LINK Day-Attention Incoming Grade 9 Parents

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         Fenelon Falls Secondary School’s

               LINK Orientation and Transition Program

 

 

Fenelon Falls Secondary School runs an exciting program called LINK.  The main goal of LINK is to help grade nine students with the transition to high school.  The program provides support, not only in September, but throughout the entire school year.

 

As a grade eight student and parent/guardian, here are some key pieces of information to address any questions or concerns you might have regarding orientation to grade nine:

 

  • LINK Orientation takes place on Thursday, September 1, 2016 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.
  • PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR SON/DAUGHTER HAS $5.50. This will allow them to buy a combination lock that they MUST use while at FFSS (students need to purchase a lock through FFSS).
  • In addition, each student is to bring $10.00 to pay their Student Activity Council (SAC) fee. SAC fees cover: photo ID card, access to all spirit events, special assemblies, SAC events, weightroom and participation in any in-school club or group.
  • Transportation is provided (Langton excluded, need to provide own transportation). LINK Leaders will be riding the buses to FFSS. Buses will pick you up at 10:15 am at your elementary school. Students will be departing FFSS at 4:00 pm to return to the feeder schools.
  • Carefully selected LINK Leaders are trained to lead new students through a series of activities. These activities are aimed at providing useful information and making students feel more comfortable in their new surroundings.
  • There are no other students at the school other than LINK Leaders and staff.
  • LINK Leaders hand out timetables and provide a detailed tour of the school.
  • During the LINK Orientation, students will be provided with a lunch.

 

Over the past number of years, we have had the opportunity to talk to many grade nine students to see how they are adjusting to high school.  It was interesting to note the differences between those who attended the LINK orientation and those who had not.  LINK allowed them to make a connection with their new school before they had even started. In our conversations, students gave many reasons why they were glad they attended LINK:

 

“Link Leaders were nice and helpful and answered questions, (especially ones they did not want to ask their teachers)”

“Meeting other grade nines at LINK made it easier to go to classes when there was no one there from their old elementary school”

“The brightly coloured t-shirts were easy to spot and they knew they could ask them anything and they did not have to be embarrassed”

“LINK Leaders were sometimes more helpful than older siblings who were busy with their own friends (plus sometimes siblings’ friends can be a bit intimidating)”

“Doing the tour in small groups with your timetable in hand made that first day much easier”

“It was “cool” to be able to tell our parents all that we had learned at LINK”  “It was FUN!”

 

If you have any questions, please call the school (705-887-2018) and ask to speak to one of the school administrators, Mr. Ray Este (Principal), Ms. Christa Bradburn (Vice-Principal), or Ms. Elizabeth Alton (Vice-Principal).