Grade 6-7 students get first taste of high school

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Jill Hudson

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Jill Hudson, St. Lawrence EMC

Brockville Collegiate Institute hosted an open house to introduce Grade 6 and 7 students to the high school, let them learn more and familiarize themselves with the school and have some fun in the process. Here, Grade 7 Toniata students construct a free-standing structure made of spaghetti and mini marshmallows. From left are Hannah Kearney, Taylor Pyke, Madison Louwerse, Hannah Plotz, Steph Ripley and Molly Harper.

EMC News - The crowd cheers "OSKEE WEE WEE!!!!" as the Brockville Collegiate Institute cheerleaders teach the grades 6 and 7 students their school cheer, for the first time.

Students visited BCI on Feb. 6 to prepare for the transition to the school, as the final leg of Building 2020. Schools represented included Toniata, Front of Yonge, Lynn Public School, Maynard Public School, Commonwealth Public School, Prince of Wales Public School, Meadowview Public School, Vanier Public School and Westminster Public School. Next year BCI and TISS will accommodate intermediate level students, as the next phase of the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) Building 20/20 review.

The UCDSB website states, "This is the final phase of Building 2020, preparations are now under way for schools in the Almonte, Athens, Brockville, Carleton Place, North Grenville and Rockland Families of Schools as they organize for K-6/7-12 grade structures for September 2012."

During the BCI open house, the intermediate level students were streamed in two directions - one group stayed in the auditorium where they learned more about the school and had a brain-storming session about what they would like to see at BCI for the fall. The other group went to the gym and competed to make the tallest free-standing structure - made of raw spaghetti pasta and mini marshmallows. The groups then switched places.

One of the reasons for the open house was to learn what the high school could do to make the intermediate level students more comfortable for their transition to BCI.

"They wanted to tell us what they'd like to see for next school year - which is our big reason for having them - so we could start to build a school that they'd be really happy with," said Joellen Bauder, BCI vice principal.

The vice principal said this includes sports, art, a recess which is different from the rest of the school. Bauder pointed out this was a brain storming session.

The regular high school and the intermediate school will co-exist but not share the exact schedule.

"Certainly for the high school students there will be six minutes between classes and then a 40 or 50-minute lunch. The elementary students that will be arriving to our intermediate school won't have the same schedule. They will have their own schedule - whether it be 15-minute recess time or a balanced day - all of these things will be built. Some of today's work will help us build that for them."

Bring energy

She said she is excited the younger learners will be coming to BCI because it brings extra energy to the building. During the brainstorming session, some concerns young students raised included the potential for bullying.

Alex Stobo, BCI student council president, described some of the highlights of student life including sports, special events and drama. She suggested the Grade 7-8 students could set up their own junior student council and organize their own events. The VP listed other student council related activities such as the sports teams, Reach for the Top, the environment club. "You may not be a hot ball player, maybe not the kid who gets everything right on every assignment - they still have things for you to do."

Athletics were represented and acknowledged as a big part of the BCI school experience. This includes competitive and intramural sports or even just shooting hoops during lunch hour.

BCI's own travelling minstrel Brandon Roderick performed as students piled into the BCI auditorium. He described the school's music program.

"BCI works for me because we have an awesome music program," he said, adding that this includes the stage band and concert band.

David K. Thomas, UCDSB director of education, said the original decision to bring Grade 7-8 into the high schools was made on May 14, 2008 when the board of directors voted to close 13 elementary schools because they were too small to offer full programming.

"The programs could be offered at a nearby school in a better condition," said Thomas, who noted this decision was reached after 18 months of consultations. "We would take a series of small schools and create medium-sized schools. Schools where (grade) seven and eights would be better situated for their learning - this is the sole reason - the (grade) seven and eights in the secondary setting would have access to science labs, better gymnasium set-ups, better opportunities for design and technology and they would have better opportunities for a variety of subjects."

Prior to this change, Thomas said some parents had told him that their child had never participated in a school play or been a member of a sports team. Thomas said the facilities would be much better than if they were left in a school where there was a small number of students representing each grade, and with the students in one school it would allow for more specialized learning.

He said the intermediate level students will be kept somewhat separate from the high school students - though a special mentoring program called Students Helping Students will be implemented so that qualified high schoolers can help the younger students.