January 18, 2011: The Halton District School Board is hosting three information nights next week throughout the region for parents of Grade 8 English Language Learners (ELL) students to learn more about what happens in Halton’s public high schools.

The information nights, which will run from 7-8:30 p.m., will be held at the following locations:

      West: Burlington Central High School – Monday, January 24
      North: Chris Hadfield Public School (Milton) – Monday January 31
      East: Emily Carr Public School (Oakville) – Thursday, February 3 

Parents will have an opportunity to ask any question about a child’s transition to high school. Topics will include:

• The structure of the school day and year
• ESL classes and what high school with an ESL Centre has to offer
• The Ontario high school diploma, compulsory courses, elective courses and graduation requirements
• What are "Pathways"?
• Things to consider when choosing optional courses
• How to read a high school timetable, a course evaluation, a high school report card
• The role of parents/guardians in high school and how to help your child be successful
• Grade 9 program books for the high schools with ESL Centres

There will be interpreters in several languages available at each event.

English Language Learners are students in provincially-funded English language schools whose first language is a language other than English and therefore may require focused educational supports to assist them in attaining proficiency in English.


For additional information, contact:
      Moira Chisholm
      Instructional Program Leader
      Newcomer, Grade 8-9 Transition
      905-631-6120, ext. 480; chisholmm@hdsb.ca