FAQs*: School Courses Daily Schedule

School grades are organized by percentages with corresponding letter grades.  In addition, there is a work habit assigned during each reporting period.

Letter grades are:

• A   (100% -86%)
• B   (85%-73%)
• C+ (72%-68%)
• C   (67%-60%)

Yes. Students will have the opportunity to select courses with their school counsellors. Some courses are required courses which are mandatory and must be taken to satisfy graduation requirements for BC Secondary graduation or home country for re-validation of school subjects upon return to the student’s’ home country, as per their home country’s requirements.

Yes. A student who is obviously failing may not be invited back to the following academic year.

Yes.

No.

The length of time that is required to move through the ELL program is dependent on each student and his/her previous experience learning English as well as their ability, study skills and effort.

Provincial exams are mandated by the BC Ministry of Education. At this time, the only required provincial exams are for English 12 and Communications 12. The provincial exams contribute to 40% of the student’s overall final mark for the course. 60% of the student’s overall mark is determined by their achievement of the coursework completed.

School day start and finish times are 9 am to 3 pm for elementary schools. School day start and finish times for secondary schools are unique to each school, but approximately 9 am to 3 pm. Please check the individual school’s website to determine what the exact school start and finish times are.

The school start date is the Tuesday after the Labour Day holiday in September. The exact date will vary each calendar year. The end date of the school year is the end of June. The exact dates are available on the school calendars posted on the SD41 website under Quick Links www.sd41.bc.ca

Extended school holidays are Winter Break (commencing at the end of the third week in December), Spring Break (two weeks in March), and Summer Holidays (commencing at the end of June until the Tuesday following Labour Day in September). The specific dates vary each calendar year and are available for viewing on the SD41 website under Quick Links www.burnabyschools.ca

For the 2018/19 academic year, the BC Ministry of Education prescribes:
A minimum of 186 school days
853 hours for Kindergarten
878 hours for grades 1-7
952 hours for grades 8-12

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Secondary schools are either linear or semester. There are three terms in a linear school and two semesters in a semester school. Elementary schools are all linear.

Class sizes differ depending on the grade. Most secondary school classes have a maximum of 30 students. Class sizes may be smaller for speciality classes and in elementary grades.

Lunchtimes are unique to each school but generally are for 40 – 45 minutes sometime between 11:30 am and 12:15 pm. You can check on the school’s website for exact times.

Some elementary schools have an optional lunch program, for a fee. See http://www.burnabyschools.ca/services/school-meals-program/ All secondary schools have a school cafeteria where students can purchase food.

There is no school uniform but there is an established dress code.