IB Newsletter - Alexander Mackenzie High School January 2026
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Happy new year! Hope you are doing well. In this newsletter, you will find some relevant information and updates about our IB program at AMHS.
End of semester evaluations: Just a reminder that the exam schedule for the end-of-January exams is as follows:
Jan 22, 2026 | Jan 23, 2026 | Jan 26, 2026 | Jan 27, 2026 | Jan 28, 2026 |
Period 1 Classes | Period 2 Classes | Period 5 Classes | Period 4 Classes | Period 3 Classes |
All exams start at 8:30 a.m. Exam Review Day is on January 29. This is also the incremental weather exam day if needed. Students can take advantage of the Exam Review Day to discuss and review the overall achievements with classroom teachers.
Here is the schedule for the Exam Review Day (January 29):
Homeroom | 8:30 AM - 8:35 AM |
Period 1 classes (sem 1 exam review) | 8:35 AM - 9:12 AM |
Break | 9:12 AM - 9:17 AM |
Period 2 classes (sem 1 exam review) | 9:17 AM - 9:55 AM |
Break | 9:55 AM - 10:00 AM |
Period 3 classes (sem 1 exam review) | 10:00 AM - 10:37 AM |
Break | 10:37 AM - 10:42 AM |
Period 4 classes (sem 1 exam review) | 10:42 AM - 11:20 AM |
Break | 11:20 AM - 11:25 AM |
Period 5 classes (sem 1 exam review) | 11:25 AM - 12:02 PM |
January 30th is a PA day. Semester 2 will start on February 2nd.
We understand that pressure and anxiety may build up as exams are approaching. Please reach out to school staff if you need support identifying and dealing with such potential issues with your child. Here is a document outlining some tips to prepare for exams.
Course selection for 2026-2027 School Year:
Students will begin selecting their courses for next year soon. This year the course selection for school year 2026-2027 is from February 12th to 20th, 2026. Please refer to the December 2025 newsletter for more information.
Please encourage your child to reach out to me or the guidance counselor if they have any questions about course selection.
DP1 (Gr. 11)
Students were introduced to the Extended Essay (EE) in early December. This Extended Essay process will take about 12 months, which ends in December 2026. Students are expected to follow the specific timeline given to them.
For Gr. 11 (DP1) IB students, they will need to submit a EE subject / topic by January 8. Please have a quick conversation with your child and remind them to follow the EE timeline on the corresponding Google Classroom.
Thank you for your attention and continued support of the IB Programme at AMHS. If there are any specific questions about the IB program, please contact me directly by phone or Email.
Benjamin Law (benjamin.law@yrdsb.ca)
IB Coordinator, Alexander Mackenzie High School, York Region District School Board
905-884-0554 ext 419