TISS Hosts Open House Activity Day for
Grades 6 and 7 Students

(Pictured above: Vanier Public School student Justin Bryce creates a clay image
of himself Thursday during the TISS Open House Activity Day for Grades 6 and 7.)

(Brockville) – Students from eight elementary schools in the Brockville area got a sneak peak at what a new Grades 7-12 version of Thousand Islands Secondary School (TISS) will be like during the Open House Activity Day for Grades 6 and 7.

Nearly 400 Grades 6 and 7 students toured TISS Thursday to enjoy a game of “rugby basketball”, create clay tiles that will be used in a work of art, enjoy musical performances and experience a sweet experiment in the science lab.

“It gave the students a chance to come in to see the building that will be their’s next year,” explained Principal Don Lewis of the purpose of the day. “It helped them feel welcome and safe here and to get rid of some of the fears of coming into a high school building that they may have had.”

The transition event was held as part of a plan by the Upper Canada District School Board to convert TISS into a Grades 7-12 school this September under terms of the Building 2020 initiative. Students from Commonwealth Public School, Front of Yonge Elementary School, Lyn Public School, Prince of Wales Public School, Meadowview Public School, Toniata Public School, Vanier Public School, and Westminster Public School attended the event.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the day was a session with TISS art teacher David Sheridan. Students toured Sheridan’s studio and were encouraged to use a rectangular piece of clay to produce a likeness of themselves. The tiles will be painted and then glazed by art students at TISS, and used in a unique piece of art that will be displayed on the wall of the new Grades 7-8 section planned for the school.

In the gym, students played a version of British bull dog and rugby basketball. Instead of dribbling a standard basketball up the court, students used a rugby ball, passing it up the court with the goal of scoring a basket. The person who caught a pass had to freeze, and then pass the ball up to another player on their team before they could move again.

In the science labs, students tested the “hardness” of various types of M&M candies during a fun experiment that let them eat the fruits of their labour. In math class, students enjoyed playing math games using a SMART board. The visitors also toured the tech lab at the school, the music room, and the drama room.

At the end of the day, all 400 students danced their way through a Quality Daily Phys. Ed. activity, guided by TISS students from the school’s stage.

Elementary students such as Justin Bryce of Vanier Public School said they enjoyed the day.

“There are lots of really cool things to do here,” said Bryce of TISS. “I really wanted to come to TISS anyway because my parents came here and they know it’s a good school, but this (event) really put it over the top.”

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For more information, please call:

Don Lewis
Principal
Thousand Islands Secondary School
613-342-1100

Posted February 3, 2012