The Murdoch MacKay Collegiate Institute school year is divided into two equal parts of semesters. The first semester runs from the end of August until approximately the end of January, with the second semester extending from February until the end of June.

A student taking courses during the first semester will begin them near the end of August and complete them by the end of January. Courses taken during the second semester will commence near the beginning of February and will be completed at the end of June. As well, some courses are taken on an all year or" non-semestered" basis.

Students are evaluated continuously throughout each of the two semesters. Evaluations may include such measures as assignments, tests and quizzes, essays, projects, as well as other methods of assessment. Homework and independent review on a regular basis are essential for student success. In most courses, students will write final exams at the end of each semester. Students enrolled in all year (or non-semestered) courses will write these exams in June. The value of school based exams established by school division policy will be between 30% and 40% of the final grade.

When an exam is not to be written in specific courses, students will be informed at the beginning of the term by their subject teacher. A report card will be sent home at the mid and end points of each semester. Parent-Teacher conferences will be held in conjunction with mid-semester reports in November and April.

Be Portfolio Ready

This portfolio will be introduced and developed in Skills for Independent Living and will be monitored and updated in Senior 3 and Senior 4 English Language Arts classes.In their graduation year, students will be required to submit their portfolio to an Administrator who will review and question that student on the portfolio contents.