Dr. G. W. Williams Secondary School

Information and Course Selection Processfor Grade 8 Students and Families

Agenda for the Evening● Greetings from Principal, Student Council, School Council● Guidance Presentation (Grade 9 Course Selection, Career

Cruising, Registration Timelines)● Raffles for prizes● Open House - “Tour Williams”● Special Presentations - refer to the Agenda in your folder

General Information about Williams

Semestered program for all gradesGrades 9 -128:20 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Four periods (75 minutes) plus lunch (75 minutes)Exam Weeks in January and June

Specialized Programming at Williams

Gifted Program (newly begun in 2014)

Enriched/Pre-AP/AP (Advanced Placement)

HPA- High Performance Athlete Program

Dual Credit and Apprenticeship Programs

SHSM - Specialist High Skills Major - Business and Health and Wellness

What’s new at Williams?

● New Science classrooms / labs

● New Visual Art classroom / studio

● New Weight Room / Fitness facility

● New Communication Technology classroom, with state-of-the-art iMac lab, sound editing labs, and green screen studio

Athletics▪ Baseball▪ Cross Country Ski▪ Field Hockey▪ Golf▪ Rugby▪ Basketball▪ Varsity Football

▪ Slo-Pitch▪ Soccer▪ Terry Fox Walk/Run▪ Track & Field▪ Curling▪ Ultimate Frisbee▪ Volleyball

Clubs & Groups▪ Art Council▪ Athletic Council▪ Band▪ Chess▪ Cinema ▪ Empowered Student Partnerships▪ Equity Council▪ International Trips▪ Math Club▪ Math Contests▪ Mental Health Awareness Campaigns

▪Peer Mentors▪ Peer Tutors▪ Music Council▪ Newspaper▪ Prom▪ Santa Claus Parade▪ Science Club▪ Semi Formal▪ Student Council▪ Yearbook

The “Me to We” Campaign

Welcome, Class of 2020

Diploma Requirements (OSSD)

The Individual Pathway Plan (IPP)

● The IPP tool is found on Career Cruising

● From Grades 9 - 12, students can use this tool to focus on education and career / life interests, choices, goals and plans

● The IPP is reviewed and revised by students

at least twice each year

PATHWAY APPROACH ABILITY

Applied Step by step approach to learning using theory and practical examples.

Working at or above grade level.

Academic Theoretical and independent approach to learning with a focus on critical thinking.

Working at or above grade level.

Locally Developed Guided approach to learning using practical examples and concrete objects.

Working below grade level in Math, English, and Science.

Open An opportunity to explore an area of interest for all students.

Available to all students.

Raffle

Course Selection- Compulsory CreditsIt is recommended that students take the following six subjects

in Grade 9.A student may choose all academic courses, or all applied

courses, or a combination of the two:English Mathematics Science Geography French Health and Physical Education

Elective CoursesThe following Grade 9 Open level courses

are available at our schoolVisual Arts

Dramatic ArtsInstrumental Music

Vocal MusicIntroduction to Business

Food & NutritionIntegrated Technology (including

Construction, Automotive, & Tech Design)

PERIOD 18:20 – 9:40

SNC 1P1Science

MFM 1P1Math

PERIOD 29:45 – 11:00

HFN 1O1Family Studies

CGC 1D1Geography

LUNCH11:05 – 12:20

LUNCH LUNCH

PERIOD 312:25 – 1:40

ENG 1D1English

AVI 1O1Visual Arts

PERIOD 41:45 – 3:00

PPL 1O8Physical Education

FSF 1P1French

SEM.1 SEPT.-JAN. SEM.2 FEB.-JUNE

Registration FormALL sections must be filled out.

Check with your elementary school teachers regarding the due date to the elementary school (sometime in January 2016 to the Grade 8 Teacher)

Ensure all parts of the Registration form have been completed

*Course selection cannot be processed without a completed Registration form.

Remember...Select courses in collaboration with parents, elementary

teachers, guidance counsellors, and administrators.

Students often choose a combination of course types to support different learning interests and styles.

Decisions in Grade 8 are not “final” - Pathways are changeable and flexible.

www.yrdsb.ca

Selecting Courses OnlineYour course

selection is done electronically.

Important DatesRegistration Form Due Before: Monday, February 1, 2016

Course Selection Due Before: Monday, February 22, 2016 (*both paper and electronic copies due)

*Please refer to your elementary schools for the deadlines they have set

First Day of School - Grade 9 Day - Tuesday, September 6, 2016

For More Information

More information is available from the following:

York Region District School Board Regional Course Directory 2015-2016. Available on line at www.yrdsb.ca

Our school’s course calendar and website http://drgwwilliams.ss.yrdsb.ca

York Region District School Board website – www.yrdsb.caYork Region District School Board Guidance Services Website - www.yrdsb.ca/guidance.services

For the times and locations of the Special Presentations, please refer

to the bottom of the Agenda, provided in your folder.

Finding Success at WilliamsGrade 8 Open House