Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- How does a grade 8 student qualify for the program?
- Is busing provided?
- Do students take all of their courses at the Enhanced Level?
- What are the advantages of the Enhanced Learning Program?
- How do we know that the program is a success?
- Does a student's transcript show the 'enhanced' designation?
- Why choose The Enhanced Learning Program at The Woodlands?
- What kind of differentiation can we expect in The Woodland's ELP
- What is the process for applying from a private or a separate school?
- How do the coordinators support the program goals at The Woodlands?
- Can I transfer my child to your program at any time?
- How does the Enhanced Learning Program compare to the other regional programs?
How does a grade 8 student qualify for the program?
Students must be identified as 'Exceptional/Intellectually
Gifted'. Identification is made by an Identification, Placement
and Review Committee (IPRC) based on psychological testing
results in the top 3% of peer group. Students must reside in the
Woodlands Enhanced Learning boundaries.
Current boundaries include only the Erindale, John Fraser,
Meadowvale, Stephen Lewis, Streetsville, TL Kennedy and Woodlands
school areas.
Is busing provided?
Transportaion (busing) is provided under the Peel District School
Board
Transportation Policy if the student meets all of these criteria:
admission to the Woodlands Regional Enhanced Learning
Program through the IPRC
residence within The Woodlands Regional Enhanced Learning
Program boundaries
residence more than 4.8 km from The Woodlands School
Do students take all of their courses at the Enhanced Level?
The core subjects (English, Mathematics, Geography/History and
Science) are offered at the Enhanced Level. Other subjects are
offered at the Academic, Open or Applied levels.
This means that enhanced students live in 'both worlds' -
building relationships and friendships within the full school,
and enjoying an enriched program focused on their needs and
talents.
What are the advantages of the Enhanced Learning Program?
~ We provide a full range of enhanced classes in the core
subject areas from grade 9 through 12.
~ Students' educational and social needs are met through
specific curriculum, which recognizes that students in the
enhanced program learn differently from their peers in the
regular program.
~ Teachers are informed and experienced in meeting the needs of
students in the enhanced learning program.
~ The enhanced learning program creates a culture of learning.
~ While the learning processes in the enhanced learning program
are distinct from the regular university-streamed programs, the
assessment and final evaluation in both programs are THE SAME.
As a result the grade averages in the enhanced level classrooms
are consistently higher than in the regular classrooms.
How do we know that the program is a success?
~ The growth of the Enhanced Learning Program at The Woodlands
over the years indicates that parents and students are
increasingly opting for our program rather than other regional
programs.
~ Students from our program thrive in post-secondary
institutions and receive positive responses from educators about
good preparation.
~ Students mature as successful, independent learners with
refined skills.
~ Students emerge as confident communicators and strong leaders.
Does a student's transcript show the 'enhanced' designation?
~ The enhanced designation does not appear on student transcripts.
~ On request, staff of The Woodlands School write letters of
reference for students for admission and/or scholarships, with
reference to the Enhanced
Learning Program as appropriate.
~ On request, The Woodlands will provide a letter indicating that
a student is a graduate of the Enhanced Learning Program.
Why choose The Enhanced Learning Program at The Woodlands?
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is
limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination
embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and
understand." Albert Einstein
High school is a key time to explore talents and pursue
opportunities.
Students in the Enhanced Learning Program are encouraged to
engage in service to the wider community, to commit to teams and
clubs and to develop leadership potential. Our goal is to enable
students to develop a passionate internal motivation for
excellence and find a healthy balance in their lives.
High school is also a key time for intellectual growth that test-
based programming cannot support. Student growth is optimized in
innovative classrooms, in a wide variety of options, when
learners of similar talents are connected in real tasks of
lasting significance. Connecting students in meaningful work and
responding to the needs of individuals requires a much broader
focus and a greater flexibility than other programs can provide.
It is our hope that students leaving The Woodlands take with them
the creativity to uplift and transform and the willingness to see
all of life as both adventure and opportunity - opportunity to
touch other lives, to engage in discovery and to hear their
calling.
"In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who survive;
the 'learned' find themselves fully equipped to live in a world
that no longer exists" Eric Hoffer
What kind of differentiation can we expect in The Woodland's ELP
Strategies for Differentiation in Enhanced Classes -
S.C.A.M.P.E.R.
Adapted from Scamper by Robert Eberle (Waco, TX: Prufrock
Press,
1971)
Substitution
Basic content is replaced with more abstract, advanced or
sophisticated content.
Combine
Learning is combined with creative thinking to encourage
originality and innovation.
Adapt
The curriculum is adapted to accelerate the pace of
instruction and activities are adapted to elicit high levels of
performance.
Modify
Learning is modified to provide greater depth and complexity.
Put to other use
The pace of instruction is accelerated so class time can be
used for in-depth or advanced learning, reflecting the students’
specific interests and talents.
Eliminate
Mastered content or skills are eliminated so students can
focus on more advanced learning.
Rearrange
The curriculum is rearranged and reorganized to give students
time to develop original ideas and products.
What is the process for applying from a private or a separate school?
Application from a private school or the separate system will
require a visit to the school. Please bring proof of address and
a copy of the psychological assessment report to the school for
prescreening. Once the paperwork has been checked, registration
can be started in early March for next September. You can expect
a case conference in the spring and an IPRC in the fall.
How do the coordinators support the program goals at The Woodlands?
It was input from our parents that triggered the creation of some
alternative programming to complement the grade level goals on
the gifted plans. The coordinators visit classes to roll out the
workshops while teachers are provided with time to work on the
IEPs.
These are the workshops in place so far.
Grade 9 - How High School is different than Senior Elementary
School
Work Habits that Work
Creating an Efficient Study Space
Getting Involved at the Woodlands
Grade 10 - Four Aspects of Creativity
Moral Development, Dilemmas and Decision - Making
Coming to Terms with Personal Strengths and Weaknesses
The Paradox of Being Gifted
Grade 11 - Surviving Group Work
Putting Multiple Intelligences and True Colours to
Work for You
How the Gifted Brain Learns
Are Learning and Healthy Lifestyles Linked?
Emotional Intelligence and Supplemental Applications
Grade 12 - How the Gifted Brain Learns
Critical Thinking Skills: Attribution, Analogy and
Evaluation
Critical Thinking Skills: Identifying Bias, Comparing
and Contrasting, Cross-Classification
Critical Thinking Skills: Synthesis and Hypothesis
Critical Thinking Skills: Reorganization, Identifying
Paradox and Dealing With Discrepancies
Making the Transition to Self-Directed and Self-
Designed Projects
Preparing Applications for Elite Programs and
Scholarships
Can I transfer my child to your program at any time?
In many cases, we can accept gifted students immediately.
However, with transfers from one board to another this can only
happen before the next semester begins - June, July and August or
in early January.
How does the Enhanced Learning Program compare to the other regional programs?
This is the only program designed specifically for gifted
learners. It appeals to gifted students because it engages
higher order thinking skills and creativity. It is open rather
than prescribed and it allows students to develop all of their
talents.
Here's what the experts say:
"In secondary schools, instruction in even the honors,
Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate programs are
set for the norm. Thus, high ability students may find the
instructional pace too slow and miss out on opportunities for
more in-depth and challenging work" (Sousa, 2003, p.69)
David Sousa's "How the Gifted Brain Works"