Parents’ & Families’ Newsletter Summer Edition

Posted on Thursday, August 2nd, 2018

Algonquin College Students

We hope that you are enjoying the warm summer evenings and taking some time to relax because the fall semester is right around the corner! Whether your student is a new first-year student at our Waterfront Campus, or a returning student eager to come back to the shores of the Ottawa River, our fall semester is going to be jam-packed with learning and community building activities!

Take a moment to have a look at our Events Calendar! It features recent activities, as well as upcoming opportunities for students and their families.

Our dedicated Parents’ and Families website features links to blogs, interesting articles written by our Student Services staff, and a calendar that notes some important upcoming dates.

Our goal is to keep you informed. While we respect the privacy of our students, the information we will provide in this newsletter will give you a good sense of what is happening on campus throughout the year and will provide you with enough information to have engaging conversations with your student.

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Advantage Week Orientation – An opportunity to start the academic year off right!

Before classes start on September 4, 2018 encourage your student to participate in their orientation activities. Orientation for full-time, first-year Fall students at the Pembroke Campus includes two important steps: Advantage Days (Step 1) and AC Day 1 (Step 2).

Both new and returning students are invited to join us for fun events and activities that will help them get to know:

  • Their new college campus
  • Their faculty and staff
  • Their new community
  • Their fellow students!

Our Orientation website is a one-stop portal to all you and your student need to know to get ready for school this fall. Be sure to explore the activities and events, FAQs, and 10 things to know about Algonquin’s Pembroke Campus too.

We also offer an orientation for parents and guardians! Learn more about these sessions >>

If your student is moving to Pembroke from out-of-town, plan on joining us for our FREE move-in day BBQ on Thursday, August 30. Register for the Move-in BBQ here >>

Before orientation, there are a few things your student should know:

  1. Reminder: Algonquin College is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) College which means that all students are required to have a mobile computing device that meets the technical specifications outlined by their program. The program specific details can be found on our BYOD site >>. It is also recommended that students bring their computing device to their Advantage Day in order to get their technology in place.
  2. Some of our programs require placement documentation prior to the start of college for first-year students. These programs include Early Childhood Education, Personal Support Worker, Practical Nursing and Social Service Worker. The documentation requirements can be found on each of the program pages, but for convenience, we have embedded a link in the program names listed above. The documentation deadline was August 3, so a check-in might be beneficial to your student.

This information has also been shared with all students!

We might be small, but our Support Services are mighty!

Our Waterfront Campus has an extensive number of student support services that might be appropriate for your student including:

Our Student Success Specialist, Shelly Waplington, will be your student’s GPS for student services – guiding them along the path most appropriate to support their success.

A full list of our Support Services can be found here >>

International Students @ Waterfront Campus

Did you know, we have a growing international student population at our campus. Meet Mayowa who is from Nigeria and is currently studying in our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

5 Quick Tips to Help Your Student During Their First Month at College

  1. Keep in touch! Quick texts or phone calls to ask how things are going will help you get a feel for how they are adjusting to college life and their program of study.
  2. Know what’s happening on campus. Follow the Waterfront Campus on social media so you can have an enriched conversation with them when they call. We’re on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr and SnapChat (@ACWaterfront)
  3. Send them an inspirational card, perhaps with a photo from home. Nothing says you care like a traditional card that arrives in the mail.
  4. Help them manage their budget. Managing money may be new to them, so don’t be afraid to ask how they are financially. Our Financial Aid Officers are also available to help guide students who are new to managing their own finances.
  5. Coach your student into applying for our bursaries. Registered students can apply for all bursaries administered by Algonquin College through submitting one application. We even build the application process into our Advantage Days Orientation! Here is the step-by-step on how to apply >>

Upcoming Activities That Support Transitioning To College

  1. Thrive @ AC, August 22 – August 29: This series of workshops will help you to thrive at the Pembroke Campus and be prepared for your studies. Learn more about Thrive @ AC >>
  2. The Mature Student Success Workshop is a FREE day-long workshop for students who have been away from education for a few years. Learn more about this workshop on Thursday, Aug. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. >>
  3. Strategic Learning in the College Environment (SLICE) Conference, is a FREE summer transition program offered to individuals with disabilities entering first-year studies at Algonquin College. Learn more about the SLICE Conference on Friday, Aug. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. >>

Encourage your student to come meet your CAL staff and learn about the support, resources, and services that are available to them as they transition to a college environment.

Dental and Health Coverage

If you have dental and health coverage for your student, your student can opt-out of the college’s insurance plan. However, this must be done within the first few weeks of classes. Withdrawing from the insurance program is easy. Your student just has to go onto the insurance plan website and complete a form. The money that was paid to the college for the insurance plan will then be reimbursed into their bank account.

Have your student visit wespeakstudent.com and complete the opt-out form.

Events on Campus

Fall Games Day

On Friday, Sept. 7 starting @ 2 p.m. Algonquin Administration, Faculty, and Staff will be ready to welcome all first-year and returning Pembroke Waterfront Campus students to the most exhilarating cross-campus orientation event – the Fall Orientation Games!

Students can wrap up their first week of studies with:

  • All kinds of sports including ultimate Frisbee, softball, mini-putt golf and more – all sports are co-ed
  • Carnival activities including buskers, cotton candy, and a free BBQ
  • 5 KM Just for Fun Walk or Run
  • Great prizes to be won including free groceries, gift cards, movie passes and much more

Students can get in on some CFL Action! Ottawa RedBlacks vs. Edmonton Eskimos, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018

Did you know our Varsity Loggersports Team has a great partnership with the Ottawa RedBlacks football team? Our varsity members and their coach attend each home game in Ottawa and put on quite the show when a touchdown is scored. Our students have an opportunity to attend Ottawa RedBlacks vs. the Edmonton Eskimos game:

  • Saturday, Sept. 22 – Bus leaves the Waterfront Campus at 1 p.m.
  • $20 ticket includes bus transportation to the game
  • Students can stop by the Students’ Association office in Room 100 during Advantage Days orientation to purchase tickets or purchase online!

Thank you for reading our newsletter for parents and families. We welcome your feedback.

Thank you for being part of your young adult’s post-secondary journey.
Jamie Bramburger
Manager of Community and Student Affairs
Algonquin College Waterfront Campus, Pembroke, ON.
PM-Parents@algonquincollege.com

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