STS Students Begin OSSLT Preparation!

STS Students Begin OSSLT Preparation!
Posted on 02/01/2017
Test PicWritten by Laura Giroux, Student Journalist

With the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) approaching, students of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School (STS) in Tottenham are beginning to prepare themselves for this important examination, and STS will be offering after-school literacy classes to provide extra help.

The OSSLT, which is written by tenth grade students, determines whether or not students meet the provincial standard of literacy in all subjects up until the end of the ninth grade. Successful completion of the test is mandatory in order to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, meaning that it is a requirement of graduation. The OSSLT is written on the same day across Ontario; generally towards the end of March. The test includes short and long writing tasks, as well as multiple choice questions that focus on the reading and writing skills of the students. These skills are considered essential for students to thrive at school and in their daily lives.

Beginning in February, St. Thomas Aquinas will be offering OSSLT preparation classes for students that will be taking the test. These classes will aim to further develop the reading and writing skills of students. The classes will be held on February 13th and 27th, and March 6th, 20th, and 27th from 3:00pm-4:30pm at STS. Mrs. Harwood, one of STS’s dedicated English teachers, will be teaching the literacy classes. Students of STS may sign up in guidance.

For more information on the OSSLT, the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) website (http://www.eqao.com/en/assessments/OSSLT) provides an abundance of advice for students who will be taking the test. It includes details about the assessment, examples of the assessment and scoring materials, in addition to information on past results.