updates 2025-2026
Dear Parents, you will find on this page the most recent documents and messages that were sent home through your child or via email. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.
Vincent massey collegiate communications to parents
You will find a copy of all emails sent to parents during the school year 2025-2026 in this folder.
MEES regulation changes for 24-25
Dear VMC Families,
We are writing to inform you about significant changes to the academic promotion rules for students in the second cycle (Secondary 3-5) of secondary school. These new guidelines, introduced by the Ministry of Education, will come into effect starting in the 2024-2025 school year.
Key Changes for Secondary 3-5
End of the “Déboulage” Practice
Example: In previous years, a student who failed Art in Secondary 3 could still move on to the Secondary 4 Art class and receive credit for both levels if they successfully completed the Secondary 4 class. Under the new guidelines, the student would move to Secondary 4 but would also be required to retake the Secondary 3 Art class.
Exception for the 2024-2025 School Year
If a student failed a Secondary 4 subject in the 2023-2024 school year but successfully completes the corresponding Secondary 5 subject in 2024-2025, they will receive credit for the failed subject as well.
This exception applies to the following subjects only:
Example: If a student failed Secondary 4 English Language Arts in the 2023-2024 school year but successfully completes Secondary 5 English Language Arts in 2024-2025, they will be granted credits for both Secondary 4 and Secondary 5 English Language Arts.
What Does This Mean for My Child?
Secondary 3
For students currently in Secondary 3, it is essential to meet the Ministry of Education’s requirements, especially for the Basic School Regulation (BSR) courses. These are compulsory courses that students must pass to progress successfully.
The required BSR courses in Secondary 3 include:
Secondary 4
For students in Secondary 4, it is critical to pass all Basic School Regulation (BSR) courses, as they form a key component of the high school diploma requirements. These courses must be passed to progress to Secondary 5 and graduate.
The required BSR courses for Secondary 4 include:
Students must successfully complete these courses in Secondary 4. Failure in any of these courses means the student will be required to retake them, even if they move to Secondary 5. This can delay graduation and place an additional workload on the student.
Graduation Requirements
To obtain a high school diploma in Quebec, students must meet the following graduation requirements:
Failure to meet these requirements may result in delays in obtaining the high school diploma and progressing to post-secondary education or the workforce.
Ongoing Support for Students at Risk of Failing
We strongly encourage parents to stay actively involved in their child’s academic progress and to reach out to teachers or school administration for support when needed. Keep in mind that Term 3 accounts for 60% of the academic year, so there is still ample time to make meaningful improvements. By working together, we can help ensure your child achieves these important milestones.
For clarification, please feel free to contact us. We are committed to supporting your child’s learning journey. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact:
Thank you for your understanding and partnership as we work together to support your child’s education.
We are writing to inform you about significant changes to the academic promotion rules for students in the second cycle (Secondary 3-5) of secondary school. These new guidelines, introduced by the Ministry of Education, will come into effect starting in the 2024-2025 school year.
Key Changes for Secondary 3-5
End of the “Déboulage” Practice
- In the past, students who successfully completed a higher-level course could receive credit for a corresponding lower-level course, a process known as déboulage.
- Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, this practice will no longer apply to students in Secondary 3 and 4 who fail a course.
Example: In previous years, a student who failed Art in Secondary 3 could still move on to the Secondary 4 Art class and receive credit for both levels if they successfully completed the Secondary 4 class. Under the new guidelines, the student would move to Secondary 4 but would also be required to retake the Secondary 3 Art class.
Exception for the 2024-2025 School Year
If a student failed a Secondary 4 subject in the 2023-2024 school year but successfully completes the corresponding Secondary 5 subject in 2024-2025, they will receive credit for the failed subject as well.
This exception applies to the following subjects only:
- English Language Arts
- French Second Language
- Art
- Culture and Citizenship in Quebec
- Physical Education
Example: If a student failed Secondary 4 English Language Arts in the 2023-2024 school year but successfully completes Secondary 5 English Language Arts in 2024-2025, they will be granted credits for both Secondary 4 and Secondary 5 English Language Arts.
What Does This Mean for My Child?
Secondary 3
For students currently in Secondary 3, it is essential to meet the Ministry of Education’s requirements, especially for the Basic School Regulation (BSR) courses. These are compulsory courses that students must pass to progress successfully.
The required BSR courses in Secondary 3 include:
- English Language Arts
- French as a Second Language
- Mathematics
- Science and Technology
- History of Quebec and Canada (HQC)
- Physical Education and Health
- Arts Education (Drama, Music, Visual Arts, or Dance)
Secondary 4
For students in Secondary 4, it is critical to pass all Basic School Regulation (BSR) courses, as they form a key component of the high school diploma requirements. These courses must be passed to progress to Secondary 5 and graduate.
The required BSR courses for Secondary 4 include:
- English Language Arts
- French as a Second Language
- Mathematics (Cultural, Social, and Technical option or Scientific and Technical option)
- Science and Technology or Applied Science and Technology
- History of Quebec and Canada (HQC)
- Culture and Citizenship in Quebec (CCQ)
- Physical Education and Health
- Arts Education (Drama, Music, Visual Arts, or Dance)
Students must successfully complete these courses in Secondary 4. Failure in any of these courses means the student will be required to retake them, even if they move to Secondary 5. This can delay graduation and place an additional workload on the student.
Graduation Requirements
To obtain a high school diploma in Quebec, students must meet the following graduation requirements:
- Successfully complete a total of 54 credits in Secondary 4 and 5, of which at least 20 credits must come from Secondary 5 courses.
- Pass all compulsory subjects, including:
- English Language Arts (Secondary 5)
- French as a Second Language (Secondary 5)
- Mathematics (Secondary 4)
- History of Quebec and Canada (Secondary 4)
- Science and Technology or Applied Science and Technology (Secondary 4)
- Arts Education (Secondary 4)
- Physical Education and Health or Culture and Citizenship in Quebec (Secondary 5)
Failure to meet these requirements may result in delays in obtaining the high school diploma and progressing to post-secondary education or the workforce.
Ongoing Support for Students at Risk of Failing
- Support for Students Facing Difficulties:
- Students who are currently failing a subject must pursue remedial options such as:
- Reviewing material using capsules https://sites.google.com/emsb.qc.ca/emsb-video-capsules/home
- Attend teacher tutorial
- Attend peer tutoring
- These measures highlight the importance of mastering subject material at each level to ensure long-term academic success.
- Students who are currently failing a subject must pursue remedial options such as:
- Attending summer school.
- Repeat the course during the next school year.
- Completing reassessments
- Writing “mandatory” supplemental exams
We strongly encourage parents to stay actively involved in their child’s academic progress and to reach out to teachers or school administration for support when needed. Keep in mind that Term 3 accounts for 60% of the academic year, so there is still ample time to make meaningful improvements. By working together, we can help ensure your child achieves these important milestones.
For clarification, please feel free to contact us. We are committed to supporting your child’s learning journey. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact:
- Your child’s teacher,
- The school administration, or
- The Guidance Counselor
Thank you for your understanding and partnership as we work together to support your child’s education.