Welcome to

Queen Elizabeth District High School

Grade 8 Info Session

April 16th, 2014

Our School Team

Steve Poling- Principal

Wayne Mercer- Vice Principal

Rhonda MacRae & Trina Campbell – Guidance Counselors

Darlene Pike – Special Education Resource Teacher

All teachers and support staff… We are here to educate your child well

Planning High School

Read the course calendar.

Conversations at home about high school.

Talk to your teachers & QE guidance counselors.

Take time to dream about the future, set achievable goals for the next year, then plan the steps you need to reach your goals.

Fill out the course selections for next year based on this plan.

Course Selections

It is important for students to choose courses carefully.

Placement at the appropriate level increases a student’s chance of success.

Course Codes

How to decipher course codes:

(see the course calendar or the option sheet handout for a list of course codes). MFM1P:

M = Mathematics Dept.;

FM = Foundations of Mathematics;

1 = grade 9;

P = Applied level Unless eligible for graduation, all students

must choose EIGHT courses each year.

Course Levels

Grades 9 and 10 ---- Grades 11 and 12

Applied ---- College

Academic ---- University & College

Essential ---- Workplace

Open Courses ---- All destinations

Changing Course Levels

Students must take courses at the level of difficulty best suited to their abilities and destination goals.

Any decisions about changing levels will be made in consultation with student, parent, teachers, and guidance staff – often including administration.

Diagnostics are done early in grade 9 for literacy and numeracy skills and recommendations are made for consideration of level changes as necessary.

Graduation Requirements for an Ontario

High School Diploma

30 Credits

40 Hours of Community Volunteering (documented minimum #)

Successful completion of the OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test or Course [offered to students who are unsuccessful on first attempt of OSSLT]

Credit Requirements for Ontario Secondary School Diploma

18 Compulsory credits: 4 credits in English (ONE in EACH grade 9-12) 1 credit in French or Native Language 3 Credits in Mathematics (ONE in EACH grade 9-11) 2 Credits in Science 1 Credit in Geography (Grade 9) 1 Credit in Canadian History (Grade 10) 1 Credit in the Arts (music, drama, visual arts, media arts) 1 Credit in Healthy Active Living Education (Phys. Ed) 0.5 Credit in Civics + 0.5 Credit in Career Studies (Grade 10) + Three additional credits from a variety of groups

12 Optional Credits of the student’s choice from our calendar

Ontario Secondary School Certificate and Certificate of Achievement

14 Credits and 7 credits in total respectively Students who leave school before fulfilling the

requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma may complete the requirements for either the OSSC or a Certificate of Accomplishment;

These are often granted to students with identified learning needs and exceptionalities;

Not acceptable for entry to post secondary programs These certificates may be a useful means of recognizing

achievement for students who plan to take certain vocational programs or other kinds of further training.

Students who later return to school to complete additional credit and non-credit courses will get updated transcripts.

Post-Secondary Requirements

Work College University

OSSD

with courses at workplace /college or university levels

OSSD

with college or university level courses

OSSD

with minimum of 6 grade 12 university level courses [ENG4U is mandatory]

Requirements for Apprenticeship/Work

Most apprenticeships require Grade 12

Many jobs/training programs grade 10-12

Good record of attendance

Marketable employability skills

Specialized QEDHS Programs

Co-op

OYAP [Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program]

SHSM Specialized High Skills Major:

[Transportation / Health Care / Business]

PASS[Parents at Secondary School]/Connections ILC

College Articulated Credits (Dual)

AYEP [Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program]

Hockey Academy

Phoenix Program [for students in care / FASD supports]

New Roads [transition program for 12-16 year olds]

Cooperative Education

Allows students to earn additional credits in a subject through a work placement in the community.

Offered to grade10-12 students.

The program involves the following elements: an individualized learning plan based on the curriculum expectations for a course and the job-specific expectations of the related placement; monitoring of students’ progress by a teacher; opportunities for students to analyze their out-of-school experiences and to integrate them with in-school learning; and an evaluation process to determine whether course expectations have been met.

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

Students interested in apprenticeship can participate in the OYAP [Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program] which allows them to begin an apprenticeship while they are enrolled in secondary school. Students in Grades 11 and 12 can earn credits towards their secondary school diploma while accumulating hours towards the completion of an apprenticeship through cooperative education.

Work experience and cooperative education are essential aspects of school–work transition programs and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. Co-operative education and work experience will be developed and implemented in accordance with ministry policy outlined Cooperative Learning and Other Forms of Learning Programs 2000.

Students at QE are now using a tool called MyBlueprint to select courses for the following school year.

Visit www.myblueprint.ca to peruse this invaluable tool.

Be part of your child’s education & career plans…

We hope your child’s experience

here is a rewarding one!

Welcome to the

QEDHS Learning Community