Welcome to Vaughan S.S.

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Welcome to Vaughan S.S.

• General Information
• and
• Course Selection Process
• For
• Grade 8 Students Parents/Guardians

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Information ???

• The information contained in this presentation is
  available from the following
• York Region District School Board Course Calendar
• Vaughan Secondary Schools course calendar
• Vaughan Secondary Schools Guidance web site
  www.vaughan.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
• York Region District School Board web site
  www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
• Ministry of Education web site -
• www.edu.gov.on.ca for policy documents

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General Information about Vaughan S.S.

• Semestered system - four courses per semester, 75
  minute classes
• wide range of courses to meet needs of individual
  students
• excellent teaching and administrative staff
• many extra-curricular opportunities

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Extra-Curricular Opportunities at Vaughan S.S.

• Sports teams
• Band and Choir
• Performance - theatre, art club
• Student Council, Athletic Council
• DECA - business club
• French, chess club, ski and snowboard club
• World Issues Club charity club

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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 Literacy
  Requirement
• 40 Hours of Community Involvement

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Secondary School Certificates

• The Ontario Secondary School Certificate
• for students who leave school before earning the
  O.S.S.D.
• must earn at least 14 credits
• The Certificate of Accomplishment
• for students who leave school before earning
  either the O.S.S.D. or the O.S.S.C.
• useful means of recognizing achievement for
  students who plan to take certain vocational
  programs or other kinds of further training

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18 Compulsory Credits

• 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
• 1 credit in French as a second language
• 3 credits in Mathematics (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 (music, visual arts, drama)
• 1 credit in health and physical education
• .5 credit in Civics .5 credit in Career Studies
  (grade 10) Plus..

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Compulsory Credits (contd.)

• Plus
• 1 additional credit in English, or French as a
  second language, or a Native Language, or a
  classical or international language, or social
  science or Canadian and World Studies, or
  guidance and career education, or co-operative
  education
• 1 additional credit in Health and Physical
  Education, or business studies, or the Arts
  (music, visual arts, drama), or co-op
• 1 additional credit in technological education or
  computer studies, or science (grades 11 or 12),
  or Co-op
• a maximum of 2 credits in Co-operative Education
  can count as compulsory credits.

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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.

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What it looks like
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The Grade 10 Test

• administered in March of the grade 10 year
• a test based on language and communication
  (reading and writing) expectations of curricula
  up to and including grade 9
• accommodations, deferrals and exemptions may be
  appropriate for some students
• if a student does not meet the standard in the
  first attempt, schools will provide remedial
  support the test will be re-administered until
  the student successfully completes the test or
  alternatively successfully completes the Grade 12
  Literacy Course

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Community Involvement

• a diploma requirement
• encourages civic responsibility, promotes
  community values and reinforces importance of
  volunteerism
• complete 40 hours after the beginning of Grade 9
  and before graduation
• student responsibility to keep record of
  activities
• guidelines and forms will be provided to help
  track community involvement
• Non profit organizations are required

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Instructions for On-Line Course Selectionfor
Students entering Grade 9 in September 2009

• To access the Regional Course Calendar and the
  Vaughan Secondary School Calendar, complete the
  following steps
• Click on Departments, and then click on
  Guidance Career Education.
• Click on the Additional Links for Guidance and
  Career Education (at bottom).
• Scroll down to the On-line Course Selection
  section. Click on Grade 9.
• Step 1
• Select the 6 compulsory courses that you wish to
  take by clicking on the button beside the course
  code. Be sure to consider the level of course
  (academic or applied) carefully.
• Select the 2 elective courses that you wish to
  take by clicking on the square beside the course
  code. Select the 1 alternative course by
  clicking on the circle beside the course code.
• Click on the Continue button at the bottom of
  the page.
• Step 2
• Scroll down on this page. Note the program plan
  indicating the number or credits required for
  graduation.
• Go to Course Knapsack Contents and check to
  ensure that all the courses that you selected
  appear in the cart. Leave the 0 beside all
  courses except the alternative course. Change
  the 0 to a 1 beside the alternative course.
• Continue to scroll down and enter the following
  personal information name, current grade, and
  current school.
• Ignore the questions regarding returning to
  school.
• Step 3
• Click on View Print to show your course
  selection form. Check it over to ensure all
  information is correct.
• Print 2 copies one to hand into your teacher
  and one to keep for your records.
• Step 4
• Sign the course selection form and have your
  parent/guardian sign it.

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Changing pathways

• Student success is the key, so it is important to
  start off in the right level of courses.
• Moving mid-semester
• Transfer courses
• Making the change when the student is ready

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Pathways

• Streams are based on
• students learning styles, interests and needs
  (Grades 9 and 10)
• Open (O), Applied (P), Essential (LM), Academic
  (D)
• destination (Grades 11 and 12)
• Workplace (E), College (C), University (U) or (M)
  
• Transfer between streams is possible

Academic
University (U) or University/College (M)
Transfer
Applied
College (C) or Workplace (E)
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Applied vs. Academic

• Applied stream
• Practical Critical Thinking (Problem Solving)
• Processing, interpreting
• Concrete
• Specific answer
• Academic stream
• Abstract Critical Thinking (Theoretical)
• Deep understanding
• Written response
• Open-ended answer

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Advanced Placement Courses

• AP courses are available for grade 9 students in
  English, Math and Science
• They are enriched courses for students who have
  ability and interest in an area
• Grade 8 teacher recommendation is suggested

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Which stream is most appropriate?

• A level 3 (70 79) or higher indicates that the
  student is prepared for the next grade in the
  same stream.
• A level 1 (50 -59) performance or below
  indicates that the student is at risk and might
  be better served in another stream.
• Streams are NOT permanent

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Comparing Grade 8 Math Marks with Grade 9
Academic Math Marks
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Revised Mathematics Curriculum
Grade 12 U Calculus and Vectors MCV4U
Grade 12 U Advanced Functions MHF4U
Grade 11 U Functions MCR3U
Grade 12 U Math of Data Management MDM4U
Grade 9 Principles Academic MPM1D
Grade 10 Principles Academic MPM2D
Grade 11 M Functions and Applications MCF3M
Grade 12 C Math For College Technology MCT4C
Grade 9 Foundations Applied MFM1P
Grade 10 Foundations Applied MFM2P
Grade 11 C Foundations for College Math MBF3C
Grade 12 C Foundations for College Math MAP4C
Grade 9 L.D.C.C.
Grade 10 L.D.C.C.
Grade 11 Math for Work and Everyday Life MEL3E
Grade 12 Math for Work and Everyday Life MEL4E
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Programs for Students At Risk Of Not Meeting
Diploma Requirements

• Program options and strategies may include
• Student Success program meeting and tracking of
  all students at risk of not attaining credits
• Credit Recovery
• Meeting with parents, teachers and students
• three essential level courses in each of English,
  math and science in Grades 9 and 10 which meet
  compulsory credit requirements
• individual support and guidance

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Continued...

• enhanced opportunities for work experience and
  cooperative education programs
• substitution of up to 3 compulsory credit courses
  
• Certificates
• development of an I.E.P. and possible referral to
  an I.P.R.C

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Identified Students and Those Receiving Special
Education Programs and Services

• Students who require special education support
  and services will receive this support according
  to the needs outlined in their I.E.P. Some may
  be
• modified curriculum expectations
• alternative learning expectations
• accommodations to the learning environment
  monitoring/in-class resourcing
• methods to review students progress
• student transition plan to postsecondary
  education, work and/or community living

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ESL Support Programs

• ESL courses are provided to help students develop
  proficiency in English
• these are credit courses which are developed from
  the curriculum policy documents

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Social Emotional Support

• To help ease the transition..
• Guidance department will meet with each incoming
  Grade 9 class in semester 1
• Students may make appointments to discuss any
  issues with their counsellor
• Social worker available for appointments

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Reporting Student Achievement

• Standard provincial report card
• documents achievement in every subject in the
  form of a percentage grade
• teachers comments on strengths, areas for
  improvement, and next steps in each subject area
• separate reporting section for attendance and
  evaluating the students learning skills (i.e.
  homework, initiative, teamwork, etc.)
• summary of graduation requirements including
  status of Gr. 10 test and community involvement
• VSS monthly I reports and Letters of Concern

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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

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Important Dates

• Course Selection due to Vaughan February 9
• Vanalonaloo Day- Grade 8s visit Vaughan for the
  day - June 8

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The End...

• Thank you for attending
• this presentation.
• Please visit the classrooms and direct
  questions to Departmental representatives.