Message from Our Principal         

 

Welcome to Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute. We are pleased that you are part of the KCVI community and your success is extremely important to us. As Ontario’s oldest secondary school, we take pride in our long tradition of academic excellence, student involvement and service to the community. This record of achievement has been possible because of a strong and sustained commitment to quality education by our students, staff, parents, community partners and the Limestone District School Board.

 

This course calendar has been prepared to assist you with your course selections for the next school year. You should take some time to look through this book and choose courses that will help you complete graduation requirements as well as build on your interests and strengths. Your teachers, the counsellors in Students’ Services and the Administration can answer your questions and help you plan your next steps to reach your goals. Please take some time to discuss your goals with your parents/guardians before completing your selections.

 

The secondary school curriculum in Ontario is “destinations based”. Whether you are planning to go directly to work after graduation, to begin an apprenticeship or to attend college or university, careful planning is necessary to ensure the best education for you and a smooth transition to your destination after high school. Each of you should plan a pathway in four or five years that will meet your destination needs and include all the diploma requirements.

 

Although it might seem early to be thinking about next year, we need time to plan a timetable that meets the needs of our students. Please make your selections carefully, taking full advantage of the information in this book and the support and advice of family and staff. Please make sure you return your selection sheets by the deadline so that we can include your requests in our timetable planning.

 

I look forward to working with you and wish you success in this important phase of your education.

 

Darlene Scarlett

Principal

 

School Beliefs                    

 

As a learning community we believe that:

·         learning is a lifelong process

·         all individuals have the capacity for growth

·         growth is incremental and occurs in all areas of our lives

·         all individuals need to be challenged

·         individual differences must be respected

·         co-operation between and among students, staff and parents is essential

·         many desirable outcomes can be achieved only through a collaborative effort

·         the traditions of our past need to be respected while preparing ourselves for a rapidly changing future

·         effort and achievement must be encouraged and celebrated

·         mutual respect and mutual support build a strong learning environment

·         stimulation of critical inquiry needs to be encouraged

 

KCVI Philosophy                  

 

"Youth Deserves the Greatest Respect"

 

In its long history this school has seen many changes in education. With an eye to the varying needs of the community it serves, it has tended to consider such changes carefully, gradually adopting what was useful and insisting always on these sound educational objectives: the sense of personal fulfillment, the acquisition of skills for life and the challenge of academic achievement. These principles still govern our thinking, for they are timeless, and only by espousing such values can we ensure that our present is worthy of our past.

 

We believe in education that is both traditional and progressive. In both, we expect of students a high standard of achievement. Thus, we continue to stress core curriculum and to foster the growth of social responsibility, the development of techniques of learning, and the broadening and enrichment of the mind. At the same time, in response to the demands of a changing world, we encourage creativity, independence, flexibility, openness in thinking and are committed to equal educational opportunity.

 

The personal goals of students are important to us both in planning curriculum and in providing a broad range of co-curricular activities. The school is committed to providing for and promoting equal opportunities in education for all students. In all aspects of school life, we continue to expect from both students and staff that sense of personal commitment that has given KCVI a distinctive place in this community.

 

A Message to Parents/Guardians            

 

We are committed to the importance of the partnership between parents/guardians and the school. Every student will be given a KCVI Planner in which the school calendar can be found, as well as dates for Teacher Interviews and the distribution of report cards. The agenda outlines for parents the KCVI Student Code of Behaviour and the Assessment and Evaluation Policy for the school. A parent/teacher meeting can be requested at any time either by the teacher, the parent, or by the student.

 

Specific course information handouts, covering information on course content, assessment, and other course requirements are distributed to each student early in each semester. Parents/guardians are encouraged to communicate with the school on a regular basis regarding student attendance and progress.

The KCVI School Council usually meets every second Tuesday of each month. All parents/guardians of KCVI students are encouraged to attend this forum which provides for open discussions of school, Board, and Ministry policies.

 

Ontario Student Record (OSR)            

 

The Ontario Student Record is the official school record for a student. Every Ontario school keeps an OSR for each student enrolled at that school. The OSR contains achievement results, credits earned, diploma requirements completed, and other information important to the education of the student. Students and their parents (if the student is under 18 years old) may examine the contents of the OSR during regular business hours by appointment with a member of the Administration or Student Services staff. The Education Act and Freedom of Information legislation protect these records.

 

Full Disclosure for Grades 11, 12            

 

The Ministry of Education has a policy of full disclosure. This policy states that all grade 11 and 12 courses attempted by students must be recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript. Full disclosure does not apply to grade 9 or 10 courses. Any grade 11 or 12 course completed, dropped or failed will appear on a student transcript along with the marks earned in the program. Full disclosure will take effect five (5) instructional days following the issue of the mid-term Provincial report card.

 

Ontario Student Transcript (OST)            

 

The Ontario Student Transcript is an official and consistent summary of a student’s achievement in Ontario secondary school credit courses. A current, accurate and complete copy of the OST will be included within the Ontario Student Record.

 

Semester Registration Dates              

 

A student will normally be expected to register for courses on or before the first day of a semester. In view of instructional time requirements for credits, registration will not normally be considered more than ten school days after the beginning of a semester.

 

Grade 9 Registration at KCVI for September 2009     

 

At present, KCVI is at its full capacity. In order to make use of limited resources across the District, grade 9 enrolment may be restricted through the following protocol for Grade 9 intake for September 2009:

 

  1. All grade 8 students who live within the KCVI attendance area will be accepted. Students and parents are advised to register early to ensure their first choice of option selections.
  2. All grade 8 students currently attending Module Vanier, who live within the Vanier attendance area and plan to continue with immersion or extended studies will be accepted. Transportation will be provided according to the Board policy.
  3. All grade 8 students from any school in the District, who are admitted into the grade 9 International Baccalaureate preparation program, will be accepted.
  4. All grade 8 students who live outside the KCVI attendance area but who have siblings currently attending KCVI and who will also be attending the school in September 2009 may be accepted provided space is available.
  5. All out of boundary grade 8 students who currently attend a KCVI feeder school may be accepted provided space is available. Transportation is not provided by the LDSB.
  6. Registrations for students living outside the KCVI attendance area may be accepted provided program and space are available. Transportation is not provided by the LDSB.

 

Transfers from School to School            

 

The Limestone District School Board policy regarding student transfers from school to school is as follows:

 

  1. Regular transfers may be granted for the commencement of a school year or a new semester when a registration application is submitted in advance.
  2. Special transfers may be granted at any time when circumstances and conditions indicate that a transfer would be in the best interest of the student.
  3. Students may be permitted to attend any school in the district where there is available student space, where the Board will not be held responsible for the provision of transportation, and where the proper application has been submitted and approved.

Students may take advantage of this policy in order to take courses which are not offered in the school serving their area.

 

The Education of Exceptional Pupils         

 

The program and services provided for exceptional pupils are based upon the philosophy and goals of the Limestone District School Board in accordance with the Education Act, 1984, and Ontario Regulation 554/81. Students who have exceptional needs, which are identified under the terms of the Act and Regulations, are assured of an appropriate educational program, placement and/or special support services to maximize student participation and success. A copy of the LDSB’s “Special Education Guide for Parents/Guardians: is available from the learning program support teachers.

 

LDSB Special Education Advisory Committee      

 

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is a standing committee of the Limestone District School Board. Its mandate is to advise the Board on matters related to the education of exceptional students. The committee consists of representative from community parent groups, members of the Board of Education, elected school trustees and members at large who have an interest in special education. The Limestone District School Board is committed to providing the necessary special education services to our exceptional students.

 

 

Timetable Changes                  

 

The total courses selected during the spring term form the basis on which the school is staffed and scheduled for the following September. It is crucial, therefore, that courses chosen should be the result of careful thought and planning by students and parents/guardians. Changes which are considered essential will be made in accordance with the following policy:

·         Changes to timetables will not normally be made after the first two weeks of the semester.

·         Level changes may be considered at any time before the end of the semester.

·         Most program changes for students under 18 years of age must be approved by parents or guardians.

 

Reporting Periods                  

 

There are two reporting periods per semester. Midterm reports are distributed in November and April, final reports in February and June. Early reports are distributed in October and March to all grade 9 students and to other students as required.