Senior School Assessment
Assessment at the Senior School takes a variety of forms and we recognize that it serves many purposes beyond generating a report card or a final grade.
Assessment of student learning serves many purposes. It might be used at the beginning of a unit of study to gauge what students already know. It might be used in the middle of a unit, to look for gaps in understanding. And, of course, assessment can be used at the end of a unit to measure proficiency or achievement.
Outcomes-Based Assessment
SMUS assessment is tied to BC Ministry of Education standards, which are known as prescribed learning outcomes. Prescribed learning outcomes make it clear what you are expected to know and be able to do in each grade and in each subject. When we assess students, we measure them against these standards, not against one another. And if one assessment method does not reflect student learning, we might use another method. This approach clarifies what we expect students to know, allows them to demonstrate their learning, and allows our teachers to focus on each learner as an individual.
Communicating Student Learning with Parents
Our primary goal is to ensure there is ongoing, regular communication about how your child is progressing throughout their learning.
Homeroom Advisors connect with parents throughout the school year, when necessary, to communicate student progress, and houseparents report on the progress of boarding students.
Student-Teacher-Parent (STeP) Conferences
We want students to use feedback from teachers to set goals, it's important that they are involved in the discussion every step of the way. STeP conferences put students at the centre of the conversation by having them directly involved. Involving the student means they take ownership of their learning and set goals with the support of their parents and teachers.