Course Selection for High School

Hi everyone,

Today, Mr. Shank visited our school to speak to our students about their course selection for Grade 9.  During this presentation, our students were given the following information that relates to them graduating from Grade 12 in 2019:

Compulsory Credits to be completed:
- 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
- 3 credits in Math (1 in grade 11 or 12)
- 2 credits in Science
- 1 credit in Canadian History
- 1 credit in Canadian Geography
- 1 credit in the Arts
- 1 credit in Health and Phys. Ed.
- 1 credit in French as a Second Language
- 0.5 credits in Career Studies
- 0.5 credits in Civics

Minimum of 40 Hours of Volunteer Hours
- non-profit organizations
- no payment received
- working for a family business for "free" does not count

OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
- taken in Grade 10
- can be written as many times as necessary in order for student to pass

Mr. Shank also spoke to our students about the pathways that are available to them (Apprenticeship, College, University), and how their marks help determine whether they go into Academic, Applied, or Locally Developed classes in Grade 9. Students are not required to choose only one of these three choices - they can have a mix of various levels.

More information will be available at the Parent Information Night on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at Bradford District High School. All families are strongly encouraged to attend.

We've been reminding students about how important their learning skills with regards to their decisions for Grade 9.  Students with a good work ethic and typically good learning skills tend to be more successful in Grade 9.  We encourage students who struggle with their learning skills to work on them this year, while they have the support of teachers who know them and can help.  Next year, there will be a lot of change, and trying to revamp work ethic at the same time can be very overwhelming. We want to help our students to be fully prepared for what they face in September!

Have a great day,
Miss Skelton :)

Mid-October Update

Hi everyone,

I hope you had a great long weekend!  We are looking forward to students coming back, refreshed and ready for a great month!

The remainder of this month has a few activities that you should be aware of:

Global Dignity Day on Wednesday, October 15
- for more information about Global Dignity Day, please visit  http://www.globaldignity.org/view/global-dignity-day

HPV shots for girls on Thursday, October 23
- paperwork has gone home and must be returned whether or not your child will be receiving these needles.  For more information, please visit http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ms/hpv/immunize.aspx

Mr. Shank from BDHS visiting on Friday, October 24
- Mr. Shank (our grade 8 liaison from Bradford High) will be visiting students to talk to them about their upcoming visit to BDHS; he will also be bringing some former falcons to talk about their experiences in high school so far.

PA Day on Monday, October 27
- staff will be at Fieldcrest this day, but students are not

Dance-a-thon on Friday, October 31
- two forms will be coming home - one that gives permission for students to attend the dance (which must be returned, whether your child is going or not), and a pledge form on which students can record donations
- all donations go to our school library and go toward updating our library's selection of books for students of all ages.

*students will be presenting their Phys. Ed. games of low organization over the next several weeks.  The schedule is:
Mon. Oct. 20 - Brody, Simon, Jasjit, Taha, Malcolm
Mon. Oct. 20 - Justin, Kathlyn, Sandra, Ashley
Thurs. Oct. 23 - Davis, Mitchell, Yash, Sajeetan
Thurs. Oct. 23 - Dhanvin, Reuben, Rohan, Christopher C
Tues. Oct. 28 - Angus, Tyrese, Andy, Nat
Tues. Oct. 28 - Ethan, Maks, Muhammed, Liam
Fri. Oct. 31 - Somaya, Shreya, Kris-Anne
Fri. Oct. 31 - Owen, Nick, James, Chris L
Tues. Nov. 4 - Kayla, Amanda, Morgan R, Madi
Tues. Nov. 4 - Nelie, Jewell, Bella, Jannany
Fri. Nov. 7 - Meadow, Julia, Hailey, Janabi
Fri. Nov. 7 - Ryan, AJ, Mackenzie, Morgan G, Deyshawn

BDHS Grade 8 Visit on Wednesday, November 5
- students will walk over to BDHS and participate in simulated rotary that will introduce them to what a typical high school day might be like

There are always things to be added, but this sums up the next few weeks nicely!

Have a great evening,
Miss Skelton :)