Grade 9 students prepare for their coming transition to high school

August 26, 2015 · 0 Comments

This week, many of Dufferin-Peel’s 7,300 Grade 9 students are preparing for their transition to high school by participating in the board’s Get Ready! for Secondary School and Link Crew transition programs, among others.
Link Crew gives Grade 9 students an early opportunity to connect with a senior student (Link Leader) in their school; someone they can feel comfortable speaking with regarding transitioning to Grade 9. The Get Ready! for Secondary School program, which is a joint project between the board’s Program and Continuing Education Departments, blends 25 hours of literacy and numeracy-focused instruction with secondary school readiness activities that help welcome and prepare students for their secondary school experience.
“Students who participate in our secondary transition programs feel much more confident and comfortable attending secondary school,” said Joanna Boudreau, principal of Secondary Program/Student Success. “These transition programs provide students with opportunities to feel welcome, make connections to a caring adult, and develop strong relationships with Senior Peer Leaders. Students begin to learn about their secondary school, teachers and their own personal learning styles/preferences before attending classes in September. The integration of our faith is a natural part of the transition program to Grade 9.”
Grade 9 students are participating in a variety of activities during their transition program, including school tours, information sessions, motivational speakers, orientation games, picnics and barbecues. Link Crew and the Get Ready for Secondary programs both ease the Grade 8-to-9 transition for students and parents alike, as their confidence, comfort level and awareness of secondary programs and pathways are significantly amplified before they enter secondary school.
“Ensuring the success of students as they transition from elementary to secondary school is one of the key strategies of the board’s Student Success Program,” Boudreau said.
For more information, students and parents/guardians should visit their school website.