News

Welcome to Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, Gr. 9 Bulldogs! 

We know that you are working hard on your Gr. 8 curriculum so that you will be ready for Gr. 9 @ SWC in September.  You are in such great hands with your Gr. 8 teachers and their virtual classrooms - be sure to take advantage of the learning opportunities provided to you as they will serve you well in the future.

We continue to be in communication with your Gr. 8 teachers, and your elementary school administrators.  Together we are planning for your transition from elementary school to SWC.  In the meantime...

Stay focused!


Continue to practice time management!


Know that we are already planning your SWC welcome!


Keep checking here for updates and information from your SWC Guidance department!

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your DSBN classroom teacher. 


For students outside of DSBN, please contact Irene Siemiaszko, Program Leader, Guidance (905) 641-2929 x64822  irene.siemiaszko@dsbn.org

Peer tutoring can still happen virtually. So if you have already been matched for tutoring you should be reaching out and if you want a tutor or want to be a tutor, get in touch with Ms. DiGirolamo.  allison.digirolamo@dsbn.org

THIS is the place!  Please continue to check here for Guidance-related messages. If information that we've posted here has become irrelevant or has timed out, it will eventually be removed. We miss seeing you around, Bulldogs! (scroll to the bottom for our contact info)

UPDATES as of May 25th:
OSSLT
We have not received direction yet about timelines, or the process, for writing the OSSLT in the 2020/2021 school year.  We know that you might be concerned, especially those of you who are closer to graduation and who need to fulfill this grad requirement.  Please do not worry - we are aware of you!  The OLC4O course, which fulfills the OSSLT requirement for graduation, is being offered as a Summer School eLearning course (see registration link below). Students who have been eligible to write the OSSLT at least twice and who have been unsuccessful at least once are eligible to take the course.  

UPDATES as of May 22nd:
DSBN eLearning courses for the 2020-2021 school year are posted on the SWC website, under the Guidance tab, "eLearning Opportunities":
https://sirwinston.dsbn.org/guidance/elearning-opportunities-
No, we do not yet have your SWC timetable for next year.  You do not know which courses you are scheduled into for each semester yet - nor do we!  However, if you do register for an eLearning course, it will be removed from your SWC Course Plan, and your timetable will be adjusted so that you have a balance of 4 courses each semester, Periods 1,2,3,4, with the eLearning class counting in one of the 4 periods of the regular school day. Students who are Potential Grads, and who have completed 24 credits, may also have a spare scheduled into one of the 4 periods of the regular school day. Repertoire (AMR) is scheduled into an after-school period and is an "extra" course.

UPDATES as of May 19th:
Specialist High Skills Major Opportunities:
http://teched.dsbn.org/shsm/specialist-high-skills-major
In addition to the Red Seal SHSM programs that are offered at SWC, students are also eligible to apply for 2 Regional SHSM programs:
SHSM Construction (Home Build - will run in S2; application deadline of June 8th)
SHSM Horticulture (DiG iT - will run in S1)
Please email Ms. Siemiaszko if you would like more information on either regional program.  
Gr. 10/11 students who would like to pursue a Red Seal SHSM diploma at SWC, please complete the registration form below:
SHSM Registration Request form
SHSM REQUIRED COURSES reference sheet
Connect with lead teachers if you have questions:
Arts & Culture:  Mme. Carlson...Elaine.Carlson@dsbn.org
Business:  Mr. Bruschke...Lars.Bruschke@dsbn.org
Information Communication Technology:  Ms. Capes...Krista.Capes@dsbn.org
Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing: Mr. Busca...Rob.Busca@dsbn.org

UPDATES as of May 14th:
Summer School eLearning courses:
Summer School eLearning new credit courses
Summer School eLearning online Registration:
https://forms.gle/szS4419hJLEgvQGy9
Important Items to know before registering for Summer School:
1) Ensure that you will have completed any necessary prerequisite courses (the Summer School registration form won't prevent you from attempting to register - like we do back at school! However, your registration will not be processed if you are ineligible).
2) If you requested this course for next year it will be removed NOW from your Course Plan, so plan to pass it in summer school (we know you can do it!).  One of your alternate courses will be added to your Course Requests.  Email Ms. Siemiaszko if you have a request for a specific alternate course to be added, and cc your parent/guardian in your email as all TT changes require their consent.
3) Know that Summer School eLearning expectations are NOT the same as those of your online learning this semester!  Please expect to spend 4-5 hours per day (16 - 20 hours per week) on a summer eLearning course.

UPDATES as of May 12th:
Dream Home Edition digital conference for young women, Gr. 7-12, and their parents, Wednesday, May 27th, 5-8p.m.  Explore careers in Skilled Trades, STEM, Emergency Response and Entrepreneurship:
We Build a Dream

UPDATES as of May 11th:
Some messages from Job Gym:
Job Gym Student Power Hour
Youth Job Connection virtual sessions

UPDATES as of May 9th:
We have not received direction yet about timelines, or the process, for writing the OSSLT.  We know that you might be concerned, especially those of you who are closer to graduation and who need to fulfill this grad requirement.  Please do not worry - we are aware of you (you are awesome!), and you will know what we know as soon as we know it (phew! Why, yes, that IS "Ms. Siemiaszko talk"!) from the Ministry of Education.

UPDATES as of April 28th:
Course Plans 2020/2021 Review: Guidance has been reviewing your Credit Counselling Summaries and your Course Plan requests & we will be reaching out to students whose plan might have a discrepancy, or for whom we might have a question (or two!).  Continue to check your DSBN email, and please consider answering the phone, during school hours, if it shows "Blocked Caller", as it could be us!

Your Guidance & Student Success Departments can be contacted via email or through leaving a phone message:
Adam Onclin, Program Leader, Student Success (905) 641-2929 x64825
adam.onclin@dsbn.org
Wanda Cook, Guidance Teacher (905) 641-2929 x64824
wanda.cook@dsbn.org
Sherrie Davis-Thompson, Guidance Teacher, (905) 641-2929 x64823
sherrie.davis-thompson@dsbn.org
Irene Siemiaszko, Program Leader, Guidance, (905) 641-2929 x64822
irene.siemiaszko@dsbn.org
Kelly Mossman, Secretary, (905) 641-2929 x64814
kelly.mossman@dsbn.org

Dear Potential Grads, 
We are merging all Guidance-related messages for you under this link.  Please continue to check here for any updates, and stay focused on your goal...

New information will be posted under a GOLD date, and will appear underneath each RED subtitle below. If a subtitle, or information, becomes irrelevant, or has timed out, it will eventually be removed. Look under every red subtitle for updates! (scroll to the bottom for our contact info) 
GO BULLDOGS!

GRADUATION 2020 & BEYOND...
UPDATES as of May 26th:
Rotary Medallist Voting - Final Round
Round 4 of Voting for Rotary Medallists is live NOW and closes this Thursday, at 3:20 p.m.. Next up will be Valedictorian Voting!
The Google Form for Potential Grads to vote for Rotary Medallists is posted in D2L, in the Guidance Announcements page.  You might need to scroll down through all of your classes to find it, but make sure that you do as this is also where you will be voting for your Valedictorian.  All other info will continue to be posted here, on the SWC website.  
GO TO YOUR D2L page - same as before, as for every round of voting; Yes, it was missing for a blip (we're in the midst of D2L training! oops) but it's baaaack!


UPDATES as of May 22nd:

OSAP
ontario.ca/osap  You will need your SIN #, School & Program Info, & Tax Info in order to complete an OSAP application.  We will be sharing a webinar/presentation, to help you with your application, as soon as we receive it.  Keep checking this site!
UPDATES as of May 21st:
Grad Photos: Lasting Images is holding "Studio MakeUp Days" for grad photos now. In order to ensure that your photo gets onto the SWC composite (and wherever else you might be celebrated) you must complete your photo session by June 10th. 
http://www.lastingimages.ca/

Summer School eLearning courses:
Summer School eLearning new credit courses
Summer School eLearning online Registration:
https://forms.gle/szS4419hJLEgvQGy9
Important Items to know before registering for Summer School:
1) Ensure that you will have completed any necessary prerequisite courses (the Summer School registration form won't prevent you from attempting to register - like we do back at school! However, your registration will not be processed if you are ineligible).
2) Know that Summer School eLearning expectations are NOT the same as those of your online learning this semester!  Please expect to spend 4-5 hours per day (16 - 20 hours per week) on a summer eLearning course.

UPDATES as of May 12th:
Dream Home Edition digital conference for young women, Gr. 7-12, and their parents, Wednesday, May 27th, 5-8p.m.  Explore careers in Skilled Trades, STEM, Emergency Response and Entrepreneurship:
We Build a Dream

UPDATES as of May 11th:
Some messages from Job Gym:
Gr 12s who are looking for a job
Job Gym Student Power Hour
Youth Job Connection virtual sessions

UPDATES as of May 5th:
Coming soon = Grad Data Form!  Yes, it's really happening! How?  When?  Where? Soooo, we don't have that information yet, but you ARE graduating! 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...
UPDATES as of May 20th:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ByAWcYZxEbi7w2uT9HLtKRauSYn_La3_7g2KRsMhPnc/edit

DSBN SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS...
The link to the DSBN Awards & Bursaries site is:  https://www.dsbn.org/awards

PLEASE NOTE that the links provided below might not have ALL of the information that you need for the application. Always refer to the DSBN Awards & Bursaries site, and the information provided there, about each of these opportunities. The SWC Awards Committee chair is Ms. Davis-Thompson.

UPDATES as of May 26th:
The SWC Awards Committee continues to match up the list of Potential Grads with the list of SWC Grad awards - so many difficult decisions as we have so many deserving candidates!  One TBD award is the FIRST GENERATION DSBN STUDENT BURSARY ($500.00). Please email Ms. Davis-Thompson a.s.a.p. if you meet the criteria:
UPDATES as of May 25th:
Two new awards:
The OSSTF District 22 Peter Kormos Memorial Scholarship, deadline June 1st
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_RFwDMt67U4NOOiOcC_vSaqHsvM8nYvDH5BE2C7dttt13Bg/viewform
The OSSTF District 22 Status of Women Committee Leadership Recognition Award, deadline June 1st
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYQ8EghkOxjRoSi9SY_54DOQrUTf-Kt3Q0N1u1ETcPODruXw/viewform
UPDATES as of May 11th:
The Treblaires' Scholarship for the Performing Arts has a new deadline of Friday, June 5th. Email Ms. Davis-Thompson for an electronic copy of the application form.
https://www.dsbn.org/awards/scholarships-awards

UPDATES as of April 21st:
A new scholarship opportunity!  The PenFinancial Truly Local Video Scholarship Contest is offering 3 scholarships ($5000, $3000, $2000) for winning submissions of a 2 minute video - submission deadline May 29th.https://penfi.ca/scholarship/

ONTARIO COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES APPLICATIONS...
UPDATES as of May 14th:
University Application Information Update May 14

The following links will take you to Ontario undergraduate College and University admissions information re:  COVID 19.  The chairs of the College and University Registrars Associations advise that it is best for students to look at the FAQ's for specific answers to their questions regarding admissions at the specific schools(Colleges and/or Universities). These FAQ's are updated regularly.  The links to specific Colleges and Universities can also be found using the links below. 
Ontario undergraduate admission-University
https://www.ouac.on.ca/news/important-covid-19-update/
Ontario undergraduate admissions- College
https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/covid-19
A full list of college websites can be found on the ontariocolleges.ca   Contact the Colleges page. 

Your Guidance & Student Success Departments can be contacted via email or through leaving a phone message:
Adam Onclin, Program Leader, Student Success (905) 641-2929 x64825
adam.onclin@dsbn.org
Wanda Cook, Guidance Teacher (905) 641-2929 x64824
wanda.cook@dsbn.org
Sherrie Davis-Thompson, Guidance Teacher, (905) 641-2929 x64823
sherrie.davis-thompson@dsbn.org
Irene Siemiaszko, Program Leader, Guidance, (905) 641-2929 x64822
irene.siemiaszko@dsbn.org
Kelly Mossman, Secretary, (905) 641-2929 x64814
kelly.mossman@dsbn.org