Assessment Policies at GSS

Through the assessment and evaluation of students’ work, teachers are able to determine the extent to which students have achieved the curriculum expectations of each course. Having this information enables teachers to adapt instruction and review as needed. It also allows the teacher to identify students’ areas of strength and areas for improvement.

Sometimes assessment involves spontaneous feedback to students based on observations made in the classroom, the answers to questions, etc. This is informal and generally no marks are assigned to this kind of assessment.

Frequently, work such as assignments, problem sets, essays, projects, pieces of writing, etc. are required to be handed in so that the teacher can accurately gauge the achievement of the curriculum expectations by each student. These represent a more formal form of evaluation.

There are several reasons why it is important that students submit their work by the deadline indicated by the teacher:
• the teacher is able to give timely feedback to students about their achievement while there is still time to make improvements
• the class is able to move along at an appropriate pace so that all students are productively engaged in learning and the curriculum content can be completed within the time allowed
• students are encouraged to develop efficient time management skills that will be useful not only in school, but in areas outside of school as well
• a more equitable classroom environment is established when all students are expected to submit work at the same time

Teachers will do his/her best to ensure that students have the information and support they need in order to meet assignment deadlines. Along with other strategies, they may use any or all of the following techniques:
• student-teacher conferencing
• contacting parents/guardians
• ‘mini-deadlines’ for larger assignments for subunits of work
• providing opportunities to complete the work in the classroom outside of the regular class time (e.g. lunch time or after school)

If a student foresees that he/she will be unable to meet a deadline due to extenuating circumstances, he/she should immediately speak with the teacher to determine if an extension is possible.

Once an assignment has been evaluated and returned to the class, late submission of that particular assignment may not be accepted. A substitute assignment and deadline may be offered where appropriate. Failure to do the substitute assignment may result in a mark of zero.