Welcome to WCI!Grade 8

General Information Night

What Defines WCI?

• Boundless Optimism and Energy of our Students

• Strong Educational Philosophy of our staff and administration

• Strong Traditions as evident in our….

Our Mission Statement

“To value diversity, work towards excellence and inspire a passion for living.”

Value Diversity…• ESL/ELD magnet and

ongoing community support for new Canadians

• Clubs: Gay/Straight Alliance, WAYVE, Human Rights Club, Lighthouse

• Multicultural EventsAT WCI we believe all People in our school community have the right to be safe,

accepted, and included in all aspects of school life. (WCI Planner)

Work towards Excellence: Traditions and Accomplishments…

• VIP – Viking Integration Program

• Eco-school Designation• Academics: contests, clubs

and extra support• Strong Activities Programs and

Charitable contributions• Community Relationships –

Parents, WLU, U of W, Perimeter Institute

Inspire a Passion…

• Athletics• Academics• Activities• Magnets: ESL/ELD, Strings,

Extended French, Geotech • Non-Magnet Programs – AP• Others: CO-OP, Technology,

Arts, Languages, Family Studies, Business, Film, Design, etc…

THE BASICSMost Common; 2 day

rotation, 75 min. periods,

60 min common lunchSame course selectionComputer will schedule

4 classes in Semester 1 and 4 classes Semester 2

Visit WCI Website for ongoing information: http://wci.wrdsb.ca/

PERIOD BELL TIME

DAY 1 DAY 2

1 8:15 9:30

A A

2 9:3510:50

B B

COMMON LUNCH (Block C) 10:50 – 11:50

3 11:50 1:05

C D

4 1:102:25

D C

Semester Implementation: The Bar is HIGH

Student Leadership

A few words from….

Mitch PhillipsAnd

Mike Williams

2014-2015 Co-Mayors

WCI Guidance : Lynda Callaghan

The Transition from Grade 8

to Grade 9 And

The Road to Graduation

How Can We Help?

A Counsellor is assigned to students alphabetically, and provides:• Course selection

assistance• Information on educational

programs and pathways• Emotional and social

support through referrals and academic strategies

Registering for Grade 9

• Online Course Requests (My Way) by Feb. 26th, at your current Gr. 8 school are being used for all WRDSB grade 8 students to select grade 9 courses.

• Another Board or Private school? Contact our Guidance office at 519-884-9590 Ext. 2636 or connect this evening

Diploma Requirements : 30 Credits

• 18 compulsory credits

• 12 elective credits

• 40 hours unpaid community service

• Grade 10 Literacy Test – may attempt more than once or take OLC4OI

18 Compulsory Credits4 English – one credit per grade3 Mathematics – one in grade 11 or

122 Science1 Canadian History – in Grade 101 Canadian Geography – in Grade 91 French as a second language – in

Grade 91 Arts (Drama, Music,Visual Arts)1 Health and Physical Education0.5 Civics0.5 Career Studies1 Group 1 Credit1 Group 2 Credit1 Group 3 Credit

Group 1, 2 and 3 CreditsEnglish French as a Second

Language A Native LanguageA Classical OR an

International Language

Social Sciences and the Humanities

Canadian and World Studies

Guidance and Career Education

Cooperative Education

Health and Physical Education

The ArtsBusiness

StudiesFrench as a

Second Language

Cooperative Education

Science (Gr.11/12)Tech. EducationFrench Computer StudiesCooperative

Education

Course Coding

CGC 1DI

These 3 letters indicate Department and CourseC= CanadianGC= Geography

This digit indicates the year the course is studied.1= Grade 9

This letter indicates the stream:

D: AcademicP: AppliedO: Open

This letter indicates the specialized programmingI - Regular programF - Extended FrenchZ - English as a Second LanguageW -Pre-AP; AP E - e-Learning

Grade 9 Program

What does it look like?

What decisions need to be made?

Grade 9 Compulsory CreditsThere are FIVE :

EnglishMathScienceGeographyFrench

YOUR CHOICE IS IN THE LEVEL: ACADEMIC OR

APPLIED ?

Compulsory Course Decisions

Applied Courses• Essential concepts• Focus on PRACTICAL

APPLICATIONS• Less writing, reading,

research

Academic:• Essential concepts• Focus on THEORY• More writing, reading,

research

Grade 9 Elective Credits

There are THREE that you can choose. Choices include:

Visual Art (AVI 1OI)

Drama (ADA 1OI)Music (AMS 1OI or 1OX-

strings, AMI 1OI or 1OX - Band, AMV 1OI- Vocal)

Business (BBI 1OI, BTT 1OI)Family Studies (HIF 1OI)Physical and Health Education (PPL 1OY – Male, PPL 1OX- Female)Technology (TIJ 1OI)

Down the Road: Grade 10, 11, 12Milestones to watch for:• Grade 10: Academic or Applied

Compulsory Courses (English, Math, Science, History) and Compulsory Open (Careers and Civics)

• Grade 10: pre-requisites to grade 11choices

• Grade 10: Literacy Test• 40 hours of Community

Involvement

Resource and Enrichment Centre(REC): Teresa Dunat-Banks

Support for Students with an Individual Education Plan.

Resource and Enrichment Centre

GLE Learning Skills Course • Credit bearing learning

support class• Limited enrolment based

on special permission and highest need

• Can earn up to four credits

Resource and Enrichment CentreDrop-in Support• Access to computers and

other assistive technology• Support with assignment

completion• Test/exam writing

accommodations• Information about school-

based and community enrichment opportunities

What is a Magnet Program?

A Magnet is a Board designated specialized program offered at sites around the region that students who are out of boundary for that school

may apply to.

WCI MAGNET PROGRAMS:

ESL Extended French

StringsGeo-Tech (grade 11/12)

How Do We Enter a Magnet Program?

• Boundaries Apply• Know Your Home Secondary

School• Be aware that

Transportation is NOT provided

• Call our Guidance department at 519-884-9590 ext. 2636 for help.

How do I apply to a Magnet?• Complete course selection via

My Way at your home school. • Complete a WCI Profile Sheet• Examples of these forms are

found on our website, wci.wrdsb.on.ca.

• For experienced strings, NOT currently in a Gr. 8 strings, apply and book audition by Jan. 16th, and accept program by Feb. 13th.

Additional Magnet Information

• Transportation is not provided if the magnet is not at your home school. No additional fees are charged.

• Acceptance:– Currently in Gr. 8 ESL, Extended

French or Strings, no special acceptance

– Strings Audition, offer will be made at Audition, must accept by Feb. 13

Advanced Placement: Craig Nickel

• A school specialized program

• Advanced Placement is NOT a magnet

• Any student registered at WCI can apply.

What is “Advanced Placement”?• Advanced Placement (AP) is

an internationally recognized standard of academic excellence administered by the College Board of America

• Students in Grade 12 write a standardized exam on a common date in the first two weeks of May

• Exams are graded on a scale of 1-to-5

• http://apcentral.collegeboard.com

Benefits of AP• Significant enrichment

opportunity (depth and breadth of curriculum)

• Flexibility – students select the AP courses they are suited to

• Preparation for university material, pace and independent learning

• Higher Ontario report card marks (usually!)

• Opportunity to earn university transfer credits

WCI – An Accredited AP School!• All AP courses offered at

WCI have been audited by the College Board and have been certified as meeting the rigorous standards of AP

• AP courses completed at WCI are eligible to receive an official AP designation on the Ontario transcript

2013-14 AP Results for WCI• 83% of all WCI exams

received a grade of “4” or “5”• Average grade of all WCI

exams was 4.39• 7 students recognized as “AP

Scholars”• 6 students recognized as “AP

Scholars with Distinction”• 5 students recognized as “AP

National Scholars

AP Courses offered at WCI 2014-15• ENG 4UW (English)• FEF & FSF 4UW (French)• MHF 4UW & MCV 4UW

(Calculus AB & BC)• SBI 4UW (Biology)• SCH 4UW (Chemistry)• SPH 4UW (Physics)

Pre-AP at WCI

• In order to prepare Grade 12 students as fully as possible for their AP courses, WCI offers pre-AP enrichment courses in Grades 9, 10, 11

• These courses cover the Ontario curriculum (OSS) but involve enrichment work well beyond the scope of OSS

Pre-AP at WCI (Cont’d)

GRADE 9 PRE-AP• ENG 1DW (English)• MPM 1DW (Math)• SNC 1DW (Science)GRADE 10 PRE-AP• ENG 2DW (English)• FSF 2DW (French)• MPM 2DW (Math)• SNC 2DW (Science)

Pre-AP at WCI (Cont’d)

GRADE 11 PRE-AP• ENG 3UW (English)• FSF 3UW (French)• MCR 3UW (Math)

GRADE 11 AP• SBI 3UW (Biology)• SCH 3UW (Chemistry)• SPH 3UW (Physics)

Profile of a Strong Pre-AP/AP Candidate

• Academic excellence in the chosen subject area (> 85% or Level 4)

• Excellent command of spoken and written language

• Strong work ethic• Enthusiastic and self-

motivated

Profile of a Strong Pre-AP/AP Candidate

• Enjoys challenging work• Possesses curiosity and

passion for the subject• Involved in the

extracurricular life of the school

• Willing to assume leadership

Enrolling in Pre-AP/AP Courses at WCI• Meet the requirements of the

Profile of a Pre-AP/AP student• Obtain a Pre-AP or AP

Application form from your Guidance Counselor for EACH course you will apply to

• If unable to secure an application form from home school, contact WCI Guidance @ 519-884-9590 x2636 or see our website

Enrolling in Pre-AP/AP Courses at WCI

• Submit the completed application directly to WCI in person or by e-mail (sharon_dotchin-gravelle@wrdsb.on.ca)

• Due dates for applications:- Gr. 8 – Fri. Jan. 12, 2015- Gr. 9-12 – Fri. March 6, 2015

Acceptance in Pre-AP/AP Courses• Student applications will

be reviewed by Mr. Nickel in consultation with the WCI faculty responsible for the AP courses

• Invitations will be extended to successful candidates: -Gr. 8 – Thurs. Jan. 15, 2015 -Gr. 9-12 – late April 2015

VIP: Viking Integration Program

• An intentional mentoring program that matches trained senior students with small groups of Grade 9 students

Thank You!

• General Questions:Cafeteria

• Where is my child? You will find each other in our lower hallway, cafeteria.

• Explore: Feel free to walk around the building!

January 13th, 2013