FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2004
New
Destinations Programme for Grade 7s and 8s will go live in September 2004
Starting school in September 2004 will be an entirely new experience for approximately
50 gifted/ enrichment Grade 7 and 8 students in the Hastings and Prince Edward
District School Board. That is when the Destinations Programme will go live
at Moira Secondary School.
Destinations has been under development for two years. Designed for gifted/enrichment Grade 7 and 8 students, Destinations is a stepping stone for other specialized programmes such as Foundations for Grades 9 and 10, and the International Baccalaureate Programme for Grades 11 and 12, all of which are offered at Moira Secondary School.
“By offering the Destinations Programme, our Board is providing a more challenging curriculum for Grade 7 and 8 students who are ready for enriched studies. These students will have the opportunity to raise the bar in their own education by studying a curriculum that addresses global issues and the whole learner,” remarks Judy Edgar, Chair of the Board.
Destinations has
a separate and specialized curriculum which focuses on all Grade 7 and 8 subject
areas including rResearch and iInquiry sSkills. Math, Science, History, Geography,
English and French Students who will benefit from this programme are those who
wish to be in a more challenging educational environment.
After a rigorous selection process, 50 Grade 7 and 8 students have been chosen
to attend separate classes which will be held at Moira Secondary School, the
site of the Board’s International Baccalaureate Programme.
“Some of the students are identified as ‘Intellectually Gifted’ and others are ready for a challenging program to meet their individual educational needs,” states Joan Smith, one of the programme’s developers.
The selection process focused on the ‘Profile of the Destinations Learner,’, previous academic performance, an application package that included information on the student’s extra-curricular interests, why they are interested in the programme, the recommendation and signature of the teacher, principal and parent, and a student interview. Between March 5 and March 29 of this year, applications were submitted and select students were recently notified of their acceptance.
“This program is meant to offer another exciting educational opportunity that parents may wish to consider,” adds Smith.
Beginning in September 2004, the 50 students who have been accepted into the Destinations Programme are considered part of Harry J. Clarke Public School however their programme will take place at Moira Secondary, the world -class International Baccalaureate school.
The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has 46 elementary and eight secondary schools serving 18,700 students, employing 1,067 teachers and 775 support staff. The Board covers a wide geographical area of 7,221 square kilometres bordered by Maynooth to the north, Deseronto to the east, Prince Edward County to the south, and Quinte West to the west.
For more information, contact: