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Graduation 2013
Week 3 Recap
Week 2 Recap
Week 1 Recap
What’s Happening Right Now: Our 2013 Summer Program
Starting high school as a new grade 9 student is a life-shaping transition. It is exciting in all of the newness it promises: it’s bigger, a different teacher for each subject, more fellow students in the building, new academic challenges, and more. It can also be laced with anxiety, stress and uncertainty.
This is even more true for students already facing challenges. In Toronto, there is a policy called age-appropriate promotion where all students in grade 8 – regardless of how they did and where their skills are at – will go to grade 9. This is further complicated when, whether it is Math or English, you are not ready to jump into the new curriculum with confidence. There are also neighbourhood complexities, where persistent myths of the other side of the community, a side where you spend little to no time, come crashing together in a building that is the home high school to both. And then there is the perceived pecking order; you come in as a grade 9, with hundreds of seasoned senior students who can make or break your experience.
With all of that in mind, Success Beyond Limits delivers a comprehensive summer program at York University for students in the Jane and Finch community. Hosted in our new location of the recently re-designed Osgoode Hall Law School, the plush, bright, open-concept space immediately sets the atmosphere to the tune of excellence.
Registering 115 grade 9 students to earn their first credit before beginning high school in September, they make incredible use of their summer. They are met at our three bus pick-up locations throughout the community by 23 senior Westview Centennial students in bright blue shirts who work in the summer program through the TDSB Focus on Youth program as Mentors (who also have the chance to earn dual coop credits, while employed).
Upon arrival at York, students are met by a daily breakfast and an opening morning assembly – a mish-mash of inspiration, energy and instructions on the day.
Students spend the morning in classrooms with seven amazing TDSB teachers earning a General Learning Strategies credit, focusing on literacy, numeracy and life skills. With small class sizes, we have 1 teacher, 3 mentors and 15 students in each room. Making use of the technology equipped classrooms at York University, students benefit from differentiated instruction, one-on-one support, and exciting, relevant content.
New to the program this year is a Hip Hop curriculum that has been incorporated into the classroom, using the music and culture that students are passionate about to engage in higher-order thinking and critical discussions and learning aimed at empowerment.
Lunch is also a unique time for us. It is considered class time, where students, teachers and mentors eat together over discussions that unpack and reinforce the learning of the summer.
In the afternoon, our Mentors are supported by guest facilitators and a pair of former Mentors as Recreation Staff as they make the most of the amazing facilities of the York University campus. They go swimming, make use of the gym, and they use the music and dance studios to engage in a variety of arts, sports and recreation activities.
Each week is capped off with a field trip to a variety of fun and engaging spots around our city that include go-karting, roller-skating, a wave pool, a beach day, and more.
Some of the highlights of the summer program include our Parent Night, Career Day, the Track Meet, Play Day, the Mock Trials (delivered by the LAWS program), and our graduation to be held on August 6th.
Of note, is that over the past few summers many of our students, mentors, staff and teachers in our summer program have been observing Ramadan. This year it is taking place between July 9th to August 8th, and through accommodations everyone is able to enjoy Ramadan while participating in our summer of fun.
The Success Beyond Limits Education Program is delivered in partnership with the Toronto District School Board and the York University Faculty of Education.
The Success Beyond Limits Summer Program is supported by:
Jays Care Foundation, Toronto District School Board (Urban Priority High School Fund, Focus on Youth, Continuing Education, and Westview Centennial Secondary School), Trillium Foundation, Jumpstart Foundation, York University Faculty Association, United Way Toronto, COSTI, and Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
New Location and New Space
Although memories of past summers evoke images of our old location, Stong College, Success Beyond Limits is forging ahead with new memories at our new home, Osgoode Hall Law School.
Chronicles of the Outspoken 2013
Back by popular demand Chronicles of the Outspoken 2013.
Come out and watch the amazing talent that Westview Centennial Secondary School students have.
http://www.yorku.ca/yuevents/index.asp?Event=29494&Category=15&ShowCal=&TimeSame=May&Month=5&Year=2013&EventTitle=York%20Events:%20Chronicles+2013
Summary for the month of May
Good Evening SBL Friends and Supporters!
The count-down to SBL Summer 2013 is on – we only have 5 weeks left! Our mentors are 8 weeks deep in their training, and our teaching team is hired with their planning moving full-steam ahead. And, most importantly, our registration of grade 9s is almost full already!
This late May period is a peculiar space for us, because as schools are moving into a strong finish and wind-down mode, we are getting ramped up for – as is always the vision – our best summer yet!
In the midst of it, we have a few key updates that ask three things of you if you are able:
1) A pencil mark in your calendar
2) 12 minutes on Youtube
3) A Wednesday evening
And with that, here we go:
Graduation SAVE THE DATE: Success Beyond Limits Summer Program 2013 @ York University
Our summer program begins on July 2nd, 2013, but we are inviting all of our friends and supporters to mark their calendars for our summer program graduation:
Thursday, August 8th, 2013 from 630-9PM at York University (location TBD)
If your schedule allows, we would love to have you join us for the evening. This event of celebration will recognize the accomplishments of our students, celebrate their talents and voices, and – as always – will be full of delights and surprises.
Students Speaking on “Streaming”
The wisdom and experience of youth in our city is a treasure that we, too often, don’t access enough.
When the education advocacy organization People for Education released a report about streaming in Ontario high schools (http://www.
Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Chronicles 2013
In 2012, SBL continued our valuable partnership with the Art Gallery of York University through an initiative called Chronicles of the Outspoken, which included a series of workshops, a video blog, and a showcase at York University.
A year later, the students that were a part of that initiative are still writing, creating and performing. To showcase their growth and continue to give a stage to their voices and talents the AGYU will be hosting Chronicles 2013.
When: Wednesday, May 29th from 6PM-7PM
Where: Tribute Communities Recital Hall, York University
See the link for more details:
Streaming In High School
A recent report by the People for Education titled The Trouble with Course Choices in High Schools detailing the streaming nature of schools was released. What are students thoughts on the idea of ‘streaming’?