Help Your Child Be Successful in High School

Transition from Grade 8 to 9Martin Himelson

Guidance CounsellorNovember 10, 2015

Goals for Today

• Become familiar with the TDSB website

•Become aware of what is offered in the TDSB

•Make informed decisions

•High school Information Nights

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Choices for Nine

www.tdsb.on.caClick on “Find your School”

Find Your School

Choices for Nine

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Find your school by selecting how you want to search.

Find Your School

Choices for Nine

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Considerations WhenLooking at a High School

• The range of subjects and programs offered in each grade

• Semestered versus non-semestered

• The range of extracurricular activities, clubs and sports offered

• The supports available for English Language Learners and students with special education needs

• Distance and travel time5

Choices for Nine

What Kinds of Programs Are Available to High School Students?

• See Choices for Nine for a full list of specialized schools and programs

• Many home schools also offer these learning opportunities:• Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM)• Cooperative Education (co-op)• Technological Education Programs• Dual Credit Programs• Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

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Choices for Nine

Semestered and Non-Semestered Schools

Semestered•Students take 8 courses in one year

•4 courses are taken September to January

•4 courses are taken February to June

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Choices for Nine

Non-semestered• Students take 8

courses in one year

• 4 courses are one day and 4 other courses are taken the next day

Information Nights at the High Schools

www.tdsb.on.ca/GoingtoHighSchool

Choices for Nine

• Program and school specific information is shared

• Dates and times of High School Information Nights are listed in the Choices for Nine brochure and posted on the TDSB website

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Information Nights at Specialized Schools

• To investigate specialized schools or programs, check the specific school/program website for admission requirements

• Requirements may include auditions, tests, interviews, etc.

• Check deadline dates for application

Choices for Nine

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Optional Attendance•Students are encouraged to attend their home high school based on their address

•An Optional Attendance form must be used when applying to a high school other than your home high school (outside of your area)

•In January 2016 we will know which regular high schools will be open for Optional Attendance

•Forms will be available in January

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Choices for Nine

Number of Schools Students Can Apply To

•Students can apply to:

2 specialized schools

2 regular schools under Optional Attendance

•For their home high school they do not need to apply. They will fill out a course selection sheet in February.

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Choices for Nine

Information About Ontario Secondary Schools

• Total of 30 course credits

– 18 compulsory courses – 12 elective courses

• 40 hours Community Involvement

– Begins in summer after Grade 8

• Ontario Literacy Requirement- Ontario Secondary School Literacy

Test

Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12: Policy & Program Requirements, 2011

What Are the Graduation Requirements?

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

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Courses In Grade 9

Students will take the following courses in Grade 9•English•Mathematics•Science•Geography•French•Physical Education•Art•Elective (Business, Technology, Art…)

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Ontario Secondary Schools

•To graduate from high school a student must earn 30 credits

•Students are expected to take 8 courses each year

• In Grade 12, students are allowed to have spares

•To pass a course, a student must achieve 50% or higher

•Once a course is passed, a credit is earned

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Choices for Nine

English Language LearnersESL/ELD

• Prepare students for success in English and other courses

• ESL/ELD credits count as compulsory English credits (to a maximum of 3 credits)

• Students will be placed in Level A, B, C, D or E

• Can move to Academic/Applied/LDCC courses when appropriate

Course Types in High SchoolGrade 9 and 10 Grade 11 and 12

-Applied -College

-Academic -Workplace

-Locally Developed Compulsory -Mixed

Course (LDCC)

-Open -University

Students should mix course types based on their achievement , interests, and skills. For example a student may take applied English and Geography and academic Math.

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Choices for Nine

Academic and Applied Course Types

Academic Courses

Focus on theory and abstract problems

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Choices for Nine

Applied Courses

Focus on practical applications and concrete examples

These courses include:English, French, Geography, History, Math, and Science

• Learning expectations are the same for all students

• Designed to prepare students for further study and

to enrich general education in a subject • Can be counted as compulsory or elective credits

• Grade 9 Open Courses Include: Arts (Music, Visual Arts, Drama, Dance)

BusinessGuidance (Learning Strategies)Exploring TechnologiesPhysical Education

What is an Open Course?

Do Students’ Course Type Choices Have an Impact on Postsecondary

Options?

• Yes!

• The type of courses students take in Grades 9 and 10 affect their choices in Grades 11 and 12 and those choices affect students’ postsecondary options directly out of secondary school

• Students who want to keep all postsecondary options open should choose academic courses in Grades 9 and 10

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Choices for Nine

Pathways in Course Types

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Choices for Nine

Gr. 10 AcademicGr. 9 Academic

Gr. 9 Applied

Gr. 9 LDCC

Gr. 10 Applied

Gr. 10 LDCC

To transfer from Gr. 9 Applied to Gr. 10 Academic math, students must take a transfer course worth 0.5 credit

What Happens if My Child Does Not Pass a Course?

• Students may be recommended for Credit Recovery

• Students may repeat the course in summer school

• Students may repeat the course in the next semester or year

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Choices for Nine

The Importance of Credit Accumulation

What is the Data Telling Us?

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Choices for Nine

What is the Data Telling Us?

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Choices for Nine

Undecided?

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If unsure of the program of study, keep future options open

and choose Academic.

Know Your Child

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Choices for Nine

Creating Pathways to Success, 2013

myBlueprint

•Online educational & career planning tool for students and parents

www.myBlueprint.ca/tdsb

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Choices for Nine

The Year Ahead:Educational Planning and Course

Selection Process

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• Planning for the coming year is a process

• Begins now and will continue until Course Selection Sheets are due in late February

www.tdsb.on.ca/GoingtoHighSchool

What Can Families Do to Help Students Make Good Choices?

• Access and investigate myBlueprint career planning tool

• Attend Secondary Information Evenings/Open Houses

• Encourage continued participation in extracurricular activities

• Choose courses of interest

• Discuss future plans

• Stay involved and connected with the school30

Choices for Nine

• January 29, 2016 Optional Attendance applications due to secondary schools – delivered by student/parent/guardian

• February 12, 2016 Secondary schools will inform Optional Attendance applicants by this date

• Mid to late February 2016 Course Selections completed via myBlueprint and returned to elementary teacher/counsellor

• February 26, 2016 All course selection sheets due to secondary schools – delivered by Elementary Counsellor

Note:• Only ONE course selection per student is submitted

for ONE secondary school by the elementary school

counsellor

Specific DatesChoices for Nine

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Questions?

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Thank You for Coming

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Choices for Nine

Where do students go after high school?

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Choices for Nine