In an effort to inform parents of the importance of the provincial literacy test taken by all Grade 10 students, Fort Frances High School is hosting an information session Wednesday night.
“It’s to give parents a chance to ask questions about the literacy test,” said FFHS principal Ian Simpson. “To make parents more aware.”^He noted all Grade 10 students must pass the test in order to graduate from high school.
And though there are now options for students who fail the test at least once and are eligible to write it twice, Simpson made it clear the goal is to help students pass the first time.
“Absolutely,” he stressed, adding Wednesday’s meeting—scheduled for 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria— will be a chance for parents to learn “how to prepare their sons or daughters for the literacy test.”^He said Fort High staff will give a short presentation to explain the various programs the school has implemented to help students as well as share valuable resource information, including Web sites, with parent to help them help their kids.
He also said staff will be there “to answer questions about the test and the marking of [it].”^Other things the school is doing is offering remedial classes, practice tests, and having Grade 10 teachers assign tasks that are similar to the test to familiarize the students.
Simpson also indicated there’s a“literacy team” of teachers from all disciplines at the school working toward the same goal. And he noted Fort High students have met or exceeded the provincial average on the test in the past few years.
“Literacy is not just an English [class] problem,” he said, adding the effort being put into this by staff is so when they “administer the test, they maximize their [the students’] opportunity for success.”^In related news, Fort High also is hosting Parents’ Night on Wednesday, running from 7-9 p.m.
“It’s a good opportunity for parents to get feedback and have twoway dialogue with teachers on what is going on in class,” Simpson said.
He encourages all parents to attend, adding it’s a good place to voice concerns or ask questions about their child’s performance.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
