DONALD A. WILSON SECONDARY SCHOOL Grade 9 Parent Information Session

The Durham District School Board acknowledges that many Indigenous Nations have longstanding relationships, both historic and modern, with the territories upon which our school board and schools are located. Today, this area is home to many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island (North America). We acknowledge that the Durham Region forms a part of the traditional and treaty territory of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, the Mississauga Peoples and the treaty territory of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation. It is on these ancestral and treaty lands that we teach, learn and live.

ADMINISTRATION TEAM Ms. MacDonald – Principal Ms. Cairns – Vice Principal (A – L) Mr. Arkoh-Forson – Vice Principal (M – Z)

Ms. Matthews – Grade 9 Counsellor GUIDANCE AT WILSON Ms. Matthews – Grade 9 Counsellor Monitor student success Assist with personal issues and concerns Make level changes on timetables based on need and availability Orientation workshop addressing study skills, organizational and time management skills Assist in pathway planning Take a Student to Work Day Coordinator – Wednesday, November 1, 2017

COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS: Encourage your child to fulfill the 40 hour requirement before the completion of Grade 10

SOME HELPFUL ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS Felicia Onwuemele Public Health Nurse Carmen Subibi School Settlement Worker SWIS Durham

Durham Public Health Health & Education Health and Education go hand in hand Research shows that healthy children are able to learn better at school and that education is a key determinant of health.

Role of Durham Region Health Work with school communities to provide a positive environment where students can be healthy and learn at their best. Information and Resources available through the Health Department Healthy Eating Physical Activity Immunization On-line, Personal, Sun Safety and Injury Prevention Positive Parenting Mental Health and Resiliency Substance Use/Abuse Tobacco Free Living Visit: Durham.ca/health for more information and resources.

Your School Public Health Nurse Each School in Durham Region has an assigned Public Health Nurse. They work with the school to promote and assist in the planning and implementation of healthy school initiatives.

My role at Donald A Wilson Assess the needs of the school Support Health Action Teams and Initiatives Develop strategies to meet the school's identified health needs Assist the school community in carrying out planned activities Evaluate the success and challenges of planned activities

Tips to Ease Transition to High School Transitioning from elementary to high school can be a challenging time not only for students but also for parents. The teenage years are a time when physical, emotional and social changes are occurring. Teens often experience a range of emotions, as do parents. Your Teen may not always appear to be listening or willing to change their behavior based on what you say. It is important to remember that they do hear you, so do not give up! 75% of teens say their parents influence the decisions they make

The Important Stuff…. Communication with your teen’s teacher’s is very important. Peer relationships are important to your teen. Teens may experiment with some risk-taking activities such as substance use or other vices.

Good Mental Health/Resiliency Good Mental Health and Resiliency is very important. Resiliency is the ability to bounce back from challenges.

For more information… Go to durham.ca/health Call Durham Health Connection Line- 905-666-6241 or 1-800-841-2729 Visit my display table in the foyer and pick up helpful resources. Wishing you the very best on this journey!

Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) Carmen Subibi  - School Settlement Worker Contact Informaiton: www.cdc.org                                      : (905)903-0172 Role of SWIS Connecting newly arrived families to services and resources in the school and community For more information visit:

INSIDE THE CLASSROOM: SUPPORT Teachers Departmental extra-help Guidance Department Student Success Special Education Department

OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM: COMMUNICATION Communication with teachers Telephone Progress report (October 12th) Parent Interviews (October 19th) Mid-term report card (November 16th) Credit endangered letters (December 14th) Final report card Semester 1 (February 16th) Similar reporting schedule for semester 2. Consult the agenda pages 4 – 5. Pull these pages out and post them on the refrigerator door! Communication with Guidance Counsellor Telephone or by Appointment

MAINTAINING CONTACT Administrators School Website Newsletters Agenda

THE SCHOOL: EXAMS Formal Examination Days - January 24 – 30 No classes during formal exam time Great time to complete some community service hours! Not a great time for a family vacation as exams are mandatory!

TIPS FOR PARENTS Be involved, be interested and make yourself available. Be a parent, not a pal.  Help to create a study space and time for studying.  Help with organization and time management. Expect homework.  Help with the balancing act between academics, athletics, and social life.  If you discover that your child is struggling academically, socially, emotionally, or with substance abuse or other serious issues, get help fast.  Course selection: listen to the experts.

SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT Student Parliament Athletic Teams (football, basketball, cross-country, volleyball, soccer, swimming, badminton, lacrosse, rugby and more…) An array of arts activities an clubs (Band, Choir, Drama) Ski/Snowboard Club Eco Club White Pine Reach For The Top Model UN Gender and Sexuality Acceptance (GSA) …and much, much more!

See Ms. Matthews in the Guidance Office (Room 105) for answers QUESTIONS See Ms. Matthews in the Guidance Office (Room 105) for answers

Thank you for coming today!