Grade 8 students in Rainbow Schools in Capreol, Hanmer and/or

Grade 8 students in Rainbow Schools in Capreol, Hanmer and/or Val Caron will be faced with
deciding which secondary school to attend. There are 4 high schools in Valley East:
Confederation Secondary School, Ecole Secondaire Catholique Horizon, Ecole Secondaire
Hanmer and Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School. Two schools are English with
French Immersion programs (Confederation and Bishop); two schools are completely French
speaking (L’Horizon and Hanmer).
In addition, students have the opportunity to apply to one of three Magnet programs; LoEllen’s
IB program, Lockerby’s STEP/Laptop program, and Sudbury Secondary’s Performing Arts
program. All three schools will send representatives to speak to Grade 8 classes in order to
recruit students to their programs. If students choose to attend a magnet program, they will
receive transportation to and from the school of choice.
Confederation Secondary School will likewise send representation to speak with Grade 8
students about programming, and school culture. Generally, Confederation will visit elementary
schools after the magnet presentations, to assist students as they consider all options available
to them. While we would prefer that all students came to us, we understand and respect the
need for a student to choose the secondary school that is most appropriate for him/her.
As you discuss the options with your
son/daughter, it is advisable to visit the schools
in question. Open Houses are hosted by each
school, and serve as the perfect opportunity to
gather information. Consider all possible
factors involved in attending a particular
school: length of bus ride, pick up and drop off times, transportation to/from extra-curricular
events and home, ease of participation in co-curricular programming (ie. Athletics), potential
study groups, etc. These particular points of concern often become burdensome on students –
so much so that they will opt to transfer to their own community school.
Unfortunately, data
suggests that changing schools has a detrimental impact upon a student’s overall success.
Other questions you might ask include: is the programming significantly different from that of
the community school? Does one school offer more options than another? Which school can
best prepare a student for the next step after secondary school? You’re making an important
decision. Inquire directly with school personnel, preferably the principal of any school in
question.
At Confederation Secondary School,
individual tours with the school
principal can be booked. These
provide an excellent opportunity to
have all questions answered, and
perhaps prompt new questions. Other
schools and principals may provide the
same opportunity. Indeed, you are
encouraged to call and determine if a
similar site visit can be booked.
Confederation hosts a number of transition activities. Trades Day and Arts Day allow all local
Grade 8 students to familiarize themselves with our building, while they take part in an array of
enjoyable activities (these are actually secondary school electives). Other opportunities include
a day devoted to Immersion, and various athletic tournaments. Of course, even though your
son/daughter has had a lot of opportunity to interact with Confederation, you are still
encouraged to come with your child to see what we have to offer, and likewise become familiar
with our school.
While it is true that students in high school should become more independent, self-regulated
learners, it doesn’t mean that parents should become less involved with their learning
experience. Confederation encourages parents to call/email teachers about progress on a
consistent basis. The school also produces Monthly Progress Reports in the months other than
those in which Ministry Report Cards (mid-term or final) are issued, in order to keep parents
informed about their child’s progress.
Grade 8 students generally choose a
secondary school before the end of
February. Their Grade 8 teacher will
assist with the process. This teacher,
along with the parent and the
elementary school principal, will recommend the appropriate academic pathway for each
student. Confederation will send its Guidance counselors to the Grade 8 classroom to insure
that your order to obtain a secondary school diploma. There will also be some discussion about
post-secondary options associated with each pathway.
While students can essentially wait until school begins to register, this is not a good idea, as
classroom seating is limited, and students may miss out on compulsory or elective courses. A
point of CAUTION: students may change schools after the first day of classes in the fall,
however, after the second day, they may be ineligible to participate on any other school’s teams
for a complete academic year (as per Sudbury District Secondary School Athletic Association
regulations).
Simply put, registering for secondary school
involves completing a paper registration form
and forwarding it to the secondary school of
choice. All Rainbow schools utilize the same
form. Parental/guardian signatures are
required on registration forms. If a student has special needs, there is room on the form to
declare such so that an I.P.R.C. can be scheduled well in advance of the first day of school.
This year, In addition to the registration form, students will be selecting courses via their
myBlueprint.ca online accounts (www.myBlueprint.ca/rainbow).
Parental/guardian signatures
are required on the course selection printout before a student is placed into the selected
courses. If a student has special needs, there is room on the form to declare such so that an
I.P.R.C. can be scheduled well in advance of the first day of school.
Many parents reflect upon their own years in high
school when planning for their child’s transition – it’s
only natural. What you need to consider is that high
schools have changed dramatically over the years, and
what you remember may no longer be relevant to what
your son/daughter will experience. New courses,
different supports (both in and out of school), and new
ways to gain diplomas and/or to prepare for the world
of work, college or university are everywhere. We’ve come a long way:

Independent Learning Courses all year (with online delivery)

French Immersion Programming

International Travel

Technology within our classrooms (iPads,
Smartboards, 3-D printers, drones, CNC machines)

Virtual Labs

Embedded use of Google Applications for Education (GAFE)
including Cloud storage technology

Wifi throughout our building

Ability to utlilize personal electronic devices within programming

eLearning courses available all year (even during the summer months)

Specialist High Skills Major programming

Dual Credit programming (earn a College credit and a high school
credit at the same time)

Cooperative Education with continuous intake (learn on the job)

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (earn hours towards an apprenticeship while
earning your credits)

Online (always accessible) individual pathway planning
(through myBlueprint.ca)
Most schools have supports in place to help insure your son’s/daughter’s success in high school.
Confederation has a Student Success Teacher who monitors student performance, and
intervenes as required. Credit Recovery programs allow students to complete credits for
courses in which they were unsuccessful (so they don’t have to repeat a whole course). Credit
Rescue programs offer intervention near the end of a course, when students need to make up
missed assignments or need more intensive support as they fight to achieve a credit.
Where once all we had was Guidance, we are now equipped with Mental Health supports,
Aboriginal school counselors, Safe Schools legislation (including anti-harassment/bullying
regulations), cultural awareness programs, equity awareness, and sexual health clinics.
Confederation, like many schools, also offers a breakfast program, open to all students, every
morning. More and more, schools are becoming full service institutions.
First of all, it is important to know that every school in the province is mandated to offer the
same program. ALL schools must prepare students for any post-secondary direction they
choose to take. Every credit course comes with Ministry guidelines (the curriculum) to be
followed by anyone teaching it. Schools may introduce unique “flavours” if you will, but ALL
schools must deliver the same content (It’s in the code .. ENG1D0 is the same as ENG1DL or
ENG1DT or ENG1DZ).
Confederation offers (within its programming), two Specialist High Skills Major programs.
Students achieve these by taking specific courses as they work
towards their diploma. We have a SHSM in Manufacturing
(offers industrial certifications such as WHMS, fall safety,
confined space, CPR, etc.) and we have a SHSM in
Communications Technology – Media Broadcasting (our ICT students actually become certified
to work on movie sets). You’ll find different SHSM programs in different schools.
First, to insure clarity, most schools are semestered in their programming; students will take four
courses from start-up in September until the end of January, then they will take four different
courses from February through June. Courses may be compulsory (must be taken) or elective
(may be chosen by the student). A total of 30 credits (one credit per course) must be achieved
in order to obtain the Ontario Secondary School diploma. Eighteen credits are compulsory,
while twelve credits are electives (student choice). In addition to the credits outlined, students
will need to perform 40 hours of community service and pass the Ontario Secondary School
Literacy Test (Grade 10).
In Grade 9, most schools will
offer a program that is quite
general in nature. A Grade 9
timetable will consist of mostly
compulsory courses. At
Confederation, our Grade 9s take
six compulsory courses: English,
Mathematics, Science, Geography, French, Healthy Active Living. Students will choose an
elective each semester. Generally, they can choose between Arts and Technology rotations in
one semester, then from an array of options in the other (Food & Nutrition, Music, Visual Art,
Technological Design, etc.). Grade 9 courses allow for a broad exposure (though introductory)
to different disciplines. Programming is provided in a number of pathways. Academic (will later
lead to university preparatory classes), Applied (will later lead to college preparatory classes) and
Essential (a pathway which leads directly to the workplace). Students can take courses from
different pathways.
Our French Immersion students must take three French courses in Grade 9; they will enjoy one
elective in this year. Our Immersion students will take their French Immersion course, along with
Geography, Drama and Healthy Active Living in French.
Enhanced Math
At Confederation, we
continually strive to improve
student retention,
performance and confidence
in mathematics. Statistics
from around the province
indicate a strong correlation
between mathematics
proficiency and post-secondary pathway choices. All of our incoming Grade 9s will receive
enhanced mathematics exposure, as we embed a formal mathematical component to each of
our rotations. Though the mathematics component will be delivered in a subject-specific format
(mathematics for art and design or mathematics for technology), in either case, it will serve to
provide more instructional continuity to our junior learners.
Preferential Class Selection
Research indicates that student achievement increases within a relaxed and inviting learning
environment. Our teachers understand the importance of positive teacher-student
relationships and recognize value in student relationships. When students feel supported by the
teacher and by each other, there is an increase in classroom engagement and subsequent
achievement. Timetabling a class with a friend has proven to be an initiative worth continuing.
If your son/daughter wants to be in a particular class with a friend, please complete the form
provided in his/her Grade 8 Confederation materials or contact our Guidance personnel.
In Grade 10, students take five
compulsory courses: English,
Mathematics, Science, History,
Civics/Careers. They are able to choose
three others. Options include Visual
Art, Music, Drama, Automotive,
Construction, Manufacturing,
Communications Technology,
Introduction to Business,
Healthy Active Living (they can take regular Physical and Health Education, or they can take a
class with a focus upon Basketball, Volleyball, Hockey, Soccer or Football). Many options exist in
Grade 10, as students continue to explore what they enjoy, and discover their strengths.
Our French Immersion students will take their Grade 10 French Immersion course, along with
History and Civics/Careers in French. They will take English, Mathematics, Science and two
elective type courses of their choice.
Literacy Test
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test occurs in the spring of the Grade 10 year. It is a one
day event, and all Grade 10 students MUST write the test. If students do not pass it, they have
an opportunity to fulfil the literacy component of the diploma through the Ontario Secondary
School Literacy Course, which runs for a full semester. Each year, a practice Literacy Test is run
in the fall, to alleviate any anxiety students may feel when faced with the real thing.
By the time Grade 11 rolls around, students generally have an idea about which pathway they
are most comfortable in, and some idea about where they’re headed. This is the year when
students begin serious preparation for their post-secondary programs. If students have been
moving steadily, there are only two compulsory courses in Grade 11 (English and Mathematics),
and one in Grade 12 (English). The elective courses students choose to fill the rest of the
timetable, are the courses which will prepare them for their pathway of choice (Arts, Business,
Engineering, Design, Health Sciences, Sciences, Technology, Trades, etc.). During these years,
more so than ever before,
students work with
Guidance to refine choices
and to strategize for
success, based upon
individual strengths. Be it
program entry, scholarship
applications, aptitude tests,
etc., these final years of
high school are key to accessing careers of choice.
In Grade 11 our French Immersion students will take their Grade 11 French Immersion class and
one other Immersion course. In Grade 12, the final (tenth) Immersion course will be taken.
There are elective courses available to Grade 11 & 12 students within each of the disciplines of
study:
English, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences & Humanities, Canadian and World studies,
Healthy Active Living, and Technology. Co-operative Education also opens up to Grade 11
students who would rather earn credits within a workplace, rather than in a classroom.
Academic performance in senior grades is essential if students wish to pursue post-secondary
programs. University entry requires at least six Grade 12 university preparation classes
(including English) with a minimum overall average of 70% (that’s for a general program). The
more specialized the program, the higher the required average becomes.
An important consideration for senior students is the fact that they may have to strategize if
their career path involves a limited enrolment program through college. Colleges will examine
marks earned in particular subjects, BUT will not discern between courses taken in the college
preparation or university preparation pathway (to be perfectly clear – they look at marks only!).
The question must be, “will my marks be as competitive as possible?” Some students will
choose to change pathways in Grade 12 in order to be as competitive as possible.
Finally, if students decide to apply to a limited enrolment program in the college pathway, they
should insure that at least half of their prerequisite credit courses fall within the first semester of
their Grade 12 year. Some colleges, given a huge influx of applications, will eliminate applicants
if this is not the case.
Indeed, the four years at
Confederation will pass
quickly. In Grade 12,
Guidance counsellors meet
one-on-one with each Grade
12 student to insure that plans are in place for the following year. While formal preparations
begin in Grade 11, much time is still spent tracking students to be certain that all components
for graduation are in place and that each student is feeling confident in moving forward in
whichever pathway he/she has chosen. Community service hours, the literacy component, all
credits (compulsory and elective) and all prerequisite courses for post-secondary school are
closely monitored.
Students wishing to attend university are flagged and will receive an account with the Ontario
University Application Centre. From Guidance, they will receive an envelope with this account
information and an individual PIN number to access the system. All applications are completed
online through this OUAC account. Typically there is an application fee. Students are allowed
to apply to three programs of choice given the one fee. Students may apply to more than three
university programs, but will have to pay for each additional choice beyond the initial three.
College bound students are likewise flagged, and will apply online to their programs of choice
through the Ontario College Application Service. There is an application fee associated with
OCAS, and for that fee, students are able to apply to five college programs (no more than three
at a single college). Students may not apply to more than five college programs.
University applications are due in mid-January of each year, while college applications
(particularly for limited enrolment programs) are due February 1st each year (for start up the
following September).
Everything is done online, including payment of the application fee.
When the fee is received by the respective service, marks are electronically pulled and dispersed
to the post-secondary schools of choice. Students will then wait to hear (usually via email)
whether they’ve been accepted into their chosen programs.
Note: at Confederation we urge students to complete the application process before the end of
December because website volumes increase steadily as deadlines approach. By applying early,
we beat the overuse issues and students are still able to access their accounts if they wish to
make changes.
Colleges will let students know whether they’ve been accepted to programs before the end of
April, and provide a May 1st deadline for acceptance or decline. University applicants may wait
until the end of May before they receive a decision from the universities of choice. They may
have to confirm offers (accept or decline) by June 1st. Everything is done through online
applicant accounts.
Note that each scholarship offers its own criteria for
determining a recipient, and establishes its own application
procedure and deadline for submission. Hence, scholarship
deadlines occur throughout the calendar year. If students
wait until they apply to post-secondary to do their
searches, they’ll find they’ve already missed out on some significant awards.
In Grade 11, students are urged to begin their search for student awards. A number of online
services are free to join, and they will provide students with scholarship listings along with
advice about scholarship application. Indeed, students should join YCONIC.com and
scholarshipscanada.com. An additional site to visit is canlearn.ca. Students should also take
time to complete individual online searches. While a number of scholarships are brought to the
attention of our Guidance staff, and posted for students, there are many many opportunities
that are not. The onus for student awards remains with the student.
When students have decided which institutions they would like to attend, they should visit those
college or university websites and look for scholarship listings. All pertinent information
regarding entry awards and specific scholarships will be available, with application procedures.
Entry awards are awarded automatically and are based upon a student’s overall academic
average. Other scholarships must be applied to – this process varies as do the scholarships
themselves.
Bursaries are awarded based upon financial need. Again, there are many bursaries available to
students, but students must take the initiative to search and apply for them, given fitting criteria.
In addition, students should make a point to visit the Financial Aid office of their institution of
choice for further information on bursaries.
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) provides
eligible students various types of assistance depending upon
financial need. Students may receive grants (do not need to be
paid back) and/or loans (must be paid back after postsecondary studies are complete). All students are urged to apply for OSAP, even if it is believed
that financial support is not required. Simply by applying, students are making themselves
eligible to apply for additional awards. OSAP applications are available online in mid-April.
Upon completing an application, a student will receive an OAN (OSAP Access Number).
Confederation’s convocation occurs on the second Wednesday of June. Graduates and their
families are encouraged to celebrate with us, this “rite of passage” into adulthood. It is a formal
affair, and graduation gowns (rented through our Guidance office) are required. After the
ceremony, we host a reception in the cafeteria, and everyone is welcome.
Prom follows the graduation ceremony on the Friday. This evening of celebration includes a
dinner and dance, and remains solely for students and their guests, under the supervision of
Confederation staff. Dress is formal and students are bound by typical school policy regarding
conduct.
Because the week of graduation/prom is a festive one, Confederation’s students are required to
sign contracts indicating that they are aware of expectations. This is generally an exercise in
caution.
Graduation and prom fortunately, or unfortunately, occur before all is said and done. To receive
an actual diploma, students must return to school and finish the job. To earn their credits, they
must complete their courses of study (be it culminating activities or examinations). Diplomas
are only printed when all requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma have been
addressed.
Here at Confederation Secondary School, we are
not interested in selling students a “hook” to get
them to come to us. We are a community
school providing quality instruction. Our results
speak for themselves. We work very hard at
making our school environment welcoming and
engaging to all students. In fact, when students
become Chargers, they remain Chargers!
Indeed, our Chargers have forged ahead into
every sector of our society, yet still return to us
with pride, fond memories, and sincere appreciation for all that they experienced at
Confederation.
The intent of this publication is to
provide you with an overview of
what to expect as your
son/daughter transitions to high
school. We want you to
understand what he/she will
experience throughout the years here, and what we do to support him/her. You will inevitably
have questions.
The Grade 8 teacher is a great source of information with regard to “when” high school
registrations will be done, what choices are available, when school visits or information nights
are planned, and what pathway of study might be most appropriate for your son/daughter.
The Principal or Vice Principal at your son/daughter’s school is also an excellent source of
information.
We, at Confederation Secondary School, invite all prospective parents of high school students to
contact us directly with any questions. Simply call (705-671-5948) and ask the secretary to
speak with someone in our Guidance Department, or ask to speak with the Principal or Vice
Principal. We understand and appreciate the importance of your child’s well-being, and wish to
make this transition as easy as possible. We’re here to work with you throughout the coming
years, sharing a common goal – your son/daughter’s success.
You can visit our school website (www.confed.rainbowschools.ca) to gain further knowledge
about our programming and/or school culture. Still, nothing is as effective as seeing it first
hand. While we hope you visit during our Open House, we also schedule individual tours with
the Principal to meet your needs. At Confederation, we welcome you to take these tours during
the school day – we want you to see a typical day in our school – no bells, no whistles, just
quality education.