Joanne Brown
Guidance Head, Maple High School
“Home of Scholars, Leaders, Athletes and Artists”
Transition Activities:
 Introduction to a Year of Choices & Decisions – Early October
 Take Our Gr 8’s to High School – November 5, 2014
 Introduction to Career Cruising – Early December
 Regional Program Application Deadlines – October/November
 Grade 8 Parent Info Night – January 8, 2015
Transition Activities, cont’d:
 Course Selection with Career Cruising – January/February
 ESL Assessments and IPRC meetings – January/February
 Student Ambassadors Visit Grade 8’s – mid April
 Student Success meetings – May
 Final Transition Activity – May/June
Why come to Maple HS?
“Home of Scholars, Leaders, Athletes and Artists”
 Academic excellence
 Leadership opportunities
 Athletic pursuits
 Artistic endeavours
 Specialist High Skills Major programs (SHSM)
 Experiential learning
 Superior Broad-based Technology programs
TYPE
ENVIRONMENT
Guided approach to learning using
Locally
Developed practical examples and concrete
objects.
LEARNER
Need additional support
to build skills up to grade
level.
Applied
Step by step approach using practical
examples in a teacher directed
environment.
Enjoys learning by doing
and benefits from a
structured , teacher
directed setting.
Academic
Theoretical and independent approach Enjoys learning
to learning with a focus on abstract
independently and going
thinking and application skills.
beyond the related
learning; self motivated.
Open
An opportunity to explore an area of
interest for all students.
Available to all students
Advanced Placement (AP)
 What?
 completion of examinations beyond the regular Grade 12 course content
 exams are set by the College Entrance Board in New Jersey, U.S.A.
 courses are designed to provide students with background and knowledge
equivalent to a first-year university course
 allow students the opportunity for enriched, intensive study in one or more
subjects of interest and strength – Grade 9 and 10 is “pre” Advanced Placement
 courses are recognized by many Canadian and International universities as
advanced standing for first-year study in specific courses
 Where?
 Maple High School
 Eligibility?
 Students should be strong in the subject area they wish to take AP level courses
in and should have strong independent work skills and time management skills
 Application/Registration Process?
 Students must submit the completed GLEAM application by January 30, 2015
and select the AP courses on their course selection
ARTS Programs
 What?
 comprehensive arts programming in dance, drama, music and visual arts
 students earning a minimum of eight credits will be eligible to receive a YRDSB
“Certificate of Specialization in the Arts” to be presented at graduation
 Where?
 West Area ARTS Program - Westmount CI, Bathurst & New Westminster
 Eligibility?
 Admission for all Secondary Arts Programs for Grade 9 occurs through an
audition (dance, drama, music) and/or portfolio presentation (visual arts) each
January.
 Application/Registration Process?
 Information evening on October 15 at Vaughan City Playhouse next to
Westmount CI - need to RSVP for info session
 Applications for the program of choice are due November 28, 2014
 Application forms are available on Westmount CI website at
http://westmount.ci.yrdsb.ca
Bill Crothers SS Sports Programs
(BCSS)
 What? – two available programs based on involvement in sports:
 Sport For Life Student Athlete
 High Performance Athlete Profile
 A balanced school year calendar will be followed – school begins August 1
 Where?
 Bill Crothers SS, Unionville (407 & Kennedy Road)
 Eligibility?
 Students must meet the criteria of either the Sport For Life Student Athlete Profile or the
High Performance Athlete Profile through an application and interview.
 Application/Registration Process?
 Information evenings – October 7, 15 and 16 at BCSS
 Applications due November 7, 2014
 Application available October 17th on BCSS website at
http://billcrothers.ss.yrdsb.ca
French Immersion
 What?
 Students in the French Immersion program take one third of their
course requirements (10 credits) in French
 Upon successful completion of the program, students are granted a
Certificate in French Immersion Studies.
 Where?
 Vaughan Secondary School, Dufferin & Clark Streets
 Eligibility?
 May enter the secondary FI program only from the elementary FI
program
 Application/Registration Process?
 Students who do not wish to continue in the FI program and wish to
return to their local community high school are asked to notify their
FI elementary school in writing.
Gifted Program
 What?
 Gifted programming is available in Grades 9 and 10 only to students
with an IPRC identification
 Where?
 Maple High School
 Eligibility?
 Student must have a Gifted identification through an IPRC and must
have been accessing Gifted programming during elementary school
 Application/Registration Process?
 Students who do not wish to continue in the Gifted program and wish
to return to their local community high school, or attend one of the
Regional programs, must go through an IPRC to change their
placement. Please contact the Special Education Resource Teacher at
the elementary school.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
 What?
 an alternative program where students complete their OSSD and work
toward an IB diploma or certificate(s)
 recognized internationally as a demanding pre-university course of
study
 designed for students aged 16 to 19 (Grades 11 and 12) who are
committed to completing courses and external examinations in six
different subject areas – English, French, Mathematics, Science
(Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics), Humanities (History or
Economics), and Arts (Music, Drama or Visual Arts); as well as an
extended essay (EE), 150 Creativity, Action and Service volunteer hours,
and a Theory of Knowledge (ToK) course
 to prepare for the diploma program in grades 11 and 12, students will
begin in the pre-IB program in grades 9 and 10.
 Where?
 Bayview SS, Major Mackenzie & Bayview
 Eligibility?
 Profile of an IB Student - Interested in internationalism
 University-bound
 Well-rounded
 A leader
 A high achiever
 A volunteer and a giver
 Someone who wants to take control of his or her education
 Application/Registration Process?
 IB Information and Application meeting – October 30, 2014
 Pre-IB Assessment Test (for entry into Grade 9 in September 2015) –
Saturday, November 29, 2014 – assessment of English, French and Math
skills at the Grade 8 level - all multiple choice questions.
 Information available on the Bayview SS website at
www.bayview.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Transfer Process
 An official transfer request must be completed if a
student wishes to attend a school that is NOT their
local community high school.
 This does not include any other YRDSB Regional
program.
 Does not apply if the student and parents are physically
moving to the other school’s boundary area.
 Transfer request must be submitted to the local
community high school at the time that the
registration and course selections forms are due
(late January).
Transfer Process, cont’d
 Transfer forms are signed by the “sending” principal and
taken to the board’s Transfer meeting.
 Depending on YRDSB parameters (some schools are
“closed” to transfers), “receiving” principals and
superintendants sign the form if the transfer is accepted.
 The “receiving” school will contact the student to confirm
the transfer and confirm the course selections.
 The student will be removed from the rolls of the “sending”
school.
Who to contact with questions:
 Your son/daughter’s Grade 8 teacher
 Maple High School
 Head of Guidance – Joanne Brown
 joanne.brown@yrdsb.ca