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