July 25th, 2013 – Summer Update

Don Adams Head of School, Updates

Torrential storms and heat waves — Toronto’s summer of 2013 has been anything but calm!  Around The Academy, there’s a quiet intensity as we tour new and prospective families through the school and the Central YMCA, and as we dust up the school for the new year.

This is a time of renewal for teachers and staff, as they sharpen their skills through additional qualifications courses, as they plan their new courses for the year, and, most important, as they take well-earned time off to be with friends and family.

As I look back over the past academic year, I celebrate the amazing successes with our students.  But as I look back at my summer update from a year ago, I also realize that things in the world of Toronto education have not changed for the better.  This is what I wrote a year ago:

Ontario and Toronto have become very challenging places to actually have your child receive the learning disability services they are entitled to under the law. As you may remember from the recent People for Education report and the many media stories that followed, it can take, literally, years for children to receive the services they need if they attend a public school in Ontario.

As I meet with families this summer, it’s easy to determine that the same issues continue unabated.

If you want to see what education for students with LDs can look like, please come in for a visit.  I’m in for the summer, and would love to show you around the school.

Email: don.adams@ymcagta.org

Phone: 416-928-0124 ext 31401

Don Adams, Head of School

June 19th, 2013 – Examination Schedule

YMCA Academy Updates

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

Just a reminder that today is the last day of classes for Semester 2 and exams start tomorrow (Thursday June 20th).

There are 3 examination days – Thursday, June 20th; Friday, June 21st; and Monday, June 24th. Examinations are held in the morning and in the afternoon. Not all students have an examination on each day, so please check the schedule carefully to ensure that your son/daughter comes to school on the right day for the right exam.

Final Examination Schedule (June 20th, 21st, and 24th, 2013)

2013_examschedule

Absences: If a student is absent on a final exam day, a phone call from a parent/guardian and a medical note will be required and a make-up examination will have to be written as soon as possible. If no medical documentation is received, a grade of zero will be recorded for the examination.

Study Hall: We are providing a supervised Study Hall on Thursday June 20th and Friday June 21st. If students are in the school on an exam day, they are expected to be in one of two places: either writing an examination or in the study hall. If students are not writing an examination and do not want to attend study hall, they will be asked to leave the school, as we need to ensure an atmosphere of quiet and respect for the other students who are writing their examination.

Personal Items and Electronic Devices: Students need to be aware that during examinations, they will not be allowed to keep any of their personal items with them. This includes cell phones, iPods (and similar devices), electronic devices, classroom notes, textbooks, and/or personal calculators (unless allowed specifically by the classroom teacher and designated beforehand). Students need to come prepared with writing utensils.

Outstanding Materials: All outstanding library books and materials, as well as Academy-owned textbooks, are to be returned on (or by) the exam day.

If you have any questions about the upcoming examinations, please call The Academy at (416) 928-0124 ext “0”.

June 17th, 2013 – Jim Milligan Retires

YMCA Academy Updates, YMCA of Greater Toronto

Jim joined the YMCA of Greater Toronto in 1998 and provided leadership through many roles, including YMCA Substance Abuse & Gambling programs, Head of School for the YMCA Academy and recently General Manager Diversity & Social Inclusion. Throughout Jim’s 15 years with our YMCA, he has passionately guided us as we moved along the Diversity & Social Inclusion continuum. Jim’s persistence and wisdom have led us to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers.

June 15th, 2013 – Academy course vote

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom, Updates

The Academy tries it’s best to accommodate student voice in timetable choices. The timetable for 2013-2014 was solidified after students provided input into their optional course preferences.

The Grade 11 Math class formalized the process through a school-wide survey and data-analysis project. Here are just some of the results from this year’s survey.

optional_courses