Secondary Frequently Asked Questions
The following frequently asked questions (FAQs) represent some of the most common enquiries we receive. If you have questions that are not answered on the website, please contact us via e-mail or telephone.
Questions
Enrollment and Getting Started
- Am I eligible to enroll?
- Which program is right for me?
- How do I enroll?
- What is the cost?
- Where do I obtain textbooks, cassette tapes, etc.?
- How long do I have to complete a course?
- Can I do partial online courses?
- Are there assignment deadlines with online courses?
- Is teacher support offered with online courses?
- Why take an online course rather than a paper course?
Computers
- Can we borrow a computer from SIDES?
- Can two or more students in the same family use the same computer?
Adult Graduation Program
Assignments
Questions From Parents
- Are SIDES programs approved by the Ministry of Education?
- How much is a reasonable amount of time for a student to work on his or her school work when he or she is at home?
- What if my child needs help?
- Will my child receive a report card?
- Does SIDES provide reimbursement for extracurricular activities such as my child's formal music lessons?
- My daughter has been having problems with the other kids in her school and she wants to be at SIDES, but she thinks that she will miss her friends too much. What do you suggest we do?
- My daughter is on a swim team that competes nationally and internationally. If she registers in SIDES online does she have to 'log on' at the same time as the rest of the class?
- My son is very good in Mathematics and Science but is behind in Language Arts and Social Studies; what can SIDES do to meet his needs?
- My son really isn't interested in completing high school and going to university or college; what is available for students like him who don't need the high-level academic courses?
- Our family has a lifestyle that has us travelling to other countries for extended periods of time. Can we take our children out of school and leave when we want to take advantage of reduced prices on flights and accommodation?
- My son would like to study band. Can students take these courses through SIDES or can he take these courses at another school?
- How will SIDES accommodate my child if he or she is not yet working at grade level, or if he or she is working beyond the age-appropriate expectations?
Support
Technical Help
Testing
- Where do I write the tests?
- Where do I write provincial exams?
- How successful have SIDES students been on provincial achievement exams?
- Must I make an appointment to write a test of any kind?
Who is a typical SIDES student?
Answers
Enrolment and Getting Started
Am I eligible to enroll?
A person is eligible to enroll in distance education courses provided the person:
- is at least school-age (five years of age by December 31 of the current year).
- for K-9 students: is out of school, or is enrolled in a public or independent school, and has the written permission of the principal of that school to take a distance education course.
- grade 10-12 students can enroll free of charge if they are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant and are normally a BC resident, even if enrolled in another school.
- is an adult wishing to complete high school graduation or upgrade courses.
- meets academic prerequisites where applicable.
Who is a typical SIDES student?
Students enroll at SIDES for a variety of reasons, including:
- a preference by parents to teach their child at home
- travelling abroad for an extended period of time
- the regular public school system does not fulfill the child's learning or social needs
- isolation from access to a school (e.g. lighthouse families)
- medical or health needs
- preferred learning medium
Which program is right for me?
SIDES teachers work in close consultation with parents and students to ensure that each learner's needs are met. When necessary, our teachers will contact a student's previous school to learn as much as possible before considering the development of customized course materials.
How do I enroll?
Students complete an application form (available for download on our application page). New or returning students must phone for an appointment with a SIDES teacher or counsellor. Enrolment interviews for students at a distance can be conducted over the telephone. Documentation is needed and can be brought to the interview or faxed to the school. These include:
For K-9 students only:
- either a withdrawal from a previous school OR an in-school application signed by the school administrator. Parents must sign applications for students under 16 years of age and should accompany the student.
For all other students:
- academic records (a photocopy of a Permanent Record Card, a recent report card, or transcript).
- photocopy of a Birth Certificate (for students new to BC schools).
- photocopy of identification with legal name and a photograph (if possible).
- payment for deposit or appropriate tuition (VISA, MasterCard, Interac, cash, NOT personal cheques).
What is the cost?
Costs vary by location, program, and enrolment date.
For an outline of costs for national and international students, click here.
Where do I obtain textbooks?
When you register at SIDES and have met one of the advisors or counsellors, you will be able to pick up your resources shortly after your appointment. For a student who registers by phone and fax, the materials are shipped to the student's home.
How long do I have to complete a course?
Full time students are encouraged to complete their planned courses within the academic school year. For the print-based courses, the course registration is for one year from the date of enrolment. Extensions beyond one year need to be discussed and approved by the administrator and/or counsellor.
Can I do partial online courses?
Yes, but it would depend on two things: 1) whether or not a student has online experience, and 2) how much of the course he or she was taking. Someone who has done online courses before can do part of a course without further training or practice on the system, but someone with no experience with online courses and who is doing only a small part of the course should probably do paper, as they will not really have time to learn the process. (If students need to take half the course or more, it would be worthwhile for them to learn how to use sides online.)
Are there assignment deadlines with online courses?
Assignments come in as they do for paper courses, but if students are trying to write a provincial, then they need to be aware of timelines that will have them ready to write. Some courses (ex. Sally's English 10) include a weekly planner that provides students with a schedule of what they need to be doing at any given time. Eventually, we hope to include something similar in more of the courses.
Is teacher support offered with online courses?
Online courses are unique in that they come with teacher support; this is a critical piece, as the students have the potential to establish a relationship with a teacher. Online students may have direct contact (phone calls, face-to-face appointments, v-class meetings) with their teachers, or they may contact teachers via email or on the course discussion boards. Online students also have the same support provided to all SIDES students (i.e., the Tutoring Centre and Study Hall). It should also be noted that students in online courses have the potential to be part of a learning community; this may not be what everyone is looking for, but there are some students out there who probably would enjoy connecting with other students online.
Why take an online course rather than a paper course?
There is a teacher involved with the course. Online courses are current and editable by the teacher. They promote a learning community, with possibility of student to student interaction.
Computers
Can we borrow a computer from SIDES?
Yes. If you are a registered full-time student, you can borrow a computer at no cost, but a $150 deposit is required. We cannot issue computers to students who have not registered or re-registered. Students (and parents or guardians) will be asked to sign two forms accepting responsibility for the computer. At the end of each school year (June 30) students are expected to return the SIDES computer for cleaning, servicing, and upgrading.
A staff member will be phoning all students who have computers to coordinate the return so that we don't have everyone coming back at once! It's very important that parents or guardians check the component list when packing the units, making sure that everything received with the computer is included in the boxes.
Can two or more students in the same family use the same computer?
It is not necessary to have one computer system per student. Depending on the availability of SIDES computers, larger families, or families with several older students may request an additional computer later in the fall, after enrolment is complete for September.
Assignments
How do I submit completed papers and how are they returned to me?
Completed papers are accepted by mail, fax, via SIDES Online, or at our school website. Marked papers are returned via mail or SIDES Online. The grade and comments will appear on the returned assignments.
Testing
Where do I write the tests?
- All SIDES students write their tests either at SIDES or at one of the test centres nearest to their location or at their home school. A test supervisor is required for secondary courses. In some online courses, the tests may be created and delivered via the Internet, SIDES Online, or email.
Where do I write provincial exams?
- Foundation Skills Assessments for students in grades 4 and 7 can be delivered over the Internet with prior arrangements for materials and access to be mailed out to parents or guardians. Students will be contacted to register for these exams.
- Grade 10 and 12 provincial exams are written on a distinct schedule. Students will be informed as to the locations, based on the number of students writing. The grade 10 Graduation Program exams may be held in various centres, and students may ask in advance to go to a school in their neighbourhood as well. However, this must be arranged in advance, to ensure the test is delivered for the date and time.
How successful have SIDES students been on provincial achievement exams?
Students who have successfully completed the course material, achieve the benchmarks for provincial achievement tests. A number of SIDES students achieved in the top 5% of the students in the province.
Must I make an appointment to write a test of any kind?
No, just allow yourself enough time; most tests are two to three hours long. Also, please ensure that you have received all of your marked assignments prior to coming in to write the test.
Support
Will anyone help me if I find the course difficult?
- Teachers at elementary and middle levels are available and can be contacted by parents or guardians and students. Students may arrange to come into the school, by phoning the school or emailing the teacher.
- Secondary school counsellors, advisors, teachers, and onsite tutors are available to advise students and provide assistance in various subjects. Please contact us for further information. The SIDES email directory and SIDES Online provide contact information for individual teachers and staff members.
- The SIDES onsite secondary tutor is available on a limited basis for students and provides Extra Help to students by appointment only. Full-time students should contact their subject teacher (in the case of teacher-led classes) for assistance. If a student is experiencing difficulty with SIDES courses, oftentimes the parent or guardian must look to find in-home support from family, friends, or a tutor that they arrange for independent of SIDES.
- Some online courses provide supplementary resources within the course website.
Adult Graduation Program
Can I earn a Dogwood Diploma on an adult program?
Yes, graduation on the adult secondary program is possible.
Questions From Parents
Are SIDES programs approved by the Ministry of Education?
Yes; SIDES is a public school. Programs at all grade levels meet the learning outcomes set by the B.C. Ministry of Education.
How much is a reasonable amount of time for a student to work on his or her school work when he or she is at home?
Sitting at a computer for long hours is not good for anyone's health. Parents or guardians and students need to have a plan in place where they can designate computer and non-computer time and still get the work done.
What if my child needs help?
Students need to take initiative to contact their teacher/facilitator if assistance is needed.
For High School students a tutoring service is available. Contact us for times.
Will my child receive a report card?
Yes; SIDES teachers provide a formal report card three times each year. Your child's progress will be evaluated from the standards set by the B.C. Ministry of Education.
Does SIDES provide reimbursement for extracurricular activities such as my child's formal music lessons?
For full enrolments, SIDES may offer support for learning. K-8 students should discuss this with their teacher at the time of registrations.
My daughter has been having problems with the other kids in her school and she wants to be at SIDES, but she thinks that she will miss her friends too much. What do you suggest that we do?
Socialization is very important to children and most do not want to be isolated from their friends. Parents or guardians can ensure that their children are involved in positive social and recreational activities outside of the home. Students in the Victoria region are encouraged to attend school sponsored activities and school community outings.
My daughter is on a swim team that competes nationally and internationally. If she registers in SIDES Online does she have to 'log on' at the same time as rest of the class?
Often, teachers arrange virtual online sessions for teaching and learning opportunities that augment the curriculum offerings. We do not require students to log in and do their work at the same time. However, on occasion, it may be necessary for teacher/facilitators to direct students to access and complete planned tests.
Teacher/facilitators are prepared to make adjustments for students who are unable to complete schoolwork due to prior commitments.
My son is very good in Mathematics and Science but is behind in Language Arts and Social studies, what can SIDES do to meet his needs?
Unlike the traditional program, it is easy to accommodate students at SIDES. For example, a student may work in Mathematics at the grade 9 level and Language Arts and Social Studies at the grade 8 level. SIDES can accommodate an educational program where students are working at multiple grade levels.
My son really isn't interested in completing high school and going to university or college, what is available for students like him who don't need the high level academic courses?
The academic route is not for everyone, but there are a variety of post-graduation opportunities for SIDES students. For example, there is a tremendous need for skilled trades people. Further information is available by contacting one of our high school counsellors or through the following website: http://www.itabc.ca.
Our family has a lifestyle where we travel to other countries for extended periods of time. Can we take our children out of school and leave when we want to take advantage of reduced prices on flights and accommodation?
SIDES students and their parents can set their own pace for studies. They are required to spend the same number of days attending school as students in the regular program, but that doesn't preclude students from working or traveling. We have had many students who have traveled to different countries during the school term. Parents or guardians need to communicate their plans with their child's teacher or advisor.
My son would like to take band. Can students take these courses through SIDES or can he take these courses at another school?
In many instances we can make partnership arrangements with schools in the district to deliver courses that we do not offer. Parents or guardians must make the initial inquiry with a neighbourhood school, ensuring there is space and that the schedule is conducive to the student's needs. If the school will entertain a partnership, and this is most often the case, then SIDES will finalize the arrangements for the shared arrangement.
How will SIDES accommodate my child if he or she is not yet working at grade level, or if he or she is working beyond the age-appropriate expectations?
It is district policy to register students in their age-appropriate grade. SIDES teachers work with parents and students to create a learning plan that best suits the need of the individual child. This may involve learning materials at a variety of levels, including special software.
