Selecting Courses for 2015-2016for students entering Grade 11

Dr. John M. Denison Secondary SchoolFebruary 2015 Presentation

Agenda Diploma requirements

Full Disclosure

34 Credit Threshold

Pathways and Course Types

On-line Course Selection & the IPP

Diploma Requirements

To earn your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (O.S.S.D.) you need:

18 compulsory credits 12 elective credits Successful completion of the Ontario

Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) 40 hours of community involvement (CI)

About the OSSLT & Community Involvement

The OSSLT is written in your Grade 10 year Community involvement can begin once a

student has finished Grade 8 Pre-approval is required on all community

involvement activities CI forms are available in Guidance

18 Compulsory Credits

4 credits in English 1 credit in French as a Second Language 3 credits in Math (at least 1 in Gr. 11 or 12) 2 credits in Science 1 credit in Canadian History 1 credit in Canadian Geography 1 credit in the Arts 1 credit in Health and Physical Education 0.5 credit in Civics and Citizenship (Grade 10) 0.5 credit in Career Studies (Grade 10)

PLUS…

One credit from each group: Group 1: an additional credit in English, Or French as a Second Language, OR Native

Language, OR a Classical or an International Language, or a Social Sciences and the Humanities, OR Canadian and World Studies, OR Guidance and Career Education, OR Co-operative Education

Group 2: an additional credit in Health and Physical Education, OR Business Studies, OR the Arts, OR French as a Second Language, OR Co-operative Education

Group 3: an additional credit in Science (Grade 11 or 12), OR Technological Education (Grades 9 -12), OR French as a Second Language OR Computer Studies, OR Co-operative Education

Note that a maximum of two French as a Second Language Credits and two Co-operative Education credits can be used toward these groups.

AND…

You are to take at least 12 optional credits, or electives, which allow you to take courses that align with your post-secondary pursuits and program requirements.

Full Disclosure Policy

Please note that the Ministry of Education has a policy of “full disclosure”. What does this mean?

Only successfully completed courses from Grades 9 and 10 appear on your transcript

All Grades 11 and 12 courses that you attempt will appear on your transcript whether you pass them or not

There is a full disclosure date where a senior-level course can be dropped an not appear on your transcript

34 Credit Threshold

You are able to take up to 34 credits while at Dr. Denison Secondary School (you require 30 for your diploma)

There are some who are exempt from this policy

You may take additional credits once you reach 34 at summer school, night school and through other formats

See Guidance for further information

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9L1oNpA02o&feature=youtu.be

Pathways

Apprenticeships and Skilled Trades College Community Living Employment Travel University Volunteering

Post-secondary pathways

College – offers certificates (1 yr.), diplomas (2-3 yrs.), applied degrees (4 yrs). Except for applied degrees, college admissions are based on Grade 11 M, C and U marks in general. You may need to take specific courses for specific college programs.

Skilled Trades – may require certain college courses, for example, maths and sciences for plumbing, electrical. There are over 140 trades, ranging from 3-5 years for length of training required.

University – offers Bachelor’s degrees (3-4 yrs.)

Admissions are based on best 6 Grade 12 U/M courses, including ENG4U – check programs carefully for specific courses requirements.

Course Codes Grades 9 & 10 courses are Academic (D), Applied

(P), Locally Developed (L), and Open (O).

Grade 11 & 12 courses are University preparation (U), College preparation (C), University/College preparation (M), Workplace (E), and Open (O).

Please be aware of course pre-requisites when selecting courses. Do you have the correct course required in order to take a course?

Entering Grade 11You need to select:

English Mathematics

PLUS six elective courses AND two alternate courses

Use your credit counselling summary as a guide to see credits earned and credits still required for your diploma

Also use the summary to ensure you are taking the correct level of courses next year (i.e. University, College, Mixed, Workplace)

Have you researched what courses you need to take NOW in order to be prepared for post secondary studies - AFTER high school?

Researching the courses you need

Where are you headed? What do you need in order to get there?

If you intend to apply to an Ontario university or to a college for an Applied Degree, please note that you must have at least 6 Grade 12 U or M coded-courses

Specific courses required for programs are available on college and university websites

Also, for college research, check out ontariocolleges.ca, and for university research, check out www.electronicinfo.ca

This takes time – so please research carefully and select your courses carefully

Realities for Course SelectionsYou are requesting courses for TWO semesters - Semester 1 and Semester 2 for the next school year

Special circumstances will be dealt with by the Administration (Vice-Principals)

No courses are guaranteed, but guidance staff will do their best to get you into the courses you choose

Also, you may want to consider Outdoor Education program for students who will be

entering Grade 11 next year

Outdoor Education would run semester 2 (2016)

It includes courses such as English, Co-operative education, Physical Education, Outdoor Leadership

You would be part of the SHSM for Environment and need to take one of the following in Grade 12: Phys. Ed., Geography or Science

See Mr. Bisbee FIRST for an application and fee schedule ($100 deposit due before 9:00 a.m. on February 17th, 2015)

Then select Outdoor Education on Career Cruising

Also for your consideration

Co-operative Education learning (hands-on experience) for students in Grades 11 and 12 – see Ms. Trenton in Room 305

Specialist High Skills Major Programs for Grades 11 & 12 students: Hospitality, Construction, Business, and Technology – a combination of courses and co-operative education experiences available for all pathways

How to access course offeringsVisit www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca and follow the CareerCruising icon

Before logging in select the drop down menu called Student Course Guide on the bottom left hand side of the screen

Have your parents sign the course selection and submit it to your teacherby _____________

Example of a paper copy of a course selection sheet

Key Dates February 9 and 10: Course Selection Assemblies for all

students

February 11 and 12: in-class follow-up visits from Guidance to answer your questions

Career Cruising, Guidance information, websites…

Printed, signed forms due no later than February 18th

Choose once, choose wisely!

The Individual Pathways Planner

The IPP tool is found on Career Cruising

You are encouraged to review it as you move through school and in life, assessing your opportunities, goals and plans to achieve your goals

That’s all folks!