Preston High School: Semester 1 Final Evaluation and Exam Information 

Friday January 23rd – Wednesday January 28th, 2026

The WRDSB Assessment and Evaluation Period for the end of Semester 1 will occur from Friday, January 23rd to Wednesday, January 28th, 2026.  Teachers have the flexibility to provide a variety of methods for students to demonstrate their growth, and confirm their learning. Classroom teachers will clearly communicate with their students and their families what the learning expectations are on these days.

ACE students will attend school with regular programming January 23th and January 26th – 28th.  On January 29, 2026 there is a PD Day, ACE students will not attend school. 

Study Week: There will be no field trips, WCSSAA games/practices or school events from January 16 – January 22, 2026

Types of Final Evaluation: The types of evaluation tasks take on a variety of methods i.e. performance based task, portfolios, demonstrations, projects, exit interviews, conferences, and exams.

Exams: Exams may be administered in grade 9 – 12 courses.  All exams will be up to 75 minutes in length.  Students will have up to double time (150 minutes) to complete an exam.  

Credit Rescue Opportunities: Some students will be invited to attend IN THE AFTERNOON (11:45 am – 1:00 pm) on these days in order to complete demonstration of expectations in order to earn their credit. 

Student Attendance

  • Similar to previous Exam and Assessment days, attendance will be taken and submitted for scheduled exams or evaluations, and in person credit rescue opportunities.  
  • Please do not plan vacations or trips abroad which require your student to be absent from school on these days or on the days directly following the evaluation period as these will be the days in which the postponed evaluations will be rescheduled.  
  • During the exam period, students are required to be in school only when they need to write an exam or they have been invited in by their teacher to complete missing assessments.

Study Areas:  The cafeteria will also be open for those who need to study or work collaboratively together.  The Library will be CLOSED in the mornings for exams but will reopen after lunch.

Transportation

  • School buses run on their regular schedule during these three days.

In the event of a school closure or bus cancellations due to weather or other exceptional circumstances

  • Listen to local radio and check the school board social media channels/website at wrdsb.ca by 6:00 a.m.  
  • Evaluations may be postponed for various reasons including inclement weather, bus cancellations, plant malfunctions, etc.  Please do not plan events which require your student to be absent from school on these days or on the days directly following the evaluation period as these will be the days in which the postponed evaluations will be rescheduled.  
  • When any WRDSB buses are canceled in any geographic area of the Waterloo Region (Kitchener, Waterloo, Baden, Elmira, Cambridge), the final evaluation schedule in all secondary schools will be postponed by one day.
  • The January 29th, 2026 PA day will not be moved if a severe weather day occurs leading up to this date as moving the PA day has a significant impact system-wide.
  • When a severe weather day occurs during the final evaluation schedule, January 23rd AND from January 26th – 28th, 2026, all final evaluations will be shifted forward one day

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