For September 2026, the Ministry of Education introduced new requirements for how final marks are determined in Grade 9 to 12. Students will demonstrate their learning throughout the semester. Final grades include:
- Attendance and participation
- Classroom learning completed throughout each course
- A final evaluation
Reporting Excused Absences
The updates from the Ministry of Education outline specific requirements for parents, families and caregivers when reporting an excused absence. Excused absences will not impact a Grade 9 to 12 student’s attendance mark.
How to Report an Excused Absence
The parent or guardian of the student, or the student if they are an adult, must submit a request in writing requesting that the student be excused for a specified time frame. This could include:
- Illness
- A medical appointment
- Vacation or family obligation
- Holy/Cultural day
- Sporting engagement
Emailed absence notifications should be sent to the attendance email for each school, which can be found in the footer of their website.
The written notification must include the:
- Student’s name
- Student’s date of birth
- Date(s) of the absence
- Time or period the student will be absent
- General reason for the student’s absence
- For example: illness, extracurricular activities, appointment, etc.
Students remain responsible for completing any missed learning or assessments.
Telephone calls or voicemail messages alone do not meet the Ministry’s requirements for recording an excused absence.
If you have any additional questions, please contact your child’s school.