Preparedness for Class
Students are expected to come to class prepared and to have with them the necessary supplies such as texts, notebooks, calculators, pencils, pens.
Homework is an important component of learning. To be effective, homework should be done daily, and review of material studied in class should be under-taken regularly. Students in grades 7 and 8 are expected to do at least one hour of homework and review daily. This time will increase for students in Grades 9-12. Students who have missed classes are responsible for homework and assignments.

Reporting
Reports outlining student’s progress are distributed three times a year. Parent teacher interviews are scheduled in November and February.

Term 1
November Progress Report - Student's progress to date expressed in a letter grade.
February First Term Report - September to January term work and exam results expressed as a combined percentage.

Term 2
An April Progress Letter is sent to parents of students who are experiencing difficulties in one or more subject areas.
June Final Term Report - January to June term work and final exam results plus final mark for the year expressed as a percentage.
The February and June term marks will be averaged to obtain the final mark for the year.

Testing and Exams
During the year the teachers frequently conduct assessments and evaluations. Students who, for a valid reason, miss a test may be required to make it up when they return. Re-testing will be at the teacher's discretion. Make-up tests are administered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.. Students receive a mark of zero for any test missed without a valid reason.

Exams are written in January at the end of the first term, and in June at the end of the second term. Students are expected to write exams on the dates scheduled. A doctor’s certificate is required to verify an absence for exams. Parents are asked not to book holidays during exam time. A zero will be given for an exam missed due to a holiday.

In general, the first term exam covers work from September to January and the June exam covers the year's work (unless otherwise stipulated by individual subject teacher). For subjects in which exams are written, the average will be weighted. For grades 9-12 the exam mark is 30% of the final mark and term work 70%. For grades 7 and 8 the term work is 80% and the exam is 20% of the final mark. In grade 12 the averages are weighted differently in English and math because standardized tests are written.

Exam Exemptions
Students are eligible for exemption from the June exam in English and social studies (geography, history) according to the following criteria:

•The student has achieved a final average of 80% or better (Grades 9-12); 85% or better (Gr. 7 & 8). The final average is calculated by adding 50% of the January final mark and 50% of the June term mark.
•All assignments have been completed and submitted.
•The student wrote the January exam in that subject area
•The student has not been disciplined for academic dishonesty in that subject area.
•The student has a good attendance record

Supplemental Exams
Students in Grade 12 who fail a course may write a supplemental exam given the following conditions:
•a final average of at least 40%
•completed term work
•regular attendance and good attitude

The decision to grant a supplemental privilege will be made by the teacher, department head and principal.

Failures
Students in Grades 7 - 11 who fail a course must obtain this credit at summer school. If a student attends summer school in a particular subject area for two consecutive summers, a meeting between student, parents and administration will occur to determine status of the student at SMA.

High School Program Requirements
St. Mary's has requirements over and above those of the Province of Manitoba. A St. Mary's Academy graduation diploma is granted only to students who have completed all Department of Education and St. Mary's Academy requirements. All students are required to successfully complete SMA courses in English, math and religion to receive a SMA diploma.

Course Options
Option sheets are sent home with students in spring. In addition to required courses, students choose options at each level. Selection of courses should be made on the basis of student needs, interests and abilities as well as university/college admission requirements and/or the work situation to which the student aspires. Course changes may be made prior to the September deadline if there is space in the desired course.

Physical Education Classes
The Province of Manitoba requires three credits in phys. ed. in senior high. At SMA, students take a full credit in grades 9, 10 and 11. Students are excused from physical education class if they present a note from parents or a medical doctor stating disability. Those excused from participating are to report to the Physical Education teacher at the beginning of the class for a special assignment.

Attendance
SMA has adopted an Attendance Policy that seeks to promote responsible behaviour on the part of students by establishing specific expectations and consequences governing student absences and lates. Regular attendance and punctuality are important life-style behaviours and must be fostered within the school setting. There also exists a provincially established expectation regarding hours of instruction to obtain a credits. Absenteeism could lead to loss of credit.
While specific attendance expectations have been established, it is not the intent of this policy to penalize students where the attendance expectations have not been met as a consequence of circumstances beyond the student's control. The school administration can exercise a certain discretion in extenuating circumstances with supporting documentation. A Student Attendance Profile is sent home periodically for students whose attendance pattern is cause for concern.

Parents are requested to email at attendance@stmarysacademy.mb.ca or call the school and leave a message on the attendance voice mail as early as possible each day that their daughter is absent. A member of the school office staff will contact the parents in the case of an unexplained absence or if a student skips a class.

University Entrance Requirements
Entrance requirements vary among universities. Students should refer to the university of interest for specific requirements. Information is available in the Career Room 311. SMA submits Term 1 and Final marks for students who apply to the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg. Transcripts for other post-secondary institutions are prepared on request. If further information is required, please call the office.

Honour Roll
Honours students are those who achieve an overall average of 80% on the mid-term report or on the June final report.