Media Release: Vancouver Report Cards will be Sent Home via Students, Not Mail
Board & Committees
Media Release
Vancouver Report Cards will be Sent Home via Students, Not Mail
Vancouver, BC (December 7, 2011) – The Vancouver School Board is committed to ensuring that costs are kept to a minimum following the Ministry of Education’s direction to all school districts earlier this month requiring them to generate and distribute report cards even though they will be without marks during the current teachers’ job action.
“While the Ministry of Education has required us to print report cards in spite of the fact they won’t have any marks on them, we are doing our utmost at the district level to be as cost-effective as we can,” says Patti Bacchus, Chairperson of the Vancouver Board of Education. “Despite the challenges of job action, we will continue to act responsibly to comply with the School Act and the provincial government’s direction.”
Report cards will be distributed to students to take home to their parents in elementary schools between December 12 and December 14. Secondary schools will be distributing report cards according to pre-existing timelines established by individual schools. Only international students’ parents, who generally reside abroad, will receive a mailed copy of the report cards.
The report cards for all BC school districts will contain information such as attendance data, teachers’ contact information and a reminder that parents may wish to contact teachers directly for updates on their child’s achievement or other matters. Grade 12 student report cards will also include a form for parents to fill out and sign to allow their child to “self-identify”, should they need their marks for scholarship or post-secondary applications.
“If a student is in grade 12 and requires their marks at this time for graduation, post‐secondary applications, or scholarship applications we ask that parents sign the form attached to the report card and have the student take it back to school,” says Steve Cardwell, Superintendent of the Vancouver School Board.
Cardwell explains that once students have self-identified, they will be issued a marks gathering form that they may take to each of their teachers. Teachers will write marks on the form and initial it. Grade 12 students can then work with their counsellors and school administration to prepare their applications as per normal procedures.
All schools will retain an electronic copy of report cards. All report card printing will be done on recycled paper.
For more information:
Patti Bacchus
Chairperson, Vancouver Board of Education
C: 604.250.1130
Kurt Heinrich
VSB Media Relations
P: 604-713-5074
C: 778-228-1610
