FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What are the deadlines for 2012?

A: Initial registration is due Friday, April 13, 2012. Submit the name and contact information of your school, along with the estimated amount of students.

Payment is due by Friday, April 27, 2012. Cheques are payable to North Toronto C.I., but should be sent to the Contest Coordinator at Harbord CI, 286 Harbord St., Toronto ON, M6G 1G5.

Final student names are due by Friday, April 27, 2012.

Q: Is it necessary to send a participant in each category?

A: No. You may send as many students as you wish, to a maximum of four, divided in any way among the four categories.

Q: It is necessary to send four students?

A: No. You may send between one and four students.

Q: I teach in a semestered school and I do not teach Spanish this semester. Can I still send students?

A: Yes. A student may participate in the category that corresponds to the level completed in the first semester of the 2011-12 school year, OR that the student is currently enrolled in.

Q: Can students who are not enrolled in LWS/LWE programs this school year participate?

A: We ask that only students who are studying or have studied Spanish this school year be given the opportunity to participate.

Q: What is the Teacher Sponsor's role at the contest?

A: All Teacher Sponsors will be asked to help with the scoring and marking of the students' tests. You are then invited to join the Committee and all participants for lunch and the awards ceremony.

Q: Is parking available at Glendon?

A: Yes. The Contest Committee is endeavoring to arrange discounted parking rates.

Q: What are the prizes?

A: The OSSSC Committee has been hard at work since June soliciting sponsorship and prizes. All participating students and teachers will receive a gift bag and certificate of participation; each category winner and runner-up will receive a plaque; each category winner will also receive some lovely prizes; in years past, these included cash prizes, books, gift certificates and much more. We continue to work hard to receive gifts, cash prizes and scholarships for our winners, in addition to additional raffle prizes for all participants. Watch our website for updates.

Q: My school's Spanish program is small/beginning/closing. Will that affect the results of the Contest?

A: Not at all. Participating in the OSSSC is a great tool to help your program grow. In addition, if your school is only able to send a small number of representatives, or your participants only take part in even one of the four categories, it will not be a detriment.

Q: I teach Open level classes. Will my students be at a disadvantage?

A: No. The Committee members are adhering to curriculum documents with the preparation of the contest testing package. The curriculum expectations of Academic/University Preparation and Open level classes differ slightly but will be taken into consideration.

Q: I teach I.B.-coded classes. Are my students still eligible?

A: Yes. I.B. students are required to participate in the "Spanish Plus" category. See the "Entry Forms" page above for full details.

Q: Is there a dress code?

A: No. We hope students and teachers will wear comfortable clothing, however, please bear in mind that many media outlets have already been invited to the contest and we are expecting a large turn-out. We ask that private school students NOT wear their uniforms.

Q: Can I withdraw from the contest at a later date?

A: Yes. A refund will be remitted to you within thirty days following the completion of the 2012 contest, less a $45 administration fee. The last day to withdraw is Friday, April 27, 2012.

Q: Can I make any changes to the list of students submitted?

A: Yes. The deadline for any changes and a final list is Friday, April 27, 2012, including:

* withdrawing completely from the event (full refund less $45 will be remitted)
* withdrawing one or more students from the event ($45 per student withdrawn will be remitted)
* changing the name(s) of any or all listed participants (no cost).

Kindly submit all changes by email to Barbara Hirsch at barbara.hirsch@peelsb.com.

Feel free to email us at james.steele@tdsb.on.ca with any additional questions.