Urgent Info on Provincial Exams

I hope this information will be able to reach you BEFORE the first provincial exam begins next Monday. Please help pass this information along to all of your grade 12 friends.

If you choose to write any of the optional provincial exams for your grade 12 courses, a blended mark that includes your provincial exam results WILL APPEAR on your official transcript, whether the exam’s results would help your school mark or not.

To the best of my knowledge, this does NOT affect your application and/or your registration chances for UBC and SFU; both have told secondary counsellors very specifically that they will look at your BEST mark (school % or blended %). However, the blended mark, whether it is higher or lower than your school percentage, will appear on your official transcript that is a part of our permanent student record.

The following diagram would illustrate my point (click on image to see an enlarged version):

In this scanned image of an actual transcript from 2009, this student had chosen to write two optional provincial exams, biology 12 and Principles of Math 12. He had also chosen to NOT write his optional exam for Mandarin Chinese 12. In Biology 12 (circled in red), his school percentage was 76%, and his exam mark was 49%. As you can see, his final percentage, a blended mark, appeared as 65%, which was substantially lower than his school percentage. Had this student applied to UBC, UBC would have looked at and used his school percentage of 76% for all application and registration purposes. However, the 65% would remain on his permanent transcript. Had this student chosen to apply for a post-secondary institution outside B.C. and/or a school advised him that his final mark would be used to determine whether he would have been admitted into a program, his decision to write the provincial exam can have a significant consequence.

In the case of Mandarin 12 (circled in green), this student had chosen to not write his optional exam. Therefore, his 93% mark from school would be the only mark that is available for anyone to see.

In light of this, I would urge you to consider very carefully whether to write an optional provincial exam or not. Here are some points worthy for consideration:

• You need to write English 12 and AT LEAST TWO other provincial exams to qualify for provincial scholarships (two if you use your English 12 mark too; three if you don't use English 12). If you want a provincial scholarship, then you must write two (or more) of these optional exams in addition to English 12.
• If you have been advised by a post-secondary school that your admission would be based on your final mark, and you fear that your current school mark is not high enough, writing a provincial exam can potentially help you achieve that mark.
• If you have already been accepted, unconditionally or conditionally, into a post-secondary program, and you want to write one or two provincial exams “just to see how well you can do,” you will take the risk of having a lower final percentage appear on your permanent student record, but this will not affect your admission into UBC and SFU.

Please come in to speak to me, or e-mail me, if you have any questions on this. I hope I have explained things clearly to all of you here. Please also urge others in your grade to take a look at this post.

U Vic's Registration 101 Workshop

University course registration is one of the many challenges students need to face when entering a post-secondary institution. Representatives from U Vic will be coming to Vancouver June 2 to conduct a workshop called Registration 101. In this workshop, you will learn:

• the next step in getting organized for the registration process
• how to choose the right courses for your program
• how to build a timetable that fits your preferences and needs
• learn the ins and outs of UVic's online registration system

The advisor, Leah, will also be able to answer any last-minute questions you may have about UVic, your academic goals, or life in Victoria in general.

You do not need to pre-register. Just show up and attend!

Date: Wednesday, June 2
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Venue: Hilton Vancouver Metrotown - 6083 McKay Avenue, Burnaby
Questions: contact Leah at stoneld@uvic.ca

Updated Info on VLN's Summer Courses

I have just received an e-mail from VLN's grade counsellor. She confirmed that current grade 12 students who meet the graduation requirement this June can still register for VLN courses online to upgrade or to add courses to your portfolio free-of-charge.

What this news means is: if you are currently in grade 12 and are on pace to complete the 80 credits required for graduation, there are several ways to which you can upgrade for a course you have already completed and/or add a course that you have not taken before:

1. Take the course online with VLN (click here to go to its summer school course site)
2. Register as an adult education student (i.e. you must attend the adult education information session next Wednesday - see my entry on Monday for details)
3. Attend a VSB summer school course, but you would have to pay for the course
4. Explore summer school options at other school districts

Because summer school course availability is really scarce this year, I would encourage you to act very quickly (colleagues from Richmond told me that many of Richmond's summer school courses are already full).

If you have any questions, please see me ASAP.

New Info for Summer School (Important)

I was just told by the administrators that grade 12 students who have acquired graduation requirements will NOT be allowed to register for summer school courses with VSB free-of-charge. The only grade 12 students who can still take summer school courses at a summer school center are those who do not have sufficient credits to obtain a graduation diploma by June.

I have written to VLN to inquire if this change applies to VLN courses as well, but have not received a response from VLN's counsellor. I will update you with more information when it becomes available.

The implications for this change include:

• For students who are NOT graduating in June, you would need to obtain a letter from either me or Mrs. Roberts to confirm that you need to register for a particular summer school course to fulfill your graduation requirement.
  
• For students who have sufficient credits to graduate, you can only take a summer school course at an adult education center for the purpose of upgrading your marks and/or adding a course to your portfolio. Information on adult education can be obtained by attending the adult education information session next Wednesday, May 26 (see my blog entry yesterday for details).
  

Adult Education Information Session (May 26)

A number of you will not have sufficient course credits to graduate this June. While summer school remains an option for those who will not have sufficient credits to graduate, you are only allowed to take a maximum of two courses in the summer. It also does not allow for students who will graduate, but wish to upgrade course marks or add courses.

If you fall into any of the above categories, you may be eligible to enroll into the school board's adult education program. Academic advisors will visit Templeton on May 26 (Wednesday) to speak to you about the adult education program. They can also meet with you individually after the general meeting to discuss YOUR SPECIFIC program.

There are a number of forms that you need to sign to attend this meeting. I also have an information sheet that would tell you the documents that you need to bring to this meeting. Please come to see me some time this week to pick up all the needed documents.

Volunteers Needed for Franklin's Sports Day

Sir John Franklin Elementary School is in need for volunteers for their sports day on May 21 (Friday). Approximately 30 volunteers are needed in total. This would be a good opportunity for those who are still in need to acquire community service hours towards graduation.

If you are interested in helping out, please let me know as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please see me or Mr. Mustapich for details.

Culturathon 2010

You have probably watched the popular TV show "Amazing Race" and have wondered about what it would feel like to be competing in a race around the world for clues, overcoming road-blocks and detours (yes, I watch the show frequently myself). What about a race that takes place right here in Vancouver, with a multicultural twist?

Sponsored by the Enoch Outreach Society, Culturathon 2010 is an engaging event where you and your teammates would have to complete a route through various checkpoints within Metro Vancouver. During the race, you will have to dicipher clues, complete tasks, and overcome challenges. The aim of this event is to challenge your perception of our city and our country, broaden your horizon of various cultures, and enrich your sense of responsibility and identity as Canadians.

This year's Culturathon will take place on June 26, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Registration fee for a team comprising 3 to 5 people would be $50. Registration deadline is June 12.

For more information, you can call Enoch Youth Outreach Society at 604-233-1800, or e-mail them at info@enochyouth.org. You can also learn more about Culturathon 2010 by clicking to its website (click here).