1. Welcome to Grade 8! Mrs. Vanessa Szwed
Curriculum Night
Welcome to Grade 8!
Mrs. Vanessa Szwed

2. AGENDA Introduction & Welcome to Grade 8 The Grade 8 Classroom:
School Resources
School Expectations
Punctuality/Illness/Going Home with Friends
Agendas: The Secret to Communication Success
Class Portal: Class Web Page/e-learning (D2L)
Tests/Assignments
Learning Skills
Curriculum
Q & A

3. HOMEWORK POLICY Students should not spend more than 90
minutes per night. The time should be
budgeted in the following manner:
15 minutes looking for assignment
11 minutes calling a friend for the assignment
23 minutes explaining why the teacher is mean and just does not like kids
8 minutes in the bathroom
10 minutes getting a snack
7 minutes checking the TV listings
6 minutes telling the parents the teacher never explained the assignment
10 minutes sitting at the kitchen table waiting for mom or dad to do the assignment

4. LONG TERM ASSIGMENTS These are given the night before they
are due. This explains the name – “long
term” is a long commitment to the time,
it begins at 9:30pm and ends at 11:55pm
(or later). It is important that the whole
family is involved in this project. It is
imperative that at least one family
member races to Zellers for poster board,
and at least one family member ends up
in tears (it does not have to be the
student). One parent needs to stay up
and complete the project.

5. School Resources Students have been supplied with the following:
Textbooks
Notebooks for certain subjects
Pencil, Ruler, Eraser
Students are expected to bring in the
Binder and/or Duotang
One notebook for English
Three-ring paper
Pens, Pencils, Calculator, Sticky-notes, Highlighter
Indoor Shoes
Self selected novel
Kleenex

6. School & Classroom Expectations
Collaboration Agreements
Mutual Respect
Attentive Listening
No Put Downs/Appreciation
Right to Pass
Ready to Go: on time and prepared
Homework complete according to grade level expectations and following guidelines provided
Knowing when to talk and when to not
Agendas
Discipline
Grade 8: A year for leadership

7. Punctuality/Illness/Going Home with Friends
If you know your child is going to be late or absent in advance please send a note
If it is not possible to send a note please call the school
Going home with friends on a bus the student does not normally take requires 24 hour advance notice with the office
Parental communication with other parents is important when allowing students to go home together

8. Agendas: The Secret to Communication Success!
Parents are asked to check student homework and agendas regularly
If the teacher signs the agenda here at school please sign the agenda at home
Do not sign the agenda if you doubt the work is completed
Please send any notes or concerns through the agenda

9. Class Portal The Class Web Page is now up and running!
Click Schools – School Listing
Then to Our Lady of Fatima
Then to Class portal on the right side
Then to Mrs. Szwed Grade 8
This web page is updated daily and contains homework and other important dates and announcements. This presentation will be posted on the website. Please note that the agenda is the primary source of information.

10. Remind 101
Grab Your Phone!
Follow the steps below to sign up for your Grade 8 messages.
Enter this number
(450)
Text this message
@mrsszwe

12. Blended Learning http://hcdsb.elearningontario.ca
Blended learning may be a new experience for you. If so, it is an exciting way to present information to students both using traditional classroom approaches and electronically using the tools and content in the provincial learning management system.

13. Blended learning can help students to:
become independent learners
develop time management and organizational skills
acquire technical skills for living and learning in a digital world
are able to go through activities as often as they wish. The course material is always available.
Thank you for taking an interest in your child’s education. Parental involvement increases the chances of your child doing well in school.

14. Tests/Assignments All marked tests and assignments will go home
Please sign the marked work and return it to the school to go in the student file
If there are corrections to be made students should make corrections before returning to school

15. Learning Skills Responsibility Organization
- Completes and submits class work, homework and assignments according to timelines
- Takes responsibility and manages own behaviour
Organization
- Devises and follows a plan for completing work and tasks
- Establishes priority and manages time to complete tasks and achieve goals

16. Independent Work Collaboration
Uses class time appropriately to complete tasks
Follows instructions with minimal supervision
Collaboration
Accepts various roles and an equitable share of work in a group
Builds healthy peer-to-peer relationships

17. Initiative Self-Regulation
Looks for and acts on new ideas and opportunities for learning
Approaches new tasks with a positive learning attitude
Self-Regulation
Sets own individual goals and monitors progress towards achieving them
Seeks clarification or assistance when needed

18. HRP (Home Reading Program)
Whole School Initiative
Implementation may differ across divisions
Intermediate Goal:
25 pages per week (any text: book, magazine, newspaper)
Track reading in reading journal
HRP Log Sheet will be checked weekly on Fridays
How Parents can Support the HRP

19. Curriculum
Religion/Focus on Faith Essential Question: “How are we Church in the world?” Theme: Solidarity
Math: POW’s, Assignments, Tests/Quizzes Explain how you are able to get the answer = higher level of achievement
English: Variety of literary genres; Reading Workshops (whole class, small group, literature circles, individual); Writing Workshops; Word Study: Graffiti Wall; Thematic units of study

20. Curriculum Continued Religion: Mrs. Szwed Science: Mr. Da Silva
History/Geography: Mrs. Szwed
French: Mme. Buergler-Rajczyk
Music: Mr. Da Silva
Visual Arts: Mrs. Bertram
Phys Ed: Mrs. Szwed
Health/Fully Alive: Mme. Paul
Drama/Dance: Mrs. Hughes
Career Studies: Mrs. Smith
The expectations can be obtained from the
Ministry website address:

21. What does our school do to help your child prepare for a successful transition to high school?
Provides a challenging and engaging academic program that prepares your child for the secondary school curriculum
Helps your child fulfill Catholic Graduate Expectations through participation in the sacraments and community service

22. What does our school do to help your child prepare for a successful transition to high school?
Uses career planning activities to identify your child’s
strengths and interests
Communicates with you about your child’s progress through:
Report Cards
Phone Calls
Interview Evenings
Coordinates with secondary schools

23. myBlueprint helps students plan their education and make the most informed decisions about their future.
See more at:
You will need the activation code to create an account.
Activation Code - jeanvaniercss

24. Key Events in the Transition Process
November 6th: Grade 8 Orientation Day
November 6pm: Grade 8 Parent Info. Night
February: Option sheets are typically due by the end of this month

25. As a parent, what can I do to help?
Help your child understand who he or she is
Identify your child’s strengths, interests, and learning styles
Talk to your child’s teacher about his or her achievement and learning skills
Help your child explore a variety of occupations
Think pathways: It’s about the journey as well as the destination

26. Q & A At this point feel free to share any questions or concerns
you might have