Chelmsford Valley District Composite School Grades 7 - 12 school L. Mantle - Principal

Chelmsford Valley District Composite School became a Grades 7 – 12 school in 1992 (18 years ago).

Staff 1 Principal 1 Vice-Principal Two secretaries (responsible for safe arrival program at the Grade 7 & 8 level) ETFO staff (Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario) OSSTF staff (Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation)

How CVDCS runs as a school… Even though there are students from both grades 7 & 8 as well as 9-12, we operate as one school (bell times, staff meetings, school council, assemblies, special activity days…) The Grades 7 & 8 students however have their own area of the school that includes a private entrance as well as separate washrooms from the Grades 9-12 students.

CVDCS Main Floor

Lunch time Our grades 7 & 8 students have lunch at a different time than our secondary students. Lunchroom supervisors accompany our Grades 7 & 8 students to the cafeteria (where we have a hot food service available for our students). Following approx. a 20 minute lunch, the lunchroom supervisors accompany the students back to their lockers where they prepare to go outside for a supervised 30 minute recess. Grade 7 & 8 students are not permitted off of school property unless they walk home for lunch (note signed by the parents). Grade 9-12 students are not permitted in the Grade 7 & 8 field.

CVDCS Second Floor

The benefits of a Gr. 7 -12 school Access to resources Gymnasium Instrumental music room Computer labs Woodshop Science labs Cafeteria Academic program: Curricular streamlining 7-12 Making the transition to secondary school a successful transition as students feel comfortable in the school. Staff connections with students are stronger – we know the needs of our students and are better prepared to meet those needs and help our students graduate. Athletics program: In a Grade 7-12 school our grade 7 & 8 students can train with our secondary students in order to improve their skill set in any particular sport. Our secondary students can help coach and mentor some of our Grade 7 & 8 teams.

As principal of a Grade 7 – 12 school, I enjoy working with the 7 & 8s as well as the 9-12 students. At CVDCS, we are very pleased to be a Gr. 7-12 school and I would strongly recommend this school structure to other communities.

Thank you. Questions?