Dear Frontenac families,
We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer holiday. On behalf of the staff, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Frontenac Secondary School and Module de l'Acadie, home of the Falcons and Wolves. FSS and Acadie offer exceptional opportunities for students to learn, grow, and thrive through outstanding and innovative programs, a dedicated staff, and a safe learning environment. To ensure a successful start-up, we are sharing key highlights of school culture in advance in hopes that you and your student can review and discuss them.
As we begin a new school year, we encourage every student to embrace three important messages that will support their success: embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, find ways to contribute and give back to your community and when interacting with others, always choose kindness. We firmly believe that these messages help build a positive climate for learning, while also challenging students to develop skills and habits that are necessary both in school and life.
Keeping these messages in mind, the following reminders and expectations will help us work together to create a positive, welcoming, and successful school year for all:
Respect. Everyone would agree that this is an important, shared value. As outlined in the Ontario School Code of Conduct and the LDSB Progressive Discipline Policy (both found here on the FSS webpage, or here on Acadie webpage), we must respect and treat others fairly, regardless of their race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability. We all need to consider the audience and impact of our words and actions and to remember that schools are places that must feel safe for everyone. Please consider viewing and discussing this short video clip with your student, and/or this more in-depth one.
Classroom Routines. In the community of over 1,300 people at Frontenac and Acadie, it is critical that we respect and observe the routines necessary to maximize learning. As with last year, this September, a focus will be on students arriving prepared to each class on time and minimizing disruptions. As per the Education Ministry's Policy Program Memorandum (PPM) 128, the board will continue to develop and update families regarding policies to reduce vaping and cell phone use.
Attendance. Students are expected to attend school regularly and to attend all classes. Frequent absences from class can lead to learning loss and anxiety about school performance and relationships. When students are late or absent, they also inconvenience both teachers and classmates: arriving on time is an expectation in school, in the workplace and in personal relationships. Please see the Acadie Attendance Policy and/or the Frontenac Attendance Policy as appropriate and review with your child. If your child will be absent or late, please use the safe arrival app to report the reason or call the school directly.
Academic Honesty. Technology is always changing, and there are new internet tools for content generation. If terms like Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, and generative tools are new to you, consider watching this video clip and having a conversation with your student about academic honesty. Board Policy is that student ideas and writing are cited properly or are entirely their own. The Parent and Guardian's Guide to Assessment and Evaluation is found here. In June 2026, the Ministry of Education shared an update about upcoming changes that will affect how student learning is assessed and evaluated in secondary schools (Grades 9 to 12), starting in the 2026-2027 school year. These provincial changes are intended to create a more consistent approach to assessment and evaluation across Ontario and to support student achievement and future pathways. Secondary families can review the updates on the Ministry of Education website. What this means for students and families in Grade 9-12:
- Most secondary courses will include a written final exam as part of the final grade.
- A student’s final grade will reflect:
- classroom learning and assignments
- final evaluations (such as exams or culminating tasks)
- attendance and participation in class
- Excused absences will not negatively impact a student’s grade.
- Some courses (such as co-op, guidance, and certain open or workplace courses) will continue to use projects or other types of final assessments instead of a formal exam.
We are looking forward to another fantastic year of supporting your child at FSS and Acadie; building on their strengths, finding ways to challenge them through both curricular and extra-curricular opportunities, and supporting their social and emotional wellbeing. We are committed to helping each student grow and improve and appreciate the important role families play in working together with us in this work. Looking forward to seeing students back on September 2.
Have a great last week of summer!
Jen, Mark, Bonney, and Sarah