Family Information Night 2.0

Vancouver Technical Secondary May 4, 2021(Grads 2026)

Indigenous Acknowledgement

Please join us in acknowledging that we live, learn, work

and play on the unceded and

traditional territory of the Musqueam, TsleilWaututh and Coast

Salish peoples.

Sangeeta KauldherVice Principal

Roberto MoroPrincipal

Sonja Rondestvedt Vice Principal

Vancouver Technical Grade 8 Support

Ms. Kynthia PetrakisSchool Resource Team

Mr. Nick van IerselSchool Counsellor

Mr. Steven CameronSchool Resource Team

Ms. Virginia WatsonSchool Resource Team

AgendaImportant DatesGrade 8 Welcome VideoSemester SystemGrade 8 Programs & CoursesRole of School CounsellorCommunication with SchoolTech Technology ToolsVan Tech Student HubAdditional Grade 8 SupportsAugust/September 2021 PlansAdvice from the ProsRemindersQuestions?

Important DatesDate EventApril Articulation Process

• Getting to know your child• Skills & Numeracy permission

May 10 - 18 Grade 7 Visits to Van Tech (Grade 7 Teachers Sign Up)May 12 & 13 French Placement Interviews

• 3:30 to 4:30 (Room 324)• Trevor O’Rourke is contact teacher (torourke@vsb.bc.ca)

August Grade 7 students will receive a Vancouver Technical Newsletter outlining start-up procedures

August/September

Parents/Guardians and Students please check school website for school opening procedures.

September 1/2 Grade 8 Orientation (Tentative)

September 8 First day of school.

Welcome Video

Link: https://youtu.be/SolQ3cBGSDw

Typical School Day for Grade 8 Student (Semester Model)

• Students have 4 courses at a time, which they attend every day.

• School is in session 8:40 am- 3:03 pm.• Four different classrooms.• Four different teachers per semester.• We aim to review schedules to ensure

students have balance.

Semester 1 Sep to Jan

Semester 2 Feb to June

Math 8 Science 8

English 8 PE 8

Fine Arts Rotation

Social Studies 8

French 8 Applied Skills Rotation

Grade 8 Course OfferingsMainstream or LSP Program• English 8• Math 8 or Numeracy 8• Social Studies 8• Science 8• Physical and Health Education 8• Applied Skills 8 Rotation (Woodworking/ Digital Literacy/ Textiles)

• French 8 or Skills Support• Fine Arts 8 (Drama/Art) or Band 8 (Beginner or Intermediate)

Additional OFF-Timetable Courses1. Beginner or Intermediate Strings (Optional)2. Choir (Optional)3. Career Education 8 (through PE & EN visits, & assemblies)

Grade 8 Course OfferingsFrench Immersion Program

• French Immersion Core 8 (FRIMM Cohort)• French Science 8 (FRIMM Cohort)• French Social Studies 8 (FRIMM Cohort)• Art Dramatique 8 or FI Skills 8 (FRIMM Cohort)• English 8• Math 8 or Numeracy 8• Physical and Health Education 8• One of:

• Applied Skills 8 Rotation (Woodworking/ Digital Literacy/ Textiles)• Fine Arts 8 (Drama/Art)• Band 8

Additional OFF-Timetable Courses1. Beginner or Intermediate Strings (Optional)2. Choir (Optional)3. Career Education 8 (through PE & EN visits, & assemblies)

Grade 8 Course OfferingsFlex Humanities Program

• Flex Humanities Classics 8 (English)• Flex Humanities History 8 (Social Studies)• Interactive Arts & Design 8 (Flex Cohort)• Flex Humanities Visual Arts 8 (Flex Cohort)• Science 8• Math 8 or Numeracy 8• Physical and Health Education 8• One of:

• French 8• Band (Beginner or Intermediate)• Skills

Additional OFF-Timetable Courses1. Beginner or Intermediate Strings (Optional)2. Choir (Optional)3. Career Education 8 (through PE & EN visits, & assemblies)

Grade 8 Course OfferingsSummit Program

• English 8 (Summit cohort)• Social Studies 8 (Summit cohort)• Math 9 (Summit cohort)• Science 9 (Summit cohort)• Physical and Health Education 8• Applied Skills 8 Rotation (Wodworking/ Digital Literacy/ Textiles)

• French 8• Fine Arts 8 (Drama/Art) or Band 8 (Beginner or

Intermediate)

Additional OFF-Timetable Courses1. Beginner or Intermediate Strings (Optional)2. Choir (Optional)3. Career Education 8 (through PE & EN visits, & assemblies)

Skills Block and Numeracy 8

Skills and Learning Strategies CourseStudent will learn study strategies and will receive support with their learning.

Numeracy 8This course is designed to support students who have not yet met the curricular competencies of Mathematics 7. It provides students an opportunity to learn and develop the necessary skills and understanding required to be successful in future mathematics courses.

Parents will have to agree to these courses, families will be asked to complete forms.

• A supportive adult who helps students navigate through the entirety of high school, following you through all five grades.

• To be the one person who always will go to bat for you, help liaison with you, and guide you.

• To work on academic goals, social emotional goals, friend challenges, post-secondary planning (much later), and timetables.

Communication with School• Email & Newsletters

• Social Media

@vantechsec @vantechsec Vancouver Technical Secondary

• Remind – Mr. Van runs a text-based notificationsystem to any parent or student interested in getting info.

• Websites: https://vantech.vsb.bc.ca/& www.mrvan.org

Tech Technology Tools

• MyEd – Used for attendance, report cards, and (sometimes) marks for classes.

• Office 365 – All students have access to Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) for free.

• Teams – One part of the Office package. Used for classroom information and school wide information.

Van Tech Student Hub

• The Student Hub is where important announcements and information are shared with students through Microsoft Teams.

• Grad 2026 students will be added to the Van Tech Student Hub in the summer.

• Parents are not able to directly access this with their own accounts.

ADDITIONAL GRADE 8 SUPPORTS

Mr. Ken LiAthletic Director

Ms. Liz Krieg Ms. Shawna Tait Carly Ramos Vive Wong Murray AndersonLRP

Kelly MelsnessSACYIndigenous Education Team Community Schools Team

The Van Tech Community Schools Team (CST) works with the family of schools in our hub with a focus of improving:

Community connection Social-emotional skillsA sense of belonging Resiliency through grade-to-

grade transitionAcademic performance and

school attendance

• Please check the Van Tech website (EXTRACURRICULAR ATHLETICS) for more details

• Instagram: @vantechathletics

• Questions: e-mail Mr. Li (klli@vsb.bc.ca)

Fall (Sept. – Nov.) Winter (Nov. – Feb.) Spring (Feb. – May)• Aquatics• Cross Country• eSports (Year-round)• Field Hockey 5s (Girls)• Rugby (Boys)• Soccer (Boys)• Volleyball (Girls)

• Basketball• Curling• Ice Hockey (Girls)• Table Tennis

• Badminton• Golf• Mountain Biking• Soccer (Girls)• Tennis• Track and Field• Ultimate• Volleyball (Boys)

ATHLETICS

• Families will receive a newsletter going outlining start up (email)

• September 1/2- Grade 8 Orientation (tentative)

• September 8- First Day of School

Hearing from the Pros…

• What has your experience at Tech been like so far?

• What is something that surprised you or challenged you?

• What is one thing you wish you knew when you started grade eight?

Lilah - Grade 8,French Immersion

Nick- Grade 11,Mainstream

Reminders

• French Placement Test – May 12th and 13th

• Please visit Van Tech Website for Grade 8 info HERE.

• Skills & Numeracy Forms – Get them in to your elementary teachers or email them directly to Mr Van (nvaniersel@vsb.bc.ca).

• School Contacts- Info HERE.

• Watch our Full Tour of our school-HERE

• Expect to hear from us late Aug/Sept for school start up information and tours

QUESTIONS?