Navigating the Road to High School and Beyond

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Navigating the Road to High School and Beyond

• La Salle Secondary School

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Grades 9 and 10 The Road to the Future
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Compulsory and Optional Creditsand High School
Diploma Requirements

• Students are required to earn 18 compulsory
  credits in core subject areas.
• Students are required to earn an additional 12
  optional credits in courses of their choice.
• Students are required to complete the Grade 10
  Ontario Secondary School Literacy achievement
  requirements either by test (OSSLT) or course
  (OSSLC).
• Students are required to complete 40 hours of
  unpaid community involvement activities

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Compulsory Credits

• 4 English (1 per grade)
• 1 French
• 3 Math (1 in grade 11/12)
• 2 Science
• 1 Canadian History
• 1 Canadian Geography
• 1 Health and Physical Education
• ½ Civics
• ½ Career Studies

• 1 in either of English, a third language, Social
  Science, or Canadian and World Studies
• 1 in either Health and Physical Education,
  Business Studies or Arts
• 1 in either Grade 11/12 Science or Grade 9-12
  Technological Education

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Optional Credits

• 12 optional credits allow students to build an
  educational program that suite their intended
  post-secondary pathway university, college,
  apprenticeship, further training or the workplace

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Different Types of Grade 9 10 Courses

• Open courses are in disciplines such as the arts,
  physical education and business studies. In these
  disciplines, all students take the same type of
  course, hence, the term open.
• In core subjects, such as math, English and
  science, students have a choice of locally
  developed, applied or academic courses.
• In core subjects, such as geography, history and
  French, students have a choice of applied or
  academic courses.

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What courses does a typical grade 9 student take?

• Compulsory Credits
• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Geography
• French
• Healthy and Active Living (Phys. Ed.)

• Optional Credits
• Any two from
• Arts
• Business
• Technology

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Locally Developed Courses

• In English, the emphasis is on literacy and
  communication skills. Students develop reading,
  writing, listening, presenting and thinking
  skills.
• In math, there is a focus on knowledge and
  problem solving skill development. Students are
  prepared for success in everyday.
• In science, the emphasis is on scientific
  enquiry and critical thinking. Students study the
  relationship between, science, society and the
  environment.

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Applied Courses

• Cover the essential concepts of a subject.
• Focus on practical applications and real world
  examples.
• Offer more opportunities to experience hand-on
  learning.

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Academic Courses

• Cover the essential concepts of a subject and
  explore related materials.
• Draw heavily on theory and abstract examples and
  problems.
• Emphasize theory over practical applications.
• Offer more opportunities for abstract thinking
  and problem solving.

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Understanding Course Codes

• ENG denotes the subject, in this case English.
• 1 denotes the grade level, in this case grade 9
  2 for grade 10.
• L denotes the type of course L for locally
  developed, P for applied, D for academic and O
  for open.
• 0 is a place holder for special designations for
  example in disciplines such as physical education
  there may be an F denoting a female class and an
  M denoting a male class.

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The difference between core and elective courses

• In grade 9, all students take 6 core or
  compulsory courses in English, mathematics,
  French, geography, science and healthy active
  living (Phys. Ed.).
• Students then choose 2 elective or optional
  courses in subject areas such as dramatic arts,
  music, visual arts, introduction to business,
  information technology, graphic design,
  communication technology, computers,
  transportation technology, construction
  technology and manufacturing technology.

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Prerequisites

• Some courses in grades 11 and 12 require that the
  students take prerequisite courses.
• It is important when students choose courses in
  grades 10 and 11 that they examine the school
  course calendar carefully and select courses that
  will allow them to pursue the courses that they
  want to take in higher grades.
• The school guidance counsellor is one of the
  students best allies in making these types of
  decisions.

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The semester school calendar

• Students take 4 courses each semester or half
  year.
• Students generally take 8 courses each school
  year.
• First semester runs from September to January.
• Second semester runs from February to June.
• Students receive 6 reports each year two early
  reports, two mid-term report cards and two final
  report cards for each semester.

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MSIP and SuccessStudents and the Multi-Subject
Instructional Period

• more access to teacher assistance
• more access to peer support across all grade
  levels
• more access to the library as a resource
• more access to the computer lab
• easier access to students services and guidance
• more access to special programs that support
  learning

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How Teachers Use MSIP

• Help students on a one-to-one basis.
• Model literacy and positive work habit skills.
• Extra support from another teacher in getting
  those missing assignments in.
• If a student misses a test, they can write the
  test in MSIP rather than missing more class time.
• Less disruption during class time e.g. for
  extra tutoring in another subject, for guidance
  appointments, for specialized workshops, etc.

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The New World of Work Current Realities of
the 21st Century

• Increased demand for technological literacy
  skills
• Decreased demand for unskilled labour
• New flexibility in the work place growing
• dependence on part-time, contract or
  free-lance
• work v.s. life-long employment
• Increase in self-employment
• Life-long career is being replaced by 6-8
  different
• careers during ones working life
• Commitment to life-long learning a requirement of
  
• most employment

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Our goal is to move this last 24 into the other
three categories.
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Beginning to look at program pathways

• Teens should explore different courses and
  experiences during high school.
• Its better for students to try a variety of
  courses now and avoid costly mistakes later in
  their post-secondary destination.
• Career Studies in grade 10 is an excellent
  opportunity for students to map out their
  personal goals in education, work and the
  community.
• Each students program pathway will be unique and
  designed to help them develop toward their
  post-secondary destination, whether it be the
  workplace, apprenticeship, college or university.

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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 post-secondary
  opportunities
• Preparing for school-work

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Helping grade 8 students decide which type of
course is best for them

• Discuss options with their grade 8 teachers.
• Make an appointment with a guidance counsellor at
  La Salle.
• Help them investigate opportunities that match
  their interests, abilities and passions.
• Whenever you are unsure, seek help and ask
  questions.

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Grades 11 and 12 Looking Ahead
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A New Set of Course Descriptions

• In grades 11 and 12, students choose between,
  workplace, college, university/college,
  university courses and open courses.

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The Destinations

• Students in Ontario have many options for post
  secondary training.
• They can choose from 28 colleges, 19
  universities, hundreds of private career colleges
  and over 100 apprenticeship opportunities.

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Understanding a New Set of Course Codes

• MEL denotes the subject, in this case
  mathematics.
• 3 denotes the grade level, in this case grade 11
  4 for grade 12.
• E denotes the post-secondary destination E for
  workplace, M for university/college, C for
  college, and U for university.
• Open or O courses also still exist.

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Workplace Courses

• Prepare student to move directly into
  apprenticeship, training programs or the
  workplace.
• Focus on employment skills and practical
  workplace applications.
• May involve cooperative education and work
  experience.

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The Workplace Pathway
Remember we are all going to work but we enter
the workforce at different times in our lives!

• There are many viable entry-level job
  opportunities for students who have completed
  their OSSD and have workplace experiences.
  Students who are fast-tracking into the
  workforce/community directly after high school
  should
• work with guidance, community-based education,
  subject teachers, employment centres to create a
  personal portfolio (resume, cover letters,
  letters of reference, successes, etc.) to present
  to prospective employers, and,
• be aware that cooperative education is an
  important component of workplace preparation.

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College Courses

• Prepare students to have the skills and knowledge
  to meet the entrance requirements for college
  programs.
• Focus on practical applications while also
  examining underlying theories.

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The College Pathway

• Community college programs provide a valuable
  combination of academic and practical/technical
  skills training for a specific career.
• There are almost 600 programs to choose from at
  Ontarios community colleges, including Business
  Administration, Biomedical Technology, Computer
  Animation, Engineering Technology, Paramedic,
  and Social Worker.

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University/College Courses

• Prepare student to meet entrance requirements of
  specific university and college programs.
• Focus on both theory and practical applications.

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University ?? College

• Program links between colleges and universities
  are increasing dramatically by offering
• Joint programs that will provide students with
  both the theoretical and practical skills
  required for their career and earn them a degree
  and a diploma in four years.
• Multiple opportunities for transfer between
  colleges and universities exist.

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University Courses

• Prepare students with the knowledge and skills
  needed to meet university entrance requirements.
• Focus on theoretical aspects of subjects and
  related real world applications.

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The University Pathway

• University programs provide theoretical academic
  training.
• In general, there are 5 main types of programs at
  most universities
• Arts/Humanities/Social Sciences
• Life/Health Sciences
• Physical/Engineering Sciences
• Business/Commerce
• Professional programs

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Career Education in Grade 11 12

• Students can opt to take a Peer Support course
  which will give them leadership skills. This is
  especially helpful for students who want to
  pursue careers that require management skills.
  Students work as classroom tutors or literacy
  tutors and receive a grade 11 credit.
• Student can choose co-operative education for up
  to two of their optional choices. Students
  investigate real-world work applications linked
  to a chosen subject area. Students can virtually
  work in any business that is in a position to
  host a student. This provides the student to try
  on a career before making costly decisions about
  their post-secondary pathway.

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What if a students interests change?

• If a students interests and goals change during
  the course of their four years in high school,
  students are able to change pathways by taking
  transfer courses. Transfer courses allow
  students who are taking one type of course in
  Grade 10 or 11 to switch to another type in the
  same subject area in the next grade.
• Many students also opt to take an additional half
  year after grade 12 to fine tune their program
  pathway. Often, students opt to include a co-op
  option to make sure that their post-secondary
  plans are appropriate to their interests.

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Focus Programs

• Concentrate on a particular field of interest or
  training to provide students with both academic
  and work experience that gives them a foundation
  in a career or area of study.

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Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

• In Grade 11/12 some students opt to complete
  their high school diploma while starting their
  apprenticeship training.

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Workplace, Apprenticeship Skilled Trades
Destination

• These high demand, highly skilled, highly
  practical careers are now referred to as Gold
  Collar Careerssince many of the trades have
  starting salaries well above 50,000 per year.
• Students and parents need to pay more attention
  to this destination as a powerful means of
  obtaining practical experience and skills keeping
  in mind that 60 of Ontarios Grade 9 students
  do not go on to complete either a college diploma
  or a university degree.

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Many employment sectors have a full range of
training opportunities
Social Work
Child Youth Studies
Child Youth Worker
Child Youth Worker
Graduate degree (Masters)
University Degree (4-6 yr.)
College diploma (3 yr.)
Apprenticeship Certification (2-5 yr.)
More hands-on
More conceptual
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There is help out there
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Where can you get help making decisions?

• Grade 8 teachers
• School information nights
• High school guidance counsellors
• High school teachers
• Our Website at http//lasalle.limestone.on.ca/
• Limestone District School Board Website at
  http//www.limestone.on.ca/

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Tips for Parents

• Help your teen understand who they are and honour
  their decisions
• Help your teen explore a variety of careers and
  extra-curricular activities
• Encourage your teen to apply for a Co-op
  Education Program
• Help your teen develop good work habits
• Help your teen build a personal portfolio and
  provide advice on money management
• Recognize the importance of pathways to the
  future by encouraging your teen to
• Consider long-range planning options
• Research job opportunities
• Set aside time for reflection and discussion

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Special Education

• A student who participates in special education
  programs and services in Grade 8 can continue to
  do so in high school. An Individual Education
  Plan (IEP) will be developed and maintained based
  on assessments of the students strengths, needs
  and interests.

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Opening Doors

• When our children choose courses for secondary
  school it is important that they do some honest
  self -assessment, matching their ability with
  their interests and aptitudes.
• When we choose courses based on a concern about
  closing doors, we are suggesting that the door
  locks behind us. Initial decisions made in grade
  8 are not final decisions. There are many
  pathways to the destination we dream of!

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Up-coming Dates

• School visits at the end of January
• Grade 8 Information Night February 15th