Grades 7 and 8 Transition Planning

We want you to know that you will not be going through this transition alone! There will be many TVDSB staff supporting you through the planning and registration process including your teachers, learning support staff, and your elementary Guidance Lead Teacher. Your families/caregivers, older siblings, and friends can be great resources to answer questions you may have and offer support along the way.

Course Selection with myBlueprint

In your grade 8 class, you have probably started working on your IPP (Individual Pathways Plan) and completing your WHO AM I? surveys in myBlueprint. These are great tools to help you explore the answers to the following questions:

• What makes me, me?
• What are my interests?
• How do I learn?
• What are my goals?
• Who can help me?

Semester 1

September - January

• 4 classes a day (75 minutes each)
• Lunch Period

Semester 2
February - June

• 4 classes a day (75 minutes each)
• Lunch Period

Every Grade 8 student has an assigned secondary school based on their address. This is the high school you should attend based on your address at the time or registration. You may be interested in specialized programing at another school of French Immersion or Technology. Your Guidance Lead Teacher will assist you and your caregivers in understanding what processes need to be followed if you want to register at an out-of-area school.

Your Guidance Lead Teacher will take you through the process of registering for high school. They will guide you through picking courses from your high school’s course offering using TVDSB’s Grade 8 My Blueprint Course Selection website. This process usually occurs in January. Your parent/guardian must approve your course selection prior to being registered for high school. 

Registration Process for Current TVDSB Students

Your elementary school has a staff member whose role is to work with you and your caregiver to complete a registration process for your home secondary school; this teacher is called the Guidance Lead Teacher. They will help you use TVDSB's Grade 8 My Blueprint Course Selection website to select courses from your secondary school’s offerings, and once your school and course choices have been confirmed and approved by a parent or guardian, your Guidance Lead Teacher will confirm your registration with the secondary school. Make sure you follow the deadlines your Guidance teacher shares with you for confirming your choices.

If you are selecting an Emphasis Technology secondary school or are pursuing specialized programming in French Immersion or at an out-of-area secondary school, you will have some additional steps to complete. Your Guidance Lead Teacher will assist you and your family in understanding what processes need to be followed.

Registration Process for Non TVDSB Students

We are always happy to welcome new students to Thames Valley! Parents or guardians of students who are currently attending Grade 8 in a school outside of the Thames Valley District School Board and who wish to register for a TVDSB high school should contact the school directly for information and registration materials. Contact information for staff ready to welcome new TVDSB Grade 9's is on the school website.

Find My School 

Process to Apply to an Out-of-Area Secondary School

We are incredibly proud of the experience that ALL of our TVDSB secondary schools provide students, and your home school is your best option for a school community ready to support you and help you succeed.

If you are considering applying to a secondary school other than your designated home school you must contact that secondary school to request a registration package.  Complete the registration package and get your Guidance Lead Teacher to help you complete course selections for your chosen school(s), in addition to your home school. Please note that it is the parents/guardians responsibility to submit the "Out of Area" information to the Secondary School by the deadline.

There are a couple of things you need to keep in mind if you are requesting to attend a secondary school other than your home school, or your designated French Immersion or Emphasis Technology school (referred to as an “out-of-area” school):

1. Students interested in attending an out of area secondary school must apply to be permitted to attend. Out-of-area applications will only be considered once all in-area students have been registered and accommodated.
2. Even if you do get admitted to an out of area school, you will NOT be provided with transportation to that secondary school. You and your family will have to make sure that you have your own way of getting to school if you are attending any school other than one of your designated secondary school.

Research shows that students who get involved are more likely to be well and succeed academically. By getting involved, you will explore your physical, creative, and social selves while meeting new people and trying new things. Taking part in extra and co-curricular activities as well as various school programs such as breakfast club can significantly improve your school experience and help you develop skills and knowledge. TVDSB secondary schools offer many extra and co-curricular opportunities to enrich your learning experiences outside the classroom. Opportunities vary from school to school  but may include: 

• Sports
• The Arts (Dance or Drama club)
• Clubs (Gender Sexuality Alliance, Indigenous Student Association, Black Students’ Union, Muslim Student Association, plus many more!)
• Student Council

Here are some ways to get involved:

1. Check with your school for a list of extra and co-curricular activities.
2. Follow your school’s social media accounts to learn about what activities are being offered.
3. Listen to announcements or ask a caring adult (teacher, administrator or your guidance counselor) to find out how and when to join.
4. If a club of interest is not currently offered, students can propose a new club by speaking to a principal and/or teacher.