Grade 8 students who want to get a head start on planning out their high school pathways should mark their calendars and plan to attend some of the upcoming Open House events to get a better idea about what secondary programs are best suited for them.

 “High school is such an exciting time in the life of a student, but it’s important that they choose the right programs,” said Emelda Byrne, Executive Superintendent of Student Achievement.  “Our Grade 8 open house nights give students the chance to check out academic programs, and all the really fun extracurricular activities they can get involved with too.”

Over the past several years, the WECDSB has increased its specialized program offerings. Sports academies, STEM academies, Construction Academies, new International Baccalaureate programs, expanded French Immersion, and other specialty programs have been added to help students find the pathways that help them fulfill their own personal academic and career ambitions, according to Dan Fister, Executive Superintendent of Innovation and Experiential Learning.

“Many of these programs are offered at specific schools, so it’s a great idea for students to investigate the course offerings that interest them most,” said Fister. “Visiting our Grade 8 open houses will give students the chance to visit classrooms, talk with teachers, and learn from other students who are already enrolled in these programs and decide what works best for them.”

Find out more on our Getting Ready for Grade 9 page and our Pathways page.

High school is also a time for great personal growth and engagement, which naturally contributes to improved academic results, said Director of Education Terry Lyons.

“Many adults I know will reflect back and tell me that their high school years were the best time of their life,” he said. “We want to make sure that academics are a top priority for our high school students, but we also want them to be engaged in all of the extracurricular activities, whether that’s sports, in the arts, or all of the great student clubs we have in our high schools. Besides being a place of learning, high school is where many students will establish friendships that last a lifetime, so we want this to be the best experience it can possibly be for our students.”

Here is a complete list of all of our Grade 8 Open House nights:

Assumption – Nov. 7 @ 6 p.m.

Catholic Central – Nov. 21 @ 6 p.m.

F.J. Brennan – Nov. 27 @ 6 p.m.

St. Joseph’s – Dec. 4 @ 6 p.m.

Holy Names – Dec. 5 @ 6 p.m.

Cardinal Carter – Dec. 9 @ 6 p.m.

St Anne – Dec. 11 @ 5:30 p.m.

St. Thomas of Villanova – Dec. 12 @ 5:45 p.m.