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A Manual for Students Entering

Georgian Bay District Secondary School

Welcome to

GBDSS



925Hugel Ave., Midland, Ontario, L4R 1X8 Telephone: (705) 526-7817

Website: http://gbd.scdsb.on.ca



Table of Contents

1. Introduction ● What Can I Expect in High school? ● Responsibilities of Students

2. Classes

● What Should I bring on the First day? ● Expectations of Classes ● The Main Office ● On being late ● Semesters ● Timetable ● Before/After School, In-Between Class

3. School Areas

● Locker ● Hallway ● Cafeteria/servery ● Guidance ● Special Education ● Resource Room ● Learning Center ● Life Skill Classroom ● Art Room ● Drama

● Dance ● Gym ● Weight room ● Wood Working ● Auto Mechanic ● Computer Lab ● Typical class ● Library

4. Academic

● Managing your time ● Evaluation ● Due Dates ● Homework ● Assignments ● Group Work

● Studying ● Tests ● Exams ● Plagiarism/Cheating

5. Social

● Appropriate Dress ● Peer Harassment and Bully Prevention ● Clubs, Committees, Teams

6. Community Involvement



Revised September 2013-2014 This manual is to help you to better understand the changes and new experiences that will be happening in high school. You need to know:

There may be new rules and procedures in high school Your classes will be in different rooms with different teachers Some of the subjects you are taking will have new information There are people (teachers, support staff, secretaries, guidance counselors, special education staff) in the school who may be able to help you This manual will provide you with a preview of grade 9 and some of the expectations

In high school, you will need to try to:

Arrive to class on time Get your work completed Study for tests Ask for help when you need it



Introduction



Introduction Georgian Bay District Secondary School

Our school mascot is: Bears

Our School Colour is: Burgundy and Gray

School facilities may include the following:

Art Club Music Rooms Drama Department Gymnasiums Horticulture Club Student Council Office Outdoor Fields Weight Room Science Labs

Music Cooking Club Guidance Room Cafeteria Classrooms Washroom and Shower Facilities Parking Facilities Resource Center


Georgian Bay District Secondary School What can I expect in high school?

Entering high school is an amazing experience, but you also can be very nervous about entering a new place with other students who may be older than you.

Here are some points to consider:

● Many students spend time before entering a new school feeling very nervous. If you are lost, ask for directions

● You will get a phone call home for every class that you miss, so don't miss classes without a good reason

● Smoking IS NOT allowed on school property.

● Use your agenda and take responsibility for your due dates

Responsibilities: These are the things that you are expected to do as a student attending high school:

◻ Attend all scheduled classes

◻ Wear the appropriate school clothing

◻ Bring required materials to class

◻ Be on time for class

◻ Responsible for all work missed when absent from classes

◻ Responsible for finishing and handing in work by the due date

◻ Respect school property and the property of others

◻ Be clean in personal habits

◻ Have a signed letter of permission to excuse yourself from school

◻ Respect other cultures, their traditions and beliefs

◻ Show respect and courtesy



Classes



Classes

What Should I Bring on First Day

You will pick up your time table prior to the beginning of the school year. You may be responsible for purchasing a lock for your assigned locker.

List of items you may need to bring:

• Time table • Gym clothes • Backpack • Binder and paper • Pencil case:

o Pens o Pencils o Eraser o Pencil crayons o Ruler o Other: Determined by courses

▪ Calculator ▪ Math set ▪ Art supplies



There are two main student functions for the main office: attendance and reception. The reception section of the office is where visitors and students go to sign in/out. The attendance section is where administration staff will review parent’s notes before a student leaves or returns to school. Students can also ask this secretary to book an appointment with their Principal or Vice Principal. What if I am late to class, or have to leave early? If you are late:

● Students are late if they are not in the classroom before the bell rings. ● Go directly to the attendance staff in the main office to sign in before going to class.

If you must leave early:

● Leaving school early means to sign out of school early in order to leave school property.

● You can sign out at the main office. Either bring a note from your parent or have your parent call the main office in advance.

● Your parents may be notified for unauthorized leaving. Unauthorized leaving means when you leave school property when you are supposed to be in class without signing out.

The High School Years:


Georgian Bay District Secondary School High school is comprised of four grade levels: Grade 9 to Grade 12. There are a certain number of subjects or courses that need to be completed in order to graduate from high school. Some students complete all of the courses in four years, and some students take some more time to complete all of the courses. You may want or need to take a “resource period” where you do not receive a credit, but you can work on your other three courses during that time. This extra work time, or resource period, may help to promote success in your other classes. Semesters: Semesters are a term to describe the division of a school year into sections. High school is divided into 2 semesters; Semester 1 starts in September and goes to the end of January and semester 2 starts in February and ends in June. Students are able to take a maximum of four subjects each semester. This means that you attend the same four subjects or classes everyday for the first semester, and then attend four different subjects everyday for the second semester, for a total of eight subjects per school year. Each class is 76 minutes long. Some students choose to take three subjects per semester in order to have a resource period where you are able to get help to do your work, or can work on any homework/ assignments quietly. Some of these subjects are compulsory and other subjects are elective/options. A compulsory subject is a course that is required for everyone to take. An elective/options subject is a course you can choose from different options based on your interests or career objectives. You will select the courses you will take before the school year begins, so that in September of every school year you will have a timetable or schedule of your classes for each semester. The diagram on the next page provides an overview of courses required to graduate from high school. Timetable: A timetable is used to describe the schedule of classes: the times, locations, and teacher for each of the classes you have. It is important to make a copy, so that you have two copies; one to carry with you, and a ‘back-up’ copy in case you lose or can’t find the first copy.



School Areas



School Areas Before School: In elementary school you may have had to wait outside, and line up with your friends until the bell rang. In high school, you do not have to wait to enter the school, or line up. When you arrive early, you may want to use this time to:

● Go to your locker and get the materials you will need ● Use the washroom ● Spend time with friends ● Go to homeroom ● Listen to music with headphones, or read a book

In-between Classes: In high school, there are many classes to move between. You usually only have a few minutes to move from one classroom to another. Some classes may be very close to where you are, and other classes may be further from where you are. If you are going to a class that is far away, make sure to give yourself enough time to get to class on time. In between classes may be a good time to go to your locker, talk to your friends, or go to the washroom. After School:

● In high school, doing well in your courses is important, but it is also important to do other things.

● Some students decide to spend their time outside of class doing activities such as joining a sports team, joining a school club, or just spending time with their friends.

● It is also important to have some time to relax. Some people relax by reading a book, taking a walk or doing something with their hands.

Front Entrance



Lockers

● In high school, everybody may have a locker.

● Many students store their books, coats, pencil case and lunch in their lockers until they need them.

● Your locker is usually in the hallway outside your homeroom and close to other

student’s lockers. It may be crowded when you go to your locker, if it is too crowded for you, try to wait a few minutes for the people beside you to leave.

● Students may decorate the inside of their lockers with their favorite pictures or

stickers.

● Your locker will have a combination that only you know so that your possessions are kept safe. You may want to write down the combination and keep it in a safe location. If you are worried about remembering your combination, you can look for a Dudley lock with a one number combination to remember… it looks the same as all other locks so no one will know the difference.

● Many students will go to their lockers before school, between classes, at lunch, and at

the end of the day to collect what they need.

Hallway



● The hallway at school can be a very crowded and noisy place.

● It is especially crowded before class starts, when students are moving between different classrooms, and when school is over.

● Students often move quickly and in all different directions in the hallway.

● Because it is crowded, sometimes other students may accidentally bump into you.

● Usually the sound of a bell means it is time to go to class and the students will leave

the hallways and go to their classes.



Cafeteria

There is the cafeteria where all the students can eat. The cafeteria serves three main functions: It is a place to eat; to do school work; or to socialize.

Things you may want to know about the cafeteria:

● A cafeteria is a place for everyone in the school to eat their lunch ● There are no assigned seats. You can choose where to sit. ● The cafeteria can be a very noisy and busy place. ● Students choose to do many things in the cafeteria. They may eat, talk, play games or do work. ● Some students may bring money to buy their lunch. ● If you choose to buy something in the cafeteria, you may have to line up with the other

students and wait your turn. ● Place all of your garbage into the trash bin

If there is a problem or accident teachers or janitors will be patrolling around the cafeteria.



Servery

In the cafeteria, there is a servery for you to be able to purchase food, or drink items. There is a variety of cold and hot food, as well as, snacks and drinks. The daily specials and prices are listed on the board.

Students can pick out the food they want to eat and place it on their tray.

Then students wait in line to pay for the food they are buying. It is helpful to have your money out of your wallet and you are ready to pay the cashier. Ask the cashier if you have enough money. Remember to wait, you may get money back.



Guidance The Guidance Department can help students with Career information, Community Service referrals and support of educational goals. They are also there to talk about confidential personal issues. Students with an IEP are to go to see their SERT first for any of the above issues. The SERT may work collaboratively with the Guidance department.



Special Education Department

Every student with an IEP (Individual Education Plan) will be assigned a SERT (Special Education Resource Teacher). Your assigned SERT is the person you, your parents, and your teachers go to for any of the educational/ academic, career-related, and social/personal issues discussed in the Guidance section. In the first week of school, your assigned SERT will contact you, as well as, connect with your parent(s) to introduce him/herself.

Resource Room

The resource room is a place you can go to as a different place to work or to get extra help with work. It has fewer students in it than regular classes. Some students with an IEP may have scheduled resource period. During this period, they are to report to the Resource Room as their class for that period.



Learning Centre



Life Skills Classroom



Sensory Room

Accessible Washroom



Gym



Library

The Library provides non-fiction and fiction books, magazines, videos, and on-line computer resources, via library computers.

Things to know about the library:

● Remember to talk quietly in the library ● It is important to be careful with the books. This means to avoid writing, highlighting

or damaging the books. ● There is a system for signing out books. Ask the librarian for help. ● Some areas that you will find in the library are: computer area, individual study

carrels, and large tables for group work ● There is a system of cataloging (or numbering) the books in the library. This is to help

students find the book(s) that they are looking for. If you are looking for a specific book, you may need to use a computer or look in a file cabinet to find the number of that book. The librarian can help you understand this system.

● Check the times when the library is open.


Georgian Bay District Secondary School Borrowing or Signing Out Items from the Library:

● You can use library materials in the library during library hours. ● Reference books can only be used in the library. ● It is important to return the items by the due date listed. If you need the book for a

longer time, you can ask to extend the due date (renew the book). ● It’s important that you return your books on time.

Some students spend a lot of their free time in the library. They may go before school, after school, during lunch or a free period. They may use this time in the library to do their homework, study for tests or exams, or do group work.



Drama Room / Theater



Music!

Visual Arts!



Visual Arts



Transportation Technology



Construction Technology



Academic



Academic

Managing Your Time At high school, you will need to keep track of assignments, tests, homework and studying. You can ask for help with learning how to manage your time from a teacher or an educational assistant. Evaluation

At the beginning of each semester, students will receive course outlines that include assessment and evaluation information.

Due Dates

● The course teacher will provide you with due dates for all assignments, projects, and homework.

● It is important to review and understand information regarding course expectations, due dates, and consequences for late or incomplete work.

Homework

Things you need to know about homework ● It is important to record what the teacher asks you to do so that you remember when it is

time to do your homework. This can be done in your agenda or in a special homework sheet that you bring to classes.

● In high school, you may have homework almost every day. ● You may want to set time aside every school night to do homework. ● You may have a homework period at school which gives you time at school to do your

homework. ● Remember to bring the books and materials that you need to your homework class or

home at the end of the school day. ● When your homework is complete, you may want to pack your work and the materials in

your school bag so that you don’t forget to bring them to class.


Georgian Bay District Secondary School Here are some tips for doing homework:

If you do not understand any part of the homework, ask the teacher to explain it before you go home.

Make a list of your homework to help you remember everything.

Check your list before you go home to make sure you have all the materials that you will need.

If you have questions or problems, you can ask your teacher, ask a person at home or write down the question to ask your teacher the next day at school

Try to finish your homework every night

Remember to bring it to class when it is done.

Assignments

Things you need to know about assignments: ● Assignments may be given on top of homework. ● Formats for assignments will be different for each teacher and subject. ● Some assignments may be expected to be completed in class and some may be expected

to be completed on your own time. Here are some tips for doing assignments:

If you do not understand any part of the assignment, ask the teacher for help. Make a list of steps you will need to complete your assignment and assign how much time you will need. Make good use of class time to work on the assignment. You may want to use a calendar and work back from the due date. Mark the days you will work on the assignment to make sure it is completed on time.

Working with a Partner or in a Group:


Georgian Bay District Secondary School Sometimes a teacher will ask the class to work individually, with a partner or in a group.

There are two ways to work with a partner or in a group. The first way is to work on the whole assignment together. The second way is to divide up the assignment into smaller pieces and assign a piece to each group member to work on separately. When working in a group, it is important that everyone has a chance to talk and share their ideas. Everyone likes to be included in a discussion. This is called teamwork. I will try to let everyone share their ideas. When everyone works together, the assignment may be better than you ever expected! Sometimes your teacher may choose your partner or group. Other times, you may be asked to select your own partner or join a group.

Studying Studying is a way that you review the material that you have learned in order to remember important points when you write a test or exam.


Georgian Bay District Secondary School It is important to find a good place to study. A good place to study is:

● Free from distractions ● Quiet ● Comfortable (seating, room for material, comfortable temperature) ● Enough light

There are many different ways to study. Here are some examples of how you could study:

● Read your textbook or notes (Some people read their textbook or notes more than once)

● Rewrite your notes (Some people learn best when they write out the material) ● Make study notes (These are notes that include some of the most important points

you have to remember) ● Ask someone to quiz you on the material

It is important to think about how you would like to study. For many students, the more time they spend studying, the better they can do on tests and exams.

Tests

Things you need to know about tests ● When you know a test is coming up, take some time to study the material so that you can

remember it during the test.


Georgian Bay District Secondary School ● There are different kinds of test questions: circling a multiple choice answer, filling in a

blank or writing sentences or paragraphs of what you know. ● Sometimes, you may be given an open book test. This means that you can use your

textbook and/or your notes to answer the questions. ● There are certain rules to follow when taking a test.

1. During a test, you may be expected to be quiet from when the papers are handed out until the last paper is collected.

2. It is important not to talk to the other students during a test. 3. If you have a question, raise your hand and ask your teacher. 4. If you need to ask your teacher a question during the test, whisper so that you don’t

disrupt the other students. 5. It is important not to cheat!

Here are some tips for taking a test:

If you do not understand any part of the test, raise you hand and ask the teacher quietly to explain it.

Read the instructions carefully before answering the questions so that you know what you are supposed to do.

It might be a good idea to start by answering the questions that are worth the most marks.

If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t panic. Move on to another question and you can come back to that question later if you have time.

When the teacher tells you the test is over, you must stop writing, even if you haven’t finished the whole test. In some cases, you may get extra time to finish the test. You can ask your teacher about this option.



Exams

Exams may be new for you as you enter high school. Exams are longer tests used to evaluate your knowledge and skills in a subject.

● Exams days are scheduled for the final school days of each semester ● Sometimes, exams are written in bigger rooms with many other students. ● Sometimes it will be written in a classroom with a teacher supervising but it may not

be your regular classroom. ● You can prepare for an exam just like you would prepare for any test but it may cover

more material than your other tests. Ask your teacher what you should be studying for the exam.

● Students are responsible for reading the posted exam schedule and knowing the location of the exam

● Students are responsible for attending all exams.

Academic Rules

1. Plagiarism


Georgian Bay District Secondary School Plagiarism involves using one line or dozens of lines, one idea or several ideas from someone else’s work in your school work without referencing them. Referencing means writing down where you got the information. Your teacher will tell you what format you should use to reference your work. How to avoid plagiarism:

● Acknowledge all sources of information (write where you got the information/facts) ● Provide references for someone else’s written work and ideas including: pictures,

diagrams, maps, charts, etc. ● Do not lend your work to another student ● Seek help from your teacher and/or teacher-librarian for your research needs

Anyone plagiarising an assignment or helping someone else plagiarize can be assigned a zero on that assignment. 2. Cheating This means:

● Giving or receiving information or assistance during an exam or a test without permission from the course teacher.

● Giving or receiving exam or test answers without permission from the course teacher. ● Presenting a single piece of work in more than one course without the permission of

the teachers involved.



Social



Social

In high school, you will have the opportunity to meet lots of new people. Your high school will include students from many different elementary schools. You may already know some students from your elementary school, while others may be new to you.

Unlike elementary school, there will be different students in each of your classes. For example, there will be a different group of students in your Math class in comparison to your English class; although, a few of the students may be the same. This means you will have lots of opportunities to make new friends.

It may be scary to talk to students that you don’t know. Just remember, they probably feel the same way as you. Take the opportunity in the first couple of weeks to talk to other students in your class. Some students may start a conversation with the person who is seated beside them.

Some questions you may ask to start a conversation are:

● What school did you come from? ● What classes are you taking? ● What class/teacher is your favorite? ● What did you do in the summer? Did you go anywhere?


Georgian Bay District Secondary School Appropriate Dress

In high school, there is a dress code, or an appropriate way to dress. It is expected that students will dress in an acceptable manner, and follow the guidelines.

Peer Harassment and Bully Prevention


Georgian Bay District Secondary School Bullying and harassment are when someone(s) hurts another person by hitting them, calling them names or doing anything which is intended to be hurtful.

Bullying will not be accepted on school property, at school-related activities, on school buses, or in any other circumstances (e.g., online) where engaging in bullying has a negative impact on the school climate.

What to Do: If you are being bullied, or if you are worried about someone else who is being bullied, the most important thing to remember talk to someone you trust in the Guidance office or Special Education room.

Bullying is wrong whatever the age of the person who is doing the bullying.

What Not to Do: Don’t hide what is happening from the adults or the teacher you trust. There is nothing wrong with asking for help when you are in trouble.

Clubs, Committees, Teams, Programs, and

Organizations



Co-curricular Activities Students are encouraged to participate in our co-curricular program.

Your high school teams may include:

● Badminton ● Baseball ● Basketball ● Curling ● Football ● Golf ● Hockey ● Rugby

● Skiing/snowboarding ● Soccer ● Tennis ● Track & Field ● Volleyball ● Wrestling ● Cross-Country Running

Your high school clubs may include:

● Athletic Council ● Music/Band ● Concert Choir ● Dance ● Drama/Improv

● Film ● Student Council ● Yearbook

If you are interested in participating on a team or in a club, check your school website or Guidance Office for more information.



Community



Community Involvement

Before you can graduate from high school, every student must complete at least 40 hours of community involvement. This means helping out in your community by being a volunteer. A volunteer is a person who performs a service without asking for anything in return. Some of the benefits of community involvement are:

● to gain practical experience in a work environment ● to help out your community ● to learn new skills

You can complete these hours at any time during your secondary school experience but it is important not to leave it until the last minute. You may try to start early (maybe during grade 9 or 10) or spread out the required hours throughout your years in secondary school. This will ensure that you are not rushing to complete the community involvement requirement during your final year.

Contact the Guidance Office for more information about eligible activities and the process of recording your community involvement hours. Eligible Activities Here are some examples of activities that some students have chosen to do as their community involvement and may give you some ideas

● assistance to seniors ● environmental projects ● sports and recreation activities ● working with charitable and service organizations ● working in health facilities ● community or specific school-related activities

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This manual has been prepared by:

Kinark Child and Family Services, School Support Program – Autism Spectrum Disorder Consultant

“A Manual for Entering High School”

This student manual is designed to facilitate the transition from elementary to secondary school for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and for students in Special Education. The manual consists of units that address areas unique to the

secondary school experience.

Materials presented are supported by visual symbols in an attempt to address a variety of learning styles and abilities.

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