Welcome to Curriculum Night

1. Welcome to Curriculum Night Intermediate Presentation 7:20 – 7:50

2. Intermediate Teachers 2010-11 Mr. Ng Rm 222 Gr. 8 Homeroom and Science Ms. Cowley Rm 201 Gr. 8 Homeroom, French Mrs. Amin Rm 203 Gr. 7 Homeroom, Gr. 7 History/Geography, and Gr. 8 Art Mrs. Berman Rm 227 Gr. 7 Homeroom, Gr. 8 History/Geography, and Gr. 7 Art Mr. Wallace Rm 213 Gr. 6/7 Homeroom Mrs. Cheung Rm 120 Music Mrs. Tsatsos Rm 219 French Mr. Andonoff Rm 219 Physical Education Ms. Puddy Rm 212 English Language Learning Ms. Pescador Rm 225 Special Education

3. UMPS Approach to Learning We believe each student is unique with individual needs. We believe that it is important to foster all aspects of a student’s education: including the building of character and community. We believe that student success is dependent on the effort and support of all community partners: parent, teacher, and student.

4. Differences in the Intermediate Division Students are exposed to a rotary-style program Students are given lockers to use appropriately Students are required to advocate for themselves and begin to acknowledge their own learning style Report Card marks are presented in numbers

5. Students are expected to take responsibility for using their agenda effectively Students will need to recognize that they are the leaders of the school and need to act accordingly Students will need a quiet place to study and a desk or table to do homework At home, students will also need access to a computer, the internet and will also need toner and paper for printing assignments Differences in the Intermediate Division

6. NEW!!! Progress Report and Report Cards • Progress Report • No numerical grades (%) • Sent home Nov 8 • Report Card • Numerical grades (%) • Jan (Sept-Jan) • June (Feb-June)

7. Learning Skills • Responsibility • Organization • Independent Work • Collaboration • Initiative • Self-Regulation

8. Progress Report • This document provides parents with information regarding their child’s general progress in their learning skills and work habits. It is not an evaluation of their achievement of the expectations. • Students will receive one of the following in each subject area: • Progressing Very Well • Progressing Well • Progressing With Difficulty

9. Progressing Very Well The student is currently demonstrating significant learning in relation to the curriculum expectations and is expected to achieve the learning goals of the term.

10. Progressing Well The student is currently demonstrating sufficient learning in relation to the curriculum expectations and is likely to achieve the learning goals of the term.

11. Progressing With Difficulty The student is currently demonstrating some learning in relation to the curriculum expectations and may not achieve the learning goals of the term. The student is being supported in achieving the learning goals.

12. Parent Support at Home Organizational Support Providing a quiet work space Ask to see their agendas to see what they are doing Encourage them to read nightly or review notes if they have no class work to complete Ask them about tests and quizzes that they have written or that are approaching Teach your child effective study techniques Sign all tests and assignments that come home

13. Parent Support at Home Emotional Support Talk with/Listen to your child about their day Intermediate life can be stressful both socially and academically Signing your child up for too many extra-curricular activities can be overwhelming (e.g. piano, violin, Cantonese lessons). Work with your child to ensure they have enough time for their homework. It is equally as important that your child also has some time to relax so that they are rested for the next school day.

14. Parent Support at Home Emotional Support Focus on your child’s strengths and encourage them in a positive way. For example: if your child does not achieve their best on a math test, work with them to create a study schedule and help them practise the skills they need to improve • Work together with your child’s classroom teacher to positively support your child. • Students are encouraged to go to bed at 10:00pm on school nights, so that they can get a full night’s rest • Please ensure that students are not staying up late on their computers past 10:00pm

15. Effective Use of Agenda Agendas need to be carried from class to class where students record their daily assigned work A check mark system is used to check off completed work in the agenda Agendas go home at the end of the day along with homework materials and must be returned to school the following day Parents need to check their child’s agenda daily and initial it

16. Homework Expectations Students are expected to complete 10 minutes of homework, per grade, per night, on average For example: Grade 7 students should be completing approx. 70 minutes of homework nightly. Grade 8 students should be completing approx. 80 minutes of homework nightly. All students are expected to read for at least 30 minutes a night and record their comments in their reading logs. All homework materials must be returned the following day (textbooks must be returned by 8:30am even if the student is absent) Students are responsible for completing missed work due to absences using a homework buddy or via parent pickup.

17. ASSESSMENT CATEGORIES

18. MUSIC Implementation of the revised arts document Ontario Curriculum Document Expectations: Creating and Performing Reflecting, Responding, and Analysing Exploring Forms and Cultural Contexts Set goals with your child, set deadlines in the GPS books Ensure they practise at least twice a week, one hour per week Consider renting an instrument or purchasing a method book Encourage your child to join an extra-curricular music activity, build musicianship through discipline, develop social skills, and build positive character

19. LANGUAGE ARTS

20. MATHEMATICS • The five strands in Mathematics are: • Number Sense and Numeration • Measurement • Geometry and Spatial Sense • Patterning and Algebra • Data Management and Probability

21. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Grade 7 Science Interactions in the Environment Form and Function Pure Substances and Mixtures Heat in the Environment Grade 8 Science Cells Systems in Action Fluids Water Systems

22. HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY (GRADE 7) Grade 7 History • Early Settlement & New France • British North America • Conflict & Change Grade 7 Geography • Themes of Geographic Inquiry • Patterns in Physical Geography • Natural Resources

23. HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY (GRADE 8) Grade 8 Geography • Patterns in Human Geography • Economic Systems • Migration Grade 8 History • Confederation • The Development of Western Canada • Canada: A Changing Society

24. VISUAL ARTS • Study elements and principles of design • Explore and learn different mediums, such as pastel, paint, and charcoal • Learn about different important historical Canadian art periods • Learn about different art movements outside of Canada • Introduction to some graphic design using computers

25. FRENCH: GRADE 7 By the end of Grade 7, students will: Listen to and talk about short, oral texts in structured and open-ended situations. Read a variety of classroom and simple authentic materials, 200 to 400 words long, and demonstrate understanding. Communicate information and ideas in writing, in structured and open-ended situations, for different purposes. Identify and use the vocabulary and the grammar and language conventions appropriate for this grade level.

26. FRENCH: GRADE 8 By the end of Grade 8, students will: Listen to and talk about short, oral texts in structured and open-ended situations. Express ideas, feelings, and opinions in conversations and discussion, using learned language structures and a variety of vocabulary and expressions. Read a variety of classroom and simple authentic materials, 400 to 600 words long, and demonstrate understanding. Write in a variety of forms, adjusting language to suit the audience. Identify and use the vocabulary and the grammar and language conventions appropriate for this grade level.

27. Extracurricular Activities Boys and Girls Volleyball Boys and Girls Basketball Cross Country Track and Field Badminton Team String Ensembles Intermediate Choir Green Team Pottery Club Technology Crew

28. Leadership Opportunities Student Council Class Representatives Ambassadors Town of Markham Youth Council Leaders by Example/Character Matters

29. School Community Opportunities Lunch Monitors Office Assistants Announcement Speakers Library Helpers Tutoring Reading Rangers Music Room Helpers

30. Academic Programs and Expectations All Ontario Curriculum Expectations The Ontario Curriculum Expectations for all subjects are available at the following website: www.edu.gov.on.ca (Choose English or French, Elementary, Curriculum and Policy Documents)

31. THANK-YOU THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION