Future Grade 9 Survey

Why is the WRDSB interested in Grade 8 students’ transition to high school?  

Moving from elementary school to high school is a major milestone. It’s an exciting time to grow, but it can also feel a bit uncertain. We want to hear about your experiences so we can make sure every student has the resources, opportunities, and support they need to be ready for high school.

What are students being asked to do?

You are invited to complete an online survey during class time that will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

What kinds of questions are on the survey?  

We want to hear about the experiences that have helped you to get ready for your next steps at high school. For example:

• Did you have opportunities to explore different areas of study, occupations, and careers?
• How prepared do you feel for your next steps at high school?
• What are you looking forward to, and what are you concerned about?

What else do students need to know about this survey?

This survey is voluntary and anonymous.

• It’s your choice: You don’t have to take this survey. If you choose not to, it won’t affect your grades or your relationship with your teachers.
• Skip what you want: If you don't want to answer a question, just leave it blank.
• It's private: No one will know which answers are yours. We won’t ask for your name, email, or student ID.
• Change your mind? If you start the survey and decide you’re done, just close the browser before hitting "submit".

How will the information that students provide be protected? 

Once you submit your survey, your responses will be combined with the responses of all the How we will protect your privacy:

• Group focus: Your answers will be mixed in with everyone else’s. We only look at the results for the whole Grade 8 group, so your individual identity stays hidden.
• Limited access: Only a few specific staff members will see the data to help analyze it.
• Safe and secure: Everything is kept in password-protected files on a secure computer for 7 years to make sure your information stays private.

How will the information that students provide be used?

We'll use your feedback to improve how we help students get ready for high school. We will share a summary of what we learned with school leaders (e.g., school principals, superintendents, trustees) and the Ministry of Education.

Who can students contact if they have questions about this survey?  

If you have questions about this survey, please talk to your teacher, school principal or contact research@wrdsb.ca

Do you agree to participate in the Future Grade 9 Survey? By agreeing to participate in this survey it means you understand the information shared above and have decided to answer the survey questions.

Note: This is the only item you are required to answer to take part in this survey. You can skip any other item on this survey by leaving it blank.

○        Yes (choosing this option will take you to the first survey question)

○        No (choosing this option will close the survey)

School Information

What is the name of your school?

○        Dropdown list of WRDSB elementary schools [Avenue Road Public School → Woodland Park Public School

Are you going to a WRDSB high school next year?

○        Yes

○        No

○        I'm not sure

This item is displayed for students who select “Yes” in response to the item “Are you going to a WRDSB high school next year?”

What WRDSB high school are you going to next year?

○        Alternative Education Program (e.g., Choices, U-Turn)

○        Bluevale Collegiate Institute

○        Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute

○        Eastwood Collegiate Institute

○        Elmira District Secondary School

○        Forest Heights Collegiate Institute

○        Galt Collegiate Institute & Vocational School

○        Glenview Park Secondary School

○        Grand River Collegiate Institute

○        Huron Heights Secondary School

○        Jacob Hespeler Secondary School

○        Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate & Vocational School

○        Laurel Heights Secondary School

○        Preston High School

○        Southwood Secondary School

○        Waterloo Collegiate Institute

○        Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School

This item is displayed for students who select “No” in response to the item “Are you going to a WRDSB high school next year?”

Why are you not going to a WRDSB high school next year?

Choose all that apply

□        I'm going to a high school at a different school board in Waterloo Region

□        I'm moving away from Waterloo Region

□        My parents/caregivers decided the school I will go to

□        My friends do not go to the school

□        Location of the school or distance to travel to school

□        Program I want is not offered at the school (e.g., academic program, athletic program, etc.)

□        Size of the school

□        Reputation or impression of the school

□        Safety concerns about the school

□        School building or facilities

□        Extracurricular club or sport I want is not offered at the school

□        Another reason that is not listed above

This item is displayed for students who select “I’m not sure” in response to the item “Are you going to a WRDSB high school next year?”

Why are you not sure about going to a WRDSB high school next year? (Choose all that apply)

□        I'm going to a high school at a different school board in Waterloo Region

□        I'm moving away from Waterloo Region

□        My parents/caregivers decided the school I will go to

□        My friends do not go to the school

□        Location of the school or distance to travel to school

□        Program I want is not offered at the school (e.g., academic program, athletic program, etc.)

□        Size of the school

□        Reputation or impression of the school

□        Safety concerns about the school

□        School building or facilities

□        Extracurricular club or sport I want is not offered at the school

□        Another reason that is not listed above

Did you participate in any of the following programs in elementary school?

Choose all that apply

□        Alternative Program (e.g. Elev8)

□        Education & Community Partnership Program (e.g., Starling/Lutherwood, Camino, Lang's, etc.)

□        Summer School (for students in Grades 6-8)

□        Summer Learning (for students in SK-Grade 5)

□        No, I did not participate in any of these programs

WRDSB Information and Resources About High School

Did you go to the Grade 8 information night at a WRDSB high school this year?

○        Yes

○        No

Did you go to the Grade 8 visit day at a WRDSB high school this year?

○        Yes

○        No

Did you use the WRDSB Transition Guide to Secondary School to help you prepare for high school next year?

○        Yes

○        No

Did you do a class activity using the WRDSB Transition to Secondary School Guide this school year?

○        Yes

○        No

Support for Exploring Pathways and Making High School Course Choice

Select how much you agree with the following statements.

On myBlueprint, students can work on tasks related to their Individual Pathways Plan (IPP), such as the "Who Am I" surveys and setting goals. 

Have you accessed myBlueprint this school year?

○        Yes

○        No

Have you worked on your IPP tasks (e.g., “Who Am I” surveys, setting goals) on myBlueprint this school year?

○        Yes

○        No

Have you shown myBlueprint to your parents or caregivers?

○        Yes

○        No

Select how much you agree with the following statements.

Preparing for Next School Year

How much do you agree with the following statement? Thinking about my learning at school, I feel prepared for learning in the next school year.

○        Strongly agree

○        Somewhat agree

○        Neither agree nor disagree

○        Somewhat disagree

○        Strongly disagree

This item is displayed for students who select (a) “Strongly agree”, “Somewhat agree”, “Neither agree nor disagree”, or “Somewhat disagree” in response to the item, “Thinking about my learning at school, I feel prepared for learning in the next school year.”, and (b) select one of the programs in response to the item, “Did you participate in any of the following programs in elementary school?”

What things have helped you to feel prepared for learning in the next school year?

Choose all that apply

□        Alternative Program (e.g., Elev8)

□        Classes or what I learned in my classes

□        Family members

□        Field trips or visits to my high school

□        Friends or peers

□        Good grades, achievements or doing well in my classes

□        Having a different teacher for each subject

□        Information from online resources such as myBlueprint

□        Literacy/Numeracy Summer School Program (a program for students in Grades 6-8)

□        Study skills or work habits I learned

□        Summer Learning Program (a program for students in SK-Grade 5)

□        Teachers, guidance counsellors or other school staff

□        Another reason that is not listed above

This item is displayed for students who select (a) “Strongly agree”, “Somewhat agree”, “Neither agree nor disagree”, or “Somewhat disagree” in response to the item, “Thinking about my learning at school, I feel prepared for learning in the next school year.”, and (b) “No, I have not participated in any of these programs”  in response to the item, “Did you participate in any of the following programs in elementary school?”

What things have helped you to feel prepared for learning in the next school year?

Choose all that apply

□        Classes or what I learned in my classes

□        Family members

□        Field trips or visits to my high school

□        Friends or peers

□        Good grades, achievements or doing well in my classes

□        Having a different teacher for each subject

□        Information from online resources such as myBlueprint

□        Study skills or work habits I learned

□        Teachers, guidance counsellors or other school staff

□        Another reason that is not listed above

This item is displayed for students who select (a) “Strongly disagree”, “Somewhat disagree”, “Neither agree nor disagree”, or “Somewhat agree” in response to the item, “Thinking about my learning at school, I feel prepared for learning in the next school year.”

What things have prevented you from feeling prepared for learning in the next school year?

Choose all that apply

□        Getting poor grades in my classes

□        Not having enough chances to create a plan to achieve my goals in high school

□        Not having enough chances for hands-on learning

□        Not having enough chances to learn about different high school pathways

□        Not having enough chances to learn what high school will be like (e.g., from guest speakers, presentations or high school field trips/visits)

□        Not having study skills or work habits

□        Not knowing how to plan or manage my time

□        Another reason that is not listed above

When you think about going to high school next year, what are you looking forward to?

Choose all that apply

□        Experiencing greater academic challenges

□        Exploring new interests

□        Getting involved in extracurricular activities or clubs

□        Having a new or fresh start

□        Having more choice about what I learn or how I learn

□        Having different teachers for each subject

□        Having more freedom

□        Making friends or meeting new people

□        Participating in extracurricular sports

□        Taking new subjects

□        Another reason that is not listed above

When you think about going to high school next year, what do you have concerns about? Choose all that apply

□        Being at a different school or in different classes than my friends

□        Being bullied

□        Differences in the ways classes are taught

□        Finding my classes or getting lost

□        Having exams and tests

□        Increased amount of homework

□        Making friends or meeting new people

□        Pressure to get good grades or do well

□        Receiving less support or help from teachers

□        School work will be more difficult

□        Size of the school

□        Where to go or what to do for lunch

□        Another reason not listed above

You have now completed all of the items on the Future Grade 9 Survey, and you are about to submit your responses. Once you click the "Submit" button below, you will not be able to change your responses. If you need to make changes to your responses, please make them now by using the "Previous page" button to go back.

Please click the "Submit" button below to submit your responses.

Generated date: 2026-04-13