North Dundas high school gearing up for transition

Intermediate students attending North Dundas District High School this September will get a sneak peak at their new school during a transition day on April 27.

PHOTO CREDIT - UCDSB

Chesterville - Apr. 20, 2011 - Intermediate students attending North Dundas District High School this September will get a sneak peak at their new school during a transition day planned for April 27.

NDDHS Principal Geoff Trasuk said the transition day is a way to introduce students to the school and help them become comfortable with the idea of attending classes there.

Come September, Grades 7 and 8 students from Chesterville Public School, Nationview Public School, Winchester Public School and Maple Ridge Sr. Public School will attend NDDHS as it adopts the new Grades 7 to 12 format.

"We want to give them a chance to familiarize themselves with their new school, get to meet some of the staff, and answer some of the common questions they might have to put them at ease about coming here,” said Trasuk of the day, which is for current Grades 6 and 7 students in the North Dundas feeder schools.

“I would hope that they become as excited about attending North Dundas as we are to have them here.”

Students will begin the day in the school gym at 9:30 a.m. by attending a musical presentation of Ofrea and the Golden Harp by three performers from the Opera “L’Ellisir D’Amore,” sponsored by the Fort Town Concert Association. This will be followed by a barbecue at 11:00 a.m.

All students will later be taken through three information sessions. The first two will deal with what intermediate students can expect at the school next year and how to use their lockers. The third session will allow students to fill out a survey detailing their concerns about attending a Grades 7-12 high school.

In addition, Grade 7 students will participate in an outdoor team-building exercise, while the Grade 6 students will be treated to a skit entitled Welcome to North Dundas.

Trasuk will lead the session on what students can expect next year when they arrive at the school. He will discuss what area of the school has been designated for Grades 7 and 8 students - essentially the majority of the second floor. He will inform them about their play area and bus loading zone, located to the west of the school. Trasuk will also assure the new students they will receive a high level of supervision at all times during their intermediate years at North Dundas. Students will visit a computer lab to conduct the survey. The survey will explore students’ major concerns about attending NDDHS. Data will be analyzed so that staff can find ways to minimize those concerns.

The transition day will finish with a wrap-up session at 1:00 p.m.

Parents of Grades 6 and 7 students planning to attend North Dundas next year are invited to an information session that night at the school from 6:30 -7:30 p.m.