GETTING READY FOR GRADE 9 Welcome to Nelson High School!

Welcome and Introductions Welcome to all parents Introductions: Principal: Karen Hartman Vice Principal: Jeffery Carey Vice Principal: Pamela Jenkins  Welcome to Nelson  Setting the Stage  Student Voice – Safe Schools Action Team  Pathways  Role of Student Services  Supports available for Student Success  School Life – Nelson Beyond the Classroom  ‘A Day in the Life of a Grade 9 Student’

Our Pledge… to create a safe, and healthy environment in which each student is engaged, supported and challenged everyday

Getting Ready for High School December to January – Guidance Counsellors visit our feeder schools Late January – Course Selection Sheets submitted February 14 th - Grade 8 to 9 Optional Attendance Forms due to Home School Early February – MyBluePrint May 14 th – Grade 8s visit Nelson

Getting Ready for High School Nelson LINK Crew Grade 11 student leaders who act as positive role models, motivators and mentors for our Grade 9s

Student Council Grade 9 Reps Link Crew Athletics Arts Tech Getting Involved at Nelson

Increasing the kindness in our school Making Nelson A Better

-Rude Nicknames -Tweeting about someone without their knowledge or without specifically naming them (but making it obvious who it’s about) -Spreading rumours -Being violent or threatening towards someone else in order to intimidate them. Defining The Act of Bullying Anytime you try to exercise control or power over another person through unfair words or actions, you are participating in the act of bullying.

Social Media

Talk to your child. Reacting to Bullying Everyone deals with bullying differently, and deciding to ask about their day could make your child’s life SO much better. When you're aware of important aspects of their life, you can help them with their problems.

 -Think before they tweet  -Be kind  -Be positive  -Smile! Encourage your children to...

 on twitter for positive quotes and comments and to be aware of upcoming events at Nelson. For more Information… Help make Twitter Positive!

Nelson High School Guide to Secondary School

Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements 1 course = 1 credit 18 compulsory credits 18 compulsory credits 12 optional credits 12 optional credits 40 hours of community involvement 40 hours of community involvement pass the Grade 10 literacy test pass the Grade 10 literacy test

Compulsory Credits (Total 18) 4 English credits (1 credit per grade) 3 Math credits (at least 1 credit in grade 11 or 12) 3 Math credits (at least 1 credit in grade 11 or 12) 2 Science credits 2 Science credits 1 French credit 1 French credit 1 Canadian Geography credit 1 Canadian Geography credit 1 Canadian History credit 1 Canadian History credit 1 Arts credit 1 Arts credit 1 Healthy Active Living credit (Phys Ed) 1 Healthy Active Living credit (Phys Ed) ½ Civics and ½ Careers credit (taken in Grade 10) ½ Civics and ½ Careers credit (taken in Grade 10)

Optional Credits (Total 12) In addition to 18 compulsory credits, students must earn 12 optional credits Optional credits are courses of your choice Optional credits are courses of your choice They allow students to build an educational program based on their individual interests They allow students to build an educational program based on their individual interests They help students meet university, college or apprenticeship requirements They help students meet university, college or apprenticeship requirements

Nelson High School Guide to Secondary School Page 2 of Guide

Grade 9 Course Selection Compulsory EnglishEnglish MathematicsMathematics ScienceScience FrenchFrench GeographyGeography Healthy Active LivingHealthy Active Living Business or TechnologyBusiness or TechnologyOptional Visual ArtsVisual Arts Dramatic ArtsDramatic Arts Instrumental MusicInstrumental Music Select only one of the above

Grade 9 Option Sheet

The Difference Between Academic and Applied Applied AppliedAcademic Applied courses cover the essential Academic courses cover the essential concepts of a subjectconcepts of a subject (greater depth) Knowledge and skills are developedKnowledge and skills are developed through both theory and practicalthrough both theory and practical applicationapplication Emphasis will be on practicalEmphasis will be on theory application Concept development based more Concept development based more on familiar, real life situationson abstract thinking Faster pacing than Applied, so more material covered

Strengths of the Learner Academic and Applied Applied AppliedAcademic Capable Reader Reads and comprehends well Reads for a specific purposeEnjoys and values reading Completes tasks in directedCompletes tasks independently environment Enjoys learning by doing and by Enjoys learning by doing and by some theoretical workextensive theoretical work Recognizes the need for, and completes, daily homework Benefits from more structureBenefits from more independence

Academic and Applied Course Selection Importance of Grade 8 teacher recommendationImportance of Grade 8 teacher recommendation Courses are not taken as a package dealCourses are not taken as a package deal Individual courses can be taken at the level most appropriate for the success of the learnerIndividual courses can be taken at the level most appropriate for the success of the learner The most successful students are engaged, confident and enjoying the learning process.The most successful students are engaged, confident and enjoying the learning process.

Math The “ Keeping the Doors Open” Myth College and University programs that have Gr. 12 math prerequisites most often require great success in these courses (i.e. 75 – 80+%)!College and University programs that have Gr. 12 math prerequisites most often require great success in these courses (i.e. 75 – 80+%)! Many College/University programs have no math prerequisite. (You can still go to Coll./Univ. without math!)Many College/University programs have no math prerequisite. (You can still go to Coll./Univ. without math!) Struggling in a math course at an inappropriate level (e.g., with 50-60% or less) may be a source of great stress and won’t necessarily “keep the doors open”Struggling in a math course at an inappropriate level (e.g., with 50-60% or less) may be a source of great stress and won’t necessarily “keep the doors open” Students with 14 or fewer credits (i.e. 2 failures) by the end of Grade 10 are 50% less likely to graduate from high school - Alan King Report, 2002Students with 14 or fewer credits (i.e. 2 failures) by the end of Grade 10 are 50% less likely to graduate from high school - Alan King Report, 2002 Choosing pathways now that lead to success and confidence increase the chances of success later.Choosing pathways now that lead to success and confidence increase the chances of success later.

Math and English Pathways The level of grade 9 Math and English should be chosen based on a student’s likelihood of being successful at that levelThe level of grade 9 Math and English should be chosen based on a student’s likelihood of being successful at that level The elementary school teacher’s recommendation is a strong indicator of the potential for success at a given levelThe elementary school teacher’s recommendation is a strong indicator of the potential for success at a given level Based on their success, students can move between levels (may involve summer school)Based on their success, students can move between levels (may involve summer school) College and University are not mutually exclusive - transfer agreements exist in both directionsCollege and University are not mutually exclusive - transfer agreements exist in both directions

Post Secondary Pathways ApprenticeshipApprenticeship CollegeCollege UniversityUniversity WorkplaceWorkplace The Halton District School Board recognizes all Post Secondary pathways as valid and equal options for graduates.

MYBLUEPRINT COURSE SELECTION GUIDE

Assessment and Evaluation in Grade 9 70% Term Work Final 30% -Performance Task -Exam The Final 30% occurs in the last 4 weeks of each semester ***EQAO Grade 9 Math Assessment ***

Student Success at Nelson Our Student Success Team: Student Success Teachers Special Education Resource Teachers Guidance Counsellors School Social Worker Administration

What happens when I am not learning? Student Success Supports: Individual Teacher Support Subject Specific Clinics Student Success Rm. 103 Tutors (peer or professional) Success in H.S. Seminars Resource lunch

NELSON

Day in the Life of a Gr. 9 Nelson Student - Tour Pink Handout – Ms. Hayakawa Grey Handout – Mr. George Yellow Handout –Ms. Anderson Beige Handout – Mr. Malarczuk Blue Handout - Mr. Messier Purple Handout – Mr. Bird Salmon Handout - Ms. Dueckman Mint Green Handout – Ms. Rudge White Handout – Ms. Jenkins & Ms. Grenier Dark Green Handout - Mr. Carey

NELSON HIGH SCHOOL est “Over 50 Years of Excellence”