Transcript Welcome to High School

Welcome to Stouffville District
Secondary School
General Information
and
Course Selection Process
For
Grade 8 Students & Parents/Guardians
Welcome to Stouffville
Welcome from Principal Arlene Smith
 The importance of course selection
 The process of course selection
The Importance of
Course Selection
 Consider your course selections
carefully with student, parent and
grade 8 teachers
 Secondary school classes have “hard
caps”
 It is important to realize that students
may not be able to change courses
mid-year
Pathway Planning
Important to know:
how you learn best
diploma requirements to graduate
prerequisites for courses
how to plan for experiential learning
opportunities
 admission requirements for postsecondary opportunities
 preparing for school-work
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Planning Tool
www.my.blueprint.ca
Available on line
Activation code: Spartans
Allows parents and students to create
trial course selections and timetables
for grades 9-12
 Shows links to post-secondary
destinations to match course
selections
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Types of Courses –
Gr. 9 & 10
In grades 9 & 10, students will choose
courses from four types:
Applied
Academic
Open
Essential/Locally developed
Gr. 9 & 10 –
Definitions of Types
Grade 9 & 10 courses- focus is on establishing solid knowledge
and foundation skills

Applied
theory
(P) - a real-life hands on approach with some

Academic (D) - theoretical in approach, utilizes
abstract thinking

Open (O) – an opportunity to explore an area of
interest for all students

Essential or Locally Developed (L) – courses for
students who have not yet attained the prerequisite
skills to be successful in Grade 9 Applied courses in
English, Mathematics and Science.
Destinations Grade 9 to Post-Secondary
Grade 9
Academic
Grade 9
Applied
Grade 9
Essential
Grade 10
Academic
Grade 10
Applied
Grade 10
Essential
Grade 11
University
Grade 11
College
Grade 12
University
+Co-op / OYAP
Grade 12
College
+Co-op /OYAP
Grade 12
Workplace
+Co-op / OYAP
College
Apprenticeship
Workplace
Some College
Apprenticeship
Workplace
University
College
Apprenticeship
Grade 11
Workplace
Grade 11
Workplace
+ Co-op / OYAP
Grade 12
Workplace
+ Co-op / OYAP
Apprenticeship
Workplace
Essentials Pathways:
clearing up some myths
 Students who choose
Essentials/Locally Developed have
options both in secondary school and
post-secondary
 Essentials courses count as
compulsory graduation requirements
 Students have a genuine pathway to
graduate with an OSSD
Diploma Requirements (O.S.S.D.)
for the 4 year program
18 Compulsory Credits
12
=
+
Optional Credits
30 Total Credits (110 hours each)
+
Successful Completion of Ontario Secondary
School Literacy Test
+
40 Hours of Community Involvement
18 Compulsory Credits
4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
1 credit in French as a second language
3 credits in mathematics
2 credits in science
1 credit in Canadian history
1 credit in Canadian geography
1 credit in the arts (music, visual arts, drama)
1 credit in health and physical education
.5 credit in civics & .5 credit in career studies
(grade 10)
Plus…..
Compulsory Credits (cont’d.)
Plus:
1 additional credit in English, or French, native
language or international language, or a social
science, or Canadian and world studies, or
guidance and career education (includes
learning strategies) or cooperative education*
1 additional credit in health and physical
education, or business studies, or the arts
(music, visual arts or drama) or cooperative
education*
1 additional credit in science (grades 11 or 12),
or technological education (grades 9-12) or
co-operative education*
* A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative
education can count as compulsory credits
12 Optional Credits
Optional credits allow
students to build an
educational program
over the four years
that suits their
individual interests
and meets university,
college, apprenticeship
or work requirements.
Ontario Secondary School
Literacy Test
 administered in March of the Grade 10
year
 a test based on curriculum
expectations in reading and writing
across subject areas
Community Involvement
 a diploma requirement
 complete 40 hours before graduation
 Can not begin before the start of Grade 9 in
September
 Must be approved by a Guidance Counsellor
Course Selection
In order to meet graduation diploma requirements, it
is strongly recommended that students take the
following 6 subjects in grade 9.
A student may choose all of their courses at one
level or a combination.
1. English - Applied, Academic,
Essential/LDCC
2. Mathematics
“
3. Science
“
4. Geography – Applied, Academic
5. French - Applied or Academic
6. Health & Physical Education - Open
Course Selection
(continued)
All other selections for Grade 9 will be from the Open
type courses. The electives to choose from vary
from school to school. The following courses are
available at our school for Grade 9:
1. Art – Drama, Music or Visual Art
2. Integrated Studies – Business or
Technology
3. Repertoire – offered after the
regular school day, an expectation
for all students taking music
4. Vocal Music
Making the Choice…???
 Parents and students will select courses
in collaboration with elementary school
teachers, guidance counselors and
administrators
 It is important that students do some
honest self assessment, matching their
ability with their interests and aptitudes
Option Card Completion
 Read course calendar carefully
 Check with your teachers and parents to
decide on your course levels
 Circle course codes clearly on option card
 Number alternates clearly in small box
 Student, parents & teacher sign option card
 Hand in to Grade 8 teacher on time
Dates to remember…
Option cards due –
Wednesday, January 30th
at Stouffville DSS
Hand into your Grade 8 teacher
before this date
Guidance Services Website
 For links to more information on high school
programming, the YRDSB course calendar,
post-secondary options and career exploration
visit
www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/guidance.services
Check out the excellent section entitled
“About High School”