HAMILTON-WENTWORTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Passport to Grade 9 Preps Students for High School

A transition program offered to Grade 9 students across the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board will help ensure a smooth and confident jump from elementary to secondary school.

Giving students a snapshot of the secondary school experience, Passport to Grade 9 is a two-day program designed to equip incoming students with the skills, knowledge and tools they needed to begin their educational journey successfully.

On August 26 and 27, approximately 2,200 incoming Grade 9 students were welcomed at their Catholic secondary schools. Students familiarized themselves with their new surroundings, including learning the school layout, navigating school websites, finding classrooms, understanding their schedules and even mastering practical skills such as working their lockers.

This year's program represented an evolution of Passport to Grade 9 and Grade 9 Orientation, which had previously been offered separately. By combining the programs, students were able to complete their orientation while also taking part in literacy and numeracy initiatives and developing the practical skills they needed to succeed at the secondary level.

This year, the major focus of the expanded program was technology. With laptops being distributed to students, Passport to Grade 9 provided an opportunity to put those devices directly into students' hands and help them become familiar with the technology before classes began. Working alongside teachers, students learned how to navigate their laptops at the secondary level, create and organize folders and files, and access learning resources through the Board's Learning Management System.

Students were also introduced to the distinctiveness of Catholic education, the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations, educational pathways and career planning, and health and wellness.

"Passport to Grade 9 brought several priorities of our Multi-Year Strategic Plan together in one meaningful student experience," said Superintendent Paul Di Ianni.

"It supported academic and co-curricular excellence by building the skills students needed to succeed and advancing our commitment to transforming the future through technology and innovation. By investing in a strong transition to Grade 9, we helped students feel a greater sense of belonging, build confidence and develop the tools they needed to thrive throughout their secondary school journey."