Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) - Westside Secondary School

Westside Secondary School is a small high school located in the town of Orangeville. Westside offers an intimate and rich learning environment, where the desire and skills for lifelong learning are fostered in every student. With stimulating and engaging teaching practices and attention to individual abilities and goals, the dedicated staff helps students to gain high levels of success - academically and personally, and both in and out of the classroom. Westside's motto says it all: Inspiration, from dream to reality!

At Westside, the staff believes that if they continue to explore 21st century learning skills, such as, inquiry and critical thinking particularly for struggling learners, then students will be engaged and successful in their courses. It sees success with this goal through the kinds of questions students ask themselves and each other, the commitment students make to their school work, and in the depth of responses that students provide in their work.

Westside staff believes that clearly communicated expectations through learning goals, success criteria, and descriptive feedback means students will clearly understand what they are learning, why they are learning it, and how to demonstrate their understanding. It sees success with this goal when students are able to explain what work they are doing, why they are doing it, and can articulate what it takes to be successful.

Lastly, Westside believes that if the school community teaches and promotes a growth mindset (one that focuses on school character traits of Compassion, Fairness, Respect, Honesty, Responsibility, and Perseverance) then it will strengthen the school culture of learning, respect, and inclusivity.  It sees success with this goal in the classroom by the way students treat each other and engage in learning, while outside the classroom by the amount of student participation and engagement in the co-curricular program.

In addition to the teaching staff, there is a committed school council that supports Westside in its mission and a dedicated support staff who work every day to support student learning. Westside is also very fortunate to have a beautiful, airy facility that helps to create a warm and inviting learning environment for all.

Why Westside Secondary School

• Extracurricular activities: The best and most memorable high school experiences often come from participation in activities. These activities provide students with opportunities for fun, independence, teamwork skills, decision making, time management, and responsibility. Clubs, activities, and teams may include student union, basketball, link crew, track and field, eco team, hockey, games club, semi-formal, curling, badminton, chess club, art club, and yearbook, just to name a few.