COURSE SELECTION FOR 2012-13

Agenda

• Overview of Course Selection Procedure

• Graduation Requirements

• New Courses

• Program Options

• Course Selection Tips- for Math and English

• Post-Secondary Options

Overview of Course Selection Procedure

Course Selection Booklet

• You should read all the general information and course descriptions that relate to your grade level and your possible choices.

• Course Selection Booklets are also accessible through the Guidance website. Click on the “course Selection” link to access the book.

COURSE SELECTION PROCEDURE:

1)You will receive course selection books at the end of this presentation, or you may access it online at the Millwood High Guidance site.

2)Read the entire book 3)Fill out the practice course selection

form for your grade level at the end of the book. Complete the practice sheet immediately. (Bring it with you to your course selection interview.)

COURSE SELECTION PROCEDURE:4) After you’ve read the book and completed the

practice sheet you will, on your own, go to your Student Portal to make your selections. The portal will be open for a short time for course selection.

5) You will need your username and password ready to login to your Student Portal. This is where you will be making your selections.

6) A video demonstrating the process can be found here

• Go to Distance Learning and Search for Parent Portal Use. – Select Introduction to Parent for PS Portal

» Select “Parent Tools”» Select “next” then play video

Interview with your counsellor:

•You will be called out from class sometime in February/March for a short interview with your counsellor to confirm your selection and make changes as necessary

•Ahead of time, think of the answers to the questions:

•How are you doing in your classes?, and •What are you thinking of doing after high school?

•Your choices will be discussed and may be changed.

•If you need more time to discuss your selection or where you are headed, you will be given another appointment in March; your selection may be modified at that time.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation RequirementsReview

• The same everywhere in Nova Scotia

• You must obtain at least 5 Grade 12 credits and no more than 7 Grade 10 credits (fewer Gr 10 is fine!)

• 13 credits are specified subjects

And here they are >>>>>>

•Grade 10 year: 8 courses

•Grade 11 year: at least 7 courses

•Grade 12 year: at least 6 courses

•You may take more in your 11 and 12 years.

Minimum Courses Per Year

13 SPECIFIC REQUIRED CREDITS:

3 ENGLISH (10, 11, 12)1 CDN HISTORY 11 OR

AFRICAN CDN STUDIES 11 OR Mi’kmaq 10

2 MATHEMATICS 1 GLOBAL STUDIES 12

2 SCIENCE 1 FINE ARTS

1 PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2 Math/Science/Technology

The other courses and credits you take are called electives. In these you might include additional courses in subject areas shown above, or in other ones.

LEVELS OF COURSES• Academic: deal with concepts. Good marks in a selection of

academic courses is required for advancement to university but ALL students take some of these courses

• Graduation: alternative level available in English, Math, and in some aspects of science and social studies

• Open Category: courses in Tech Ed, Family Studies, Personal Development and Business (skills oriented). Everyone takes some of these!

• Advanced: available in Math, Sciences, English at the Grade 11 level and Global Geography and Art at the Grade 12 level.

The Grade Eleven Year (English Program)

1 English 11 or Advanced English 11 or English Communications 11

Mathematics 11, Advanced Math 11 and Advanced Math 12 (combined), Math Foundations 11 or Math Essentials 11

1 or more Science (if 2 sciences have not been completed in Grade 10)

1 Canadian History(African Canadian Studies 11 or Canadian

History 11 or Mi’kmaq 10)

1 study period(only an option if all courses were passed in grade 10)

Electives See Course Selection Book.

The Grade Eleven French Immersion Year

1 English 11 or Advanced English 11

Mathematics 11, Advanced Math 11 and Advanced Math 12 (combined), Math Foundations 11 or Math Essentials 11

Histoire du Canada 11

Français 11 Biologie 11 (optional)

1 or more Science (if two sciences were not completed in grade 10)

Study period (optional)

2 Electives See course selection book for electives

Going Into Grade 12

• 6 courses in your grade 12 year

• At least 5 grade 12 courses must taken to graduate

• At least 5 grade12 academic courses must be taken to be considered for university admission

• (70%+ average)

English 12

Global Geography or History 12

Math, Science or Technology

(if not done)

Courses required for post-secondary program of your choice

 

 A Science #1 (usually SCI 10) AND a Science #2

must be passed by all students 

Science 10SHOULD BE PASSED BY ALL STUDENTS

Human Biology 11 (non-academic)

  Geology 12

Astronomy 12 NO PREREQUISITEOceans 11

Biology 11& Advanced

Biology 12BIO 11 REQUIRED,

CHEMISTRY 11 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Chemistry 11 & Advanced

Chemistry 12CHE 11 & MAT11

REQUIRED. MAT12 recommended

Physics 11 & Advanced

Physics 12PHY 11 & MAT 11

REQUIRED. MAT12 recommended

SCIENCE: you need a minimum of twoGrade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

ENGLISH (Typical Routes)

10 11 12

Advanced English 11

Advanced Placement English

12

Academic English 10

Academic English 11

Academic English 12

English Communications

11

English Communications

12

Warning About Math!!DO NOT FAIL ACADEMIC MATH 10 THIS

YEAR!!!!!!

WHY??????

•New curriculum coming for Math 10 – totally different

•If you fail you must either take it in the summer or move into the new math 10

•This is not good for you because you will have to stay for a fourth year of high school to get the new Math 12

TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

GRADE 10 GRADE 11 GRADE 12

Communications Technology 11 (typically done in grade 10)

Design 11

Communications Technology 11

Business Technology 11

Film and Video Production 12

Business Technology 12

Communications Technology 12

Computer Programming 12

New Courses

New Courses

• Learning Strategies 10/11/12

• Computer Programming 12

• Business Technology 11/12

• Mathematics for the Workplace 12

• Geology 12

Program Options

PROGRAM NOTES: FINE ARTS• Instrumental Music 11/12 in the mornings• Introduction to Music 10/11/12• Vocal Music 11 and 12• Music Performing Arts 10/11/12

***See Mrs. Ford about Music course options.

• Dance 11 • Art 11 and 12 (Visual Arts) and Advanced Art 12• Drama 11 and 12 (Drama 10 recommended)

French Immersion RequirementsGrade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

•Français 10•Art Dramatique 10•Sciences 10•Histoire 10

•Français 11•Histoire du Canada 11•Biologie 11 (optional)

•Français 12•Histoire Planetaire 12

***Please note NSVS French Immersion Courses may be taken as well.

Cooperative Education 11/12

• Takes 2 periods in your timetable: COOP plus a study period

• In some cases a single block COOP can be arranged.

• Involves some classroom work and a work placement• Some classes may be missed during your placement so

time management is very important

• Summer COOP is available• An application must be filled out separate from the

course selection sheet

Architecture

Dental

Carpentry

Law Radio/ Television

Pharmacy RCMP

Automotive Culinary

Advanced Placement• Advanced Placement allows students to complete

advanced level High School work in a grade 12 Course with the potential of earning University level credits and/ or recognition

• Currently available in Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, English, and Physics.

• Students prepare for this by taking Advanced level courses in Grades 10 and 11.

• You do not sign up for this coming into Grade 10, but keep it in mind!

Course Selection Tips

CHOOSING COURSES NOW BEFORE YOU HAVE FINAL MARKS

• If you are not sure whether or not you will pass one or more of your present courses you will have to go with your “best guess”.

• If there is any question you should take a pessimistic approach as

this makes changes later easier.

(In June, if you unexpectedly pass or fail, you request a course change, or we will contact you to make a change.)

Suggestions to Help You Select Courses

• General guideline: Take the highest level you can reasonably expect to do well in.

• Play to your strengths and abilities

• Play to your interests

• Try something new

• Have realistic long term goals in mind• Refer to the table in the math brochure and in the Course

Selection Book on Post-Secondary Options• Try the career matchmaker quiz at www.careercruising.com

(Username: Millwood, Password: High)

About Choosing Math Courses…

• General guideline: Take the highest level you can reasonably expect to do well in.

• You will be advised by your Guidance Counsellor and your math teachers when you make your choice.

• Make a realistic choice, based not only on what you want to do in life, but also on your abilities in Math, and your work habits

• Please review the Math Brochure to help you with your choice.

Teacher Recommendation

Students who are passing Academic Math or English, but not by much, should be speaking to their teacher, as there may be a recommendation that next year you take the Graduation level course.

Warning!!! – Course ChangesCourse changes can only be made if:

• A student failed a course and needs the course as a prerequisite to a course he or she is presently enrolled in.

• A student needs a Math or English level change (with parent permission and consultation with the Department Head).

• A student needs a course for graduation and it is not on his/her schedule.

• A student was placed in a course that he or she did not choose on the course selection sheet. (Students may have been placed in an elective choice that was not a first choice; therefore, cannot make changes).

Post-Secondary Options

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

• “Post-secondary” means after high school (apprenticeship,community college, private college,university etc.)

• You can get information about post-secondary institutions by visiting your Guidance Counsellor or accessing links through the online guidance office.

• You can call or visit institutions

• You can borrow printed booklets and calendars from many Canadian institutions available in the Guidance Office

PLANNING TO GO ON TO MORE SCHOOL AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?

• Simply meeting the grad requirements in many cases is not enough!

• GENERAL ADVICE: Take English and Math at the highest level you can, and do as well as you can in these and your other courses

• Your skills and knowledge as well as your transcript may turn out to be very important!

• If you are headed toward science, health fields, engineering, technical trades and many other areas, you WILL need math (perhaps pre-calculus math) and possibly several science courses.

UNIVERSITY ADMISSION GUIDELINES

• Universities have their individual requirements.

• General: Academic English 12 plus 4 other Academic Grade 12 credits, with good marks. ~70%+

• Many programs have a requirement for Math and/or particular sciences.

• Marks needed depend on the school and the program

• Check with the institution or with your counsellor for admission requirements.

•

General Post-Secondary Options*Contact specific institutions for further info on exceptions to these options.

Private/ Career College

CommunityCollege

University Programs

General AdmissionRequire-ments

High School Graduation or Equivalent.

Contact theinstitution forspecific detailsabout furtherEntrancerequirements.

Grade 12 or equivalent. Some programs have specific subject requirements.

Admissions Policy – Students may apply as early as September of their Grade 11 year with their current transcript.

Bachelor of Arts - English + 4 other academic courses

Bachelor of Science – English, Pre-Calculus Math, 2 Sciences + 1 other academic course

Bachelor of Commerce – English, Math 12 (in some cases Pre-Calculus) + 3 other academic courses

Bachelor of Engineering – English, Pre-Calculus Math, Chemistry, Physics + 1 other academic course. Calculus 12 is required for Science and Engineering in many universities outside of Atlantic Canada.

Bachelor of Computer Science – English, Pre-Calculus Math + 3 other academic courses.

Bachelor of Nursing – English, Math 12, Chemistry, Biology + 1 other academic course

Remember that Grade 11 marks are considered for awards and

for admissions.

Conclusion

• Follow the Course Selection Procedure• Remember your Graduation Requirements

and track your credits• Consider new course offerings and

program options• Consider our Course Selection Tips- for

Math and English• Use Post-Secondary Options in your

decision making