FEMSS Course Calendar 2018

By Debbie Green - Principal of F.E. Madill Secondary School
F.E. Madill Secondary School is a progressive school offering students a high-quality, well-rounded educational experience. Our dedicated staff strive to support each individual student to achieve to high levels while maintaining a positive sense of well-being. Students learn alongside each other in an inclusive environment thereby supporting their growth in both academics and personal character.

• Meaningful Education
• Quality Experiences
• Challenge and Support

We are very proud of our Madill Graduates. As such, you will have the academic and personal skills to be successful in our ever changing world – in further education, in the workplace, in your community and in your personal relationships with others. In order to ensure all students have access to a quality program, and the opportunity to graduate in four years, students are required to be a full time student for each semester of attendance.

This course calendar outlines the many courses and programs we offer in our school to ensure each student is successful. When making your course selections, you are deciding your next steps to get closer to your future goals. To help you make a decision, research careers of interest, and talk with your parents. Consulting with your teachers and our Guidance Counsellors will help you as well. You are also encouraged to plan ahead as some of our courses are offered alternate years. You are encouraged to make your selections wisely as the selections you make have a direct impact on what courses run in the school year, and the number of qualified staff we have on site to teach these courses. If you are entering grade 9 in 2018, please take some time to talk with your grade eight teacher(s) and consider their advice. Selecting the courses that are a ‘best fit’ for you, will help you to be successful early in your high school career. Space in courses is limited. Making the right choice the first time will increase your chances of getting into the courses most appropriate for you and your future. Students with fewer than 16 credits must enrol in a full eight-credit timetable.

Next Generation Learning

All schools in the Avon Maitland District School Board support Next Generation Learning of our students. To ensure students develop the 21st Century Skills they will require, students in grades 7-11 are provided with a device. Typically, this device is an iPad. These iPads are the property of the Avon Maitland District School Board, and are issued to students as an educational tool and should be used in that capacity. Students, and their families, are responsible to follow the requirements of the Board’s computer use policy. In addition, students and their families are responsible for the security and care of the iPad at all times. The iPads have warranty protection, which covers the device for manufacturing defects (for two years) and provides coverage for two instances of accidental damage in the first two years, with a $50 deductible charge for each instance. More information is provided to students and their families when the iPad is distributed to students who are registered at F.E. Madill. Information is also available on the Avon Maitland District School Board website.

English as a Second Language

The Avon Maitland District School Board recognizes that secondary ESL students face unique challenges as they pursue their secondary diploma and make the transition to full fluency in English. Students in the early stages of English acquisition may monitor courses or work for partial credits if they are not able to meet the curriculum expectations for a course. Adapted programming helps students achieve credits in courses even if their communication skills are not sufficiently developed to demonstrate their learning. ESL students may also be provided with tutoring to enable them to expand their language skills more rapidly. While students may need more than 4 years to complete their diploma, Avon Maitland District School Board students who take ESL are given the assistance they need to fulfill their long term goals.

Inter-School Athletics and Co-Curricular Programs

Clubs and Activities

Teams and activities are an important aspect of Madill’s co-curricular offerings. Students who participate are able to earn points toward the school letter, “The Big M”, which is based on the three prongs of academics, athletics and activities. Long after graduation, participation in co-curricular activities will bring back many positive memories.

Madill has clubs and activities for a broad range of interests and tastes including: Drama, Band, Student Council, OSAID, Peer Mentors, Peer Tutors, Mustangs Making a Difference, Chess Club, Reach For The Top, Mindfulness Group and more.

Athletics

Madill offers an opportunity for athletes to compete in a wide variety of sports. Athletes on school teams practice and play regularly under the direction of a skilled coaching staff. Depending on the activity, Madill’s coaching staff holds practices before and after the school day. Most practices are 1.5 to 2 hours in length and regular attendance is required.

The athletic year at Madill has three seasons with boys volleyball, girls basketball, cross-country running, 7’s rugby, and golf offered in the fall; girls volleyball, boys basketball, Nordic skiing, hockey, curling, and swimming offered in the winter; and badminton, soccer, rugby and track and field offered in the spring.

School Support Services and Resources/Library

Special Education Services

The F.E. Madill special education department, in consultation with the school principal, offers a range of services to support exceptional students, parents/guardians and teachers. The individual learning needs of each student determine the specialized support required with academic and social inclusion as the primary goals. The majority of students meet success in regular classrooms with program accommodations and environmental supports. The resource room is available throughout the day to assist in accommodation supports that may include technological supports, test and exam writing assistance and social/emotional respite.

The F.E. Madill special education department facilitates specialized support services through the school board and community agencies.

If you would like to discuss how our department can assist your family, please contact one of our special education resource teachers at 519-357-1800 ext. 439.

Student Success (SS)

Our goal is that every student at F.E.Madill will have the best high school experience possible. To support this, the SS Room offers an environment outside the regular classroom that is available to all students in the school. Students may use this room during class time (in collaboration with their classroom teacher) and/or during the lunch hour, to receive extra help with any academic or social difficulties they may be having. The room is supported with several computer stations, as well as a variety of classroom supplies. The SS Snack Program is offered out of the SS Room on a daily basis and is available to all students free of charge. While the SS Teacher assists students of all grade levels, there is particular focus on students who are making the transition into high school. To ensure a smooth transition, the SS teacher meets with grade 8 staff and students and also seeks assistance from senior Madill students who volunteer with the Peer Mentor Program. The SS Team, involving our principal, vice-principals, guidance counsellors, SERT, COPE teacher, and SS teachers, meets bi-weekly to address student needs. Please contact one of our SS teachers at ext 429 for more information.

Learning Commons

The F.E. Madill Library Learning Commons, which is open from 8:00am - 4:00pm, is staffed by teacher-librarians and a technical resource assistant. The resource collection includes a large array of fiction, non-fiction, reference books and magazines which are searchable by title, author, or subject using the computerised catalogue (called Destiny). The library catalogue and a number of excellent databases may be accessed from home by visiting the school’s website and following the “Library’s Destiny” link. Thirty computers are available in the resource center before school, during lunch, and after school for school-related use. The Library Learning Commons has a wide variety of work spaces that easily allow for quiet, individual work, and larger, more collaborative work. Students are encouraged to join the Library Learning Council where their voice will be used to inform decisions in regards to resources.

Guidance and Career Education Program

As students progress through grades 9 through 12, they will have opportunities to meet regularly with guidance counsellors who are available to assist with academic, vocational and personal concerns. Students who wish to see a guidance counsellor are encouraged to make an appointment by seeing the guidance secretary.

Grade 9 to 12 students experiencing academic difficulty in a particular course are encouraged to seek help from their teacher and then, if needed, come to the guidance office to request a peer tutor. Recommended and/or volunteer students offer help to those wishing to access this service. More information is available upon request at the guidance office.

It is essential that students have the necessary requirements for admission to the postsecondary career and/or institution which they are planning to attend. There are a number of excellent web-based planning tools for use by students and parents, as they offer insight into what is required to prepare for many different careers.

myBlueprint.ca is a tool for the Individual Pathway Plan through school and beyond and is also used in the course selection process each year. Students require a school activation key in order to set up an account for the first time. The school activation key for MyBlueprint is available in the guidance office or by contacting the school.

Hard copy information (postsecondary calendars and brochures) about colleges, universities, private schools, apprenticeships and specific careers is available on a loan basis from the guidance office.

Guidance counsellors meet with students of all grade levels in a classroom setting to discuss course selection for the upcoming school year. Many student questions will be addressed at that time. If questions or concerns are still not answered, students should make a guidance appointment following the classroom visit.

The final responsibility for the selection of courses rests with the student and parent. Again this year, course selection for grades 9 to 12 will take place online and parents will want to discuss the process with their child. During the classroom visits, students will be given a sheet of instructions on how to use the online course selection tool. Course selection must be completed no later than Wednesday, February 14, 2018 for students in grades 9 to 12. Since it may be difficult to change course selections after this date, students must choose carefully. If further help is required, feel free to contact the guidance office at 357-1800 and ask for one of the guidance counsellors - Mr. R. Stryker, Ms. J. Armstrong or Ms. C. Trick. We invite all parents/guardians to take an active role as your children plan their future at Madill and beyond.

Course Changes

Students wanting to make a course change to their existing timetables should discuss the situation with a Guidance Counsellor. A course change form will be given to the student. The form begins a process that will involve parents, teachers and the principal. Students must continue to attend the courses in their timetable until written permission is granted by the principal. Courses in this calendar will be offered where there is sufficient enrolment. All courses are worth one credit unless otherwise noted.

Student Responsibilities and Attendance

Students who fail courses or choose to withdraw from a course may jeopardize their attainment of an OSSD. Regular attendance at school is one of the most important ingredients for success in school and is critical for achievement of course expectations. Specific attendance policies and procedures at F.E. Madill are posted on the school’s website under the Student Handbook tab.

Student Fees

There will be no fees or cost charged to students to participate in the regular day school program. Fees may be charged where the student chooses to upgrade the material or where purchase of material is optional. Students enrolled in secondary schools in Avon Maitland District School Board can expect to be provided with the basic classroom learning resources that are required in order to complete the course expectations. It is recognized there may be optional resources that students may purchase to enhance their program; (e.g. field trips, upgrading materials in courses such as construction technology and visual arts).

Students are expected to come to school ready and willing to participate actively in their own learning. To that end, students are expected to bring materials with them for their own personal note-taking (e.g. pencils, pens, paper, binders).

Students are encouraged to purchase their school’s student card by paying the student activity fee. The student card includes but is not limited to the benefit of participating in the co-instructional program and in the Student Council dances and activities. Students involved in co-instructional teams, groups and clubs will be made aware of any additional fund-raising obligations or participation fees prior to making a commitment to participate.

School Cash Online

School Cash Online is an online parent portal that offers a safe, fast and convenient way to pay for school activity fees. The portal allows parents to add students, make payments, check current balance / activity history, print or view receipts, and receive notifications about upcoming events.

• Pay for your child’s school fees online. Anytime, anywhere.
• Avoid the hassle of having cash on-hand to pay for school items or fees.
• Get automatic email notifications about school fees.
• Help us reduce the amount of cash in our schools.
• School Cash ONline is Fast, Safe and Convenient.

Ontario Code of Conduct

The Ontario Code of Conduct is intended to assist students in their personal growth toward becoming mature, productive members of society. This growth should emphasize self respect, respect for the rights of others and respect for property. The most important realization for students is that each and every student is responsible for the consequences of his/her behaviour. Adherence to the Ontario Code of Conduct is the responsibility of students. Additional information and guidelines are developed for the school through the cooperation of parents, students and teachers and are posted on the school website in the student handbook.