Making the Transition from Elementary to High School - MyPathway.ca

Making the
Transition
from
Elementary
to High
School
put your foot down

2
Parent guide
Pathways to Success is an award-
winning Grand Erie program,
designed to let students learn about
the different options they have once
they complete high school. We all
have different goals and dreams.
Grand Erie wants to provide all
students with opportunities that
allow them to fulfill their dreams.
Provided each year by Grand Erie high schools, The Annual
Education Career Pathway Planner is designed to assist
students and parents with mapping out their course
selection in high school. This tool offers information
on courses related to the different career pathways:
apprenticeship, college, university and work.
www.mypathway.ca is an online resource to help
students and parents plan for high school and beyond.
This program helps students and their parents learn about:
1. Skills and Interests
2. Future career options
3. Pathways
4. Opportunities for getting work experience
For more information, watch for your Pathway Planner.
Visit www.mypathway.ca.
More questions? Email the team: info@mypathway.ca
Watching
your child
grow up.
As a parent, there are many things you can do
to help them through this challenging time in
their lives. Here are a few ideas:
4 Encourage independence by allowing your teens
to go places like the supermarket or the library
alone. Teens will be more comfortable with gaining
independence if they have handled experiences that
have forced them to cope and make decisions.
4 Encourage your teens to practice problem-
solving skills. For example, if your teen misses the
bus, get him or her to think about alternate ways to
get to school.
4 Talk to your teens about current events. Get them
interested in the world around them.
4 Talk to your teens about the transition. Ask them
what they are worried about or what they are afraid
might happen. Before the big move, typical student
fears include not knowing the rules, missing friends,
and finding the right classroom.
“ My son, Dave, was really stressed out
about going to high school. He distanced
himself from me and became very
independent. It was hard to see him
struggling so much, but I made sure I
stayed involved in his education. Being
supportive helped him stay on track.
”
3
Your child is entering
a Grand Erie high
school and growing
from child to adolescent. This
is an important time. As they move to a
larger school, they may feel a bit unsure of
themselves, and that’s perfectly normal.

4
Talking to your
teen about Grand
Erie high schools.
Starting
high school
can seem
intimidating,
but with your help, your
teen will see that there are easy
ways to handle many of their concerns.
Here are some of the common questions
teens may ask before they get to high
school.
I won’t know many people at the high school I’m
going to. How will I meet friends?
You’d be surprised how easy it is to meet friends. In
grade 9, everyone is new to the school and looking for a
friend or group of friends. Make friends with someone
from your class, join a club or introduce yourself to your
locker neighbour.
What will I learn in class? Will it be harder than
what I learned in grade 8?
Everything you learn in grade 9 is just building on what
you already learned in grade 8. Take classes that interest
you so you stay focused. If you don’t understand
something, ask the teacher or someone else in the class.
Don’t be shy about asking, since there are probably
other people in the class who are wondering the same
thing and feel afraid to ask.
If you are concerned about having
the right skills and have experienced
difficulties, ask your guidance
counsellor about taking Learning
Strategies.
My elementary school was
pretty small and now I’m
going to a huge high school.
What if I get lost?
It will probably take a couple
of days for you to get used to
the school at first. Try to get to
school early and look around
for the classrooms. If you can’t
find a room, teachers and other
students will be happy to help out. Just ask someone!
Most high schools organise a Grade 8 open house. Try
and attend to get a sense of the school.
“ I was so scared to go to
high school. The first day of
school, I noticed a sign-up
sheet for the junior basketball
team. I wrote down my name
and tried out for the team. I
made it and have played for
the past three years.
The team was the best thing
that ever happened to me. I
made new friends and we have
so much fun. I think everyone
should find something they
really love in high school and use
their skills. I’m so glad I signed
up that first day!
”
5

6
What
course type
to choose
I see the words Applied,
Academic and Locally
Developed on my teen’s
Grand Erie course
calendar. How do I know
which class my teen should be in?
Students entering grades 9 and 10 will be asked to
choose between “locally developed”, “applied” “open”
and “academic” courses. These types are designed
to meet the needs of every student, building the
skills they’ll need as they continue their high school
education. It’s important to understand the different
types. Your teen will do better in school if they are in
the right class.
Academic Courses are suited to students who are
comfortable with theoretical concepts and enjoy solving
problems by applying what they’ve learned.
Applied Courses teach students using real-life ideas
and offer the chance to apply what they’ve learned to the
world around them.
Locally Developed Courses are developed for students
who have specific learning needs and need more direction
in the classroom.
Open Courses are open to all students.
Your
contacts
at the
school
For academic concerns,
contact the teacher of the
subject you have concerns about.
For all non-academic concerns
and help with course selection,
contact a Grand Erie high school
guidance counsellor. The guidance
counsellor can assist with timetables and provide
support for any issues that arise; they can also refer
students to a board social worker or a child psychologist
if required. If you do not know the name of your teen’s
guidance counsellor, simply call the school office and
they will be happy to connect you.
Attendance concerns are referred to the vice principal.
Every subject is identified by a
common course code designated
by the Ministry of Education.
The code consists of 5 mandated
characters and a 6th character
for school use.
ENG 1DI
The first three letters identify the subject.
The first letter identifies the department:
A=Arts B=Business
C=Canadian & World Studies E=English
F=French G=Guidance
H=Humanities & Social Sciences L=International Languages
M=Mathemetics P=Physical Education
S=Science
The fifth character identifies the course type:
C=College*
D=Academic
E=Workplace*
L=Locally Developed
This number
identifies the grade:
1=Grade 9
2=Grade 10
3=Grade 11
4=Grade 12
M=University/College*
O=Open
P=Applied
U=University*
* These types are offered in grades 11 and 12
The school specific code is used to
distinguish course characteristics and
specialized programs:
I=Regular Course/1 Credit
M=Male
F=Female
7
Making
sense of
course
codes
PPL 1OM

8
Get
involved!
Children
perform better in
school when their parents
take an active part in their education. Here
are some ways to get involved with your teen’s
Grand Erie high school:
4 Attend Parent/Teacher interviews.
4 Attend sports games and special events at the
school.
4 Come along on school trips as a parent supervisor.
By getting involved you will easily be able to:
4 Communicate comfortably with the teacher.
4 Offer relevant information to the teacher about your
teen.
4 Ask the teacher about your teen’s progress.
If you have concerns, call your child’s teacher or
guidance counsellor.
“ Being part of my daughter’s school council was so
rewarding. I learned about what was going on in the school and help
decide on certain priorities. I think it’s very important to have such an
active role in my daughter’s school.
”
What should I do if
my teen is getting
bullied at school?
We believe in integrity, respect,
responsibility and healthy
relationships. Grand Erie
schools do not tolerate
bullying. If you believe
your teen is being bullied,
contact the school immediately.
No matter what his or her age, you can help by encouraging
your child to talk to you about bullying and by giving your
teen the advice to follow these steps:
l Walk away from the situation.
l Don’t hit back, don’t talk back, don’t e-mail back.
l Tell an adult whom you trust, a teacher, the school
bus driver, a coach, etc., about what happened.
l Find a friend to be with in the places where you
don’t feel safe.
A booklet entitled Bullying, We Can All Help Stop It
is available from the Ontario Ministry of Education to
assist parents and students with the issue of bullying.
Please contact Grand Erie at 519-756-6301 or toll-free at
1-888-548-8878 to request your free copy. Information is
also available online at bullying.granderie.ca
There is also a Kids Help Phone, which can be reached
at 1-800-668-6868, or visit www.kidshelpphone.ca/en/
informed/bullying/default.asp
9

10
Grand
Erie
high
schools
Brantford Collegiate Institute
and Vocational School
120 Brant Avenue, Brantford
& 519-759-3210
Cayuga Secondary School
PO Box 2001, 70 Highway 54, Cayuga
& 905-772-3301
Delhi District Secondary School
393 James Street, Delhi
& 519-582-0410
Dunnville Secondary School
110 Helena Street, Dunnville
& 905-774-7401
Grand Erie Learning Alternatives (GELA)
Brantford, Oshweken and Simcoe
& 519-753-6079, 519-445-4640 and 519-426-8862
Hagersville Secondary School
PO Box 669, 70 Parkview Road, Hagersville
& 905-768-3318
McKinnon Park Secondary School
91 Haddington Street, Caledonia
& 905-765-4466
North Park Collegiate - Vocational School
280 North Park Street, Brantford
& 519-759-2560
Paris District High School
231 Grand River Street North, Paris
& 519-442-4477
Pauline Johnson Collegiate & Vocational School
627 Colborne Street, Brantford
& 519-756-1320
Port Dover Composite School
713 St. George Street, Port Dover
& 519-583-0260
Simcoe Composite School
40 Wilson Drive, Simcoe
& 519-426-4664
Tollgate Technological Skills Centre
112 Tollgate Road, Brantford
& 519-759-3691
Valley Heights Secondary School
PO Box 159, 2561 Highway 59, Langton
& 519-586-3522
Waterford District High School
PO Box 370, 227 Main Street South, Waterford
& 519-443-8657
11
How to register
for Grand Erie
high schools During the
school year, if
you’re new to
the community
and your teen was previously enrolled
in high school, please register at your area
Grand Erie school as soon as possible.
Prior to September, please contact the school in your
area to learn the dates for registration and to make an
appointment with a guidance counsellor.
Information to bring when you register your teen at a
Grand Erie high school:
1. The student’s provincial Birth Certificate or
Canadian Citizenship document: Parents can
contact the Grand Erie School Board Head Office at
519-756-6301, or toll-free at 1-888-548-8878 for more
information or clarification on proof of citizenship;
2. The student’s address including 911 civic address
(fire number), lot, concession, county and
postal code;
3. Doctor’s name, address and telephone number;
4. If applicable, custody information;
5. Parents’ place of employment and daytime
telephone number; and
6. Emergency contact person and telephone number.

12
5You’re
going
to high
school!
Going from elementary school to
high school can be a stressful time for
many teens, but it is also an exciting
experience. Just think of all the great
things you’ll do at your Grand Erie high
school, like playing sports, enjoying
artistic hobbies, being academically
challenged and learning technical skills in
a hands-on way. You’ll get to experience
new things, meet new people and become
a more independent person.
High school is another step towards your
career. Do you know what you want to be?
Do you know what kind of career you’re
looking for? You can use your time in high
school to find answers to these important
questions.
“ I went to a different Grand
Erie school than all of my friends
because I wanted to learn about
construction. The school I attended
actually built a house every year.
Learning all about building
this house helped me decide
that I want to go to college for
construction when I graduate
from high school.
”
Student guide
13
A couple of things to think about when
choosing a Grand Erie high school:
4 Choose the Grand Erie school that suits you best
instead of choosing a school because your friends
are going there. Different schools offer different
programs or focus on different areas. Whatever
school you choose, you will make new friends there
who share your interests.
4 Find out what each school has to offer over the long
term. Maybe the programs are all the same in grade 9,
but there may be other programs offered for older
students such as construction, hospitality or healthsciences
classes.
Keep these points in mind when choosing courses:
4 Pick electives that will interest you. Electives are
courses that focus on your special interests. Take
advantage of these opportunities instead of picking
a class just because your friends do.
4 Choose course types that suit you. You can always
switch later if you need to. Talk to your teacher, or
call the high school guidance office to decide the
course type you should choose.
4 Choosing co-op is a great way to figure out if you like
a particular type of work. You can apply for a co-op
that suits your interests and try out a job before you
graduate.

14 15
Handling
homework
After a long school day, it’s never
nice to spend the whole night doing
homework. You’ll probably have some
homework every night from each of
your classes. Sometimes you’ll have
assignments to complete or you’ll have
to study for tests or exams.
Here is some advice to help you get all
of your homework done. Sounds like a
drag, but these tips really will help you
stay on top of things and give you more
time to hang out with your friends or
watch your favourite TV shows.
Tips for handling homework:
4 Make a note of the homework you have
to do each night.
4 Put aside the same amount of time every
night and find a quiet spot in your house
to work on your homework.
4 Make sure that all of your work is done before
you go out or watch TV. Getting it out of the
way will help you relax for the night.
4 If you have a test coming up, make sure to
read over your notes on the days leading up
to the test.
4 When you’re studying for a test, make notes
and work with a friend. This will allow you to
quiz each other before the test and help each
other out with what you don’t know.
“ I was really worried when
I heard rumours about all the
homework. Yeah, I have more
homework than in elementary
school, but I learned some new
study skills and I still have loads
of time to hang out with my
friends and play hockey.
”

Page 10:
Board logo and contact info
5
excellent
reasons
to choose
Grand Erie
1
Strong Values
We believe in Integrity, Respect, Responsibility and
Healthy Relationships. We believe that these are the
values that help our students grow and achieve their goals.
2
Academic Excellence
Our “students first” approach ensures we are
continually introducing and delivering innovative
programs to achieve excellence in all aspects of school
life – academic, athletics and the arts.
3
More Programs More Choices
There is something for everyone. Our high schools
offer a wide variety in different programs, from the
Laurier program at Brantford Collegiate Institute, to Health
Sciences at Simcoe Comp or building an actual house during
Construction at McKinnon Park...
4An All-Inclusive Environment
Every student is unique with different strengths and talents.
We want all our students to succeed. We give each student
the support and attention they need, respecting diversity in a
resource-rich environment.
5
Great Extra-Curricular
Activities
Whether you’re into sports
or the arts, there is a wide
variety of activities offered
at each Grand Erie school.
Grand Erie District School Board
349 Erie Avenue
Brantford, ON N3T 5V3
Tel: (519) 750-8026
or toll free: 1 (800) 577-2653
www.gedsb.on.ca