Message from Principal Paul Edwards  "Runnymede CI: Worth Studying"

Runnymede’s Newsletter, April 2012

Our mission at Runnymede CI continues to be the creation of a forward thinking, vibrant, inclusive school community that has high expectations for all, where our focus on a daily basis is student success.

Our students have been very successful during the first half of the second semester. Approximately twenty percent of our students have achieved Honor Roll status on the Mid-Term Report Cards. Our potential Graduates are on track to having an exceptional year and are gaining admissions to Universities and Colleges of choice, while others are on a very successful career path. We have high expectations for you and your future. All students and staff are reminded that this is just the mid-term point of the assessment and evaluation of all courses. The TDSB’s Evaluation Policy emphasizes that the student’s mark in each subject must be “most recent and most consistent”. This means that the second term of the semester must weigh more heavily that the first term in all courses. Please also note that the Final Exams should be 30% of the Final Mark.

Therefore, should all students work harder and apply themselves to a greater degree we will expect that the final mark in June will be substantially greater that the Mid-Term mark. Let’s do it!

Our students have taken on leadership roles in fundraising for various charities, social justice causes, and environmental initiatives as well as volunteering. Our FIRST Robotics Team has distinguished itself at two competitions. Many of our Athletic Teams reached the play-offs, including our Girls and Boys Basketball teams having represented us very well at OFSSAA games. Congratulations to all of our teams.

On Thursday, May 3, we will be celebrating our First Multicultural Arts Night at Runnymede CI. This showcase includes at 5:30 pm: BBQ, our Visual Arts Gallery and beginning at 6:30 pm on Center Stage: a special and unique collaboration by our Performing Arts students and professionals from our community. All of our families are invited. You will not want to miss this!

Our program planning for the next school year continues to include:

• For our Masters’ students: a pre-Advanced Placement content for qualified new Grade 9 students; an optional Grade 12 Masters’ year.
• A Grade 12 Robotics Credit course open to all senior students.
• Four week transition program in July for our new Grade Nines. This will include Literacy, Numeracy, Multimedia skills and Fit for Life Activities. We are also seeking approximately 20 senior students who will be trained as mentors to our new Grade Nines in July and beyond.
• ESL Program.
• New Grade 10 Guitar Credit course.
• An after school Literacy, Numeracy and Homework help for all Runnymede’s students beginning in October 2012. More information will be available later.