High School 101 for Parents and
Guardians
Unionville High School
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
DID YOU KNOW...
When parents are involved in their teen's high
school experiences, students…
• have higher achievement.
• are better adjusted.
• are less likely to drop out of school.
SCHOOL HOURS
• Show your teen that school is important by doing your part in
getting your teen to school by 8:25 a.m. every morning.
• School begins at 8:30
• Students who are late for school miss crucial routines,
announcements and learning
 Being at school at least 15 minutes before the bell allows time
to get to their lockers and organize their materials for the day
 Excuse your teen from classes only for urgent or unavoidable
reasons.
 Students who continually arrive after 8:30 a.m. will have
consequences (often detentions).
PARKING LOT
• Our school promotes healthy lifestyles. We encourage
our students to walk to school!
• The school driveway is very busy in the mornings
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
• Please do not stop your car in the “No Idle Cars’ zone.
• Parking passes are required for all cars. Please Cars that
do not have a parking pass will be ticketed by the Town
of Markham
CLASSES
 Students will have the same four classes each
day for the semester.
 Classes are 75 minutes long.
 Supplies – binder, pen, pencil, ruler, eraser,
calculator, lined paper, USB key
 Optional subjects may require special supplies.
 Physical Education
t-shirt + shorts are required.
ATTENDANCE
 Emphasize Perfect Attendance:
Try to book appointments for after school or at lunch.
 Student Absence:
A Parent/Guardian must call the main office before 8:30 am.
 Daytime Appointments:
Send a note – students must be signed out in the attendance
office (room 230)
 Extended Absence:
Students must complete an extended absence form to be
signed by parents and your child’s teachers. The form must
be returned to the attendance office prior to the absence.
ATTENDANCE
 Planned Absences:
Your child should inform his or her teachers prior to the date
of absence.
 Sports or Other School Activities :
Students should inform teachers well in advance of absences.
 Exams :
Do not book holidays in January and June! Exam dates must
be adhered to and exams can NOT be re-arranged. They are
a critical demonstration of learning and missing an exam can
have a significant impact on your child’s final mark.
Unionville High School
Administration:
• Principal
Ms. M. Weaver
• Vice-Principal (A – K)
Ms. L. Perez
• Vice-Principal (L – R)
Mr. J. Mancuso
• Vice-Principal (S – Z)
Ms. M. Schmidt
Who Can Help You?
• Student Success Team
Ms. Choi – Student Success Teacher (rm. 301)
Ms. Bowmile- Head of Special Education (rm. 216)
Ms. Pugh- Head of English as a Second Language (rm. 233)
Ms. Philippson- Head of Guidance
School Settlement Worker
Angela Guo – Thursdays and Fridays (rm. 323)
Student Council Executive
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Orianna Mak - President
William Politis-Barber - Vice-President
Veronica Wong - Clubs Director
Aeron Jeyaseelan & Willa Zhu - Athletics Directors
Alex Russo & Carol Yao - Arts Directors
Kyle Wang & Rosemary Li - Community Directors
• Michelle Moayedi & Parmida Dian - Social Justice Directors
• Vivian Lee & Peony Chang - Special Events Directors
Safe and Supportive Schools
• This policy can be found in the school agenda book.
• Make sure that your child is aware of the consequences
that apply for inappropriate behaviour.
• There are clear consequences for violence, intimidation,
weapons, bullying/cyber bullying, and possession and/or
use of drugs/alcohol.
• If students feel threatened or bullied they should report
it to an adult (teacher, guidance counsellor or
administrator).
We work closely with York Regional Police and
have officers assigned to our school. You will
often see them in the building.
Safe and Supportive Schools
• Safety Week
3rd week of September (17th-24th)
Fire Drill & Lock Down drills
Displays & Workshops will be offered
VALUABLES
• Leave valuables (e.g. money, i-pod, digital
cameras) at home.
• The school does not take responsibility for lost
or stolen articles. Students should not leave
expensive items in their lockers or Phys. Ed.
changerooms.
• Students should not share their locker
combinations.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
• Cell Phones & iPods
May not be used in any way to record another
person without their permission
Absolutely may not be used or visible during
evaluations (tests, exams, in-class evaluations)
They may be used in classrooms only with the
permission of the teacher and as part of the
learning activity
HOMEWORK
 Expect approximately 1-2 hours of homework per day.
 Establish a routine. Setting a regular time and sticking to it
helps teens complete their homework assignments.
 Set the mood. Ensure the room your teen studies in is quiet,
has plenty of light, and has school supplies close at hand.
 Remove distractions by turning off the television,
monitoring the Internet and discouraging social phone calls
during homework time.
 Show an interest. Ask your teen about what he/she is
discussing in school each day.
ASSIGNMENTS
 Be involved in your teen’s school life!
 Students should write due dates of assignments in their
Agenda Books. Check your teen’s agenda regularly.
 “I FORGOT that the assignment was due,” is not an
acceptable excuse.
 Set up a schedule so the assignment can be completed on
time and not at the last minute!
 Look over completed assignments to ensure that all
requirements have been met.
 Encourage your teen to share returned assignments so you can
read the teacher's comments.
AGENDA BOOKS
• Take note of Unionville’s calendar of events.
(Exams, P.A. Days, Holidays, School Events)
• Encourage your child to write down daily
homework, due dates for assignments, and dates
for tests or quizzes.
• Organization is the key to success!
INTERNET
• Computers should be in a common area in the
house and not in your child’s bedroom.
• Limit the time spent on the Internet each day.
• Be aware of the websites your child is visiting.
INTERNET
• MSN and CHAT ROOMS – Parents should be aware
of who their children are chatting with and what they are
saying. Walk by your child when they are on the
computer to see what they are doing.
• Safety – Any information or photos posted online are
public and can be viewed and manipulated by anyone.
• Report Suspicious Activity. If you or your child
encounter suspicious or dangerous situations online,
report them to your Internet Service Provider and local
police.
EXTRA HELP
 UHS teachers always provide extra help!
 The student should set up a time to meet with his/her
teacher before school, at lunch time, or after school.
 Many departments in the school offer extra help rooms after school.
 Ensure that your teen keeps this appointment.
 Our Student Success teacher, Student Achievement
Teachers and literacy teachers are also available to
provide assistance to students who are at risk.
 Call your teen’s teacher or the Guidance Department if
you have concerns.
TIPS FOR PARENTS
• Encourage your teen to do his/her best in
school.
• Remember “personal best” does not mean
“perfect” and learning is not the same as
achieving high grades.
• Teens, like adults, need the freedom to make
mistakes and learn from them.
• Encourage your teen to get involved in UHS’s
sports teams, clubs, or councils!
Tips for Parents cont’d
 Your attitude toward education makes a strong
and lasting impression on your teen.
 Help your teen set goals.
 At the beginning of each term, help your teen
identify three or four goals. Post the goals where
they can be seen.
(The refrigerator is always an excellent spot.)
 Make sure the goals are specific.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
• Attend parent/teacher interviews.
(November & March)
• Interpreters can be arranged for parent
interviews.
• Attend school council meetings.
(listed in Agenda Book)
First Meeting: SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2012
• Attend concerts, sports events, and multicultural events.
SOME TIPS
 Encourage your teen to become independent.
 Communicate - Encourage your teen to talk about
school, social events, and their peers.
 Friends – Get to know your teen’s new friends.
 Bullying- Watch for symptoms that your teen may be a
bullying victim. Be aware of signs such as withdrawal, a
drop in grades, physical signs, or needing extra money or
supplies. Inform administration immediately!
E-mail Addresses
Please ensure that we have your email address.
Many school communications are sent through
email….
This is a great way to keep on top of what is going
on at the school.
Please contact us if you have any
questions or concerns.
We Look Forward to working with
you over the next 4 years!