1. Glenview Sr. Public School Grade 8 to Grade 9 Transition Information Session For the School Year
Good Evening. My name is Nishi Meghji. I am the Guidance Counsellor here at Glenview. I want to welcome you and thank you for coming to tonight’s presentation on the very exciting transition that your child is about to embark on this year.
Nishi Meghji

2. Choices for Nine
Goals for the Evening
To inform students, parents & guardians about high school choices in order to make a smooth and successful transition from Grade 8 to 9
To assist students, parents & guardians in making informed choices about courses, programs and schools
To raise student, parent and guardian awareness of the various program pathways available throughout the Toronto District School Board

3. Creating Pathways to Success, 2013
Creating Pathways to Success is a Provincial Policy document that guides Educational and Career/Life planning from Kindergarten through to Grade 12. Making choices and transitioning from Grade 8 to Grade 9 for students and families is an inquiry approach that encourages students to the 4 questions.
Tonight you may have come to this information evening:
with many questions
seeking answers
guided by possible future thinking
Your decisions may be guided by similar questions.
Who your child is which includes their achievement, their learning style, their interests and their abilities.
What opportunities do they have in high school and beyond.
Who does your child want to become-what are their goals.
And finally, what do they need to do to achieve these goals.
This framework encourages students with support from their family and teachers, to continue to return to these questions as they grow and develop.
This is where the Individual Pathways Plan (IPP) process is very helpful as students revisit and revise the plan along the way through their High School experience.

4. Accessing myBlueprint.ca/tdsb
Online educational & career planning tool for students and parents
Key Message:
myBlueprint is a career and post-secondary planning tool provided by the TDSB to help students explore their Individual Pathway Plan
Myblueprint is designed for present and future planning.
Last year, your child was introduced to this tool. This year, they will continue working with it.
Parents may have their own myBlueprint account, or be linked to their child’s account for planning and conversation purposes.
Check out the school website under the Guidance Tab to learn how you can get access.
Activation Key: tdsb

5. What Can Families Do to Help Students Make the Best Choices?
Choices for Nine
What Can Families Do to Help Students Make the Best Choices?
Access and investigate myBlueprint career planning tool
Attend ANY Secondary Information Evenings/Open Houses of interest including Regular or Specialized Programs
Encourage continued participation in extracurricular activities
Choose courses of interest
Discuss future plans
Stay involved and connected with the school

6. Information Evenings/Open Houses
Choices for Nine
Information Evenings/Open Houses
at the High Schools
Program and school specific information is shared
Updated dates and times of High School Information Evenings are posted on the TDSB website by accessing the link below:
Key Messages:
Parents are strongly encouraged to attend their secondary home school information evening along with other schools they are considering through optional attendance.
There are several benefits for attending these evenings:
Get a feel for where your child will be spending the next 4 years;
Ask questions related to academic support and extra-curricular programs;
Speak personally with teachers and administrators ;
Listen and speak to school representatives and formulate personal thoughts on the fit for their child;
Visiting the school enables students and their families to make informed decisions about their child’s high school career.
Re-emphasize:
High school information nights are posted on TDSB’s webpage, on your child’s Google Classroom under the Guidance Tab as well as the Glenview school website. The link to the TDSB website has also shared in our October and November issues of Parentview.
ormationNights.aspx

7. How to Access Secondary Information Evenings and Open Houses:
Choices for Nine
How to Access Secondary Information Evenings and Open Houses:
Key Messages:
When you visit the TDSB home page, click High School and then click the green highlighted section at the top.

8. Considerations When Choosing a High School
Choices for Nine
Considerations When Choosing a High School
The range of subjects and programs offered in each grade
Semester and non-semester schedules
“The size of the school – big or small settings
The range of extracurricular activities, clubs and sports offered
The supports available for English Language Learners and students with special education needs
Location from your home address
Where does your child want to?

9. The Year Ahead: Educational Planning and Course Selection Process
Choices for Nine
The Year Ahead: Educational Planning and Course Selection Process
Planning for the coming year is a process
That process begins now and will continue until Course Selection Sheets are due in late February
Key Messages:
You can visit the TDSB website listed above to learn more about the transition to highschool.

10. Click on “Find your School”
Choices for Nine
Find Your School
Key Messages:
As you think about next year, you need to figure out what your secondary home school is.
The home school is based on the student’s residential address.
Click on “Find your School”

11. Find Your School Choices for Nine
Find your school by selecting how you want to search.
Key Messages:
Parents can type in their home address when they click on ‘By Address’ to find the secondary school in their area.

12. Choices for Nine Key Messages:
Based on Address, you will find which Secondary, Technical, Commercial and Business Schools are available. But remember, ALL schools offer the same course types no matter what the school designation.

13. Choices for Nine
Making Course Choices
All Grade 8 students will complete a course selection sheet for their home school in January
Counsellors as well as your child’s Grade 8 teachers can be consulted to offer their best suggestions about course choices based on evidence of a student’s achievement, learning style, interests, and learning goals
Ultimately, students and families make the final course choices

14. Choices for Nine
What Course Type Choices Do Students Make in Grades 9 and 10? As per Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12: Policy and Program Requirements, 2016 (OS)
Applied
Academic
Locally Developed
Open
Students can mix course types based on their achievement, interests, and skills. For example, a student may take applied English and French courses and academic Math
Key Messages:
Emphasize that all course types , especially in Grade 9, open doors to all destinations -the journey will be as varied as the unique learners that choose them.
Programs of study should be carefully considered and tailored to the student’s strengths and interests.

15. Course Types to Choose From
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Choosing Course Types
Let’s listen to Jenna who will outline what the different Course types there are available for you to choose from for Grade 9:
Course Types to Choose From
Key Messages:
After Jenna speaks: Making your choice should be a collaborative effortl
You and your child will have your own ideas regarding course choices – make sure they are taking courses which align with their achievement, learning styles, interests, and abilities;
Grade 8 teachers and counsellors can be consulted to make recommendations based on their academic assessments;
Using all of the information available, students and families make the final decision.

16. Open Course Types Open Courses
Choices for Nine
Open Course Types
Open Courses
Optional courses that prepare students for further study and enriches the learning
These courses include (but not limited to):
Art, Music, Health and Physical Education
Key Messages:
A common set of expectations for all.
Open courses compliment all pathways.
They are not considered “destination” based - meaning there is no pre-requisite for a Grade 11 course. 16

17. Locally Developed Course Types
Choices to Nine
Locally Developed Course Types
Locally Developed
Compulsory courses for students provides more flexibility and support in learning
Together with our Special Education Department, we will collaborate to develop the best transition plan and program course type for our child
yyyy
Courses that may be developed locally include:
English, French, History, Math, and Science
Key Messages:
Locally Developed courses were previously referred to as ‘Essentials’;
Locally Developed courses accommodate educational and/or career preparation needs.

18. How do Course Types Fit with Pathways
All students can be successful in high school and there are many pathways to success
Pathways are designed to keep options opened and students can revise plans just like climbing a wall, where every step is varied
Pathways initiatives provide a wide range of course types, programs and learning opportunities to prepare students for success in secondary school and beyond. Secondary schools offer a variety of course types to meet the needs of all learners.
Each pathway includes different course types and may also include specialized programs. Pathways are flexible and may be combined and changed. As students begin to know themselves as learners they have the opportunity to adjust pathway plans as they move through secondary school, with the assistance of their Guidance Counsellor and parents.
Most students’ secondary school experience includes courses from a variety of course types. Pathways in secondary school prepare students for their chosen post-secondary destination. The five destination Pathways initiatives are Apprenticeship, College, Community Living, University, and the Workplace.

19. Choices for Nine
Undecided?
If you are unsure about choosing a course, keep as many options open as possible and set a goal for success
Students should speak with their parents/guardians, Guidance Counsellor and Grade 8 teachers to determine the appropriate course selection for Grade 9

20. What Are the Graduation Requirements?
Choices for Nine
What Are the Graduation Requirements?
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Total of 30 course credits
– 18 compulsory courses – 12 elective courses
40 Hours Community Involvement
– Begins in summer after Grade 8
Ontario Literacy Requirement
- Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
Key Messages:
Credits
Students in Grades 9 and 10 will take 6 compulsory credits.
In Grades 9 and 10 , students will choose 2 elective credits each year (NB. Students with learning exceptionalities may be recommended for GLE (GLS where offered for some students) and therefore may only have 1 elective to choose from).
In Grades 11 and 12, students will have an opportunity to choose from a variety of elective courses.
Community Involvement
Students may begin community involvement activities as part of graduation requirements in the summer following Grade 8.
Community involvement activities for graduation requirement must not be part of any other program for which students receive credit: i.e. pay, badges, certification, etc.
Must be completed outside of regular classroom time - before, after school, during lunch period, or on week-ends.
Parents/guardians encouraged to be involved in monitoring appropriate volunteer activities for their children.
Students receive Community Involvement Passport at the end of Grade 9 in which to record volunteer experiences and track hours.
Students will be provided with a listing of activities which meet the criteria for community involvement (at times, they are asked to discuss with their guidance counsellor before beginning).
Literacy Test
Students will write the Literacy Test in the Grade 10 year.
Students who are unsuccessful on the first attempt at the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) may:
Attempt the test the following year OR
Enroll in the Literacy Course (credit course)
Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12:
Policy & Program Requirements, 2011

21. Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Choices for Nine
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12:
Policy & Program Requirements, 2011

22. Choices for Nine
Optional Attendance
Students are encouraged to attend the high school within the catchment area of their residential address (home school)
Use an Optional Attendance Application Form (PR545) when applying to a school other than your home school
Forms for regular optional attendance schools will be available from Ms. Meghji sometime in December and/or January (when we get notification of schools that are limited/closed)
*Specialized Programs may have earlier deadlines. Please review school specific deadlines for more information

23. Choices for Nine
Specific Dates
Decembe/January List of Closed and Limited schools made available: and optional attendance forms available from Ms. Meghji
Mid January Home High School Course Selection Sheets Completed and returned to Registration Teachers
Late January/Early February Students will input final courses into myBlueprint
February 2, 2018 Regular Optional Attendance applications due to secondary schools – delivered by student/parent/guardian
February 16, 2018 Secondary schools will inform Optional Attendance applicants by this date
Note:
Only ONE course selection per student is submitted for
ONE secondary school by the elementary school counsellor

24. Specific Dates Continued
February 20-28: Students must notify Ms. Meghji of acceptance to optional attendance school
A new course selection sheet and myBlueprint course submission will be completed to replace the home school course selection sheet done in January
March 2 All course selection must be finalized by this date
Note:
Only ONE course selection per student is submitted for
ONE secondary school by the elementary school counsellor

25. Choices for Nine
Questions & Contact Information