Havergal College Course Calendar, 2019-20 Academic Year

Academic Tutors Havergal students learn best with their own subject teachers. Occasionally, some students may need to be supported by an outside academic tutor. In such cases families are responsible for finding their own tutors and arranging for tutoring session off-school property. When Might I Need to Use a Tutor? • Your learning profile demonstrates that, in addition to teacher support, the support of an academic tutor in a one-on-one capacity will be helpful; • You have been absent from school for an extended period due to illness or injury, resulting in significant gaps in understanding that, in addition to teacher support, are more efficiently learned through dedicated one-on-one academic tutoring; or • You are a new to Havergal student who has been identified as having a gap in learning that, in addition to teacher support, can be addressed through a short-term intervention of an academic tutor. Where Do I Work With a Tutor? You can arrange to work with your tutor at your home, in the office that the tutor works from or at another location that is acceptable to you and your parents. Because Havergal is the physical home to our Boarding students while they are at school, they are permitted to have their tutors work on the school property. Written and Performance Assessments There are two kinds of assessments at Havergal: (1) written assessments and (2) performance assessments, including conversations and observational assessments. Written assessments are pen-and-paper evaluations. Performance assessments may involve some writing, but they also include a performance piece, for example, playing a musical instrument, performing a monologue, being asked to complete an oral assessment or being observed completing a particular skill. Assessments are scheduled by teachers to take place during class time and can occur during any block of the school day. Writing Tests and Missed Tests Students are expected to write tests on the date specified by the teacher. Advance notice will be given for all assessments. Exceptions may occur when a student has a function, excursion or sports match arranged by, or with the approval of, the school or when a student is seriously ill on the day of the test. It is the responsibility of the student who misses a test to contact her teacher either before the function, excursion or sports match. In the case of illness, whether or not the student has that class on the day of her return, she must arrange a time to write the test. A student who fails to do this may be penalized. In addition, a note from the parent or doctor given to the teacher, Evaluation Practices and Procedures

Homework Practices

Homework is a learning experience assigned by a teacher to enhance and reinforce student learning outside of the classroom. Homework assignments are based on the Ministry of Education’s curriculum expectations and are designed to require no additional teaching outside of the classroom. Homework should be engaging and relevant to students and students must understand what is required of them to complete their assigned work. Parents should never complete assigned work for their daughter(s). The parent’s role is to encourage their child to complete the assigned tasks, which is documented on class webpages through Veracross. The purpose of homework is: • to complete class work; • to provide opportunities for practice ; • to reinforce learning when the student can already independently perform the skills required to be successful; • to reinforce previous learning; • to provide opportunities to reflect on learning to increase student retention and understanding of concepts; • to prepare students for future lessons by giving them opportunities to reflect on their prior knowledge; • to extend learning by giving students opportunities to deepen their understanding and relate their learning to the real world; • to support the development of good work habits; • to build a sense of independence and personal responsibility; and/or • to reinforce the attitude that learning takes place outside as well as inside the school. Homework Guidelines 1. No homework will be assigned on the school day immediately preceding scheduled holidays and long weekends. 2. The amount of homework assigned to students will vary depending on their grade. 3. In general, teachers provide homework that should not normally take more than 30 minutes per class per day. 4. Students can expect to read up to an additional 30 minutes at home. 5. If students are having consistent difficulties completing assigned homework, they are expected to discuss this difficulty with the teacher. Extra Help All teachers are available to provide extra help at least one day a week during the school day by appointment. Students may attend, or be requested to attend, these scheduled tutorial sessions. Students should reach out to the teacher in person or by email whenever they feel it may be warranted. In general, teachers are fairly flexible in meeting students before, during and after school. It is important to note that teachers have other duties and responsibilities that shape their professional lives at the school. Teachers must consider such duties before scheduling extra help sessions with students.

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