October 24th, 2016

I am excited to announce to our WODSS parent and student community that we are changing to a Semester schedule in September 2017. Following many years of consideration and consultation with staff, School Council, and WRDSB Senior Administration I have decided to move the schedule of the school to a semester format. I am confident that this schedule will provide new opportunities for our 21st century students to help them meet their educational goals, and that our school will continue to thrive, evolve and work towards W-O Excellence in this new format.
All of the secondary schools in the Waterloo Region District School Board, and the majority in the province of Ontario as a whole, have moved towards a semester model. In a non-semester schedule, students typically work on 8 credits for a full school year, whereas in a semester model, students work on 4 credits for the first half of the school year, complete those credits, and then begin a second series of 4 credits for the second half of the school year.
We are taking time this school year to ensure an effective implementation plan. In the months ahead, we will communicate important information on:
1. How the semester timetable works.
2. How we can work together to ensure individual students’ needs are met.
3. How you and your student can plan for a post-secondary goal or pathway in a semester school.
The forms of communication we will use are as follows:
• Semester Information Night – an information night will be held in January for parents on course selection and pathway planning.
• Website Information – short information items on the Semester system, and answers to FAQ’s.
• Information Materials – these will be distributed as needed to WODSS students in their first period class.
• Use of the WODSS school ‘phoner’ – automated calls will update WODSS households of our Semester Information Night, and notify when important print materials have been distributed.
• School Council – the parent members of the WODSS school council will receive updates on our implementation progress.
We are excited about the change to semestering and the opportunities it will offer our students.
Beth Bodkin
Principal