Dear Upper One Parents,

We are excited to introduce Ready-Set-9, a new and exciting three-day program designed to give Upper One students a strong start to their high school experience.

By dedicating time early in the year to community-building, skill development, and exploration of the many opportunities available at Appleby, the goal of the program is to help students feel connected, engaged, and successfully prepared as they begin their high school journey. 

The program will focus on seven key areas:

1. Community Charter
Exploring our shared values, expectations, and responsibilities as members of the Appleby community.

2. Strengths and Harmony
Helping students better understand themselves and others through an exploration of personal strengths, relationships, and how we treat one another.

3. Learning Strategies
Developing practical approaches to organization, studying, time management, and academic success in high school.

4. Sustainability and Regeneration
Introducing students to Appleby's commitment to environmental stewardship and the role they can play in creating positive change.

5. Service Learning and the Duke of Edinburgh Award
Highlighting opportunities for involvement, leadership, personal growth, and service to others.

6. Appleby Campus 101
Building familiarity with the campus, resources, routines, and people who will support students throughout their high school journey.

7. Foundations of AI
Exploring how AI works, its opportunities and limitations, ethical and responsible use, and practical skills for using AI purposefully and effectively.

The Ready-Set-9 program has been intentionally scheduled to align with this year’s Upper One Temagami trips as various sessions will be embedded as part of their outdoor education experience. Please click here to view the Ready-Set-9 timetable which outlines what days your student will be attending a Ready-Set-9 on-campus session, a regularly scheduled class, and the dates of their Temagami trip (which have been previously communicated).

Please note, students who are participating in Temagami Trip #1 and Temagami Trip #4 have been provided with an asynchronous learning day to ensure a more equitable experience for students, as their trips take place over a weekend. On these days, students are encouraged to complete their summer reading (if not already completed), explore service learning opportunities, sign-up for the Duke of Edinburgh program, and manage their self-care in preparation for their return to classes (Trip #1) or as they begin their Temagami adventure (Trip #4).

Details regarding the exciting new program were shared with students during today’s Upper One orientation. Should you have any questions regarding Ready-Set-9 please don’t hesitate to contact me at treder@appleby.on.ca. 
 

Sincerely,
 

Taryn Reder
Director, Upper School