April 8th, 2013 – Black History Month Project

YMCA Academy Arts, Beyond the Classroom, Student Spotlight

Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.  Rosa Parks.  Robert Johnson.  Three African American people who have contributed to society and the world in positive ways were celebrated yesterday in the YMCA Academy’s drama class production of The Black History Month Project.  Students performed a tableau and mime play that depicted pivotal events in the lives of the middleweight champion boxer, the civil rights activist and the blues musician.  Our fourth floor shared space was transformed into a theatre complete with black backdrop and lighting.  Our performance was a success!  We might take it on the road : )

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Mar 8th, 2013 – OSSLT Information and Resources

YMCA Academy English and Humanities, Updates

Dear Academy Parents, Guardians and Students:

I am writing to update you about our progress in preparing our students for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).  As you know, your child/ward is on the list to write the mandated and standardized Provincial Literacy Test on Thursday April 11th, 2013.

 

Student Preparation

The English department at The Academy has created an Edmodo site (an on-line resource) with lessons and activities in preparation for the test. Students have access to this site through their Edmodo platform.

Parent Preparation

To ease parental use of OSSLT preparation materials,  we have made resources available on the school’s website. Please visit the site over the mid-winter break to access these preparation materials: https://www.ymcaacademy.org/?page_id=4189. We encourage you to work on some practice problems at home over the break.

Teacher Supported  Workshops  

As promised, we will begin holding our twice-weekly workshops for students writing this test. Although attendance and participation in the workshops are not mandatory, I hope that you will encourage your child/ward to partake in the workshops that will be held after school. Our plan is to host instructional workshops from 4-5pm until the day of the test. Please refer to the following schedule for detailed information about each weekly session.

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Please keep in mind students who are not successful in writing the OSSLT will have an opportunity to re- write the following year, or to enroll in the Ontario Literacy Course (OLC). If a student is unsuccessful a second time writing the test, he or she must enroll in the OLC course offered in the senior panel at The YMCA Academy.

Secondary school diplomas will only be awarded to students who successfully complete this test or pass the Ontario Literacy Course as this is a mandatory requirement.

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Please see the following resources to help prepare for the OSSLT

Mar 4th, 2013 – Storyteller Jim Adams Visit

YMCA Academy Community, English and Humanities, Experiential Learning, Native Studies

The grade 10 English and the grade 11 Aboriginal Voices classes hosted storyteller Jim Adams this week to celebrate the traditional winter storytelling practice of Canada’s Indigenous peoples.  Jim wowed us all with ancient and personal tales, a beautiful song with his drum, hands-on and experiential activities with rocks and an information-sharing question and answer period that shed light on many topics.  His warmth, generosity and humour were greatly admired and we all took away much more than we came with.  Each of us still has our own rock in our pocket, on our desk or in some special place.  Thanks so much, Jim, and please come back soon!

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Jan 29th, 2013 – The Cycle of Giving Continues …

YMCA Academy English and Humanities, Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning, Student Spotlight

In September 2012, the Grade 12 Environment and Resource class helped to co-ordinate the Academy’s school-wide participation in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. As a result of our participation in that event, the Academy received $50 that could be donated to any registered Canadian charity.

The decision as to where that money would be donated was turned into a class research project of Canadian environmental non-governmental organizations (NGO’s). Research included not only an organization’s goals, activities, and success stories, but also required students to look at an NGO’s budget – including revenue, expenses and administrative costs.

After the presentations, the winner was chosen by class vote…Earth Rangers, an organization that focuses on educating children about the environment, was chosen as the donation recipient. But the giving still continued…thanks to others in our class who were inspired by a presentation on the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), that organization also received over $100 from independent donations from our class!

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Jan 21st, 2013 – Idle No More Global Day of Action

YMCA Academy Community, English and Humanities, Experiential Learning, Native Studies

The Aboriginal Issues, World Religions, Learning Strategies and grade 9 English classes traveled to Yonge and Dundas Square on January 11 to observe the Idle No More Global Day of Action. There were drumming circles, round dances and people of all ages and backgrounds standing up for the rights of Indigenous people. Luckily the rain held off for everyone involved!

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