Transcript Parent Presentation: Starting High School

Welcome to the St. Thomas
Aquinas S.S. Community
Grade 9 Orientation Day
Parent Presentation
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Welcome!
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Sarah Donovan: Chair of the Catholic School
Council for Aquinas
Leslie Marchand: VP
Tuesday, September 4th…Now
What?
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Transportation
Uniform
School-Home communication
The School Day
Student Expectations
Useful Tips
Who to call
Transportation
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STOPR is responsible for issues around
Student Bussing and eligibility
You can access STOPR info through the
main page of our school’s website
www.dpcdsb.org/aquin
All students eligible for bussing will receive
their bus pass on the first day of school but
will ride the bus on Tuesday morning as
expected with no difficulty
Transportation cont’d…
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Courtesy Seat forms will be on the school
website once STOPR has released them
Courtesy seats will not be determined until
Thanksgiving
Brampton Transit has several routes that run
to the school
Bus routes are always available at the Main
Office for students to access
Kiss and Ride
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If you are dropping your son/daughter off at
the school, you are asked to use the kiss and
ride lanes
Please utilize the entire driveway to avoid
backing up the traffic on Corporation Dr.
and Torbram
The back of the school is for bus loading only
Uniform Expectations
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All students must wear the appropriate
uniform to school each day
Students who are out of uniform may be sent
home to change
Black pants with Cardinal, burgundy rugby
shirt, black shoes (with black laces if
applicable)
Optional summer uniform: (First day of school until
Thanksgiving; May to end of June)
Parent Engagement
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Parents are encouraged to contact
classroom teachers: (905)791-1195
Parent-Teacher Interviews: October 18th for
first semester
Catholic School Council: Everyone is
welcome to attend! Sept. 25th is the first mtg
Newsletters sent home with each report card
Parent engagement cont’d…
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Access the school website on a regular basis
for updates and events
wwww.dpcdsb.org/aquin
Use of the “Auto Dialer” messages on a
regular basis
Go through your son/daughter’s agenda for
other key information
Never hesitate to call
The School Day!
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The warning bell rings at 8:05
Homeroom begins at 8:12 with O’ Canada
and our morning Prayer/Reflection
Students all have a 40 min. lunch period
They can eat lunch in the cafeteria or go out
for lunch if they choose. They do not need to
sign-out for lunch as they may have done in
Elementary
The School Day continued…
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There are microwaves in the caf if you want
to send your son/daughter with a lunch that
requires heating
All students will be assigned their own locker!
Students must purchase a school lock for $7
from the library.
Students should not share their lockers or
give out their combinations to anyone!
Still working on the school day!
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Students have 5 min to get to and from their
classes. Being on-time is crucial!
The school day ends at 2:15
After school students should make their way
home unless they are involved in after-school
activities (sports, arts, clubs). And, we do
hope all our grade 9’s Get Involved!
Aquinas Get Involved: Thurs.Sept.13/12
Student Absences
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If your son/daughter is away you need to call
the school and speak to the Attendance
Secretary (or leave a message).
You can also send your son/daughter to
school with a note when they return
legitimizing the absence.
School attendance is a vital part of student
success.
Student Absences cont’d…
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There will be consequences for students who
skip classes.
You will receive a phone call home indicating
an absence through the school’s
“synervoice” message system.
If your son/daughter is going to be on an
extended absence (ie: vacation) they must
see their Vice Principal so the school is
informed in advance.
Student Expectations!
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The most important expectation is always the
Golden Rule!
But, there are a few other expectations to
highlight…
Personal Electronic Devices
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It is board policy that the use of cell phones
and other PED’s is not permitted at school
(GAP 541; Policy 8:12)
Students are expected to have their phones
off and away during class time.
Cell Phones act as a distraction for everyone
in the classroom!
There will be consequences for students who
use their phones in class.
Hats!
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Students are not permitted to wear hats in
the school
Those choosing to wear hats take the risk of
having their hat taken away for the remainder
of the school day or possibly longer
Classroom Work!
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All students should work their hardest and to
the best of their ability
If they are struggling, they need to talk to
their Teacher and/or Guidance Counsellor
and access numerous supports available (ie:
Math Help; Science Help…)
They should be on time and prepared for
class each and every day!
Student Progress and
Reporting:
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October 11th: Early Progress Reports
November 15: Mid-Term Report Cards
February 8th: Final Sem. 1 Report Cards
March 21st:
April 24th:
June 28th:
Early Progress Reports
Mid-Term Report Cards
Final Sem. 2 Report Cards
Conflicts with peers
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We encourage all of our students to seek
support to help them settle conflicts. That
could be:
Guidance Counsellor
CYW
Teacher
Vice Principal
Conflicts cont’d…
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All reports are confidential and handled with
discretion
Parents will be informed if there is an
incident involving their son/daughter
Neighbourhood Policing Unit
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Aquinas has an excellent relationship with 21
Division Officers
School assigned NPU Officers
Program established for rapport and safety,
not patrolling and enforcing the law
Part of our Safe Schools Action Team and
bullying prevention
Useful Tips!
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Access the website on a regular basis
Call your son/daughter’s teachers if you have
concerns or want to know how they are doing
Contact the appropriate VP if you are feeling
uneasy about something, or require
clarification
Read through the quarterly newsletter for all
the latest updates
Who to Contact?
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Student Attendance: Mrs. Ruggiero
General Inquiries: Main Office (Switchboard)
Student Progress:
Individual Teachers
Other Concerns:
Appropriate VP
Guidance Counsellors:
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Mrs. Rea:
Mr. Conroy:
Mr. Grenier:
Mrs. McInnis:
Mrs. Clayton:
RAP students
A-DK
DL-K
L- PL
PO-Z
Vice Principals:
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Mrs. Kathy McQuire
Mr. Jason Boily
Ms. Leslie Marchand
Ms. Toni Di Franco
A-DL
DM-K
L-P
Q-Z
From a Parents’ Perspective
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Sarah Donovan
Questions
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Are there questions you still have?
Thank You!
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Thank you for taking the time to come out
today to support your son/daughter
Please enjoy some refreshments on behalf of
our Catholic School Council!