Literacy Test School Information

Dear Westdale Community

On Tuesday April 10, Grade 10 students across the province will write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).  It will also be written by students who were previously eligible but have not yet written the test or who were unsuccessful on their first attempt.  The implementation of this test will affect the timetable of all Westdale students on that day.

Grade 9 students will all be writing a practice literacy during their period 1 and 2 classes.  Please encourage your student to do their best on this practice test as the results will be given to students’ grade 10 English teacher to support literacy program needs. The grade 9 lunch will take place during period 3.  During period 4, grade 9 students will attend their regularly scheduled period 3 class.  In period 5, grade 9 students will attend their regularly scheduled period 5 class.

Grade 10 and some grade 11 and 12 students will write the OSSLT between 8:35am and 1pm.  The times for the OSSLT have been extended by the province this year to allow all students extra time to complete the test if required.  Students writing the OSSLT will have a period 4 lunch and grade 10 students will attend their regularly scheduled period 5 classes.

Grade 11 and 12 who are not writing, will not have regularly scheduled classes on April 10.  These students will be supervised in the cafeteria.  Teachers from multiple disciplines will be available throughout the day to support these students.  These students will be encouraged to bring their assignments or to use the time to engage with teachers in subjects that require more attention.

In June the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) will send our school a report for each student who writes the OSSLT, and we will send it home at that time.  The OSSLT is a minimum-competency test.  Achievement is therefore reported as “successful” or “unsuccessful”.

OSSLT results do not count towards students’ grade, but successful completion of the test is a requirement for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.  There are supports for students who do not pass, including an opportunity to rewrite the test or to take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course.

Thank-you for support.

Michelle Visca

Principal