WELCOME TO GRADE 9 PARENTS NIGHT SCHOOL COUNCIL

WELCOME TO GRADE 9 PARENT’S NIGHT

SCHOOL COUNCIL SPECIAL EVENTS PARENT ENGAGEMENT ADVISE ON OPERATIONS HOLLY MANNING PATTI MANDALFINO

SCHOOL COUNCIL § ALL are welcome. NO fundraising. § Second Wednesday of each month. The specific dates are in your student’s planner. § More information on our Website: wci. wrdsb. ca under the “ABOUT” tab.

WHAT MAKES WCI GREAT? JENNIFER SHORTREED – PRINCIPAL Strong Traditions – the THREE ‘A’s Talented staff Community Partnerships Supports – Special Education, VP’s, Guidance, Student Success, Activities Supportive Parents – School Council

VICE PRINCIPALS TIM GILMORE (A-K) JIM SHANTZ (L-O) When do I call? § Attendance information or concerns § Informing the school changes at home or social well-being § Trouble connecting with a teacher

GUIDANCE COUNSELORS § § § Lynda Callaghan – Head of Guidance Craig Nickel (AP Coordinator) Doug Ranton Yvonne Hornick Michael Rouse

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM GUIDANCE Monitor Student Progress § Student success § Course appropriateness § Planning a pathway to graduation Course Selection Liaison for other issues; social emotional, peer group, family change.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: REC ROOM § Teresa Dunat-Banks – Department Head Special Education § For students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) § Support Staff will contact you throughout the year § Personalized support in the Resource Enrichment Centre, ‘REC’ Room, room 230

ABCD: STUDENT LEADERSHIP Staff Teacher/Sponsor: Craig Nickel Thomas Rowlands and Rishika Geda

CLASSROOM TEACHER Your first call should always be to the classroom teacher We are a team with the same end goal, student success

CLASSROOM TEACHER How to reach your child’s teacher: § Voice mail, call the school and dial “ 0” or the teacher’s mailbox number (519 -884 -9590) § Board email, same general format: first name_last name@wrdsb. on. ca. For example: jennifer_shortreed@wrdsb. on. ca § Send in a note with your son or daughter § Leave a message with a Vice Principal to arrange a call back or a meeting if other methods have not worked.

READING THE WCI TIMETABLE

VIP VIKING INTEGRATION PROGRAM Period Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 OE 8: 14 -1: 15 Term 1 Sem 1 _1 B Damian, I. P 8 Period 1 08: 15 -09: 15 Term 1 Sem 1 LUNVIP-01 Ranton, D. Aud

GENERAL TIPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD ADJUST TO HIGH SCHOOL Seek parenting resources. § Ex: Parent Tool Kit(Ontario Directors of Education, online version available) Look through the WCI planner. Have them explain and record their long and short range plans for school work. Pay attention to homework: help them learn problem solving and understand their thinking with probing questions. Keep them healthy, good food and sleep are essential. Pay attention to their stress level. Listen to them and involve others if safety is a concern. Communicate with their teachers.

SEMESTER SCHEDULE WCI IS CHANGING TO A SEMESTER SCHEDULE IN SEPTEMBER 2015 PERIOD BELL TIME DAY 1 DAY 2 1 8: 09 9: 25 A A 2 9: 30 10: 45 B B THE BASICS Most Common; 2 day rotation, 74 min. periods, 60 min common lunch COMMON LUNCH (Block C) 10: 45 – 11: 45 Same. Course selection Computer will schedule 4 classes in Semester 1 and 4 classes Semester 2 3 11: 45 1: 00 D E 4 1: 05 2: 20 E D

EXPECTED BENEFITS Student Workload Guided Practice Effective Use of TIME (Common lunch, e-learning, collaborative learning) Pathway Flexibility (Failures, reach ahead, ESL) Mid-year Registration Fewer Transitions Enrollment – 4, 4. 5, 5 years Classroom Materials

MOST COMMON QUESTIONS QUESTION Gaps in Learning? ANSWER Spiral curriculum, teacher adjustment, special case exceptions. Homework? Less subjects, faster pace, in-class time, reasonable timelines still needed. Programs: AP, Magnets, Special Education, VIP? Proper Implementation! Full year options, either scheduled or cocurricular.

SEMESTER INFORMATION IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE § TIMETABLE by END of OCTOBER § Program Planning WEBSITE – Principal Updates NEWSLETTERS, PARENT LETTER COURSE SELECTION INFORMATION § ASSEMBLIES and CLASS VISITS § INDIVIDUAL Pathway Counselling INFORMATION NIGHTS § Sept. 25 § TBD-Close to Course Selection Time EMAIL QUESTIONS TO § jennifer_shortreed@wrdsb. on. ca § james_shortreed@wrdsb. on. ca

HAVE A GREAT EVENING If you chose to do so, you may…. 1. Do a ‘timetable tour’ visiting your son or daughter’s classrooms. 2. Have a general WCI tour. Student volunteers are willing to show you around.