲e too are shifting away from letter grades,91裸聊视频� Wicker said, noting that a gradual transition will take place over three years.

Starting in September, the proficiency scale style of reporting will follow this year91裸聊视频檚 Grade 5 students into middle school for their Grade 6 year. Grade 7 will begin using a proficiency scale in 2020, and Grade 8 students will begin in 2021-2022.

Acting superintendent Rohan Arul-pragasam said the scale supports the redesigned curriculum rolled out to schools.

91裸聊视频淭hat (curriculum) reflects a continuum of learning and emphasizes a fundamental shift in how we design engaging learning environments and how we communicate the process of learning to students and parents,91裸聊视频� he said.

When Trustee Heather Maahs expressed concern about taking letter grades away at that level, Gosal said the reports lead to 91裸聊视频渕ore consistent communication at home,91裸聊视频� when skills are lagging. With many students at the middle school age, a poor grade can be disastrous to learning, she added.

91裸聊视频淲hen our kids see that letter grade, the shutters come down,91裸聊视频� she said.

But the grades will reappear in high school, at the Grade 9 level. Within this new configuration, Grade 9 has students exploring high school for one year before their graduation transcripts are being formed. With one year to get used to the flow of high school, students may be better equipped to succeed in Grades 10 through 12, said Jessica Adams-Loupret, the principal at Chilliwack secondary.

91裸聊视频淎 number of kids do come to us with lagging skills,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淎nd very quickly they would fail courses.91裸聊视频�

What do you think? Send us a letter at editor@theprogress.com.