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

Curriculum Night

Welcome to Grade 8!

Mrs. Vanessa Szwed

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

HOMEWORK POLICYStudents should not spend more than 90minutes per night. The time should bebudgeted 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

LONG TERM ASSIGMENTSThese are given the night before theyare due. This explains the name – “longterm” is a long commitment to the time,it begins at 9:30pm and ends at 11:55pm(or later). It is important that the wholefamily is involved in this project. It isimperative that at least one familymember races to Zellers for poster board,and at least one family member ends upin tears (it does not have to be thestudent). One parent needs to stay upand complete the project.

School ResourcesStudents have been supplied with thefollowing:• Textbooks• Notebooks for certain subjects• Pencil, Ruler, EraserStudents are expected to bring in thefollowing:• Binder and/or Duotang• One notebook for English• Three-ring paper• Pens, Pencils, Calculator, Sticky-notes,

Highlighter• Indoor Shoes• Self selected novel• Kleenex

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

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

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

Class PortalThe Class Web Page is now up andrunning!

www.haltonrc.edu.on.ca– 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.

Remind 101Grab Your Phone!

Follow the steps below to sign up for your Grade 8 messages.

Enter this number

(450) 823-0101

Text this message

@mrsszwe

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.

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.

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

Learning Skills

Responsibility- 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

Independent Work• 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

Initiative• 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

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

Curriculum• Religion/Focus on Faith Essential

Question: “How are we Church in the world?” Theme: Solidarity

• Math: POW’s, Assignments, Tests/QuizzesExplain 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

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. SmithThe expectations can be obtained from the

Ministry website address:www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elemetary

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

http://www.ocsoa.ca/CatholicEducation/interactive/intro.swf

• Communicates with you about your child’s progress through:– Report Cards– Phone Calls– Interview Evenings

• Coordinates with secondary schools

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

• myBlueprint helps students plan their education and make the most informed decisions about their future.

• See more at: http://www.myblueprint.ca/• You will need the activation code to

create an account.

Activation Code - jeanvaniercss

Key Events in the Transition Process

• November 6th: Grade 8 Orientation Day

• November 21st @ 6pm: Grade 8 Parent Info. Night

• February: Option sheets are typically due by the end of this month

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

Q & A

At this point feel free to share

any questions or concernsyou might have