New Transitions Program at GHSS
Posted on 10/29/2019
New Transitions Program at GHSS
In order to welcome its newest community members, a new program at Grey Highlands Secondary School in Flesherton has originated thanks to an idea from one of the school's office professionals. Last August, Ms. Price came up with the idea of coordinating an initiative that would connect all new registers with each other and their local community. The idea was shared with Student Administrative Council (SAC) teachers, Mr. Fraser and Ms. Hayman, who in turn, spoke with the students. Collectively, a wonderful idea came to fruition, which involved bringing every new student together and coordinating a trip to Eugenia Falls, Old Baldy, Metcalfe Rock, Blue Mountain Resort, and the Fish Ladder in Thornbury. The SAC students assumed a leadership role by speaking about the different areas visited, allowing for student voice and opportunities. The new students felt that they could now take their own families to visit these brilliant areas that our region has to offer. The intention was for new students to experience our region, understand what others are speaking of, build their terms of reference, and start to co-construct our connectedness. The home-made brownies made by Mr. Fraser’s wife certainly helped to break the ice!
This initiative is truly exemplary of collaborative leadership through the exercise of various stakeholders joining and working together to create a program exemplifying invitational education. To quote W. Purkey and J. Novak in their book titled, Fundamentals of Invitational Education, “Schools that have adopted Invitational Education are easy to spot. They are the ones whose doors are unlocked early on frigid days so that the students do not have to stay out in the cold. They are the ones where the faculty calls students by name, where courtesy and civility are the rule, where staff is accessible, and where there is a general atmosphere of warmth and respect. Places, policies, programs, and processes are all import aspects of Invitational Education, but people come first.” - page 21.
Here is what some of the student had to say:
"I really enjoyed that I got to interact with people in the school that I never thought I would talk to. I made a lot of new friends, and we bonded over looking at rock formations and viewing the salmon in Thornbury." - Lianna Nelson, Dundalk
"We enjoyed this trip because it was nice to get to know the new kids at our school outside of our class environment, and appreciate and show off the land around us where we grew up. The trip was a truly refreshing experience, and we really bonded with kids we have never spent much time with." - Sam Groves and Ellen Wilton, Markdale
"Being on top of Old Baldy, I have never been there. It was very exciting to see these views." - Tajmoore Lorde, North York
"Eugenia Falls was pretty cool because you can see how water flowing changes the rocks at the bottom. The salmon scene was the best part of the trip, especially when they jump up the water falls!" - Tristan Keys, Mississauga
"Old Baldy was pretty cool, the hiking was good, and the views were amazing! Overall, we went to a few different places that were new and cool with great views. The Blue Mountains were probably the nicest view at the top of the hill looking down at the Village!" - Aiden Keys, Mississauga
