Success for Life » Starting High School

Welcome to High School

News Desk — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:30:03 +0000

High school is a very exciting time in your life. It is a time to learn, expand your knowledge, mature toward adulthood and a career and to create some of the best memories of your life. Avon Maitland Secondary schools offer a wide variety of programs designed to meet your needs and guide you toward reaching your full potential.

When you first enter your high school, it may appear much larger than your public or elementary school. Sometimes you can even feel overwhelmed while finding your way around and and trying to meet the expectations of a challenging secondary program. However you can relax knowing that your school has caring and supportive teachers, a variety of co-instructional activities, and friendly students. The material you learn in grade 9 builds on your learning from grade 8 and all of our secondary schools offer students orientation programs to help them make a smooth transition.

This site provides you with important information to help you and your parents prepare for secondary school and plan your pathway. It also includes each school’s Program and Course Calendar for the 2012-2013 school year.

The Avon Maitland District School Board provides a program designed to ensure all students experience success as they move into, through and beyond secondary school. The Success for Life program utilizes web-based and school-based resources to support students and their parents by identifying personal strengths, mapping out secondary school course selection, and exploring options in each pathway (Apprenticeship, College, Work, including Community Living and University) beyond high school. This transition guide is a valuable part of the Success for Life program and focuses on those heading into high school for the first time.

More specifically, this program helps students and their parents learn about:

Skills and Interests

Future career options

Pathways

Opportunities for getting work experience

Changes to Community Involvement Hours – Graduation Requirement

News Desk — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:49:32 +0000

Effective July 1, 2011, students will be able to start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer before they enter grade 9. Research shows that early involvement in community service helps students build a spirit of civic responsibility which can then be expanded as they move through secondary school.

Community Involvement Hours must be completed, unpaid, outside normal school hours. Students can seek opportunities in the community by offering assistance to service clubs, community groups, charities, conservation groups, health agencies, not-for-profit activities, and others.

Your school will have more information about the process of logging your child’s community involvement hours. Please contact them for more information.

Skills For Success

News Desk — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:50:44 +0000

Student Success
Every secondary school has a Student Success Team which works to ensure that every student has a successful secondary school experience. Members of the SS Team include the Principal (or Vice-Principal), Guidance, Student Success and Special Education Teachers. Student Success Teams develop credit rescue, credit recovery and transitional plans with students. They make sure that programs and activities are in place to help every student be successful.

Attendance

Recommendations

Attend school each day
Arrive for class on time

If you

Miss school
Have more absences noted on report card than expected

Then

Discuss attendance record with school administration
Develop a plan to ensure regular attendance
Ensure school work for absences is brought home, completed and submitted

Homework & Assignment Submission

Recommendations

Amount of time spent on assigned homework depends on student’s needs, subject, school schedule, proximity to tests, exams and assigned homework due dates
Complete and submit all assignments for assessment

If you

Do not complete assigned homework regularly
Do not submit assignments for assessment

Then

Be sure you understand the homework or assignment
Seek additional help from your teacher
visit www.gsc2.amdsb.ca for homework help
visit https://homeworkhelp.ilc.org/ for homework help

Organization & Time Management

Recommendations

Take accurate notes and keep binder well organized
Use an agenda to plan assignments, projects, and tests
Manage study time and begin to prepare well in advance

If you

Do not use your school planner issued to you
Have disorganized or incomplete notes

Then

Use the planner provided for you
Seek help to set up a time management and organizational plan
Monitor use of your planner and notebook

Be A Verb

News Desk — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:26:54 +0000

Bullying is not tolerated in AMDSB schools

What to do about bullying

Walk away from the situation
Do not respond – don’t talk back, don’t email back, don’t hit back
Tell an adult whom you trust about the situation – a bus driver, coach, teacher, principal
Find a friend to be with in places you don’t feel safe

For more information about bullying and what you can do, access:

AMDSB’s bully prevention website at www.beaverb.ca
the Huron-Perth Prevention website at www.bullyprevention.ca
a booklet, “Bullying, We Can All Help Stop It”, is available from the Ontario Ministry of Education to assist parents and students with issues of bullying. Contact AMDSB at 519-527-0111 or 1-800-592-5437 to request a free copy. These are also available on the Minstry of Education website.
Kids Help Phone by calling 1-800-668-6868, or visit www.kidshelpphone.ca

Transitions Guide

News Desk — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:10:04 +0000

The move from grade 8 to grade 9 presents a number of challenges for young adolescents as they embark on the secondary school journey. “Getting There from Here” is a guide for students and parents making the transition from elementary school to high school. This guide is designed to help make that transition as smooth as possible. Watch the video below to see how students you know have made the transition to high school. Select the play button on the image to play the video.

To view this incredible magazine in PDF format, please select this link: PDF

To read it like a real magazine – online – see below:

Open publication - Free publishing - More amdsb

Grade 8 Night at High School

News Desk — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:18:22 +0000

Every February, Grade 8 students and their parents from across Huron and Perth Counties are invited to explore what their local high school has to offer.

Through classroom visits, displays and talking to current students and teachers, the grade 8 students can explore all the things the school has to offer, both academically and extra curricular. The Grade 8 Nights also give parents a chance have any questions they may have answered.

Watch this video for a glimpse into CHSS’s Grade 8 Night:

Some Common Teen Questions

News Desk — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:28:50 +0000

Here are some common questions teens ask before they get to secondary school:

I’m used to a small elementary school. What will I do if I get lost in such a huge high school?

Secondary schools organize a Grade 8 open house and a Grade 9 Orientation. Try to attend these events with your parents so you can get more familiar with the school. It may take you a few days before you get used to the school and its layout. If you can’t find a room, ask a teacher or another student and they will be happy to help you.

I am worried about the number of people at the high school. How will I meet friends?

In grade 9, everyone is new to the school and looking for a friend or group of friends. Introduce yourself to other students in your classes and to students who have lockers near yours. Join a team or club – you will meet many new people by participating in these activities.

What will I learn in my classes? Will it be more difficult than my grade 8 school work? How will I keep up?

The material you learn in grade 9 builds on your learning from grade 8. If you don’t understand something, ask your teacher for extra help. You could also ask a classmate. You may feel shy asking a question; however, it is important that you do as there are likely other students in the class who are wondering the same thing. If you experience difficulties and are wondering if you have the skills and knowledge to succeed in the course, talk to your teacher and your guidance counsellor.

How To Help Your Teen’s Decision Making

News Desk — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:03:29 +0000

Photography credit to fanboyk

Parents play a major role in the high school lives of their children. Supporting your son or daughter contributes to their overall success in school, but there are many ways to provide that support. Here are some of the more significant contributions you can make to help your teen make the right decisions in school:

Attend parent information session
Learn about courses offered and diploma requirements
Encourage your teen to engage in the process of exploring career and education and training opportunities
Review your teen’s Annual Education Plan regularly
Talk to your teen about the work you and other family members do
Help your teen expand their list of possibilities
Find out about costs and financial assistance for post secondary education and training
Encourage the development of a Plan “A” and a Plan “B”
Maintain contact with your teen’s teachers and guidance counsellor
Support your teen in their decision-making
Find out about ways to get involved in your teen’s school such as joining the school council or volunteering to take part in career days
Have fun in the process!

The benefits of parental involvement?

You get to know the teaching staff and administrative team
You become comfortable communicating with the teachers and administrators
You get to know your child’s friends and classmates