Bur Oak Secondary School

Grade 8 Open House for Students and Families

2017 - 2018

Welcome!

Principal: Mr. George Voumvakis

A Look at BOSS: Achievements

Strong Literacy Skills:OSSLT Results March 2016

9490

81

6 1019

In March, 94% of FTE students who wrote the OSSLT at BOSS met or exceeded the provincial standard.

Strong Numeracy Skills: Math 9 EQAOPercentage of all students at or above the Provincial Standard (Levels 3 and 4), 2015 - 16

● Canadian champions for the 2015 FERMAT contest!

● November 2015 mathematics contest rankings: 5th in province.◦ Canadian Intermediate Mathematics Contest (CIMC)◦ Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest (CSMC)

Strong Numeracy Skills: Canadian Mathematics Contests

Other Programs

● Pre and Advanced Placement Math◦Grades 11 and 12

● OYAP — Ontario Youth Apprenticeship◦ students develop trade experience and

networks and government grants for equipment

● Dual Credit◦ students earn a high school AND college

credit (grade 11 and 12 students)

Grades 11 and 12

1. Business2. Energy3. Health and Wellness4. Non-Profit5. Arts and Culture

Specialty Facilities—Tours Available

Hospitality Kitchens Visual Arts StudioCosmetology Studio Music RoomsFamily Studies Labs Drama Set and StageTransportation Garage GymnasiumConstruction Workshop “Apple” LabHealth Care Lab Weight Room

Skills Canada 2015: District Gold and Silver Awards● Technology◦ Video Production◦ Architecture

● Visual Arts◦ Animation◦ Graphic Design◦ Photography

● Family Studies◦ Fashion Design

● Over 26 teams competing in YRAA● 300 students competing on teams● Track and Field● Swimming (6 x 1st place)● Badminton (2nd place)● Boys Cricket (2nd place)● Jr. and Sr. Boys Volleyball Champions

See our past history in the gym and display cases.

Athletics: 2015-16 Championships!

Drama AccomplishmentsSears Provincials● senior show “Swan Song”

received multiple awards● Ensemble● Stage Manager and Designer ● Mira Award for Direction

Productions: ● Community Drama class “Frankencrayon” in

collaboration with Motus-O-Dance theatre● 2014 “If Hearts Could Bloom”◦ One of two shows in Ontario invited to the Toronto

Summerworks Festival

Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto● 5 first place, 3 platinum ratings, 3 gold ratings● 2 invitations to the Ontario Music Festival Association

Provincial Finals

York Region Music Alive● 6 platinum ratings, 1 gold rating● 7 invitations to the National Finals of MusicFest Canada

Ontario Music Festival Association Provincial Finals● Grade 9/10 Concert Choir - Honourable Mention● Grade 10 Symphonic Band - Second Place

Music Accomplishments

Art Accomplishments● 2014-2015 York Region PlaYR Video Festival

● Two films won for Animation and Experimental Film● Vinyl mural and Bulldog laser cut installations to beautify

school● Multi-layered wood cut in library won 2nd place at Markham

Fair● Spanish Adventure with Art and History departments● Bur Oak Photography Club

● Collaboration between YRDSB and the York Region Police● 8th annual year end show, at the Community Safety

Village

2nd Place at 2016 Markham Fair 1st Place at 2015 Markham Fair

Unique Opportunities

● Unstuffed Conference

● Silver Eco-certified school

● Student-run Spookfest for community children

● Grade 10 Career Day

Student LifeB.O.S.S. Students are Involved!

Fall● Boys golf● Co-ed Tennis● Co-ed Cross Country● Boys Soccer● Boys Volleyball● Girls Basketball● Cricket● Co-ed Swimming● Boys Rugby 7s

 Winter● Boys Basketball● Girls Volleyball● Co-ed BadmintonSpring● Track and Field● Baseball● Girls Soccer● Boys Rugby● Co-ed Ultimate

Frisbee● Mountain Biking

Athletics at B.O.S.S.

Unique Trips and Activities● Geography – Niagara Falls and Escarpment● Geography and French - St. Lawrence Market● International Trips◦ 2010 Italy and Spain - Art Dept.◦ 2012 New York - Art & Drama◦ 2014 Washington - Art & History◦ 2016 Spain - Art & History◦ 2017 - France and England (Vimy Ridge)

● Hospitality – Royal York and George Brown tour● Law class – Ontario Court of Justice● History – Japanese

Canadian Cultural Centre

Eight Councils Lead our School● Athletic Council● Business Council● Community Council● Equity Council● Global Action● International Student

Association● Music Council ● Student Events Council

Student Leadership

● Badminton Club● ZERO Footprint● Breakfast Club● DECA (Business Club)● Art Club● Photography Club● Dance Club● Health Out Loud● Announcement Team● White Pine Readers● Computer and Robotics

Club● Board Game Club● Cheerleading Club● Yo-Yo Club

● Ink’d (School Newspaper)● BOSS Christian Fellowship● Media Club● Ski and Snowboarding

Club● Magic Club● Math Club● Ping Pong Club● Fitness Club (Weight

Room)● Improv Team● Slam Poetry● Creative Writing

Book Camp● Science Club

Unique Clubs and Events

Meet Our School Presidents in the Main Hall

Graduating from High School

Diploma Requirements (O.S.S.D.) for the 4 year program

O.S.S.D

18 Compulsory Credits

12 Optional Credits

Successful completion of Ontario School

Literacy Test

40 hours of Community Involvement

OSSLT (Literacy Test)

● Administered in March of the grade 10 year

● Accommodations, deferrals, and exemptions may be appropriate for some students ◦ ELL and special education students

● BOSS provides proactive supports: ◦ After-school preparation course◦ practice test opportunities◦ online resources◦ Grade 10 History course is part of our integrated literacy

program – skills for the test are developed in this course◦ all teachers are literacy teachers

Community Involvement

● Encourages development of civic responsibility, community values, and reinforces importance of volunteerism

● 40 hours during high school● not-for-profit activities

● Special in-school presentation in September for all grade 9 students

● Grade 8 students who wish to start in the summer need pre-approval from the guidance office

49er’s Club at BOSS● Recognition for students who complete

their 40 hours by the end of grade 9 year◦ a certificate◦ a special celebration◦ recognition in our awards

ceremony

Bur Oak celebrated 147 “49ers” for the 2015-16 school year!

Next Year: Grade 9 Highlights

Daily Schedule● School day consists of five 75 minute periods● School Year:◦ Semester One: September to January (4 classes)◦ Semester Two: February to June (4 classes)

Period Time1 8:15 – 9:35

2 9:40 – 10:55

3 11:00 – 12:15 (Lunch for all grade 9s)

4 12:20 – 1:35

5 1:40 – 2:55

COMPULSORY COURSES (6 courses)

English

Locally Developed

Applied

Academic

Math

Locally Developed

Applied

Academic

Science

Applied

Academic

French

Open

Applied

Academic

Geography

Applied

Academic

Physical Education

Open (Male)

Open (Female)

It is common for students to choose a combination of academic and applied courses--teachers are

available to explain the differences

For students new to French, or with less than 600 hours of instruction

What course types should we select?

Parents and students should speak with:◦ grade 8 teachers and/or SERT and/or

ESL teacher◦ guidance counselors◦ student success and other support

teachers◦ Try the “mix and match”; think about

next year

Key messages

● Do an honest assessment to match ability with interests and aptitudes; decisions made in grade 8 are NOT final pathways

● Taking applied in grade 9 does not mean you must take applied in grade 10

Discuss with teachers tonight in the foyer and designated classrooms

“Fab Four” Groups of Electives (Visit these teachers tonight!)

Technological Studies

Broad-Based Technology

Business Studies

Intro. to Business

Tech

Intro. to Business

The Arts

Drama

Music

Visual Arts

Social Sciences

Exploring Family Studies

Grade 9 students take two elective courses

Cosmetology

Why are electives important for students?● Explore interests and abilities● Meet peers with similar interests● Develop skills for future employment

● critical thinking● problem solving● teamwork● resiliency● life skills

● Explore pathway options

Next Steps

Coming to a School Near You!

Coming to a School Near You!Guidance will visit in January and bring…

1. Registration packages2. Online course selection instructions3. Grade nine course descriptions

Materials included in the registration package are displayed on the bulletin board across the

guidance office.

The New Unnamed Secondary School

● Opening September 2017

● English Track and French Immersion Secondary School

Registration

● Registration will proceedas usual● complete registration package provided

at elementary school● Online course selection will be completed

● Paper and electronic files will transfer to the new school as necessary

Information Night

January 31, 20177:00 p.m. Bur Oak S.S. Cafetorium

Not From one of our Partner Elementary Schools? Moving into the Area?

● Registration packages can be picked up from the guidance office starting next week

● Will need proof of residence within school boundaries

● September 2017: We are open to transfers● Visit the guidance office for details

Helping our Students Achieve

Student Success

Team

Administration

Student Success Teacher

Guidance

Student Support Services

Cooperative Education

Personalized Alternative Education

Literacy Teacher

Classroom Teachers

Student Success TeamWorking together to support: ● Student achievement ● Elementary to secondary school transition● Success in secondary school ● Transition to post-secondary pathways

Team Members:Student Success teacher(s), Guidance counselors, Special Education teacher, Literacy and Numeracy teacher, ESL teacher(s), Administration

Special Education Supports

● Students receive support according to the needs outlined in their Individual Education Plan (IEP)

● Supports:● Learning Strategies courses at each grade

level● Specialized co-op available in grades 11 and 12●Dedicated guidance counselor

Special Education presentation in library. Q&A in the cafeteria.

ESL Program and Supports● Help students develop proficiency in English

● Students are assessed at their elementary school for their English proficiency level● Core courses — Level A, B, C, D

● Dedicated guidance counsellor

See the ESL booth in the main hall following this assembly

School Council

Mr. Eric Ball

What’s Happening Now?

◦Guided tours of school and facilities available ⚫ “hop on/hop off”

● tour guides will start from cafeteria (hop on!)● can stop and listen/ask questions at any room

(hop off!)● “hop on” the next tour to continue around the

school

◦ Self discovery tours--see handout

Other Conversations

Front Atrium⚫ Meet variety of subject teachers

⚫ Learn about Bur Oak specialty programs and extracurricular opportunities

⚫ Introduce yourself to Settlement worker

Cafeteria⚫ Learn about student services at Bur Oak

● Special education program● ESL program and supports● Guidance supports

Business ….………………………………….. Main HallComputer Science………...…..……….. Main HallDrama and Dance ………………….…... Main HallFrench …………………………….….………. Main HallEnglish and ESL ……..……………..……. Main HallGeography …………………………..…….. Main HallMathematics ………………………..….…. 2036 and 2037Music ……………………………………..…... 1050Physical Education …………………..... GymScience Department ………………….. 2052Social Sciences/Family Studies …. 1023Special Education ………………..…….. LibraryTechnology …………………………..……. 2002, 1029, and 1027Visual Arts ……………………………..…... 2001

Have Questions?

More Information at : www.yrdsb.ca

Thank you for coming. Enjoy the rest of your evening.