Secondary Student Orientation Program

The YRDSB Orientation Program is designed to give new International Students the best possible start to their learning career in York Region. It includes information about their new community, the Ontario school system, and the high school they will be attending.

During a combination of in-class seminars, guest speakers, school visits, and day-long field trips, teachers will focus on  strategies to help the new students settle in to a new community and to achieve success at school.  Students will meet other international students attending their school and will begin making new friendships even before classes start.

The Orientation program includes small group information sessions about York Region policies and classroom procedures, which include Character Matters, diploma requirements and Safe Schools Policy. Guest speakers may include York Region Police, Public Health, VIVA/ York Region Transportation as well as Korean and Chinese Settlement Workers.

Students will visit their home school, meet their ESL teacher and tour the school. The Board's mandatory assessment of new international students’ English language and mathematics skills will be scheduled as a component of the Orientation. This assessment will enable school Principals and Guidance teachers to prepare the most appropriate course of studies for each individual student.

---

View the Presentation from the January 2012
Orientation Program

---

Orientation Schedule August 2012 (tentative)

*tentative schedule - return to this page regularly for updates

August 2012
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
	August 20	August 21	August 22	August 23	August 24
9:00 am	Welcome	Home Room Literacy Assessment	Home Room Literacy Assessment 11:00 am Pathway to Graduation	Home Room Literacy Assessment	Outdoor Activity Event (lunch will be provided)
12:15 pm	Welcome Luncheon (lunch will be provided)	Lunch (bring lunch)	Lunch (bring lunch)	Lunch (bring lunch)	Lunch (lunch will be provided)
1:00 pm	Math Assessment	Documentation Check (Custodian Students)	Home Room	Custodian Student Presentation
2:30 pm (regular dismissal time unless noted)	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal	Dismissal
Monday August 20 - 6:30 to 8:30 pm Custodian Welcome (students must return for the evening session) Introduction School Registration Health insurance information Document Check Permission Forms Students who have assigned YRDSB as their custodian are not required to attend the evening session.
	August 27	August 28	August 29	August 30	August 31
9:00 am	Home Room OR School Registration MONDAY August 27 9:00 AM - TBD TUESDAY August 28 9:00 AM - TBD		Excursion: Canada's Wonderland	Home Room	Home Room
					Final Presentations
12:15 pm	Lunch (bring lunch)	Lunch (bring lunch)	Lunch (bring lunch)	Lunch (bring lunch)	Farewell Luncheon & Graduation Ceremony (lunch will be provided)
1:00 pm	Home Room	Home Room	Home Room	Home Room
2:30 pm	Dismissal	Dismissal	*3:30 pm dismissal today	Dismissal	Dismissal

PLEASE NOTE: While this location has a cafeteria, food service during July & August is not available and students are encouraged to pack a lunch or bring money to purchase lunch off school premises.

---

Busing Schedule for Orientation

The busing schedule will be posted July 2012

---

Location of Orientation Program

The August 2012 program will take place at:

The Dr. Bette Stephenson Centre for Learning
36 Regatta Avenue
Richmond Hill, ON L4E 4R1
Telephone: 905 884 3434

PLEASE NOTE: While this location has a cafeteria, food service during July & August is not available and students are encouraged to pack a lunch or bring money to purchase lunch off school premises.