About Pine RidgeClick here for a pamphlet on Fast Facts for Parents, Guardians and Students
Developing literacy skills is an ongoing objective across all curricular areas and throughout all grade levels. Pine Ridge Secondary School has in place several school-wide initiatives in support of student literacy. The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (O.S.S.L.T) will be written this school year on Thursday, March 29, 2012. It is a grade 10 test that is based on the reading and writing expectations in all subject areas up to the end of Grade 9. It is a test of basic literacy skills and not of memorized facts. All students in Ontario who entered Grade 9 in September 2001 or later and are working toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) must write this test.
- Reading at Pine Ridge (RAP) – Pine Ridge is continuing a Sustained Silent Reading Program which commenced on Wednesday, October 7, 2009. Typically, RAP consists of silent reading every Wednesday during the first 20 minutes of one assigned period. This period rotates over a 4 week block. Students should bring their own reading material but teachers will assist in providing some materials for the first few blocks. Parents can help by ensuring that their child is prepared with reading material each Wednesday of the week. Any donations of old magazines or other school appropriate readings material are welcome. Please contact L. Sharp for additional program information or reading material donations.
- White Pine Reading Program – Each year, the best ten novels for teens published that year and written by Canadian authors, are selected for this provincial reading program. Our Resource Centre purchases multiple copies of these books and runs activities, book talks and prizes for students who choose to participate. This popular program runs from December to May each year including a provincial vote by teen readers in April and a final celebration with the authors in May.
- The Underbrush Reading Program - In the fall, 10 new books are selected from recent purchases to appeal to our teen readers. The books are wrapped in plain brown paper so each book is a surprise. Students can write their comments on the cover after they read each book. This reading program runs from September - November.
- White Pine Reading Program – Each year, the best ten novels for teens published that year and written by Canadian authors, are selected for this provincial reading program. Our Resource Centre purchases multiple copies of these books and runs activities, book talks and prizes for students who choose to participate. This popular program runs from December to May each year including a provincial vote by teen readers in April and a final celebration with the authors in May.
- Library Collection – The Pine Ridge Resource Centre has developed its' collection with particular attention to our diverse, multicultural audience and consideration of what resources appeal to both genders. Each year, the Resource Centre buys new materials which include teen fiction, non fiction, biography, graphic novels and magazines. Student requests are also collected and purchased where possible.
- Information Technology – As well as print literacy, students of the 21st century also need to be proficient readers of graphic and online materials. Students at Pine Ridge develop their skills using Information Technology across different subject areas and in all grades. In class activities and summative projects, students access online encyclopedia, online databases, evaluate web sites, and create works using software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel and PhotoStory and Comic Life.
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The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Workbook – This series of reading and writing lessons compiled in booklet form, mirror all the components of the O.S.S.L.T. All grade 10 English classes in both the Academic and Applied programs have been provided with individual student copies. In the Multiple Exceptionalities Program, the OSSLT workbook is also part of their literacy program. Through teacher guided classroom instruction, students work through selected sample test items and are given assessment feedback in preparation for the O.S.S.L.T. Students are encouraged to work through additional practice items on their own.
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Lit Kits (Library Support Program for O.S.S.LT.) – All grade 10 students participate in two sessions (one session each semester) of information sharing and preparation for the O.S.S.L.T. that will be written on Thursday, March 29, 2012. Students are provided with sample test items to review and are given the opportunity to practice specific components of the test content with targeted feedback from the teacher librarian on test taking procedures, instructions and strategies.
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Pine Ridge EQAO Literacy Practice Test – This EQAO Literacy Practice Test for the current school year have already been completed for grade 10 English classrooms. It will provide our students with an opportunity to receive very specific teacher feedback on their test performance with a focus on targeted areas for improvement (Assessment for Learning).
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Student and Parent Resources – There are a number of resources available to parents in assisting their child to prepare for the up-coming Literacy Test (O.S.S.L.T).
a. Getting Ready … http://rwa.ddsbschools.ca
User name: student
Password: readwriteb. Visit the EQAO Website – Student and Parent Resources
c. The After Hours Literacy Program (AHL Program)
http://ahl.ddsbschools.caUser name: literacy
Password: litprepThis is an online resource designed to help students prepare for the O.S.S.L.T. It is intended to supplement classroom instruction, not replace it.
Download attachment(s): [ OSSLT_TIPS.pdf ]