RIVERVIEW HIGH NOTEBOOK
Students consider exam exemption policies as year begins
Lots to consider as the school year begins.
Editor’s Note: Are you interested in school activities and love to write? If so, we would like to talk to you. The Cape Breton Post is looking for high school columnists for Memorial, BEC, Sydney Academy, Glace Bay and Allison Bernard Memorial. And, yes, we would pay you for your work. Anyone interested is asked to contact Post managing editor Carl Fleming at 902-563-3840 or email: cfleming@cbpost.com for more details.
My name is Hannah Rudderham and I’m a senior at Riverview Rural High School in Coxheath.
This summer I worked at the Cape Breton Post. I hold a co-president position at the school and I hope to go into journalism after school so the Cape Breton Post has provided a wonderful opportunity for me.
Every month, I’ll talk about the new happenings at Riverview.
Riverview has been bustling with new and returning students over the last two weeks and they’ve all been able to experience the opportunities that Riverview provides for high schoolers.
Maddin Laffin is a Grade 9 student at Riverview who is already getting involved. She came from Malcolm Munroe Middle School and has already been selected as a Grade 9 representative on Riverview’s student council.
“My favorite part about RHS so far is having a break in between every period,” Laffin said.
It’s something she wasn’t used to from her old school but the 15 and 10 minute breaks between periods give students time to locate their classes and meet with friends.
“The scariest part about RHS for me is finding all of my classes and not being late,” Laffin said.
Riverview offers an abundance of clubs and teams which are already underway at the school. There’s something for everyone which is a great way to get everyone involved in something.
Some clubs include yearbook club, Interact club, Student Council, gamers club and many more.
Grade 12 student, Kate Devoe from Coxheath enjoys that Riverview’s clubs give students a say.
“I like that Riverview clubs are run by the students. It gives us the opportunity to have a say and make decisions within the school,” Devoe said.
Devoe is one of the executive members of the Interact club so she gets to experience leading and organizing a group.
Last year, Riverview took on an exam exemption pilot to encourage better attendance among students. The policy on Riverview’s website states that “a student who has any unexcused absence in any course may not be considered for an exemption.” It also states that you cannot have more than six excused absences and six excused tardies to qualify.
The pilot last year didn’t allow students to exempt provincial exams or their math or English exams. The exam exemption has been approved again for this year, but students can exempt math or English. The exam exemptions have students talking for a second year in a row.
Lena MacDonald is a Grade 12 student at Riverview and she feels strongly about the exemptions.
“The exam exemptions impacted me and many other students because oftentimes we can focus too much time studying for an exam in an area we’re struggling with and your other marks can suffer because of that,” the Sydney resident said, “It’s beneficial for the students especially the grads to have this opportunity again this year so we have more time to make memories during our grad year.”