GRADUATION TRANSITION PROGRAM KWALIKUM SECONDARY SCHOOL

What is Grad Transitions? It is a requirement of the Ministry of Education – all Grade 12’s must complete a Graduation Transition Plan in order to graduate. It includes four (4) things: 1.Completion of a minimum of 30 hours of volunteer OR work experience. 2.Completion of 90 hours of physical activity over Grades 11 &/or Completion of a Graduation Transition Workbook plus an updated cover letter and resume. 4.An exit interview.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS 1.Goal Setting (short-term & long-term) 2.My Plan following Graduation 3.Financial Budget (for 1 st year after high school) 4.Cover Letter (general) 5.Resume (formatted & error-free) 6.Employability Skills Self-Evaluation 7.Reflections 8.Work/Volunteer Experience (30 hrs) Form 9.Physical Activity Journal (90 hrs) 10.Healthy Living Plan 11.Signature Page

30 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER OR WORK EXPERIENCE The purpose of this requirement is for students to explore potential career opportunities, or to gain insight into community involvement. What counts towards volunteer or work experience hours? Employment (a paid job – past or present – anything from grade 10 on) A volunteer position with a community group or organization A volunteer opportunity with a community or school special event

What doesn’t count towards your 30 hours? Doing odd jobs for your parents or family (i.e. cutting the grass, raking leaves, doing household chores, etc.

The Work Experience and Volunteer Recording forms each have some questions on the back of the pages that you must answer in some detail. An Employability Skills sheet will help you answer these questions.

PROPER DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED!! Your volunteer or work experience hours must be recorded on specific forms, which are available in the Counselling Centre. When complete – the signed forms must be handed into the Counselling Centre where your hours will be recorded.

Work Experience Hours Hours are recorded on an “Employability Skills Work Experience Journal”. You may record a period of time instead of specific dates (Example: Sept-Dec 2013 – 45 hrs.) You can include pay stub(s) to prove the hours. Your supervisor must sign in the right hand column and provide some comments at the bottom of the page.

Volunteer Hours Record your volunteer hours on a “Community Volunteer Involvement & Responsibility Journal”. You may record a period of time instead of specific dates (Example: Sept-Dec 2013 – 45 hrs.) Your supervisor must sign in the right hand column and provide some comments at the bottom of the page.

90 HOURS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HOURS It is a Ministry of Education requirement that every graduating student must have completed 90 hours of physical activity in grade 11 or 12. What counts to meet this requirement? Completion of PE 11 or 12 Extra-curricular sports or physical activity (must be supervised by an adult) Community fitness program/gym membership There is a 90 Hour Activity Sheet available from the Counselling Centre. Students will need this form to record extra-curricular hours. The sheet includes a personal fitness reflection which is part of the form and should be completed thoughtfully.

Extra-Curricular Physical Activity What counts? Participating on a sports team (school or community) Dance program Track and Field Martial Arts A regular fitness program/gym membership

Grad Transition Booklet This booklet is an "assignment" and must be treated with importance, and completed neatly, thoughtfully and handed in on time. Any incomplete or messy work will be returned to students to redo. Students will meet with teachers in small groups in early April to receive some training in how to complete the booklet properly.

The Grad Transition Booklet is 11 pages in length and asks a variety of questions and includes: The due date A checklist of what needs to be completed A series of questions that require detailed answers A sample post-secondary budget that you need to complete Some questions about your post- secondary plans

Cover Letter & Resume A cover letter and resume MUST BE HANDED IN along with a student’s Grad Transition Booklet. This should be stapled together and delivered to the Counselling Centre on or before the due date. For assistance with how to do cover letters and resumes, please see the examples on the KSS Counselling Centre website.

REFERENCES SHEET There are a variety of formats for creating your resume. Career Cruising has a Resume Building program that will format all of the information and present it in a professional manner. If you use the Career Cruising program, your references will be on a separate references sheet. You are also welcome to use a format presented in your workbook. These formats will allow you to add your references onto the resume page but they can be more work. Spelling & grammar counts! Check your work!!

When the Graduation Transition Booklet is handed in along with the cover letter and resume, it is marked by Ms. Slaughter. A booklet completed satisfactorily is marked complete, and the student is then eligible to schedule an EXIT INTERVIEW. Complete

I’m a Keener!!! What Can I do Now? Complete your Work Experience or Volunteer Experience paperwork Complete your Physical Activity Documentation Form Start working on updating your resume & cover letter (if you don’t have one, start on one!) Start talking to your parents/guardians about costs of moving out (rent, utilities, food, etc.)

GRAD TRANSITIONS WORKSHOP DAY Thursday, April 7 th All grade 12’s are expected to attend The morning will consist of five workshops to inform & assist you with the following: Cover Letters & Resumes Financial Budget Healthy Living Plan Housing Rights Grad Transitions Booklet & Exit Interview Information

GRAD TRANSITIONS BOOKLET DEADLINE THURSDAY, APRIL 28 TH What if I don’t submit my Grad Transitions booklet by the deadline? You are deemed ineligible to graduate! You are removed from the Grad List! You will not be given an Exit Interview! You are ineligible to attend Prom (no tickets)! You are ineligible to attend Commencement!

EXIT INTERVIEW An Exit Interview is a mandatory process that every grade 12 must go through in order to get an “RM” – or “Requirement Met”. Students are responsible for booking their own interview time. A sheet will be posted in the Counselling Centre in late April/early May. The appointment is booked upon completion of the Grad Transition Booklet.

What is the Exit Interview Process? The Exit Interviews will take place up at The Gardens during the afternoon of Thursday, May 12 th, 2015 Each appointment time is for two grade 12 students, who may sit together at a table. Each table will have two grade 12 students, two adults, and two Planning 10 students. Grade 12 students are responsible for remembering their interview time and for attending. Each interview will be approximately minutes in length. The interview team will ask a variety of interview questions. If a student misses their Exit Interview, it is their responsibility to schedule an alternate date/time.

What Questions will be asked at the Exit Interview? The Exit Interview process is not meant to be difficult or stressful for students! The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. It is meant to be more of a conversation! Students will be asked questions about their experiences in high school and what their future plans are. Here are a few sample questions. Describe a KSS experience that you are proud of. Describe your top 3 strengths and what you have learned about yourself. Is there an area of study or skill set that you’d still like to improve in? What advice would you give students in Grades 9 or 10 as you look back at your years at KSS? What did you like about KSS? What do you plan to do when you graduate?

If you have any questions at all, please see Ms. Slaughter in the Counselling Centre. I am here to help! Help sessions with any aspects of the Grad Transitions assignments (budget, cover letter, resume) will be available every Tuesday (afterschool) or Wednesday & Thursday (at lunch) from April 7 th thru until the April 28 th deadline. Location: Room 214 (unless I’m on Mt. Pilatus but I’ll be right back)!