2024 Grade 8 Reach Ahead

The York Region District School Board will once again be offering Grade 8 Reach Ahead programs where students can earn a high school credit! This course is for students who are currently completing Grade 8 and entering Grade 9 this Fall.

These 18-day acceleration courses start Wednesday, July 3 and end Friday, July 26.

Students are required to attend class from 8:45 a.m. to 3:33 p.m., with two 15-minute scheduled breaks and a 40-minute lunch period.

Register early to avoid disappointment. Decisions to run courses are based on sufficient enrolment and teacher availability.

 

Courses

This program is a high school credit course titled, “Discovering the Workplace” (course code GLD2O), and will focus on present and future opportunities in the workplace and careers. It is designed to reinforce literacy and numeracy skills with an intentional link to trades and technology.

This program is offered at eight different locations (Bill Hogarth SS, Maple HS, Milliken Mills HS, Newmarket HS, Pierre Elliott Trudeau HS, Richmond Green SS, Stephen Lewis SS and Sutton DHS) throughout York Region and students will select their location upon registration. Please note that courses may be cancelled or moved to another location if enrollment is not sufficient.

Students will attend the school that is closest to their residential area. Busing will be provided from a selected area school. You do not have to register your student with the bus company; just ensure they are at the bus loading area of the school several minutes prior to the listed departure time. 

In June, the bus schedule/route information will be available under the Summer School tab on the website www.schoolbuscity.com. All schools are listed as Summer School - "the school name" - Grade 9/10.  Schools that are within the non-transportation zone (walk zone) will not have bus routes. 

Students will need to bring a lunch, snacks and plenty to drink each day.

Course CodeCourse Name
GLD2ODiscovering the Workplace 

 

The learning platform is Google Classroom. Classes will be a mix of synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous learning. The teachers will be expected to be online for most of the day.  A majority of the day will be spent in synchronous learning experiences (Google Meet with whole class or small groups, phone or video chats, individual conferencing – a combination of many tools to engage in synchronous learning).

 In July, before the start of classes, your child will receive an email with instructions on how to log on and participate in the class. 

Previous knowledge of a course language is not required as the teacher differentiates the instruction to accommodate beginner proficiency.

 

Course CodeCourse Name
LKBBD1 Simplified Mandarin - Academic 
LWSBD1Spanish - Academic
LYFBD1 Farsi - Academic

 

How to Register


Registration opens March 27, 2024.

  1. Register online by my Pathway Planner from March 27 until May 31. Register early to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited.
  2. Please refer to the my Pathway Planner Student Tip Sheet (PDF) on how to register. 
  3. For further program information or questions about how to log in, kindly contact the student's homeroom teacher and/or day school Principal.

  1.  From March 27 until May 31, non-YRDSB students complete the Continuing Education Services Registration Form and choose Secondary Summer School as the program type, then Grade 8 Reach Ahead with the prefered course.  Register early to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited.
  2. Please share the confirmation email with your home school principal and have them email it to continuing.education@yrdsb.ca with their approval. 

Please note that International students (students from other countries attending YRDSB schools) are required to pay a $500 fee.


 

Video: Grade 8 Reach Ahead Program & International and Indigenous Languages Program