Monday 7 December 2015

Holiday Greetings




Wishing all OTHS families the best at the holidays.  I hope everyone is able to have a great two week break from school and that you are able to enjoy time with your family and friends over the holidays.

Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hannukah, or Sir Isaac Newton's Birthday (December 25th)......or simply taking the holiday to relax and enjoy friends and family......from my family to yours.....Happy New Year.


15th Week Reports

As we approach the 15th week of semester one all staff will be e-mailing home a 15th Week Report for any student in danger of not passing their credit.  If a staff member feels that any student is 'in danger' they will be receiving a 15th Week Report.  Typically these reports are not sent out for any student with a grade above 60% however it is at the discretion of the teacher.

As with any update from school, should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to make contact with your child's teacher (e-mail usually is the most efficient manner to communicate with staff) and follow-up as required (e-mail conversation; face to face meeting; etc.).

Dates: 15th Week Reports are to be e-mailed home by the end of day on Wednesday, December 16th.



Student Updates

This past month OTHS student William Leathers participated in an amazing musical experience in Jamaica!  William was invited to participate in a benefit concert in Kingston.  Here is a portion of his re-cap:

Recently, I was invited to Jamaica for a performance for a benefit concert at Devon House in Kingston. This was my first trip to Jamaica and this performance was one of the best musical experiences I've ever had. I had the privilege of performing with one of the most iconic band leaders, Mr. Desi Jones. He was the band leader for legends such as Bob Marley, and now Jimmy Cliff, some of the Marley kids, etc

As some parents may know William is an acclaimed musician with too many accolades to mention.  Here are a couple of articles highlighting the Devon House Benefit, including one with some background information on William and one re-capping the evening.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20151113/quickies?qt-article_image_video=0

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20151125/excellent-benefit-concert-devon-house


Congratulations William!  You continue to amaze and astound all who have the benefit of your musical gifts.


Rebecca's Gift

Over the next two weeks OTHS students will be asked to consider donations to Rebecca's Gift.  The RDC has identified Rebecca's Gift as the main focus of charitable giving this holiday season.

Rebecca's Gift provides support to families in crisis working with the Children's Aid Foundation of Halton.  This year alone the  has over 200 children 'in care' with an additional 500 young people in need of support.  Your support and generosity at this time is especially helpful.

Over 70% of the children are between the ages of 13 and 18, so gifts for teens are especially welcome.  On-line donations can be made at http://www.haltoncas.ca/Donate/donate.html   Click on the Canada Helps link in the centre; Funds: Select Holiday Program; and then please indicate "For Rebecca's Gift" in the message box.  Charitable receipts are generated by CAFH.

Thank you for considering how you might be able to support Rebecca's Gift.

NOTE: A synermail message was sent home last Friday (Dec. 4th) in regards to Rebecca's Gift.


Early Dismissal

On the final day of classes before the Holiday break we will dismiss 90 minutes early as in previous years.  We will have a modified schedule on that day.  While all classes will run they will be shorter (fewer minutes per class) and in a different order:
8:15-9:20 a.m.   -  Period 1
9:25-10:20 a.m.  - Period 2
10:25-11:20 a.m.- Period 5
11:25-12:20 p.m.- Period 4
12:25-1:20 p.m.  - Period 3

Note: The cafeteria will be closed on December 18, 2015

Please have a wonderful and safe holiday season.








Friday 27 November 2015

Oakville Trafalgar High School PD Day




So, what were your Teachers up to on Friday, November 27th????

I'm so glad you asked.....

This past Friday OTHS Staff gathered for the day to reflect, dialogue, and plan collectively with a focus on our SIPSA (School Improvement Plan for Student Achievement).  The SIPSA is our school developed plan for any particular year.

Our three areas of attention this year will be:

a) Resiliency
b) Equity and Inclusiveness
c) Digital Citizenship

Last year (2014-15 school year) Administration asked staff to identify the areas of greatest student need.......and a lack of resiliency AND poor digital citizenship were the top two areas identified.
Equity and Inclusiveness was added to our SIPSA because - as a school board - we are working to acknowledge and engage staff, students, and our parent community around issues of equity and inclusiveness.  Through such engagement it is our expectation that ALL students will feel that OTHS is a welcoming and inclusive school - both in the classroom and in the halls.

Here was our Agenda this morning:

8:00-8:25   - staff breakfast
8:30-9:15   - Updates and thank you's + Setting the context for our day
9:20-10:45 - Staff rotating through three different rooms:
                    i)  Equity and Inclusiveness
                    ii) Resiliency
                   iii) Digital Citizenship
In each session staff leaders reviewed each area of focus and facilitated discussion around how classroom teachers could incorporate elements of each in their classrooms.

10:45-11:45 - Staff Wellness Activities (Yoga/Knitting/Games/Wellness walk)
11:45-12:45 - Lunch
1:00 - 2:30 - Department Meetings and Grade/Subject Team Time
2:30-2:50 - Wrap up and Review

Over the course of the morning there was great dialogue regarding our SIPSA and in the afternoon departments had an opportunity to drill down on subject and grade concerns and questions.
One staff member commented, "this is information we should be sharing with our parents as well as our students."   So, here are a couple of things for you to review:

Resiliency - You Tube Ted Talk clip - The Power of Belief

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN34FNbOKXc

This clip covers topics we have discussed previously including Angela Duckworth's 'Grit Ted Talk' and Dr. C. Dweck's work on Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

Equity and Inclusiveness - The HDSB Equity and Inclusiveness page served as our 'base' for discussions around this issue at OTHS.

www.hdsb.ca/Programs/Pages/equity.aspx

Digital Citizenship - Staff leaders developed a fun clip of staff (acting as students) using technology in both appropriate and inappropriate ways.  A great discussion was then coordinated around issues of cell phone use in class; digital footprint; and how we might best address digital citizenship in classrooms across various subject disciplines.


Friday's PD activities have set the stage for future dialogue and learning that will follow over the course of this school year.  We're looking forward to taking steps toward moving our conversations from paper.....to the students in our classrooms.

Stay tuned......












Wednesday 25 November 2015

.....Second Term...



As we approach the colder December weather it is a great time to stop, pause, and reflect on the passing of the mid point in Semester One.  Last week Mid Term Report Cards were sent home (Friday, November 20th) and - for the most part - our students continue to produce excellent results.

Over the past week our Student Success Teacher and our Student Services staff have been reviewing achievement results and, in combination with Administrators, are contacting those students who have struggled (in one or more subject areas) over the first term.  These meetings will be expected to provide support, guidance, and direction for any student who continues to experience challenges or difficulty with their course work.  Please do not hesitate to follow up personally should you have any questions or concerns about your child's report card results.



Peace Week

Last week saw a number of activities working in support (and in partnership with the YMCA) of Peace Week.  Our students were out in force (in the Atrium) promoting a variety of school and community organizations working to support families in crisis in many nations across the globe.  In light of recent events our Peace Week activities helped students consider the tragic loss of life not only in Paris, but in Beirut, Japan, Lebanon, ......the list goes on......

We were very fortunate to host a guest speaker for our Grade 11 students last week as well.  Zac Ebrahim, author of The Terrorist's Son: A story of choice, spoke to a silent audience for over 45 minutes.  Zac recounted his life story and the amazing difficulties he experienced as a result of his father's life choices.  I'm sure I speak for all who were present in the Theatre when I say - it was a fantastic and amazingly heartfelt message.  I wish we could have had Zac remain at OTHS for another hour so that he could connect with our Grade 12 students as well.

Check out his story here:

http://www.zakebrahim.com/


Upcoming School Wide Assembly

We are very excited to be welcoming Anthony McLean to OT next Monday!  Anthony is a nationally recognized author and public speaker and he will be speaking to our entire school around the chronic challenge of Bullying and Harassment.

Anthony has connected with our Safe Schools Action Team and together they've mapped out some of the challenges faced by OT students.  We're excited to welcome Anthony to speak to our entire school population with a focus on local challenges experienced by OT kids.

Here are a couple of links to learn more about Anthony McLean.

http://www.iengage.ca/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXZMyuJETSc



Updates for Parents and Students

Protected Learning Time:  December 14th - January 27th, 2016

Beginning on Monday, December 14th and running straight through until the end of the semesters is what we call 'protected learning time'.  During this period all Field Trips and school-wide events are curtailed so that students may focus their attention on the final 4 weeks of classes.  During this final 4 week period staff will be conducting 'the final 30' which includes multi-day performance tasks or summative projects.  Staff do try to space these performance task days out over the four week period (and we have an in-school 'summative' calendar to try to ensure greater balance), however this will be a time of increased stress and anxiety for some of our students.

Parents - Student absences for any Final Performance Task will require contact with an Administrator.  Many of these tasks are worth 10-15% of a final grade and we consider them to be equal in importance to a final exam.  Unexplained absences during this period are not acceptable to the school.  Please do your best to communicate immediately should there be a problem with attending school during this time period.

Final Exams are scheduled months in advance.  While we recognize that family vacations are important events.....please do not schedule them during this busy time of the school year.  All students are expected to write final exams as scheduled.  If there is any cause to adjust a student's schedule parents are asked to please contact Ms. Cammisuli (VP) in order to address concerns.


Inclement Weather

As we enter a period of greater uncertainty regarding our weather all families are reminded to take great care when entering and exiting the parking lot.  Please slow down....and be safe.

The Halton District School Board does maintain weather alerts on their Main Page and if we do have any foul weather please check there first.  Radio 680 am also have a great process for updating residents regarding any school or bus cancellations.

Let's hope the snow stays away (at least in Oakville) for another few weeks!



Thank you very much for your continued support of Oakville Trafalgar High School.




Wednesday 4 November 2015

We're really two months in ....



Greetings from the office....

Last night we hosted our first semester Parents' Night.  I'm hopeful that our families had a chance to connect with their child's teachers and that any questions or concerns were addressed.  If you did not have a chance to connect please e-mail any teacher directly and work to set up a mutually convenient time for an interview/meeting.
While events such as our parents' night can be a great chance to catch up....they can also be very busy and many staff members do not get the chance to connect with parents eager to clarify any issues that may exist.  Please don't hesitate to contact a staff member around any concerns.

For all Parent DRIVERS - you may notice two new signs posted above the doors along the parking lot.  In an effort to improve traffic flow early in the morning and after school we're hoping that drivers will drop off at the SECOND set of doors in the morning (to prevent blockages/congestion on Devon) and to pick up your son/daughter after school at the SECOND set of doors as well (or further along the pathway toward the south side (football field end) of the parking lot.  Thank you for helping us keep the parking lot clear......and safe.



Learning Updates

Over the course of the year I would like to share an interesting article or update on staff learning here at OTHS.  Below is a link to an interesting article that highlights something I feel strongly about.  Happy reading.

On the importance of travel.....

The OTHS Staff Learning Team will be working together on Friday, November 6th reviewing our 2014-15 School Improvement Plan for Student Achievement and planning future learning opportunities for staff for the 15-16 school year.  Stay tuned for me to share a copy of the SIPSA for 2015-16.

Student Activities Section

RDC Update -  Our Red Devil Council continues to organize and coordinate events for students.  Last week students and staff were wearing their Blue Jay gear (or blue) to express support for the Jays as they began their series against the Royals.
Next week the RDC is coordinating a number of Octoberfest events for students.  These fun activities will take place during the lunch hour throughout the week.


Robotics - Team 1334 has begun another season working together to advance their interest and skills in STEM (Science, Technology, and Mathematics) related fields via a Robotics program.  Last week (October 16-18) Team 1334 travelled to Rochester, NY to compete in the Rochester Rah Cha Cha Ruckus - an early season competition with schools from New York State and Ontario.   Here is a write-up from Sydney outlining the weekend:

  "Last Saturday, 1334 travelled to Rochester, New York to compete in the annual Rah Cha Cha Ruckus competition. We took this opportunity to begin training and integrating our rookies and letting them get a feel for what upcoming competitions are like. We are very proud of our newcomers, as well as all members of the team! Although we were not chosen during alliance selection and did not make it past the qualification rounds, we did win two awards. 1334 took home the Most Food Donated award thanks to our stop at Walmart, as well as the Imagery award thanks to our shirts, devil horns, pitch forks, and of course the abundance of Ferkins. This competition was a awesome start to the season and a great chance for the team to pull together and show our spirit. It was a fun-filled, caffeine fuelled weekend and we can’t wait for the next competition. We would also like to congratulate the alliance that won the competition and their alliance caption 1114 on their win!"

Rugby Sevens Club -
The Rugby Sevens Club had great success at their two tournaments this past month.  This is the first year for a Rugby Sevens Club at OTHS (not to be confused with the Rugby Teams that play and compete in the spring) and the students and staff had a great time competing in this modified version of rugby.  Travelling to Mississauga and Brampton the Club managed to

Fall Sports Update

Each of our fall sports seasons are winding their way to an exciting conclusion.  Our Senior Boys Cross Country Team has qualified for OFSAA and will be heading up to Collingwood this Saturday (November 7th) for the OFSAA Championships.

Football and Boys Senior Volleyball are entering Halton Play-offs this week.  We'll be following their march to the finals over the next couple of weeks.

OT's Girls Field Hockey teams and our Junior Girls Basketball Team have completed their seasons.  While the players and coaches would have preferred a few more wins.....the teams competed hard and developed their skills for future success.  Thank you to the players and coaches for representing OTHS so well.


Key Dates in November

November 4     Take Your Kid to Work Day (Grade 9)
November 12   Parent Council Meeting
November 12   Open Mic Night
November 19   Grade 8 Parents' Night (all future OTHS families)
November 20   Mid Term Report Cards
November 30   Grad Photo Schedule begins









Tuesday 20 October 2015

The leaves are falling.....



As the leaves begin to turn....and start to fall, we can be thankful for many things including: the last glimpses of warm sunshine; the beautiful fall colours; and even the Blue Jays run to the playoffs for the first time in 22 years!

Here at school we're thankful for many things as well.  Last week we celebrated our Honour Students with a breakfast and an inspirational presentation by Dr. Dave Williams - Canadian Astronaut, Doctor, Scientist, and CEO of the Northlake Medical Centre in Newmarket.  Not only did Dr. Williams share some incredible stories with our students I'm certain he left many in the crowd imagining greater possibilities for themselves in the years to come.  Key themes in his message included dreaming big dreams, goal setting, perseverance, and maintaining a growth mindset.

Thank you to Dr. Williams for sharing his experiences and for inspiring OT students.

Last Wednesday evening we hosted our annual Excellence Night recognizing Subject Award recipients, Duke of Edinburgh winners, Top Achievement by Grade, and other Awards of distinction.  It was wonderful to recognize the tremendous success of so many students.  Congratulations to the entire family of our award winners.....it's a journey for the whole family.

5th Week Reports

As we conclude 5 weeks of school staff will be completing 5th Week Reports for any student who is struggling to achieve in their respective classes.  Typically these reports are issued for students with grades lower than 60% however - because it is so early in the semester and a true picture is still being developed - staff will complete reports for any student they believe has not demonstrated proficiency to this point.

NOTE:  Whether or not you receive a 5th Week Report it is important to note that 80% of the semester remains in front of us.  There is a great deal of time to address any concerns and to significantly impact achievement over the months to come.

Parent's Night

Oakville Trafalgar HS will host our Semester One Parents' Night on Thursday, October 22nd.  We believe that an 'early' parent event is beneficial for all stakeholders as early communication around challenges/concerns/etc. is necessary to ensure a positive outcome for students.

This will be a busy night.  We usually have a very strong turnout and so I would ask for your patience.  If you are not able to fully connect with a staff member please make direct personal contact  (via e-mail message) to set up a mutually convenient opportunity for a more extensive conversation around your child's performance, etc.

On the 22nd our format is as follows:

6:30-7:30   Informal Conversation -  a 2-4 minute opportunity to say hello, introduce yourself, and to catch a quick update on your child's efforts over the first 5-6 weeks of school.  This is NOT a formal interview.  It's more about putting a face to a name, and for getting a brief update.  Please do not ask multiple questions at this time.  These sessions are held in a very public space (Cafeteria, Atrium, Library, etc.) and are not meant to be a time to share detailed information.  While our staff have been instructed to be brief......extensive line-ups develop when any family asks detailed questions at this time.

7:30-9:00   Formal Interviews - a 10 minute time period where parents and staff more fully discuss a student's work over the first 6 weeks (in a more private setting).  Again, it may not be possible to fully address concerns and questions in this time period.  Should that occur we ask that parents and staff make arrangements for a follow-up interview at their mutual convenience.

Thank you for remembering that there are many parents......and we all would like an opportunity to review our child's progress......and only so many minutes available.


Upcoming Key Dates in October

October 13     Photo Re-take Day
October 14     Post Secondary Fair (Gr.11 + 12)
October 15     5th Week Reports
October 22     Parents' Night
October 22     U.S. College Info Night (this event will be held ahead of our Parents' Night and will take place in the Main Gymnasium commencing at 6:00 p.m.)


RDC Events in October/November

October 21          Back to the Future Day
October 26-30    Octoberfest Activities all week

Thursday 1 October 2015

So long September !!!





So long September....


Was it really four weeks ago that school began???  It seems like September has flown by and things have settled in to a fairly smooth rhythm of classes, clubs, and other activities.  As we reach the end of our first month of school I do want to share a few observations:

a)  I'm continuously impressed by the energy and passion of our students

b)  Thank you to all parents who have made generous donations to our Parent Council this fall.  Stay tuned for updates on the projects that will be underway this year.

c)  Despite the uncertainty around our labour situation I am very pleased that OT staff have jumped in to their classes and to many clubs and activities so that school life can remain a vital part of the school experience for OT students.

With that in mind here are some important dates in the month of October.

KEY DATES:

October 1st       Parent Council Meeting
October 6th       Parent Connections Meeting
October 7th       Excellence Night
October 8th       Honour Breakfast
October 9th       PA Day
October 14th     5th Week Reports (mailed home*)
October 22nd     Parents' Night


Celebrating Success

Some highlights:

Congratulations to a number of our students who (once again) captured the Ontario Sailing High School Regatta Championship!!!  The team consisted of A. Thayer, S. Joakim, L. Bruce, and M. Nott.  Liam Bruce captured 1st overall and Max Nott was 3rd overall - way to go guys!

This past summer L. Pennyfather had amazing success at the Canadian Championships.  Lucy was a member of two Gold Medal Winning Crews as well as being a winner of two Silver Medals as well.  Lucy was a member of the Gold Medal winning U17 C-4 500m crew as well as a member of the Gold Medal winning U19 C-15 500m crew.  Her Silver Medals came in the U16 K-1 1,000m (an individual honour) as well as in the U19 C-4 500m event.  Wow!!!!  Congratulations Lucy.



IWALK 2015


Hey OT - October 5 – 9 is International Walk to School week !!!

IWalk 2015 is being celebrated with students and families being encouraged to choose walking & wheeling for the school journey. Walking and Wheeling prepares the brain to learn.  Exercise means the heart beats faster and increases blood and oxygen flow through the body, including the brain - essentially waking it up!  Now students are more prepared to learn something new or recall or build on previous knowledge.  Start each day by combining a healthy breakfast with active transportation choices and be on the way to better grades before school even begins!


Please join Oakville Trafalgar High School as we participate in making our community more pedestrian and bike friendly – and don’t forget to smile at your neighbours on your trip – it’s contagious!



Stay tuned for more updates to follow....



Wednesday 9 September 2015

..and we're off and running !!!



Welcome back !!!!

Despite the extremely warm weather I'm sure you're already wondering where that summer vacation went.  Our opening couple of days have been hectic with new grade 9's connecting with their Link Crew Leaders on day one and all of our other students settling in to classes.

As you can imagine there is a lot of 'settling in' happening here at school.  Our new grade 9's coupled with five brand new teachers and one new Vice Principal makes for a large number of folks getting comfortable here at school  When you add in the six teaching staff returning from leaves it means lots of adjustments for adults and students as well.  I sure hope things are settling in for your family as your kids head back to school for the 2015-16 school year.


Some Key Early September Dates:

Thurs., September 10th - Opening Parent Council Meeting (Staff Room at 7:00 p.m.)
Friday, September 11th - Photo Day
Thurs., September 17th - Grade 9 "Meet the Teacher" Night
                                       - Club Fair (Lunch periods)

New Staff
Ms. Shawn McRae - Vice Principal.  Ms. McRae joins us after a number of years as Principal of James W. Hill PS.  We're thrilled to have the benefit of her experience - especially with our grade 9 students - and look forward to learning with her over the years to come.
Ms. Jaunna Beattie - Ms. Beattie joins our Math and Science Departments following some years at Nelson High School in Burlington.
Ms. Sheila Maheshwari - Ms. Maheshwari joins our Science Department following a stint up at Georgetown District High School.
Ms. Jayeon Kang and Ms. Victoria Socha- Ms. Kang and Ms. Rocha are joining our Music Program this year working with our full year 9th credit music classes.
Ms. Mary Loeffler - Ms. Loeffler is joining our Moderns department.  She brings with her a host of teaching experience from Appleby College.

Returning Staff
Welcome back....
Ms. Leticia Bottema; Ms. Betty Farquharson; Ms. Michelle Liou; Ms. Chandni Chaudhary; Ms. Allison Proctor; and Ms. Melina Spyropoulos.



Co-curriculars

Many of our Fall Sports have begun their training and tryouts with meetings this week.  If your son or daughter is interested please encourage them to try out for something that matches their passion and interest.  Although we'd like to have unlimited numbers on our teams it's just not possible.  Many teams have an open membership (meaning if you keep going to practice they'll keep you on the team) however others have limited rosters and so 'cuts' will be made.  Encourage your child to keep the coach in the loop regarding any concerns, challenges, etc. around your continued participation.

Typically the following sports occur in the Fall:

Boys - Varsity Football; Junior and Senior Volleyball; Golf; and Cross Country

Girls - Junior and Senior Field Hockey; Junior and Senior Basketball; Golf; and Cross Country

Connect with Mr. Gruber in the Healthy Active Living/Physical Education department office if you have any questions or concerns with connecting with a coach.

NOTE:  If you are an interested, and qualified/certified, coach (in any sport) we are always open to connecting with you to see if there might be a way for you to help our our Co-curricular Program.  As you can imagine there are some rules, etc. to follow......but we'd love to talk to you about your interest.  Historically OTHS has always had a few community coaches however this need has increased in the past four/five years

Other School Activities

On the 17th we will be conducting a Club Fair in the Atrium.  Over both lunch hours Clubs will set up a booth or display to highlight their specific club.  This is a great way for your child to express their interest in becoming involved in our greater community.

PARENT COUNCIL

This Thursday (sorry for the short notice) we will host our opening Parent Council meeting here at the school at 7:00 p.m.  Our opening meeting allows for all parents to express their interest in participating with us over the school year.  We really have a philosophy of "if you come to the meetings you ARE a member of our Parent Council'.
This year we are going to try hard to make our meetings a bit more efficient and streamlined with Committee Reports and Updates being prepared by smaller groups.  Our meetings will normally run for 90 minutes however.....we've been known to run over !!!
Feel free to attend whether you're a new OT parent or if it's your final year!




Sunday 6 September 2015

Reminders for all Parents...


....T-minus two days!!!


As we begin a new school year here are some thoughts for all parents, regardless of whether you are a veteran high school parent or are sending your oldest child to high school for the first time.  As a parent who is about to become an Empty-Nester, and as a Teacher beginning my 29th year, I certainly have some experience and perspective on this subject.

If you're an experienced high school parent many of these things may seem silly but they're good to keep in mind nontheless.  For parents about to embark on their first high school experience (as parents)....hold on tight.  It may be smooth sailing for many, but it also can be an exciting, and sometimes bumpy, ride!

A few key reminders:

1.  Your son or daughter (regardless of whether they'd ever express this to you out loud) is a combination of nerves, fear, excitement, and anticipation.  That's OK, and completely to be expected.  While it may not seem like much of a jump from grade 8 to 9, remember they are going from being the oldest in a school to the youngest.....and those grade 12's can seem pretty intimidating - even if they're great too!

2.  You may feel that it's time to back off a bit as parents now that 'they' are in high school.  You may also expect that you will not hear much from high school teachers.  Fight that urge and don't be hesitant about reminding your children (they are still children even if they think they're mini adults) that you will continue to be active in their school years as long as you can.  Please also don't hesitate to e-mail teachers and inquire about progress, etc. if you have any questions or concerns.  I've heard many parents mention that they have been surprised by the volume of contact between HS teachers and parents - I think this is a good thing and encourage staff to maintain home contact as much as possible.

3.  Don't be shocked if your child starts saying that they "don't have tons of homework".  While there will certainly be homework remember that for many of our students grade 9 will feel like 'less work'.  In grade 8 they were on a rotary schedule carrying 7 or 8 different subjects.  In high school students have 4 courses per semester.  Most students will have 2 traditional academic subjects per semester (two of Math, Science, English, and Geography) and then 2 additional courses that we might consider optional (Phys. Ed., Visual Art, Music, Business, etc.).  Each subject (and each teacher) will generate homework based upon a variety of factors and many teachers do try to build in time each day to begin homework in class.

4.  If you're unsure....call or email us!  Expect your child to miss messages and not to bring things home - again, pretty normal behaviour for 13-15 year old students.  We try to maintain our school website, and to email important messages directly to parents, however it is possible that information may not make it home so please don't hesitate to call or email if you are uncertain about anything.


The First Day of School!!!

Here at OTHS we have a blended start to school on Day One.  Our Grade 9's start the day working with our Link Crew (Senior Students) Mentors.  There are multiple activities planned to assist in making all of our new students feel welcome at OT.  As well new students meet some senior mentors so that they might have a senior student to lean on should any questions or concerns emerge in the opening weeks of school.
Grade 9's will report to school at 8:00 a.m. and proceed to the Gymnasium for opening remarks.
The balance of our returning students will start Period 1 at 11:45 a.m.  This 'delayed' start allows our Grade 9 students and their Link Crew Leaders to spend the balance of the morning getting to know each other and the school.  It's also a nice way to welcome back our senior students after a long summer break.

Students will see a lot of activities start right away (clubs, teams, etc.) and so make sure to jump in with both feet!  Getting involved (in something) is still the best way to ensure a stronger high school experience for all students.  Listen for announcements and postings around the school for information.  We are hosting a Club Fair during Week Two so no student should be unaware of the variety of activities available.

I wish every family, and all of our students, a great start to the 2015-16 school year.  The first couple of weeks will fly by in a blur!

J. Phillips




Thursday 27 August 2015

A look back....and forward too....





As the summer nears an end I want to re-connect and review some highlights from June as well as look forward to a new school year (only a couple of weeks away!!!).

JUNE 2015

Our last school year officially ended with a wonderful Commencement evening on June 26th.  It was an exciting night for Grads, Parents, and staff alike and the gym was packed.  Thank you to the staff members who organized and planned for our celebration.  The gym looked great and all of the preparation beforehand made for a smooth and well-run event.

Special thanks to Ms. Brooks, Ms. Vathy, Ms. Savoie, Ms. Holbrook, and Ms. Barns for their work organizing the diplomas, awards, program, and overall 'work' involved.  To Ms. Collett, Ms. and all of their staff team thank you for the preparation and organization of the gym - everything looked fantastic!

To our Grads - best wishes as you embark on the next phase of your educational path.  Whether you're moving away from home or staying close by I wish you all the best as you embark on new adventures.

2015-2016 School Year

Labour Update

As you may have read there has been a recent settlement between OSSTF and the Province around issues pertaining to 'large' province-wide issues.  Local bargaining has not yet been completed however we're optimistic that this will soon be complete.  Stay tuned to the Board website for any and all common messages around any Labout news.

What's that mean for my child?

School will begin with staff participating in co-curriculars and working with students outside of class.  
Board materials and other administrative materials will be coordinated through the main office and not via classroom teachers.  This may be as slight inconvenience over the first week or two however we'll work through them as well as possible and I do not believe that any significant challenges will present themselves.

Classes will commence and runs as scheduled - no disruption to classes.


CONGRATULATIONS !!!

Congratulations to our Grade 10 Civics Classes for their work on the Civic Mirror activity last year.  Yesterday I received notice that one of OTHS's class groups was chosen as the TOP GROUP IN CANADA !!!!!
Mr. Fraser's Blackrock group scored the highest rating of all groups in the country!  Way to go!

Follow this link to read more:  Civic Mirror
(there is an additional link on the attachment that will lead to a more extensive/detailed article)

Message to Parents

With the school year about to begin I'd like to share a few updates from the summer:

- we've been able to re-face a number of lockers (on-going plan to replace all over the next few years)
- new carpet in the theatre
- landscaping work.  We've had a company in to trim the hedges and to remove a number of plants that have either died, or become overgrown, at the front of the school.  The 'garden' area at the south end of the parking lot has also been refreshed.
- a number of modifications have been made to classrooms in order to improve accessibility for all students (doors widened, cabinets, etc. adjusted for accessibility)
- we're continuing to work to replace outdated furniture and equipment (the boring tables and chairs stuff !!!)
- new security cameras have been installed and we now have tremendous coverage across the entire school

Our Parking Lot Challenges

If you drive your child to school you are well aware of our challenges at the beginning of the day and at the end of the school day.  I'd like to ask our parent community to consider the following:

1.  Please encourage your child to walk to school IF you live within a reasonable walking distance.
- not only is this positive for their individual health and fitness, but countless studies support the fact that exercise improves brain function - and by extension student achievement.

2.  If you must drop off your child please make every effort to drive to the second door (closer to back of school) to drop your student.
- by driving further along the roadway you help alleviate the back-up that develops at the entrance along Devon Rd.

3.  The greatest congestion occurs between 8:00 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. each morning.  I know it's tough when you're running behind, but if you are able to drop off your child by 7:45 there is virtually NO line-up.
- thanks for taking care moving through the parking lot.  The students are not always the most observant early in the morning and our care and diligence is really important.

School Start Up news

Athletics - look for announcements for all Fall Sports Teams starting right away!
Photo Day - Friday, September 11th
Club Fair - OT is hosting a Club Fair Thursday, September 17th

Further September key dates will be shared asap....

See you soon......

J. Phillips

The final stretch......






A message to our seniors...

.....while we're all enjoying the nice weather....the semester is far from over !!!  Please continue to press on with your great work this semester.  It is always disheartening to see a student's grade drop significantly over the final six weeks of school.  Remember....university and college acceptances are always 'conditional'.  It would be a real shame to see any student lose a spot as a result of 'shutting it down' too early.

According to some of our Grade 12 Teachers many students appear to be hitting the cruise button on their work habits.  Thanks for reminding your sons/daughters that we still have a month of important summative and exam work ahead.


Relay for Life

With only 1 day remaining in our R4L preparations students at school are both excited about the event tomorrow and about the early success of our fundraising.  Students, friends, and families have contributed over $85,000.00 toward our goal.  While we're still a long way from the goal of raising $155,000.00 the efforts of all our students (and families) have been excellent.
Thank you to Ms. Hanley and Ms. Logan (among a host of other staff) for their leadership of our Relay Group this year.  The student leaders have also done a fantastic job and deserve our thanks and appreciation.
Good luck tomorrow night!!!!

NOTE:  Our final tally for R4L was OVER $177,500.00 !!!!!!   Once again OT is the Top Fundraising School in Canada !!!  Way to go OT  !!!



Spring Success!!!


Congratulations to a number of our Spring sports teams on a great season.

The Junior Girls Tennis Team of Hana Badawy, Tessa Bray, Kate Medd, and Nicole Paldino and the Junior Boys Tennis Team have emerged as Halton Champions (once again).  Congratulations to both teams.  Members of the Junior Boys team are Andrew Aling, Jeffrey Smith, Joshua Hill, and Alex Wilson.

OT's Rugby domination continues as all four of our Rugby teams have won Halton Championships.  This morning our Junior Boys and Junior Girls teams both emerged victorious in their championship games.

The Senior Girls team is off to OFSAA following their GHAC title last week.  OFSAA is taking place in Brampton early next week and our girls are considered a medal threat.  Congratulations girls and good luck next week.

http://www.insidehalton.com/sports-story/5650827-oakville-trafalgar-not-backing-down-from-goal-of-being-province-s-best/

The Senior Boys are hosting the GHAC championship this afternoon here at OT.  In dominating fashion the boys crushed Abbey Park and will be moving on to OFSAA next week (Thursday-Saturday) in Stoney Creek (Saltfleet HS are the hosts).  Good luck guys.

Thank you very much to all of our Spring Coaches for their time and commitment to OT Athletics, and to our students.


An issue that returns every year.....

Much like snow in February.....appropriate student dress surfaces as an issue of concern once the thermometer jumps over 25 degrees!  OTHS is not immune to challenges around student dress and I wanted to share some recent news articles that highlight the challenge school staff face when considering an appropriate response to what is perceived as inappropriate clothing at school.

My personal view is that OT is, first and foremost, a place of work and that all students (and staff/support personnel, etc.) should be dressed in an appropriate manner for a place of work.  Defining appropriate is an interesting challenge, and - as a child of the 60's - I typically give wide latitude to students around this issue.

What I caution students about is this, "OT is not a beach club, a dance club, or the host of a pool party.  As a result we expect you to dress in a manner that coincides with the dress code outlined in our student handbook (online) - and with OT as a place of work.  Please refrain from wearing clothing that would conflict with this expectation.  We expect that boxers and lingerie would remain out of sight and that any shirts promoting beer, liquor, or drugs of any kind please be kept at home for your personal time."

Now the appearance of boxers or the sight of a bra strap is not going to draw any attention however recently (much like in the 70's) short shorts have made a comeback.  As a parent of 2 girls (18 and 21) I've lived the parental challenge of clothing choices and 'fights' over what is being worn by our kids.  Thank you for helping us deal with this era-defying challenge..

Shorts - if there is an inseam - all ok.  If not, please keep those for the weekend.

For the most part the tops worn by guys and by girls are not an issue, however our policy around visible lingerie and liquor and drug promotion tend to be the things that draw our involvement.

At OT we will always do our best to be as respectful and polite as possible when addressing issues of inappropriate dress.  If we feel that this is a concern we may: a) provide a t-shirt, or shorts, for the student to wear for the balance of the day; b) allow student to contact home re: change of clothes; or c) use this as an opportunity for better understanding of the school's dress code expectations.

Here are a few articles that have made the paper recently.  I'd be interested in our communities point of view.

big sister article

Etobicoke School of the Arts

Grad comment

Two of these articles are from the U.S. and one from just down the road.  They all raise interesting questions about what many would see as a fairly straight forward issue.  Happy reading.


WELCOME TO JUNE

Some key dates as we roll into June


June 17     Final Day of Classes
June 18     Exams begin
June 25     Exam Review Day
June 25     Commencement






Friday 22 May 2015

Relay; Prom; and other school activities..



Relay for Life

Relay for Life is set to go on Friday, May 29th, 2015.  Thank you very much to our Relay Committees for all of their tremendous work this year.  We have over 150 students working hard, behind the scenes, to make Relay a reality.

Thank you also to our general student population for the overwhelming participation in the upcoming Relay.  To date I believe we have almost 1,000 (of 1,200) students set to participate.  We're expecting an amazing evening (come on weather!!!).

By the way.....Relay is ON rain or shine!



PROM

On Wednesday, May 20th OTHS held the Prom at Liuna Station in Hamilton.  Over 350 students and 18 staff had a fantastic night.  The students looked amazing and the entire night was a great success.

Special thank you to Ms. Barb Pickard and the student committee that organized the entire event (Hannah, Donna, Sam, Lily, and Breanna did an awesome job).

At our Grad Breakfast we circulated a small survey for students to provide feedback on the event.  Early feedback has been very positive however there are always things (the DJ; the location; the date, etc.) that are great to review and adjust accordingly.

Based on our great success this year with Semi-Formals and now a successful Prom I'm sure we'll be looking at more school-sponsored events next year.

Way to go Class of 2015 !!!



Approaching the final stretch.....


The end of May usually brings great weather and students love to spend time outside on their lunch and after school.  The end of May also signals the approaching end of another semester....and with that....the crush of Summative Projects; final unit tests and assignments; and also the approaching Final Exams.

For all students, but especially for those in their senior years this time period can be very stressful.  In order to minimize stress students are reminded to follow a few simple rules: a) attend every class - you never know when a teacher might share that final piece of helpful information; b) Submit every assignment - this seems fairly simple...right?; c) remember to communicate fully with your teachers around your personal schedule - not every student has the same degree of commitments at this time of year; d) begin to organize yourself for the final weeks of school - map out your school requirements and consider reducing the number of shifts you take at your part time work; and e) search for some balance between the school work you must complete and your personal health - get out and exercise, or read for pleasure, in order to maintain some balance.

Good luck with the final push.  You can do it!


Athletics update

Our spring season is quickly nearing completion.  Congratulations to our athletes involved in Tennis; Soccer; Track and Field; and Rugby.  Once again OT has teams competing (and winning) in Halton Championships and moving on to Regional competitions with our GHAC schools.

Special thanks to all of our spring coaches who have donated so much of their own time to help support, manage, and coach our school teams.

Look for our Rugby teams to compete in OFSAA championships in a couple of weeks (June 3-6th).


Arts Update


On Thursday, May 7th OT's Musical Talent took to the stage for their annual Spring Concert.  A great night was had by all.  Special thanks to our staff marshalls who helped ensure a smooth transition between acts.  To Mr. Clarke and Ms. Chow - thank you both for your generosity and spirit in leading the music program all year.  We continue to expect to see greater things in the years to come from the hundred (and some) students who performed this spring.




Monday 4 May 2015

...and we're into May!!!!





Greetings from the main office...

I'll start with an update on the ongoing Labour discussions.  I wish I had more information to share however I am waiting to learn the fate of negotiations much like all of you.  To date OSSTF District #20 has not made any announcement re: a possible strike date for Halton schools.  As you may be aware there is a notification period of 5 days that must be given ahead of any work stoppage.

Currently the HDSB and District #20 have negotiation dates set up to and including the 14th of May.  While a notification may be issued ahead of the 14th that date has been set for some time as the final publicized meeting/negotiations date.

All of us here at school are as 'on edge' as I'm sure parents are.  As soon as any notification is given we will be communicating as quickly as we can with our parent community.  In the meantime please check in with the HDSB website if you have any questions or concerns.  They have a Labour Update/News link on their main page ( www.hdsb.ca ) in the top right corner.


Other possible Labour Related questions:

While we will receive direction from both the Ministry of Education and the School Board in the event of a strike notification here are some things I can share:

a) PROM is ON !!!  In the event of a strike we will still coordinate a school sponsored PROM.  Administration and security personnel (Police and Security company) have already been booked and our Parent Council has offered to provide additional parent supervision for the evening.

b) Graduation/Commencement - Depending on whether or not a strike is called, and the duration of any work stoppage, we may need to consider re-scheduling a graduation ceremony.  If this becomes necessary a FALL date would likely be chosen.  Any decision around this is quite premature however do know that we will be looking at this should the need arise.

c) College and University applications/courses/classes/etc.  This is an area where the Ministry of Education will determine a final decision (in concert with Colleges and Universities).  Please know that mid term grades have been sent to OUAC and admission decisions are most often based upon these grades.  We will proceed as usual (course work; assessments and evaluation; etc.) assuming that we will not go on strike.  If there is a strike notification then we will follow the instructions and directions of the Ministry and Board as required.


d)  That's it for now.....hang in there.


School wide happenings....

The nice weather is a welcome sight for all of our spring teams.  Our Rugby teams are again leading the pack with a series of huge wins to their credit already and our Soccer Teams are competing strongly against all other Halton competition.

Track is back at OTHS !  Good luck to all of our track athletes as they take on the best from around the region.  The GHAC championships are a couple of weeks away and our athletes are training hard.

This week our RDC is coordinating fundraising to support assistance for those directly impacted by the earthquake in Nepal last week.  Thank you for encouraging your son/daughter to participate wherever they can.

Congratulations to our School Reach team who have moved on to the Provincial Championships in Toronto!  Well done to all team members.


Key Dates Ahead

Monday, May 18th   Victoria Day
Wed. May 20th         PROM
Friday, May 29th      Relay for Life Event
Thurs. June 18th       First Day of Final Exams
Thurs. June 25th       Commencement




Thursday 2 April 2015

Spring.....has arrived...



Greetings from the office.....


Now that we've finally arrived at some better weather, and the snow has disappeared for another 10 months,..(fingers crossed)..all of us can begin to look forward to warmer weather and getting outdoors for more and more time.

Here at school this is most easily seen by our spring sports teams.  Although the fields may not yet be suitable for competition our coaches are getting the students outside with greater frequency.

April also means we're hitting the mid way mark in our semester.  Report Cards will be issued on Friday, April 17th.  The period from April through the May long weekend tends to feel like a long, drawn out time for students and staff however I'd caution everyone to do their best to maintain their focus on school activities as we're far from the end of the semester.

Should report cards cause concern please do not hesitate to connect with the school in the following order of priority:  a) Subject specific Classroom Teacher; b) Support Staff (Guidance; Student Success Teacher; etc. ); and c) Administration.  Our Parents' Night was held back in March however if any parent wishes to set up an interview with their child's teacher all that is required is a phone call or e-mail and a mutually convenient time to meet here at the school.

Some Key Dates

Friday, April 17th     Report Cards
Friday, April 24th     PA Day
Monday, May 18th   Victoria Day
Wed. May 20th         PROM
Friday, May 29th      Relay for Life Event
Thurs. June 18th       First Day of Final Exams
Thurs. June 25th       Commencement


From around the school...

This past week we held our Relay for Life Kick-off Assembly.  Thanks to the Relay Committee for a great outline of what's to come in the month of April and May.  As you may know Relay for Life takes place on May 29th and we're looking forward to a great event.

More details will be forthcoming however all OT families are encouraged to participate in whatever manner possible.  Some of you may make a donation; some may come to cheer on and support our event; and some may even choose to participate by walking themselves!

Thank you for your support of Cancer Research and the Relay for Life at OTHS.


Last week our Improv Team competed at the regional championships in Toronto.  Although our students will not be moving on to Nationals they have had an awesome year!  Winning their way to regionals is a great achievement and all students should be proud of their accomplishment.  Thank you to Ms. Muzzatti for her continued leadership of this great group of students.

Robotics News - last week our Robotics Team travelled up to North Bay (Nipissing University) for another First Robotics Competition.  While Team 1334 did not emerge victorious they acquitted themselves very well moving beyond the 'round robin' and into the Elimination rounds.  The students were fully immersed in another authentic learning opportunity for the three days of competition.  Thank you very much to Mr. Woods and our fantastic Mentors for their continued support.

Wishing everyone a great long weekend....







Thursday 26 March 2015

....hoping for an early spring (not so much) !!!


Greetings OT families....


I'm sure that all of us are dearly hoping for an early spring and a reprieve from this cold, cold weather.  As we approach the end of March spring is not that far away, however I know there will be some final blasts from 'old man winter' before we start to see some warmer weather.  Hang in there!

School Updates

MUSIC NEWS - Thank you (again) very much to our OT Parents for their generous donation of $10,000.00 to our Music Program.  Mr. Clarke has been able to purchase a number of new instruments that will continue to replenish and re-invigorate our music program.

In mid-February our Music students were incredibly successful at the Hamilton music competition.  Congratulations to our students for their incredible performances.


5th Week Reports

The week of March 9 -11th OTHS will be e-mailing 5th week reports to the following students (parents): All Grade 9 students; any Grade 10, 11, and 12 student who has struggled with the start of semester 2.  Staff have been asked to e-mail reports home no later than Wednesday, March 11th (by end of day).  If you have a child in Grade 10, 11, or 12 and DO NOT receive a 5th Week Report that would indicate that your child's Teacher is satisfied with their early performance in class (behaviour, work completion, and any early assessments that have been completed).

Parents' Night

Thursday, March 26th will be a busy day at OT.  Not only are we conducting the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test for our Grade 10 students AND coordinating a blood donor clinic for our senior students.....we will also be hosting our Second Semester Parents' Night.

As in previous events the first 60 minutes is set for informal 'meet the teacher' moments where a quick (less than 5 minutes) update is all that is required.  If a longer meeting is required we have a formal interview period (7:30-8:30 p.m.) where a parent-teacher sit down can occur in a more private environment to discuss concerns, etc.

We will have a couple of staff members unable to attend however each of those staff members is expected to have communicated this to both their students and to parents (via either an email or notice).  Follow-up meetings in these cases are set up individually through direct contact with the staff member in question.

Other school news

We have a Prom Date !!!   Wednesday, May 20th - at Liuna Station in Hamilton.  OT staff are working with a student prom committee to prepare for Prom.  Once additional detail is available we will share via synermail with all senior families.

Junior Semi Formal - Wednesday, April 8th we are hosting a Junior Semi Formal at Otello's.  Tickets are available via Cashless ($45.00) and we're looking forward to a great evening.  The final day to confirm ticket purchases is coming up quickly (Wednesday, April 1st is our deadline for purchasing tickets).

Sporting News

Spring sports teams have begun tryouts and practicing for another excellent season.  Drop by the Phys. Ed. department office if you're still hoping to join in with a school team.




Friday 27 February 2015

Semester Two is underway !!!



Greetings OT community.  First, please accept my apologies for the delay in a new post.  With exams and then start up I've been negligent in getting back to a blog update.


FEBRUARY

The first few weeks of Semester Two are wrapping up and I've been quite pleased with the smooth transition into a new semester.  Outside of the expected adjustments to some schedules.....and a few last minute staffing hold-ups... all classes are well underway.

NEW STAFF - OTHS welcomes a few new staff members this term.

 Mr. Lameck Zingano is joining staff (Grade 10 History).  Mr. Zingano joins us from the Peel District School Board where he has been an Occasional Teacher for the past year.  Mr. Zingano brings with him an extremely strong academic background (continuing work on his PhD in Anthropology) as well as a wealth of personal experience from his global travels.

Ms. Tara Mehlenbacher joins us following stops at Lester B. Pearson and Garth Webb Secondary School.  Ms. Mehlenbacher is teaching History and Career Studies with our Grade 10's.  I have worked with Ms. Mehlenbacher in the past and I know her students will benefit greatly from her enthusiasm and experience.  Our school teams may also benefit as Ms. Mehlenbacher has past experience coaching a variety of sports teams as well.

Ms. Sabrina Sibio has joined our staff this semester to teach both Civics and Food and Nutrition.  Ms. Sibio has been working up at Iroquois Ridge HS and we're very pleased to have her join our Canada and the World Department.

Returning to OT following a brief stint in Milton is Ms. Jesslin Tan.  Ms. Tan taught at OT last year and she is returning to work in our Math department again teaching a Data Management class with our Grade 12 students.

Two brand new Teachers have also joined our staff this semester.  Ms. Michelle Liou and Ms. Ellen Cruz are brand new staff members.  Ms. Liou is working with our Grade 11 Biology students and Ms. Cruz is teaching Grade 9 Core French.


What's new in Staff Development???

Last week during our school PD Day all staff had the opportunity to participate in a Living Library activity that was tied to our school goal of advancing staff understanding of equity related issues.  The Living Library provided all staff a chance to sign out a person for a small period of time !!!  During that time staff were exposed to a different perspective on OT and the educational system.  Some of our Living Library Books were students and parents while other members of the community volunteered their time to share their stories with our staff.

During other sessions staff viewed the video The Danger of a Single Story .  Following the video staff discussed how this related to their work with students at OTHS, and the variety of stories each of our students experience every day.

While others were watching and discussing the video a third group were having a chance to connect with our Special Education and Student Services departments to review policies and procedures around working with students who are struggling in school.  While we have great students it's nice to know that our staff are continuously working to assist any student in need.

The afternoon also provided staff an introduction into our Mentoring Morning plan that was held on Tuesday, March 17th.  All OTHS students spent time with staff discussing another focus of our School Improvement Plan - Resiliency.  We will be hosting three Mentoring Mornings this semester all focused on an area of student need (as identified by staff earlier this school year).  As many parents will agree developing resiliency (for any struggle or challenge) is an essential life skill and we recognize that school presents many opportunities to work on improving resiliency in our students.

School Life

Over the past few weeks OTHS students have been experiencing great success in a variety of adventures.

Congratulations to three of our Grade 12 students for their victory in the SAS Big Data Challenge!!!  Duncan U., Mark J., and Daniel P. were the big winners....receiving as a prize a cheque for $1,000.00 (payable to the school)!!!!  Great job guys.

Congratulations also go our to Jakob N. and Maegan O. for their second place finish in the McMaster University Math contest.  Awesome job!

In ARTS NEWS.....congratulations to our Improv Team who - just this week - finished second in their regional competition.  This success means that our Improv Team is heading to the Provincial Championships coming up later this month.

Athletics update.  This past week our Senior Girls Volleyball team defeated White Oaks to move on to the Halton Championship for AAAA schools (schools with more than 1,200 students).  The girls have had a great season to date and we're looking forward to the Halton Finals.

In Boys Hockey the guys enter the playoffs in second place.  After a strong regular season the team has high hopes for the playoffs.

Key Dates Ahead

February 25     Superfire Assembly (Gr.9+10)
March 11         5th Week Reports e-mailed
March 14         March Break begins
March 26         OSSLT (Literacy Test)
March 26         Parents' Night





Friday 9 January 2015

Welcome to 2015 !!!


Welcome back to school !!!

Happy New Year to all in the OTHS community.  After a long break it sometimes can take a few days to get back in the swing of things however with exams around the corner many students might be struggling with concerns about exams and summative projects.  While these are important assessments for all teachers there is help available.  Please encourage your son/daughter to connect with their classroom teacher should any concerns be emerging.  Additional support is also available through our Student Services department and our Student Success Teacher (Ms. Susan Miles).

Every day, during both lunch periods, there are staff in the Oak Room (121) available to help students in any subject area.  Learning to self-advocate is an important skill to learn during the high school years.  Don't hesitate to encourage your child to follow up with one of our staff - and/or to email yourself - if you're sensing concerns or problems around any particular class.


Exams

The exam period can be quite stressful for any high school student.  Over the past few years schools have adjusted the exam process with an eye to reducing that stress as well as to avoid challenges with supervision and exam conflicts.  As a result our current exam schedule calls for students to write only 1 exam per day (unless circumstances exist that require adjustments to our planned schedule), and students typically write this exam in their home classroom (as opposed to a gymnasium or cafeteria).

Our schedule is as follows:

Thursday, January 22     -  All Period 5 classes

Friday, January 23         -  All Period 1 classes

Monday, January 26      -  All Period 2 classes

Tuesday, January 27     -  All Period 3 & 4 classes

The order of exams has been set with a focus on two things: a) volume of exams to be written (in total or by grade and subject focus); and b) the potential length of time a particular set of exams may take to grade (ex; subjects with significant writing components)

All exams will begin at  9 a.m.   (A late start has been proven to provide multiple benefits for students over the years)

Inclement Weather - What happens if it's a snow day???

IF  the HDSB closes schools (and only if all schools are closed) then all exams on that particular day will be moved to Wednesday, January 28th - start time remains the same.

If buses are cancelled, but school is still open, then there will be NO change to our exam schedule.  We realize that bus cancellation may make the morning routine difficult but all students would be expected to make it to school if they had a scheduled exam.