Grade 8 Information

2020

www.publicboard.ca

Vincent Massey Secondary School

M. Hawkins, Principal

R. Peto, Vice-Principal M. Maddox, Vice-Principal __________________________________________________________________________________________________

___

November 17th, 2020

Dear Future Mustangs,

As the Head of Guidance of Vincent Massey Secondary School, I would like to take this opportunity to personally welcome you to our Grade 8 Information Booklet. This year has been unusual to say the least but you have handled it with patience, grace and the perseverance that will guide you to be the future leaders of tomorrow. It is this determination and attitude that we strive to foster here at Vincent Massey Secondary School. We have prepared a package of information that will help you navigate your way through the transition to Secondary School and we hope this provides you with sufficient information to begin your path.

Massey has a long academic tradition that can offer you an outstanding learning experience. As a cultural hub with championship sport teams and an extensive variety of extracurricular activities, Massey can also provide you with highly engaging opportunities outside of class. This combination of top-ranked academics, engaging teachers and a rich student life is what makes Massey your best choice.

When most people think of Massey, they think of excellence. I promise you that our Student Success Team will do everything that we can to ensure that "excellence" is exactly what you will get when you choose to become a Mustang. We will work tirelessly to ensure that your four years here are welcoming, engaging, fun, and most of all, successful.

Welcome to your future and welcome to Massey!

Yours in Blue and Orange,

Julia Zuk

Julia Zuk

Department Head of Guidance

Massey Secondary School

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I take different pathways for different courses?

A. YES! Students are encouraged to take the types of courses that best suit

their interests, goals and learning style. You can select courses in different

pathways.

Q. Can I change pathways?

A. YES! You can change paths. Some courses may require prerequisites

thus you should consult your high school guidance counselor.

Q. Is there somewhere I can go for help if I have questions about

what courses to take?

A. YES! Your grade 8 teacher can assist with selecting courses for grade 9.

When selecting courses ask yourself the following questions:

What are my interests?

What do I do well?

What is my learning style?

What do I want to do after high school?

What kind of courses are available?

Applied

Courses:

Include practical activities

Use community and real life examples

Include a variety of teacher supports

Emphasize reading, writing, listening,

speaking and thinking skills.

Focus on correct use of language

Students Might:

Enjoy discussion

Learn from doing

Be problem solvers

See connections to real life

Develop new ideas from reading

Share ideas and apply them to their

own life

Academic

Courses:

Include in-depth activities

Use complex and global examples

Require independent learning

Emphasize strong reading, writing, oral

communication, and thinking skills.

Focus on effective use of spoken and

written language

Students Might:

Like to work independently

Enjoy understanding the “why’s”

Think creatively and like to

problem- solve

Learn from a variety of sources

Develop ideas from research

Share ideas and possible uses

Open

Courses:

Include expectations that are suitable

for all students

Are designed to provide students with a

broad educations base that will prepare

them for the future

Allow students to broaden their

knowledge and skills in a particular

subject that may or may not be directly

related to post-secondary

Reflect student’s interests

Students Might:

Like to work independently

Think creatively, problem-solve and

enjoy discussion

Learn from doing

See connections to real life

Learn from a variety of Sources

Enriched By referral only

Courses:

Challenge students by

providing differential

learning experiences

Focus on ability, rather

than achievement

Are based upon the

expectations of academic

courses of study.

Locally Developed By referral only

Courses:

Meet educational and

career preparation needs

of students that cannot

be met by the provincial

curriculum policy

documents

For more information about Pathway Choices and Job

Opportunities go to: https://www.publicboard.ca/Programs/Student-

Success/Pathways/Pages/default.aspx

At Vincent Massey Secondary School and the

Greater Essex County District School Board

we are committed to providing a successful

secondary experience for all students. It is

our belief that every student deserves a

pathway to a meaningful post-secondary

destination, whether this is apprenticeship

training, college, university or the workplace.

There

are 4 different

pathways offered in

Mathematics at

Massey

Vincent Massey Secondary School - Mathematics Department

Choosing The Math Pathway That’s Right for You Once you’ve decided to come to Massey, the first thing you’ll have to do is decide which math course is the right one for you.

Course Locally Developed Applied Academic Enriched

Course Code MAT1L MFM1P MPM1D MPM1D(N)

Description

of Course

This course emphasizes

further development of

mathematical knowledge and

skills to prepare students for

success in their everyday lives

and in the workplace. The

focus is on developing and

consolidating key

foundational mathematical

concepts and skills by solving

authentic, everyday problems.

This course focuses on the

essential concepts of

mathematics, and developing

students’ knowledge and skills

through practical applications

and concrete examples.

Familiar situations are used to

illustrate ideas, and students

are given more opportunities

to experience hands-on

applications of the concepts

and theories they study.

This course develops students’

knowledge and skills through

the study of theory and

abstract problems. This course

focuses on the essential

concepts of mathematics and

explores related concepts as

well. They incorporate

practical applications as

appropriate.

Student in the enriched

pathway will learn the same

curriculum as students in the

academic (see academic

description). The program

differs in the following ways:

Faster pace

Larger workload

Added material from non-curriculum topics and future grade levels

Contest writing and preparation.

Post

Secondary

College (non-math)

Entering the workforce after secondary school

College

University (non-math programs)

College

University

College

University

Examples

of Topics

Taught

Arithmetic skills

Basic computation skills

Money Sense

Measurement

Proportional Reasoning

Arithmetic skills

Polynomials

Solving Equations

Ratios Rates and Percent

Relations in Data

Modelling with Graphs

Geometric Relationships

Measurement Relationships

Arithmetic skills

Rational Numbers

Polynomials

Exponent Laws & Powers

Solving Equations

Ratios Rates & percent

Relations in Data

Modelling with Graphs

Analysing Linear Relations

Geometric Relationships

Measurement Relationships

Same program as the Academic Curriculum, plus other topics, which can include:

Contest Preparation

Factoring

Solving systems of equations

Advanced problem solving

Times Full year (38 min/day) Semester ( 80 min/day)

Full year (38 min/day)

Semester ( 80 min/day)

Full year (38 min/day)

Semester (80 min/day)

Full year (38 min/day)

Homework Homework is rarely assigned Homework Assigned

occasionally: 15 – 20 min.

Nightly homework assigned:

~ 30 min.

Nightly homework assigned:

30+ min.

Provincial Testing & Final Exams EQAO

Mandatory Provincial Test (Applied/Academic/Enriched)

Written in January (semester) / June (Full Year)

Marked and counted as part of final grade (15%)

Final Exam

Written in January (semester) / June (Full Year)

Covers topics from entire year

Marked and counted as part of final grade (15%)

Which Course is Right for You?

Listen to your grade 9 teacher’s suggestion. They know where you’ll be most successful.

You may not be able to change your course after school begin. Classes fill up and

schedules often cannot be changed.

VINCENT MASSEY ATHLETICS

Sport Teams Offered:

FALL WINTER SPRING Football:

Sr/Jr Basketball:

Sr/Jr Girls Cross

Country: Sr/Jr

Girls and Boys

Golf: Girls and Boys

Tennis: Sr/Jr

Girls and Boys

Volleyball: Sr/Jr Boys

Power Lifting: Girls and Boys

Basketball:

Sr/Jr Boys

Curling: Girls and Boys

Hockey: Girls and Boys

Volleyball: Sr/Jr Girls

Wrestling: Girls and Boys

Swimming: Girls and Boys

Track and Field:

Sr/Jr Girls and Boys

Baseball: Boys

Badminton: Girls and Boys

Soccer: Girls and Boys

VINCENT MASSEY CLUBS/ACTIVITIES

Art Club Athletic

Council Awards -

Points Band Trip Blood

Drive Book Club Breakfast

Club Canadian

Battlefield Character

Education Chess Club Christmas

Party (CCP)

Coffee House

Computer Club

Dance Club Debate Club DECA ELL Club Glee Club HOSA Jazz Band Literary

Journal Massey

Green Massey

Hearts Massey

LBGTQ Model UN \ Multicultural

Dinner Muslim

Student Association

Mustard Seeds

Parent Council

Photography Club

Robotics Club

Prom Reach for the

Top Relay for Life School Play Science

Olympiad Skills Canada

Competition Semi-Formal

Stang - School Newspaper

Stangs Teaching Stangs

Stratford Trip

Student Council

Subject Specific Contests

Women's Issues Club

World Affairs Club

Procedure for Applying to Massey for Students Living in Massey’s

Boundary

1. Family of Schools:

Student from Glenwood, Southwood, Northwood, Central, Talbot Trail & Roseland will choose their courses in

their home school using My Blueprint.

My Blueprint Selection launches February 2021.

Once students have completed their course selections, a copy must be printed and signed by a

parent/guardian.

Course Selection Sign-Off Sheets must be submitted to your child’s grade 8 teacher (grade 8 teacher

deadline may vary). Course Selection will take place in February 2021.

Students wishing to take enriched courses will also have to submit the enriched application with their

course selection sheet.

2. Out of Board:

This is for students who have addresses in Massey’s Boundary but attend a Private School or a school in the

WECDSB.

You will need to register your child online at www.publicboard.ca

Go to the “Parents” tab located at the upper right

A drop down menu will appear, click on “Register Your Child”

Once the registration is completed the school secretary will contact you to set up an appointment

You will need to provide:

o A grade 7 final report card and a recent grade 8 report card

o Proof of Canadian citizenship or legal status in Canada

(Birth Certificate/passport/Perm. Res. Card/Study Permit

o Record of child’s immunization

o 2 pieces of proof of residence

Example: (driver’s license/property tax bill/blank statement/mortgage, lease agreement/income

tax assessment, utilities bill, etc.)

If you wish to take enriched courses you must complete the Out of District Enriched Application at

https://www.publicboard.ca/school/Massey/parents/Pages/Enriched-Program-Application.aspx due to

Julia Bujak at julia.bujak@publicboard.ca by 3:30 pm on December 11th, 2020.

http://www.publicboard.ca/https://www.publicboard.ca/school/Massey/parents/Pages/Enriched-Program-Application.aspxmailto:julia.bujak@publicboard.ca

Procedure for Applying to Massey for Students Living Out of District

(and Bellewood)

1. Out of District Attending a GECDSB Elementary School:

We are a closed boundary school and will only accept students Out of District if they are accepted into

enriched courses.

In order to attend Massey you must be accepted into 2 enriched courses.

To apply you must complete the Out of District Enriched Application at

https://www.publicboard.ca/school/Massey/parents/Pages/Enriched-Program-Application.aspx due

to Julia Bujak at julia.bujak@publicboard.ca by 3:30 pm on December 11th, 2020.

2. Out of District Attending a Private School or a WECDSB Elementary School:

We are a closed boundary school and will only accept students Out of District if they are accepted into

enriched courses.

In order to attend Massey you must be accepted into 2 enriched courses.

To apply you must complete the Out of District Enriched Application at

https://www.publicboard.ca/school/Massey/parents/Pages/Enriched-Program-Application.aspx due

to Julia Bujak at julia.bujak@publicboard.ca by 3:30 pm on December 11th, 2020.

Once accepted you must register via the instructions on the previous page for Out of Board students.

3. Bellewood Not Wanting Enriched:

Massey is a closed boundary school. If you wish to attend and do not live in Massey’s boundary you

must fill out an enriched package following the instructions in 1 above.

If you live in Massey’s boundary, want to attend Massey and do not wish to take enriched courses you

must fill out the Out of District Application online.

The procedures for this will be outlined on the Board website. The deadline to apply is January 15th,

2021.

When completing the Out of District form, under the section titled Reason for Request select

Geography, place your address and state you live in Massey’s boundary.

4. Bellewood Wanting Enriched:

Whether you live in Massey’s boundary or you do not - if you wish to take enriched courses you must

complete the enriched application using the procedure stated in 1. Above.

If you are accepted into these courses, then you do not have to fill out an Out of District Form.

If you are not accepted into the program, live in Massey’s boundary and still wish to attend follow the

procedure in 3. Above.

https://www.publicboard.ca/school/Massey/parents/Pages/Enriched-Program-Application.aspxmailto:julia.bujak@publicboard.cahttps://www.publicboard.ca/school/Massey/parents/Pages/Enriched-Program-Application.aspxmailto:julia.bujak@publicboard.ca

How To Register Your Child Online

This information is for all students who are not currently students with the GECDSB.

Go to the school board web site: www.publicboard.ca

Go to the “PARENTS” tab located at the upper right

A drop down menu will appear, click on “Registering Your Child”

Click on “Register with GECDSB”

Click the blue “Register” button on the bottom left

This registration process is used for all grade levels

Follow all prompted questions

Once the registration process is completed online, you will be contacted by the school

secretary to complete your registration.

You will need the following documents to complete your registration:

Transfer Package/Transcript/Report Card Proof of Canadian citizenship or legal status in Canada

(Birth Certificate/Passport/Perm. Res. Card/Study Permit Record of child’s immunization 2 pieces of proof of residence

Example: (driver’s licence/property tax bill/bank statement/mortgage, lease agreement/income tax assessment, utilities bill, etc.)

http://www.publicboard.ca/