The Ministry of Education and Child Care is implementing a new student reporting policy for K-12 students this year. As an Independent school, we have some discretion in how we implement this policy at Cedars. Over the next several weeks, we will be sharing information with parents/caregivers to help them understand how student learning will be communicated through this school year.

This series of Shake articles will address the following questions in our Cedars-specific context:

• What is my child learning?
• How will I know how my child is doing?
• Why is my K-9 child not getting letter grades?
• What is descriptive feedback?
• Why is my child self-reflecting and setting goals?
• How will I know if my child is on track to graduate?

If you are keen to review the responses to all of these questions at once, you can review the Ministry’s Communicating Student Learning: Information for Parents and Caregivers.

On Monday, October 16th at 7pm we will be hosting an in-person Parent/Caregiver Orientation in our Elementary gymnasium. We will record this session and share a video link for those unable to attend in person.

In this installment, we would like to address the first question: What is my child learning?

As a Group 1 Independent school, Cedars is responsible to teach and assess student learning with respect to the BC Curriculum. However, we primarily exist as an Independent school to provide a uniquely Christian education and fulfill our mission to “educate and equip discerning disciples of Jesus Christ for restorative work in His kingdom”. This means that we practice Christian disciplines of prayer, worship and service; teach K-12 Bible/Christian Perspectives classes; and integrate Christian/Biblical perspective across all subject areas. So, in addition to teaching and assessing student learning with respect to Science, Language Arts, Mathematics, etc., we also provide learning experiences and comment on the development of Christian character, and assess understanding of Christian perspectives and understanding of Biblical truths. As such, Learning Updates (“report cards”, parent-teacher conferences) will communicate student learning in the subject areas of Bible (K-10) and Christian Perspectives (11-12).

Indigenous learning at Cedars will take place through intentional linkage to First Peoples Principles of Learning in all subject area; school events and assemblies that recognize special days; and specific study of Indigenous history in the Social Studies curriculum. All students at Cedars will complete a semester-long course called BC First Peoples 12 prior to graduation.

What to learn more? Check out this Ministry article for more details about our BC Curriculum, including areas of learning (subjects), learning standards, curricular and core competencies, and Indigenous learning.