At Bond Academy we pride ourselves in promoting the academic, social, physical, and character development of our students by providing them with a challenging, varied and supportive learning environment. We set high personal and academic standards for our students. We believe, with positive support and direction, that students will rise to the challenge of high expectations.
Our students are recognized and respected as unique individuals, and their successes reflect our own dedication to providing a high quality, well-rounded education. At Bond Academy, we remain committed to our students, our parents, and our philosophy.
We believe that a partnership of families is critical to maximizing the success of our students. Interactive communication between the classroom teachers, the school and our families are integral to our program.
Bond Academy is committed to the principles of gender, faith, race and ethno-cultural equity in the curricula, policies and practices of the Academy.
At Bond Academy, we believe that our individual character is formed from the values, habits and virtues that we practice in every aspect of our lives. Every month is comprised of a different virtue that each class studies at their own grade level. Our program starts in Junior Kindergarten and carries on with them as they grow and mature. The children learn basic guidelines for proper behaviour that they are further encouraged to develop into lifelong habits. Positive habits are the foundation upon which we gain both personal and academic excellence.
Character Education (C.E.) is everything that we do that influences the characters of the children we teach. Our main point is that we identify behaviours, beliefs and attitudes that we admire in other individuals, and we gear our behaviours to be like them. This is an idea that is not so new, but what Character Education is. It is the conviction that one of the most powerful tools in this process is the use of stories and situations to motivate us to think and respond appropriately.
At the core of our C.E. program is the idea that whenever any academic subject or skill is being taught, ideas of truth, what is right and what is wrong are being relayed to the students. The concepts that we teach on daily basis (month by month) are the foundations for developing positive ethics within a community. Due to the increasing need for something so important, schools are now being seen as important educators and reinforcers of such ethical behavioural attributes.
If we here at Bond Academy are ultimately preparing our students to become ethical students and principled members of the community, our educators know that our school must also become an ethical community itself.
In the secondary program, Character Education is incorporated into curriculum and extra-curriculum programs.
Total commitment to the learning process is expected of all our students and staff. Bond's goal is to promote a positive, caring and secure educational environment. The Bond Academy School's Code of Behaviour outlines Bond's expectations of students, staff and parents, the process for addressing concerns and the possible consequences for failing to meet these expectations.
The main purpose of assessment and evaluation is to improve student learning. Information gathered helps teachers identify students’ strengths and those areas needing improvement, as well as program areas of strength and those needing improvement. It is important that teachers adapt their instructional methods to the needs of their students.
Assessment is the process of gathering information from a variety of sources, including assignments, demonstrations, projects, performances, and tests. This information should demonstrate how well students are achieving the curriculum expectations. As part of assessment, teachers, peers, and individual students provide descriptive feedback that guides efforts for improvement. Assessment is ongoing and supportive.
Evaluation is the process of judging the quality of a student’s work on the basis of established achievement criteria and assigning a value to represent that quality. It reflects a student's level of achievement of the provincial curriculum expectations at a given time.
At Bond Academy, our courses reflect well-designed assessment and evaluation based on curriculum expectations and achievement criteria, which allow our teachers to focus on high standards of achievement for all students. Our teachers employ a combination of diagnostic and formative assessment, and summative evaluations, based on the provincial curriculum expectations and the achievement levels outlined in “Program Planning & Assessment, 2000”, and in the curriculum policy document for each discipline, to ensure that their assessment and evaluation is valid and leads to the improvement of student learning.
In recognition of the particular knowledge and skills that students are expected to demonstrate by the end of each course, our assessment and evaluation varies course by course. However, all assessment and evaluation is based on the established expectations and achievement levels. The culminating activity for each course is designed to reflect the particular course. It may or may not be an examination. However, all students will be aware that this evaluation will be worth 30% of their final percentage grade. Seventy per cent of their grade will be based on their demonstrated level of achievement of the expectations of the course during the semester.
GRADE 9: THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
l COURSES l
Courses are available in many subject areas in secondary school. Within a subject area, students can specialize their study, depending on their interest. For example, within the subject area of music, students might choose to study one or more of instrumental music, vocal music, and composition. Courses are offered in Grades 9, 10, 11 & 12.
l CREDTIS l
A credit is granted when a course that has been scheduled for a minimum of 110 hours is successfully completed. “Scheduled time” is defined as the time during which students participate in planned learning activities designed to lead to the achievement of the curriculum expectations of the course. Planned learning activities include interaction between the teacher and student as well as assigned individual and/or group work, excluding homework.
l ACADEMIC COURSES l
Academic courses develop students’ knowledge and skills by emphasizing theoretical and abstract applications of the essential concepts and incorporating practical applications as appropriate. The emphasis is on theory and abstract thinking as a basis for future learning and problem solving. Bond Academy is an Academic school emphasizing courses leading to post secondary education.
l COURSE CODES l
Each course has a special code:
ENG1D1
ENG=English; 1=grade 9; D=Academic; 1=class
l COMPULSORY GRADE 9 COURSES l
l OPTIONAL GRADE 9 COURSES l
Students will choose two of the following:
l ANNUAL EDUCATION PLAN l
The academic program at Bond Academy offers a comprehensive selection of secondary school courses described by the Ministry of Education, Province of Ontario. These courses lead to an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), and allow students to successfully prepare for admission to any university program.
Our academic counselors help students to develop an Annual Education Plan. The courses selected in this plan reflect the particular needs of the students, the variance in their interests, and the requirements of the university or college which the student plans to attend.
l COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT l
l PROVINCIAL TEST OF READING & WRITING l
l STUDENT COUNSELLING & SERVICES l
Our counselling department assists and advises students in a variety of areas during their stay at Bond Academy. Services include:
Academic
Personal
Housing
Visa Renewal
The International Office of the school will facilitate renewal of the Canadian Student Authorization, provided that the student is proceeding towards an OSSD or 30 credits at Bond Academy.
a) For students who have more than four or less courses to complete for the OSSD, a request for renewal will be issued upon the confirmation of the full payment of the remainder of the tuition fees.
b) For students who have more than four courses to complete for the OSSD, the confirmation will be issued only if the student has a tuition fee balance for four courses for the coming semester.
l GUIDANCE & CAREER EDUCATION l
The Guidance and Career Education program is a vital and integral part of the secondary school program. Through the program, students acquire the knowledge and skills they need in order to learn effectively, to live and work cooperatively and productively with a wide range of people, to set and pursue educational and career goals, and to carry out their social responsibilities. This program will be delivered in various ways, including orientation and exit programs, career exploration activities, and individual assistance and counselling.
All students are required to complete a half-credit course in career studies as part of the new diploma requirements.
The program is organized into three areas of learning: