Grade 8 Transition Newsletter

We are in the midst of high school planning and over the next couple of months, students will be required to make some important choices for grade 9. This is a very exciting and important time for our grade 8 students. The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you informed of some of the procedures and important deadlines for course selections.

Grade 9 Course Selections

We will begin course selections the week of Jan 13^th  2014. All students must complete course selections for their home high school using the myblueprint program. Students who have applied for specialized programs or regular school programs under optional attendance, will need to provide letters of acceptance to their Elementary School Guidance Counsellor in order for a new course selection sheet to be completed for that school/program. If students are successful with their choices, they need to inform the schools of their acceptance or not, within the given time frames (refer to the back of the optional attendance sheet for specific info). For students who are unsuccessful with their choices, we will continue with the home high school course selections. It is strongly recommended students log in to the myblueprint program at home and further explore the high school planner with their families, to ensure they are prepared to make final decisions for grade 9 within the next few weeks. All grade 8 students have already created accounts on myblueprint and worked through several aspects of the program including the high school planner. Students can log in from home at www.myblueprint.ca/tdsb with their username and password. Time will be given in class for students to select courses online. We will print online course selections at school and give an opportunity for classroom teachers to make program recommendations by the first week of February and send them home along with the hard copy versions for parents to review and sign. Parents/ guardians are expected to verify and sign course selection sheets and return them to their elementary  school no later than February 24^th, 2014.

Important Dates

     Week of January 13th – Elementary schools will be notified of which high schools are open for Optional Attendance. (Optional Attendance forms are available at your elementary school)

     January  31^st – Optional Attendance forms are due to high schools (delivered by parents/guardians).

 Week of February 10^th –14^th Students are informed of their acceptance to Specialized Programs and Optional Attendance schools.
     By February  24^th- Completed course selections are verified and signed by parents/guardians  and returned to classroom teachers.
     February 28^th  – All course selection sheets are delivered to high schools by Ms. Sebbio & Mr. Brogno.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding course selections or any of the information above, please contact us at lisa.sebbio@tdsb.on.ca (416)-396-6555 ext 20040 or robert.brogno@tdsb.on.ca (416) 396-6225 to set up an appointment. 

Thank you,

Lisa Sebbio & Rob Brogno

Elementary Guidance Counsellors

SATEC Deadlines

SATEC Deadlines

The final day to register for SATEC’s entrance test was December 5.  The test is being written on December 12. Students need to submit their completed applications on December 12.  For more information: http://satecatwaporter.ca/about/admissions/

TDSB Secondary Schools - Frequently Asked Questions

What is my home secondary school?

·         Your home secondary school is determined by your place of residence (i.e. your home address). 

·         Every student has the right to attend their home secondary school for REGULAR PROGRAMS provided they are successful in Grade 8. 

·         It is important to determine your home school because some schools have limited enrollment programs that may only be available to home school residents. 

·         To find your home secondary school follow this pathway:

www.tdsb.on.ca > click on Find A School > click on By Address > enter your street name in the search box           

NOTE: do not add street number, street type, or punctuation (For example, type in st andrews, instead of 100 St. Andrew's St.)

How do I apply to my home secondary school for grade 9?

·         You will receive a course selection sheet from your elementary school guidance counsellor (usually in January). 

·         Once you complete your Course Selection Sheet or submit your course selections online using myBlueprint, you will be registered in your home secondary school.

Note: students must meet Promotion, Transfer and Retention conditions.

TDSB Secondary Schools - Frequently Asked Questions

What is Optional Attendance?

·         Students also have the opportunity to access schools outside of the school that is designated to serve their residential address by applying on optional attendance. 

·         Acceptance at these schools is subject to space availability and program suitability.

·         Each year in January, schools are classified as limited or closed to optional attendance based on the space they have available for the upcoming school year.

·         The list will also be posted on the TDSB Internet website. 

·         A school classified as limited can accept students on optional attendance.

·         A “limited” school is not obliged to accept all students who apply on optional attendance. Acceptance is conditional upon space being available in the appropriate grade and program.

 

·         “Closed” schools may NOT accept any Optional Attendance requests for regular programs under any circumstances.

 How do I apply to a Regular Program at a school other than my home secondary school?

·         Applications for optional attendance are available from your elementary school guidance counsellor. 

·         Applications for optional attendance are to be completed and signed by the parent/guardian and returned to the school the student currently attends (elementary school).

·         The home school principal or a designate (i.e. a vice principal or guidance counsellor) will sign the application. 

·         The parent /guardian will forward or deliver the application to the requested secondary school. 

·         The requested school (i.e. the secondary school) will complete and sign the application indicating the decision and forward a copy to the parent /guardian or student.

·         Parents/Guardians must inform the requested school of acceptance.

 

Note - The date no student will be admitted under optional attendance is the first Monday in March whether on a waiting list or not.

How do I apply for Optional Attendance at a Specialized Program or School?

·         Each school has its own supplementary application procedure and some have very specific requirements for admission. 

·         It is essential that parents/guardians and students attend the information evenings and research schools in which they are interested. 

·         Admission requirements, procedures and deadlines are available on each school’s website or by contacting the school’s Guidance department.

Note: If you are unable to attend a school’s information evening, it is important to check the school’s website or contact the school directly for admission information.

Note: Transportation, including bussing and distribution of TTC tickets, is not included for Specialized Schools and Programs

 

Note: Reference letters will no longer be requested or considered from TDSB staff by specialized schools and programs that have auditions, portfolios and/or admission assessment practices in place (e.g. letters from Grade 8 teachers for Grade 9 placement).   Reference letters may be requested from persons or organizations external to the TDSB (e.g. the coach for an elite athlete).

How many schools can I apply to on Optional Attendance?

·         You can only apply to two regular and two specialized schools or programs. 

 

Once a student engages in any application process with a specialized school or program, whether audition, test or portfolio etc., it counts as a one of their choices under the Optional Attendance policy.

***A Special Thank you to Melissa Rabess who produced this document!***

Grade Nine Information Evenings

We want to remind families that the High School information nights continue to take place over the next few weeks.  Below you will find some of the schools that previous students in our schools have attended. 

School                                                                                    Info Night

David and Mary Thomson C.I.                                            November 12, 2013

Wexford Collegiate School of the Arts      

(Performing Arts)                                                                  November 13, 2013

(Visual & Media Arts)                                                            November 14, 2013

Bendale B.T.I.                                                                       November 19, 2013

Victoria Park                                                                          November 19, 2013

SATEC@ W.A Porter C.I.                                                   November 20, 2013

RH King Academy                                                                November 27, 2013

Cedarbrae C.I. (French Immersion)                                     December 3, 2013

Winston Churchill CI                                                           December 4, 2013

Thank You for Attending The Choices For Nine Evening

Thank you to all the families who were able to join us on October 23rd and October 28th for our Choices for Nine Evenings.  If you were unable to attend please pick up a copy of the handout at your child's Elementary School.  Copies will be left with the Grade 8 homeroom teachers, office administrators and the Principal.  The Secondary school information nights are getting under way and as was emphasized at the presentation you are highly encouraged to attend those evenings and make contact with the school Guidance departments. 
Birchmount CI is holding their information evening tomorrow night, October 3oth at 6:30pm.

We want to leave you with a TDSB Tip Sheet that we shared at our presentation on how Students can make a successful transition to secondary school:

1. Take part in any summer programs that secondary schools offer for example, “Moving On Up” or grade 9 information days
2. Make certain you are making an informed choice about the correct type of program for your learning style and understand the pathway (apprenticeship, college, university or work) for each course type. Follow advice of grade eight teachers
3. Attend secondary school information evenings with your parents
4. Get involved in sports and clubs, but don’t over schedule yourself
5. Take advantage of peer tutoring programs
6. Do a trial run (bus route or walking) to secondary school
7. “Hang out” with the right people
8. Make good decisions
9. Develop strong work habits at school and at home
10. Keep electronics at home
11. Do your homework
12. Ask for help if you don’t understand something - but don’t leave it until the last minute
13. Learn to self advocate – inform teachers of problems or issues that may interfere with your learning
14. Always use your agenda

"Choices for Nine" brochures have arrived!

Your child will have received a Choices for Nine brochure by October 25, 2013.  The Choices for Nine publication provides you and your child with a detailed outline of the opportunities available and the decisions and choices you’ll be making throughout high school.  Each child will be completing a scavenger hunt in class to explore the content of the brochure. 

Please take a look at the parent tip sheet for some important information by clicking here:  High School Courses and Choices Tip Slip.

Important information about the Choices for Nine program will be shared at our Choices for Nine Information evening.  We are looking forward to seeing you at one of the parent/guardian nights listed below:

• Oct. 23rd at Birchmount C.I.  at 6:30pm
• Oct. 28th at Winston Churchill S.S.  at 6:30pm

You are welcome to attend the evening which is most convenient for your family.  Come and learn about key dates, timelines, Optional Attendance procedures, Secondary School programs and requirements, Secondary School Open House dates and times, Course Selection and much more.


Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Rob Brogno                                                 Lisa Sebbio

robert.brogno@tdsb.on.ca                             lisa,sebbio@tdsb.on.ca
(416) 396-6225                                           (416) 396-6555 ext. 20040

Grade 8 Career Conference Highlights

On October 2^nd and October 4^th, 2013 Grade 8 students from ER12 took part in an interactive career conference at the Ontario Science Centre (OSC).  Our students were very fortunate to hear from many employees from the various educational pathways about their career journeys.  OSC High School students shared advice about how to make the most of their future secondary school experiences.  The students were encouraged to become involved in extracurricular activities and be students who “Make things Happen” in high school.

A big part of the day involved students learning about the numerous career possibilities available at the OSC by having the opportunity to interact with the incredible staff.  Student heard from and saw Designers who plan the amazing exhibits and many of the skilled trade employees like Anthony Sword the Cabinet Maker who build them.  Speeches and presentations by Science Centre professionals helped students learn about the importance of career planning. 

Hosted by Laura Zrymiak 

Anthony Sword and Scott Pinard

Ms. Sebbio and Mr. Brogno would like to thank all the teachers, support staff and parents for helping out with supervising the students.  A special thank you to all the students who conducted themselves in such an excellent manner.  We hope you found the day informative and enjoyable.  The feedback from the Ontario Science Centre staff about the students was overwhelmingly positive.  

The Guidance Counsellors from ER12 and ER13 would like to send out a huge THANK YOU to all the wonderful people at the Ontario Science Centre for allowing us to use this wonderful venue for our career conference and for the incredible hospitality you showed.

A special thank you to our Superintendent of Education (SOE) Nadira Persaud and the ER12 Student Success committee for supporting this wonderful initiative for our students.  

Jerry Newton

OSC High School Student and Newcomer to Canada reminds students to get the most out of high school by getting involved in extracurricular activities

OSC High School Student - Wants Students to "Make things Happen in High School"

Career Conference - October 8th and October 10th, 2014

Career development is a critical component of a well-rounded education.  As students eventually go to work, it is our responsibility as educators to expose them to occupations and career paths during their formative years.  A career conference offers students opportunities to explore their strengths and interests which can then be directly linked to occupations. 

The ER12  Family of Schools will be hosting Career exploration events on  October 8th and October 10th at the Ontario Science Centre.   This Career Awareness Project is being designed to help students discover the many pathways to success within their area of interest.  Our goal is for students to discover that there are interesting and meaningful jobs in a variety of career fields.  We want them to see that within each field there are jobs for people with high school education, jobs that require apprenticeships, jobs that need a college diploma and jobs for which a university degree is a must.  Each of the pathways; Apprenticeship, College, University & Workplace will be highlighted at the Career Conference by the staff at the Ontario Science Centre.

Connections To Creating Pathways To Success: An Education and Career/Life Planning Program For Ontario Schools 2013

Creating Pathways to Success puts students at the centre of their own learning, 

viewing them as the architects of their own lives. Students are encouraged to 

discover who they are, explore opportunities, pursue their passions, and design 

personal pathways to success. They are encouraged to express their insights in 

individual ways and to keep track of what they discover about themselves and their 

interests, passions, and opportunities over time. When students are empowered 

to design and plan their own lives, they are engaged, they achieve, and they find 

themselves applying their learning in their daily lives. In an environment that 

encourages such learning, students develop confidence in knowing that their 

school programs are created with them in mind, that the world beyond school 

has something to offer them, and that they have something to offer the world.

(Source: Creating Pathways to Success http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/policy/cps/creatingpathwayssuccess.pdf,  September 29th, 2014)

Choices for Nine and Career Conference Update

Grade 9 High School Information Nights Update

An important goal for the TDSB is that every grade 8 student and family will be equipped with the knowledge and information to make an informed and confident decision for choosing an appropriate secondary school program.  This is a process that requires a partnership between the student, parents/guardians, teachers, guidance counsellor and our secondary school representatives.  This partnership will help ensure that our students will have every opportunity for success as they transition to secondary school.  The TDSB secondary school Guidance departments have made a few changes to the High School Information Evenings  for the 2013-2014 school year.  Please click on the link on this post or on the right hand side of the Blog under the Optional Attendance and Specialized Programs section to access the most recent update.

Secondary School Information Nights are held at each school.  Here are a few:

School                                                    Info Night

Bendale B.T.I.                                       November 19
Birchmount Park C.I.                            October 30
David and Mary Thomson C.I.              November 12
RH King Academy                                 November 27
SATEC@ W.A Porter C.I.                    November 20
Sir Robert L. Borden B.T.I                   January 9
Wexford Collegiate School of the Arts   
(Performing Arts)                                   November 13
(Visual & Media Arts)                            November 14
Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute  December 4

Grade8 Career Conference

We are sending out a reminder that the ER12 Family of Schools will be sponsoring a Career Conference at the Ontario Science Centre on October 2nd and October 4th, 2013 for Grade 8 students.  Students will explore a variety of career options and learn about various postsecondary pathways and fields of work at the Ontario Science Centre.  This Career Awareness Project is being designed to help students gain valuable career planning information.  Normally this type of conference is held in the spring; however the Guidance team decided that it would be best to hold the event prior to students making their choices about which secondary school or program they would like to attend.

Follow us on Twitter

@ ER12Guidance

Choices for Nine: Grade 8 - 9 Transitions & Career Conference Update

The grade 8 students will be working on “Choices for Nine”, their transition program to grade 9 throughout the year.  The introduction to the program will begin in the coming weeks. Each student will record important dates in their agendas.  We will be making regular visits to the grade 8 classes to ensure that information goes out in a timely manner.

As an introduction to the “Choices for Nine” program for families, there will be a parent information evenings on:

• Oct. 23rd at Birchmount C.I.  at 6:30pm
• Oct. 28th at Winston Churchill S.S.  at 6:30pm

You are welcome to attend the evening which is most convenient for your family. It is highly recommended that all families of grade 8 children attend one of these very important meeting.  This session kicks off the program by providing information about key dates, timelines, Optional Attendance procedures, Secondary School programs and requirements, Secondary School Open House dates and times, Course Selection and much more.

We would also like to send out a reminder that the Career Conference dates have been tentatively set for:

Ms. Sebbio's schools - October 2nd, 2013

Mr. Brogno's schools - October 4th, 2013  

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Rob Brogno                                                 Lisa Sebbio

(416) 396-6225                                           (416) 396-6555 ext. 20040

 

Welcome Back to the 2013-2014 School Year

Hello and welcome back! Our names are Lisa Sebbio and Rob Brogno and we are the Elementary Itinerant Guidance Counsellors (EICs) for the East Region 12 (ER12) Family of Schools.

Mr. Brogno's Schools include:  Birch Cliff PS, Buchanan PS, Clairlea PS, Danforth Gardens PS, Dorset Park PS,  Ellesmere-Statton PS, JG Workman PS, Maryvale PS and Wexford PS.

Ms. Sebbio's Schools include:  Birch Cliff Heights PS, Blantyre PS, Cliffside PS, Courcelette PS, General Brock PS, General Crerar PS, George Peck PS, Ionview PS, Regent Heights PS, Samuel Hearne PS and Warden Avenue PS

To keep you informed with the Guidance and Career Education Program, we will be updating you with information on this blog.

Choices Into Action

Guidance and Career Education is mandated in our schools through a Ministry of Education Policy Document called “Choices Into Action”.  This document outlines competencies to be covered in the school Guidance and Career Education Program from grades 1 to 12.

The program is not taught as a separate subject such as mathematics or history, instead, skills are learned throughout the curriculum, blending across many areas of study.

There are 3 major areas identified in Choices Into Action.

1. Student Development
2. Interpersonal Development
3. Career Development

These three areas will be explained in upcoming newsletters, and we will be highlighting some of the ways that these skills are observed and can be addressed:

• in the school
• at home
• in the community

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Rob Brogno                                                 Lisa Sebbio

(416) 396-6225                                            (416) 396-6555 ext. 20040