MyPath:Graminia
MyPath Registration:
We are excited to announce that Graminia School is going to be offering the MyPath:Graminia program for our grades 4-9 students for the 2023-2024 school year. MyPath is offered to families two afternoons a week, with some Fridays, at an extra monthly cost per student which will range from $100-150, depending on overall transportation costs, program costs and based on a cost recovery mandate. The approximate program times will be 12:00-2:30pm. The MyPath program offers students a diverse blend of health and wellness activities to complement the core academic schedule.This unique program of choice grants students enhanced opportunities in physical education, arts, technology and health programming and is a partnership between Graminia School and Connections for Learning.
MyPath:Graminia will be committed to the purpose and core values of the MyPath program, as outlined here on the MyPath website. The MyPath program believes learning happens everywhere. They provide students with hands-on experiences to deepen their understanding and make learning fun. With passion comes enthusiasm and positivity. By offering opportunities that fuel a student’s passion, we create a healthy learning environment where every student can share their strengths, talents or gifts. Therefore, students and families need to commit to the program for the full school year and students enrolled in MyPath:Graminia will not be permitted to stay back at the school on their MyPath afternoons but will be encouraged and supported to try new activities and grow their experiences.
If you want to register your child for MyPath: Graminia, you must FIRST complete your registration for Graminia School confirming your child will be in gr 4-9 for the 2023-2024 school year and you must complete the MyPath:Graminia Registration. Once you have completed this registration, the MyPath Navigator and Connections for Learning team will be reaching out to confirm registration, complete the waiver forms and pay for the deposit. We will be accepting registrations until April 3. If there are too many registrations for the program, a random draw will be used to determine enrollment. If there are not enough registrations to make the program viable, we will cancel the program for the 2023-2024 school year. Confirmation of enrollment will be shared with parents and/or guardians by April 7. office if you have any questions.
MyPath:Gramina FAQ
What is MyPath: Graminia?
MyPath:Graminia will be committed to the purpose and core values of the MyPath program, as outlined here on the MyPath website. The MyPath program believes learning happens everywhere. They provide students with hands-on experiences to deepen their understanding and make learning fun. With passion comes enthusiasm and positivity. By offering opportunities that fuel a student’s passion, we create a healthy learning environment where every student can share their strengths, talents or gifts. Therefore, students and families need to commit to the program for the full school year and students enrolled in MyPath:Graminia will not be permitted to stay back at the school on their MyPath afternoons but will be encouraged and supported to try new activities and grow their experiences.
When do I have to register my student for MyPath?
A commitment and payment of the deposit is required at the time of program registration. We will accept registrations until May 1, 2023. If there are not enough registrations to make the program viable, we will cancel the program for the 2023-2024 school year. Confirmation of enrollment will be shared with parents and/or guardians by May 5.
How much time will my child spend in the MyPath program activities?
My Path:Graminia will operate 2 afternoons a week in our 4 day (Mon-Thurs) schedule. At Graminia our timetable is set so that every Friday is scheduled to be a day that students miss due to PD days and holidays over the course of the year. It works out that 50% of your child’s afternoons over the course of a year will be spent in MyPath. The calendar is shared on our website and to our families at the start of each year.
Will programming be blended or will students only get preferred programs?
Families who are choosing the MyPath program will be committing to all of the programming, not just their child's preferred choices. The programming changes throughout the year based on available community partners and family interest. The program is not a specific specialized program -ie athletics/arts/outdoor pursuits but will be following the MyPath purpose: " We further holistic learning by co-creating opportunities with the community for youth to learn and serve in the areas of physical education, art, technology and health, resulting in stronger citizen education and more resilient life-long learners"
Will my 7-9 child still be able to choose from the Options/complementary programming at Graminia?
No - My Path:Gramimia will replace Options/Complementary courses for our junior high students. Choosing MyPath means they make the commitment to the program for the year. The diverse opportunities students will be exposed to in MyPath will take the place of the time students would typically be completing their options classes at school, which ensures that students are not missing any Math/LA/SS/Science - core programming time.
What will be the fee?
The fee for MyPath will be between $100-150 per month which includes all fees, transportation and supplies while attending the MyPath program activities. Typical school fees and homeroom field trips and supplies for all other courses while attending Graminia programming will be needed.
Can my child be able to be a part of extracurricular activities and be in Mypath?
Yes - as students return from programming at 2:30 they are back at the school for extracurricular activities.
Can my child be with their friends in homeroom/core classes or can we request a specific peer group for core classes?
Mypath students will be grouped with their grade level MyPath cohort when at the school for Math/LA/SS/Science (core classes) and as such if their friends/specific peer group are not in MyPath, they may not be together.
My child would love this but the extra expense on my family will be too much at this time. Is there any assistance available?
Scholarship Opportunities are available through a partnership with Stony Plain Dental. Apply at https://mypath.schoolsites.ca/scholarships.
Is this a month by month commitment?
No. You will need to commit to MyPath for the whole year and your child’s class/timetable scheduling will be worked around these afternoons to ensure they have all of their core subject minutes scheduled around the afternoons they are away.
What does the MyPath “year plan” look like? Will we know in advance what activity will be offered at different times in the year? How long do students do each activity?
A full schedule for the year will be put together and shared with participants in September. To get an idea of activities and scheduling please check out the sample daily schedules on the MyPath website. Students would typically spend a minimum of 6 - 12 classes per activity and will get to do anywhere between 12-16 different activities per year. The MyPath Program Navigator will work to select partners and providers that are close to Graminia to maximize the time spent in activities. The goal is that students would be engaged in each activity for 75-90 minutes per afternoon.
What equipment would be required for each activity?
Personal equipment will be required for students to bring but sport specific equipment, ie lacrosse stick or riding helmet, is provided by the community partner. Families will be notified in advance what equipment to send with their child when needed. Ie outdoor clothes/boots etc
How do you register for MyPath Graminia?
First, register for Graminia as you normally do every year. We will be sending out an email with information and this FAQ to all gr 4-9 families for the 2023-2024 school year. After receiving that information and deciding you want to enroll in Mypath, you will contact our school secretaries who will share with you the registration form and work with you to collect the deposit for the program. Then you will receive an activity interest survey to co-design the program. Your responses on the MyPath enrolled survey will help the MyPath Navigator to build the schedule around what Graminia students and families are most interested in.
Where can I look for more information?
First, visit the MyPath website. The Facebook and Instagram accounts are updated frequently with pictures, videos, and sample schedules.
Will the 4-6 cohort and the 7-9 cohort be doing the same activities at the same time?
No. It would be very unlikely that the cohorts would cross paths. This would be avoided when scheduling as much as possible.
How is MyPath assessed?
Set up in Powerschool for gr 7-9 as a CTF course. The community providers and MyPath supervisor share back information on student progress with teachers based on clear criteria in 5 different categories. This information will be used in 4-6 to supplement the teachers assessment in PE, Music, Art, Health and Wellness.
Will my child still be able to take French?
French will be scheduled for our gr 4-6 students on their afternoons not at MyPath, In gr 7-9 FSL /Core French will not be available.
Do Student have the time to eat? When does the afternoon begin?
Students will finish their morning classes at lunch times, then eat their food for 30 min, then go on the bus for their MyPath afternoon. On the alternating days, students would then go out for recess and continue with their afternoon at the school.
Do students take their same bus routes home after school?
Yes, students arrive back from the MyPath program at 2:30 for regular dismissal home at 2:35.
Will programming be blended or will students only get preferred programs?
Families who are choosing the MyPath program will be committing to all of the programming, not just their child's preferred choices. The programming changes throughout the year based on available community partners and family interest. The program is not a specific specialized program -ie athletics/arts/outdoor pursuits but will be following the MyPath purpose -" We further holistic learning by co-creating opportunities with the community for youth to learn and serve in the areas of physical education, art, technology and health, resulting in stronger citizen education and more resilient life-long learners"