SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

2010-2011



Special Education Team: Mme L. Golden, Mrs. C. Swanson, Mrs. T. Tomins



The Sir Winston Churchill Special Education Team is committed to supporting all students in a variety of ways. We pride ourselves in advocating for all students, identified or not, that may need a helping hand.


The staff in this department will communicate important information to subject-specific teachers regarding all identified students. As a team we will update the Individual Education Plan (IEP) which lists accommodations that are put in place in order to help support these students in class. This department also provides intensive support directly to students, either through a scheduled Resource Period, a scheduled by-weekly visit (grade 9 & 10), or on an informal basis as students’ needs arise.

Workshops

Assistive Technology:

We will be offering a workshop for students who feel that the use of assistive technology may benefit them. The program called Premier Tools is available to all students and is installed on every DSBN computer. It may be used for daily work, on tests and/or exams. It reads, summarizes, and a whole lot more. If interested, please sign up in the Resource Room.

 

Numeracy:      We will be running some workshops to prepare the grade 9 students for the EQAO math test. Resource staff in conjunction with the math department will run prep sessions sometime in the Fall of 2010 and Spring of 2011.

 

Literacy:     Literacy workshops will be held through the Literacy Committee on a needs basis. Call us for further information.


FYI...

 

EQAO TESTING:

 

          GRADE 9:      All grade 9 students will be writing the Math EQAO test during their scheduled math class near the end of the semester.

                        Students who have an IEP are entitled to write this test with the specific accommodations listed in their Individual Education Plan.

 

          GRADE 10:    All grade 10 students will be writing the OSSLT (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test) in April/ 2011

                                    Students who have an IEP are entitled to write this test with the specific accommodations listed in their Individual Education Plan. 


 ENRICHMENT BEYOND THE CLASSROOM


A variety of enrichment activities are available for gifted and/or academically strong students in order to provide alternative experiences to the classroom. These opportunities are aimed at enhancing critical and creative thinking skills. The activities offered this year are as follows:


SEMESTER 1:


Activity


Date

Intended grade level/

subject


Cost

Peer Tutoring

Tutors are in constant demand. Sign up in the Resource Room and earn community service hours or points towards the school letter.

on-going

all grades

FREE

Reach for the Top and/or Quiz Bowl

See Mr. Robineau for more details

on-going

all grades

FREE

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

Travel back in history to the time of China’s Warrior Emperor and his Terracotta Army. “ROM school visits offer an engaging guided experience delving into Ancient Civilizations, World History and Social Sciences in the era of The Warrior Emperor.”

 

History

TBA

 ($12/student + transportation)

The Works of Literature Seminar by Dr. James Allard @ Brock University

In a seminar setting, students will examine key works of literature from a variety of genres and time periods. This seminar is an excellent opportunity to engage students with critical thinking and literature.

(See Mrs. Cox for further info)

Last Thursday of every month

English

FREE

The Shaw Festival: The Doctor’s Dilemma + backstage tour       

(See Mrs. DiGirolamo)

October 22


Drama/

English

$30.00

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award:

Students participate in four program areas and may achieve Bronze, Silver and/or Gold Medals. Check the website www.dukeofed.org

An information meeting will take place in Oct/Nov for interested students

All grades

Registration fee is $30.00

Pascal, Cayley, Fermat and Euclid Math contest preparation session:

Professors from Waterloo will be coming to help students prepare for upcoming math contests.                                            

November


all grades

FREE

The National Ballet of Canada

          Cinderella

          The Nutcracker

          Alice in Wonderland


Nov 11-20

Dec 11-Jan 2

June 4-25


All grades


TBA

Hot Talks at Brock University:

Beyond Green: Art and the Environment

This presentation brings together artists and environmentalists who address the industrial and natural landscape and incorporate sustainable thinking in their art and social change in their message

www.brocku.ca/rodmanhall/events/index.php  

Nov 18


7PM




Art/All grades

FREE for students

Michener Institute for Applied Health Science (Toronto, Ontario)

Discover the 'high-tech' and 'high-touch' careers in Medical Radiation Sciences. Learn about Michener's joint degree-diploma programs with the University of Toronto.

Tours of Diagnostic Departments including: nuclear medicine, radiation therapy, cytology and genetics, ultrasound, respiratory therapy, chiropody

Medical Radiation Sciences

Open House on January 10, 2011 5-7pm


⋅November 18th

⋅January 13th

⋅February 10th

⋅March 17th 

All Grades/

Science

Transportation

TBA

McMaster Brain Bee 

Modelled after a spelling bee, students take turns answering questions about the brain and neuroscience.

www.brainbee.ca

Competition date is

Feb 22,2011

 

 

All grades

 

Waterloo Unlimited 

Design Theme: From engineering and the environment to science fiction and virtual reality, students will spend a week exploring the theme of Design

(application deadline is Dec. 15th)

www.unlimited.uwaterloo.ca

 

March 14 - 18, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grade 11

$520

- program cost

- meals included

- supervised hotel stay

-transportation

DSBN Chess Tournament

March 2011

All grades

TBA

E=MC²

An enrichment mini-course offered through Queen’s University for highly motivated above average and gifted students. Students study a subject of their choice and live in residence.  

esu.queensu.ca

May 2-6, 2011

grades

9 - 11

$525.00

+ transportation

Creating Leadership Among Youth (CLAY):

A 4day, 3night leadership conference for youth at McMaster University

www.msu.mcmaster.ca/clay 

May/2011

All grades/

Leadership

$200.00

Waterloo Unlimited

Vision Theme: Students will consider the perspectives of scientists, engineers, writers, philosophers, and others as they examine the theme of Vision. From eyesight to imagination and fine art to flight.

May 15-19, 2011

grade 10

$520

- program cost

- meals included

- supervised hotel accommodations +

transportation

Waterloo Chemistry Competitions

The competitive examination for the awards may be written by any high school student. The exam is intended for students who are completing, or have recently completed, their second high school chemistry course (about 200 instructional hours). Most such students will be in their final pre-university year.

◘ Chem 13 News Exam

(Grade 12 Curriculum)               http://www.chem13newsexam.uwaterloo.ca

◘ Avogadro Exam

(Grade 11 Curriculum)

http://www.avogadroexam.uwaterloo.ca


May 12

May 19


Grade 11

and 12

Chemistry


Free

The Wonder Coaster Contest

In conjunction with the Physics, Science & Math Program.

Student teams design roller coasters, and win prizes based on technical merit, creativity, and most exciting to ride. See website for specifics, and judging criteria.

www.canadaswonderland.com

Friday

May 13, 2011

All grades/

Math, Science, Tech

TBA

Brock University Scientifically Yours

A two day Science adventure for Grade 11 girls. Girls stay at the Brock University campus and experience university life, and amazing workshops and activities in different science disciplines.

May 2011

Grade 11 Girls/

Physics/

Biology/

Chemistry/

Approximately $200

-includes food, activities, and housing