Grade 8 Parent Information Night Thursday, January 31, 2013

*Welcome and Opening Remarks* R. Kennelly, Principal *School Community Council* G. Heeger *Grade 9 Program Overview* A. Armstrong *Special Education and Academic Resource* C. Low *Optional Laptop Program* M. McFetters *Closing Remarks* R. Kennelly, Principal Refreshments & Student-Led Tours in the Food Court

Richard Kennelly, Principal

 Improving Student Achievement ◦ Literacy ◦ Numeracy  School Pride ◦ Welcoming environment ◦ Student recognition ◦ Value Character & Diversity

◦ Safe  No need for cash  Daily limit  Supervised space ◦ Parent controlled ◦ Loaded on the web ◦ Purchase tracking ◦ Rewards options

 Teachers ◦ Phone calls, parent-teacher interviews  School ◦ s – please send us your address with Grade ◦ Newsletters – most are ed and posted to web ◦ Website – updated with content and calendars ◦ Phone Home system – broadcast and targeted ◦ Facebook – Richardson Collegiate ◦ Twitter In an emergency, check the twitter, facebook and the website – please do not call your children – it is a safety issue!

 Infrastructure ◦ Projectors ◦ WiFi  Technology at the point of instruction ◦ Projectors ◦ Smartboards  Technology at the point of learning ◦ Laptop program ◦ eReader program ◦ Student response systems ◦ Mobile technology *** Digital Citizenship

Gina Heeger, Chair of School Community Council

Ann Armstrong, Head of Guidance Grade 9 Program Overview

Mr. McFetters Mrs. Neubauer Mrs. Armstrong Mrs. Marshall

Pathways to Student Success

 The process of choosing courses for the next school year.

Ontario Secondary School Certificate Or Ontario Secondary School Diploma

 To be granted an OSSC, a student must have earned a minimum of 14 credits distributed as follows:   7 Compulsory credits, as follows:  2 credits in English  1 credit in Canadian geography or Canadian history  1 credit in mathematics  1 credit in science  1 credit in health and physical education  1 credit in the arts or technological education or computer studies  and  7 Elective credits selected by the student from available courses   Students are not required to complete 40 hours of community involvement.  Students are not required to pass the Ontario Secondary Literacy Test.

1. 30 credits (18 compulsory, 12 elective) hours community involvement 3. Successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Requirement  Page 3 of Transitions Guide

Group 1 1 additional credit selected from Group 2 1 additional credit selected from Group 3 1 additional credit selected from Canadian and World Studies English Social Science and Humanities French as a second language Native language Classical or international language Cooperative Education Guidance and Career Education The Arts (Visual Art, Drama, Music, Dance) Business Studies Physical and Health Education Cooperative Education French as a second language Science Technological Education, Cooperative Education Computer Studies French as a second language ***A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education can count as compulsory credits …plus12 other elective credits

 Activities to complete this requirement can begin in the summer before a student enters grade nine.  A single 40 hour activity or a series of shorter activities totaling 40 hours may count towards this requirement.  Activities must be completed outside scheduled class time and must not replace someone who would normally be paid to do this work.

The Grade 9 Program includes… 6 compulsory courses and 2 elective courses

SUBJECT AREAACADEMICAPPLIEDLOCALLY DEVELOPED CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY CGC1D1CGC1P1 ENGLISHENG1D1ENG1P1ENG1L1 FRENCHFSF1D1FSF1P1 MATHEMATICSMPM1D1MFM1P1MAT1L1 SCIENCESNC1D1SNC1P1SNC1L1 FEMALEMALE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION (OPEN) PPL1O4 PAR1O4 PPL1O3

Which one do I choose? Applied, Academic or Locally Developed? Which one do I choose? Applied, Academic or Locally Developed? Page 6 Academic Academic courses focus on the essential concepts of the discipline PLUS additional related concepts. While course work exposes students to both theory and practical applications, there is a greater emphasis on THEORY as a basis for future learning and problem solving.

Which one do I choose? Applied, Academic or Locally developed? Applied Applied courses focus on the essential concepts of the discipline. While course work exposes students to both theories and practical applications, there is a greater emphasis on PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS.

Which one do I choose? Applied, Academic or Locally developed? Locally Developed Locally Developed courses focus on the most essential concepts of a discipline. These courses will provide support for students making the transition to high school by enhancing their skills to allow them to be successful in secondary school.

Volume of a Cone Example

Can I change levels in Grade 10? Can I change levels in Grade 10? Yes!  Students are able to move from APPLIED courses in Grade 9 to ACADEMIC courses in Grade 10.  Students are able to move from ACADEMIC courses in Grade 9 to APPLIED courses in Grade 10.  Math is the only course for which you need Grade 9 ACADEMIC in order to take Grade 10 ACADEMIC.

Do all the courses that a student selects have to be at the same level? No!  Students are encouraged to take the type of course that best suits their interests, goals and learning styles.  Students may select a variety of course types.

Can a student take more than one course in a given subject area? Yes! For example: Semester #1: MFM1P1 (Applied Math) Semester #2: MPM1D1 (Academic Math)

Open courses have one set of expectations for each subject and are appropriate for ALL students.

COURSE NAMECOURSE CODE DRAMAADA1O1 MUSIC THEATRE – PERFORMANCE 2 CREDIT COURSE – DRAMA AND VOCAL ADB1O1 AMV1O2 MUSIC THEATRE – PRODUCTIONADD1O1 MUSIC – GUITARAMG1O1 MUSIC – INSTRUMENTALAMI1O1 MUSIC – VOCALAMV1O1 VISUAL ARTSAVI1O1 INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGYBTT1O1 EXPLORING FAMILY STUDIESHIF1O1 EXPRESSIONS OF ABORIGINAL CULTURESNAC1O1 RHYTHM AND MOVEMENT (FEMALE ONLY) or HEALTHY ACTIVE LIVING PAR1O4 PPL1O4 EXPLORING HOSPITALITY & TOURISMTFJ1O1 EXPLORING TECHNOLOGIESTIJ1O1

ENG 1 D 1 Decoding a Course Code(Page 4) School Boards use this final character to distinguish courses The Letter identifies the course type: Grades 9 & 10D=Academic P=Applied L=Locally Developed O=Open This Number identifies the Grade 1= Grade 9 2=Grade 10 3=Grade 11 4=Grade 12 These three letters identify the subject. The first letter in the course code denotes the course’s department area A = Arts B= Business C=Canadian & World Studies E = English F = French G= Guidance & Career Ed. S = Sciences H = Humanities & Social Sciences L = International Languages M = Mathematics P = Physical Education T= Technology SCH 4 C 1

Course Guide

Christie Low, Head of Special Education Special Education

 Academic Resource Room  Learning Strategies  Multiple Exceptionalities  Modified  Transition to Work  Structured Learning Class

 For all students who are identified or at-risk and need individualized assistance with the curriculum, tests, exams  Full time staff available every period as well as before school, at lunch and after school  Assist with organizational skills, time management skills and study skills.

 Open to all students at Richardson  Every day from 3- 4 pm in a first floor classroom  Staffed by at least one staff member (all subject disciplines)

 Attendance  Keeping up with assignments/homework  Good test taking skills  Good organizational skills  Willingness to accept help and ask for help Page 8 of transitions guide

M. McFetters Guidance Counsellor

 Please visit the school website for more details or pick up a flier this evening  Information session ◦ March 6, 2013 at 7:00pm

Mr. Kennelly, Principal

You are now invited to join us for refreshments and participate in a student-led tour of the school.