TRANSITIONING :

HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND

OUTCOMES

OUTCOMES OF SESSION:HIGH SCHOOL:• ACADEMIC & SOCIAL SUPPORTS• PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION• ACADEMIC COURSES & PROGRAMS• PORTFOLIOS• CAREER CRUISING• EXTRA-CURRICULAR• TIME MANAGEMENT & STAYING ORGANIZED• SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIES/AWARDS

OUTCOMES

OUTCOMES FOR SESSION:POST-SECONDARY:• ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS• PROGRAMS (TYP, IB&M, ETC.)• SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIES/AWARDS• FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE• ACADEMIC & SOCIAL SUPPORTS• VOLUNTEER WORK/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT• PORTFOLIOS• TIME MANAGEMENT & STAYING ORGANIZED

ACADEMIC & SOCIAL SUPPORTS

ACADEMIC & SOCIAL SUPPORTS:• UNLIKE JUNIOR HIGH, YOU WILL NOT NEED A REFERRAL TO SEE A

SUPPORT WORKER AT HIGH SCHOOL. SUPPORT WORKERS CAN PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT, SOCIAL SUPPORT, SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIES, RESOURCES, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, ETC. CHECK IN REGULARLY. WE PROMOTE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR AFRICAN NOVA SCOTIAN LEARNERS.

• GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS ASSIST WITH COURSE SELECTION & CHANGES, AGENCY REFERRALS, RESOURCES & INFORMATION, COUNSELLING, AND REFERENCE LETTERS. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS RESOURCE INDIVIDUAL. CHECK TO SEE WHAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON-LINE; SUCH AS COURSE DEVELOPMENT, CAREER CRUISING, ETC.

ACADEMIC & SOCIAL SUPPORTS ACADEMIC & SOCIAL SUPPORTS:• ADMINISTRATION & TEACHERS ARE THERE TO HELP

STUDENTS ACHIEVE SUCCESS. INQUIRE ABOUT EXTRA HELP, ANY TUTORING PROGRAMS, PERSONAL PROBLEMS, IF COMFORTABLE DISCLOSING INFORMATION, REFERENCE LETTERS.

• FAMILY SUPPORT IS SOMETIMES OVERLOOKED: PARENTS/GUARDIANS, AUNTS, UNCLES, SIBLINGS AND OTHER RELATIVES AND FRIENDS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM.

• FOR HEALTH-RELATED CONCERNS, VISIT THE YOUTH HEALTH CENTRE COORDINATOR (AT ALL OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS).

PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION

PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION:• GUIDANCE COUNSELORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COURSE

SELECTION AND START THE PROCESS IN GRADE NINE. GRADE 9 STUDENTS NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE COURSES THEY ARE SELECTING ON PAPER, AS YOUR CHOICES MIGHT BE LOCKED IN.

• FROM 2001 OR LATER – 21 CREDITS ARE REQUIRED OVER 3 YEARS (8 IN GRADE 10; 7 IN GRADE 11; AND 6 IN GRADE 12.

• A NOVA SCOTIA HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA REQUIRES 18 CREDITS, OF WHICH 13 ARE COMPULSORY (NO MORE THAN 7 OF THE 18 CREDITS MAY BE FROM GRADE 10 AND AT LEAST 5 MUST BE GRADE 12 LEVEL COURSES.

PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION

PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION:• 3 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS – 1 AT EACH

LEVEL• 2 MATH – FROM 2 DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS• 2 SCIENCES – 1 FROM SCIENCE 10, PHYSICS,

CHEMISTRY OR BIOLOGY. THE SECOND SCIENCE CAN BE FROM ANY APPROVED SCIENCE COURSE.

PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION

PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION:• 2 OTHER CREDITS FROM TECHNOLOGY,* MATH OR SCIENCE - * TECH COURSES INCLUDE: FAMILY STUDIES 10, CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY 10,

EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY, DESIGN 11, COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 11&12, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING 12, FILM AND VIDEO12, MULTI MEDIA 12, PRODUCTION

TECH 11&12, WORD INFORMATION PROCESSING.

PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION

PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION:• 1 CANADIAN HISTORY – FROM HISTORY 11,

AFRICAN CDN STUDIES 11, GAELIC STUDIES, AND MI’KMAW STUDIES 10.

• 1 GLOBAL STUDIES – GLOBAL HISTORY OR GLOBAL GEOGRAPHY.

• 1 FINE ARTS CREDIT**

PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION

PREPARATION & COURSE SELECTION:**FINE ARTS COURSES INCLUDE: ART10,11,12, DANCE 11, DRAMA, 10, 11, 12, DRAMA, 10ACF, MUSIC BAND 10, 11, 12, MUSIC VOCAL 10, 11, 12, MUSICAL THEATRE-CAN COUNT AS AN ELECTIVE AFTER FINE ARTS CREDIT IS MET.NOTE: PREREQUISITES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR CERTAIN COURSES REQUIRING CUMULATIVE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. SOME LOCALLY DEVELOPED COURSES ARE NOT ALL ACCEPTED AT POST-SECONDARY.

ACADEMIC COURSES & PROGRAMS

ACADEMIC COURSES & PROGRAMS:INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM):• THE IB PROGRAM IS A CHALLENGING 2-YEAR PRE-

UNIVERSITY COURSE OF STUDIES. THE IB DIPLOMA PROVIDES AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD OF ACHIEVEMENT. IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE 2-YEAR PROGRAM DELIVERED IN GRADES 11 AND 12 AND ENDS WITH A SERIES OF INTERNATIONAL EXAMS.

NOTE: FOR GRADE NINE’S, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO REGISTER IN PRE-IB COURSES. INFORMATION SESSIONS ARE HELD AT YOUR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

ACADEMIC COURSES & PROGRAMS

• STUDENTS WOULD BE ACADEMICALLY AMBITIOUS PLANNING FOR UNIVERSITY. RECOGNITION INCLUDES EARLY ACCEPTANCE, ADVANCED STANDING, AND ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIAL IB SCHOLARSHIPS, IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS. SCHOOLS OFFERING THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM ARE (WITH APPROVAL, STUDENTS NOT IN IB CAN TAKE SELECTIVE IB COURSES):

• CHARLES P. ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL• CITADEL HIGH SCHOOL

ACADEMIC COURSES & PROGRAMS

• COLE HARBOUR DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL• HALIFAX WEST HIGH SCHOOL• PRINCE ANDREW HIGH SCHOOLSEE YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR OR VISIT http://www.ibo.org .ADVANCED PLACEMENT: THE AP PROGRAM PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ONE OR MORE UNIVESITY-LEVEL COURSES WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

ACADEMIC COURSES & PROGRAMS

• EARN CREDIT, ADVANCED PLACEMENT, OR BOTH, BASED ON YOUR PERFORMANCE ON STANDARDIZED, DEMANDING AP EXAMS.

• AP IS OFFERED AT THE FOLLOWING HIGH SCHOOLS:

• AUBURN DRIVE HIGH • J.L. ILSLEY HIGH • MILLWOOD HIGH• SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD HIGH

ACADEMIC COURSES & PROGRAMS

CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION:• THIS COURSE ALLOWS GRADE 11 AND 12 STUDENTS TO

EARN A H.S. CREDIT BY COMPLETING A WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE.

• STUDENTS CHOOSE AN AREA OF WORK THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE AND ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM 100 HOURS AT THAT PLACEMENT. THERE IS ALSO AN IN-CLASS REQUIREMENT. STUDENTS DEVELOP RESUMES, INTERVIEW SKILLS AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE.

• NOTE: CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR CO-OP IS ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT AT POST-SECONDARY.

ACADEMIC COURSES & PROGRAMS

• POTENTIAL CO-OP STUDENTS MUST:• BE A MINIMUM OF 16• HAVE THREE TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS• COMPLETE AN APPLICATION, WITH A

PARENTAL SIGNATURE• BE WILLING TO SUBMIT TO AN INTERVIEW

ACADEMIC COURSES & PROGRAMS

OPTIONS & OPPORTUNITIES (O2):• THERE IS A SELECTION PROCESS FOR O2• HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE THE CHANCE TO

LEARN IN THE CLASSROOM, AS WELL AS IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU CAN EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF JOBS TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT CAREER.

• STUDENTS CAN MOVE FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO WORK, A CAREER PATH, OR A POST-SECONDARY PROGRAM. ALL 15 HIGH SCHOOLS WILL OFFER THE O2 PROGRAM IN 2013-14.

ACADEMIC COURSES & PROGRAMS

• STUDENTS WILL EXPERIENCE AN INTEGRATED CAREER APPROACH TO ALLOW THEM TO LINK SUBJECT AREAS WITH CAREERS FIELDS SUCH AS:

• TRADES & TECHNOLOGIES• BUSINESS EDUCATION• HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES• HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM• ARTS, CULTURE AND RECREATION• INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)

PORTFOLIOS

PORTFOLIOS:• KEEPING A PORTFOLIO IS A WAY TO RECORD YOUR

ACCOMPLISHMENTS, STAY ORGANIZED AND KEEP TRACK OF SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIES, APPLICATIONS, LETTERS, ESSAYS, VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY, EMPLOYMENT, CO-OP PLACEMENTS, ETC.

• PORTFOLIOS ARE USED IN HIGH SCHOOL AND POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO START YOUR PORTFOLIO IN JUNIOR HIGH.

EXTRA-CURRICULAREXTRA-CURRICULAR• IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT MOST STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES HAVE A BETTER ALL-AROUND SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. STUDENTS MUST BE IN GOOD ACADEMIC STANDING TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS TEAMS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND ATTENDING COMMUNITY EVENTS ARE CONSIDERED SCHOOL AMBASSADORS. EXAMPLES OF TEAMS AND CLUBS WOULD INCLUDE ECO CLUB, CHESS,ANIME, DRAMA, STUDENT COUNCIL, BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, CURLING, SOFTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, HOCKEY, SOCCER, SKIING, ETC. STUDENTS MAY BE GIVEN PERMISSION TO START THEIR OWN CLUBS. REMEMBER THAT ACADEMIC WORK COMES FIRST AND EMPLOYMENT AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR MUST BE BALANCED WITH THIS IN MIND.

CULTURAL GROUPS

CULTURAL GROUPS:• STUDENTS CAN JOIN HIGH SCHOOL CULTURAL

GROUPS, WHICH PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND GIVE YOU A SENSE OF CULTURAL PRIDE. EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION INCLUDE: AFRICAN HERITAGE, SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES, ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS, SCHOLARSHIP/BURSARY INFO, PORTFOLIOS, LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE, ETC. SPEAK TO YOUR SUPPORT WORKER.

VOLUNTEERING

VOLUNTEERING:• VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY IS VERY IMPORTANT AT

SCHOOL AND IN THE COMMUNITY.• EMPLOYERS LOOK AT VOLUNTEER WORK, AS WELL

AS PAID WORK EXPERIENCE. POST-SECONDARY SELECTION COMMITTEES LOOK AT VOLUNTEERING FOR ADMISSION PURPOSES. IT IS AN INDICATION OF CITIZENSHIP AND CAN BE A WAY TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR SCHOOL-COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY.

TIME MANAGEMENT/STAYING ORGANIZED

TIME MANAGEMENT & STAYING ORGANIZED:• CARRY AN AGENDA OR USE YOUR PHONE OR

OTHER ELECTRONICS FOR SCHEDULING YOUR SCHOOLWORK AND APPOINTMENTS.

• SET GOALS AND PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE – YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR OR SUPPORT WORKER CAN HELP YOU WITH THIS.

• START THINKING ABOUT CAREER PLANS NOW.

SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIES/AWARDS

SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIES/AWARDS:• START COLLECTING SCHOLARSHIP AND

BURSARY INFORMATION IN A PORTFOLIO (FOLDER,OR BINDER) IN JUNIOR HIGH.

• BE AWARE OF ANY AWARDS AT SCHOOL AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

HIGH SCHOOL QUIZ

A PORTFOLIO IS (TRUE/FALSE):T/F – A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF ACHIEVEMENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, ESSAYS, ETC.T/F – A CREDIT IS AWARDED EVERYTIME YOU ATTEND CLASS.

HIGH SCHOOL QUIZ

T/F – YOU CAN ATTEND UNIVERSITY WITH FOUNDATION COURSES. T/F – YOU CAN ATTEND UNIVERSITY ON AN INDIVIDUAL PROGRM PLAN (IPP).T/F – IF YOU’RE ON AN IPP, YOU’LL NEVER GET OFF.T/F – I’LL BE IN CLASSES WITH ALL MY FRIENDS.

HIGH SCHOOL QUIZ

T/F – COURSE SELECTION IS NOT IMPORTANT.T/F – I CAN SKIP CLASSES WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES.T/F – SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES ARE ONLY AWARDED FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

POST-SECONDARY

POST-SECONDARY:ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:• EACH UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE, TRADE SCHOOL, TRAINING

SCHOOL, ETC. HAS ITS OWN ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS (NSCC’S ADMISSION DATE IS SEPTEMBER FOR THE FOLLOWING SEPTEMBER), WHICH INCLUDES COURSES ACCEPTED, GRADES EXPECTED, ADMISSION DEADLINES, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, ETC.

• EACH ALSO HAS DEGREE/DIPLOMA/CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS SPECIFIC TO THEIR SCHOOL.

PROGRAMS

PROGRAMS:• PROGRAMS ARE SOMETIMES OFFERED WHICH

ARE SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN ETHNO-CULTURAL GROUPS: EXAMPLES WOULD BE DALHOUSIE’S TRANSITION YEAR PROGRAM (TYP), DALHOUSIE’S IB&M PROGRAM IN LAW, NOVA SCOTIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S TRANSITION PROGRAM, ETC.

SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIES/AWARDS

SCHOLARSHIPS/BURSARIES/AWARDS:• THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO HELP PAY FOR YOUR POST-

SECONDARY PROGRAM. SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES DO NOT HAVE TO BE PAID BACK. BURSARIES ARE AWARDED FOR FINANCIAL NEED. AWARDS ARE GIVEN FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND/OR OUTSTANDING INVOLVEMENT. SOME SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES ARE AVAILABLE TO SPECIFIC ETHNIC AND CULTURAL GROUPS SUCH AS AFRICAN NOVA SCOTIAN AND ABORIGINAL. REMEMBER TO APPLY FOR AS MANY AS YOU WANT, AS LONG AS YOU MEET THE CRITERIA.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:• IF YOU NEED TO ASK ABOUT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE,

CHECK WITH FINANCIAL AID, OR STUDENT SERVICES. DON’T GIVE UP BEFORE EXHAUSTING ALL SUPPORTS. PERHAPS, YOU CAN GET A PART TIME JOB ON OR OFF CAMPUS. IT WOULD BE BETTER TO DROP A COURSE THAN TO DROP OUT ALTOGETHER. IF YOU’RE UNCERTAIN WHO TO GO TO, CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR OR VISIT THE REGISTRAR’S OFFICE AND THEY WILL REDIRECT YOU, IF NECESSARY.

ACADEMIC & SOCIAL SUPPORTS

ACADEMIC & SOCIAL SUPPORTS:• SOMETIMES UNIVERSITY LIFE CAN BECOME

OVERWHELMING. WRITING CENTRES HAVE GRADUATE STUDENTS TO OFFER ADVICE ON RESEARCH PAPERS AND WRITING SKILLS. THERE ARE CENTRES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, AND COUNSELLING SERVICES.

VOLUNTEER WORK/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

VOLUNTEER WORK/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:• AS MENTIONED FOR HIGH SCHOOL, THIS AREA

CAN HELP INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT AND GETTING ACCESS TO CERTAIN POST-SECONDARY PROGRAMS.

PORTFOLIOS

PORTFOLIOS:• START YOUR PORTFOLIO NOW SO THAT IT

WILL BE SECOND NATURE FOR YOU TO COLLECT YOUR INFORMATION THIS WAY.

TIME MANAGEMENT & STAYING ORGANIZED

TIME MANAGEMENT & STAYING ORGANIZED:• IT’S IMPORTANT TO DEVOTE A CERTAIN AMOUNT

OF TIME EACH DAY TO YOUR STUDIES. IF NOT THE WORKLOAD WILL QUICKLY OVERWHELM YOU. STUDY ALONE, WITH A PARTNER, OR WITH A GROUP—WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU. RECREATION TIME IS NECESSARY FOR BALANCE, BUT YOU MUST STAY DISCIPLINED IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL. YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN LEARNING.

TIME MANAGEMENT & STAYING ORGANIZED

• AT POST-SECONDARY YOU ARE CONSIDERED AN ADULT AND NO ONE WILL KEEP YOU ON TRACK FOR CLASSES OR ASSIGNMENTS.

• USE AN AGENDA, PLANNER, PHONE, COMPUTER, IPAD TO KEEP YOURSELF ORGANIZED.

• MEET DEADLINES – ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE PASSED IN ON TIME, UNLESS SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE AND CLEARED WITH YOUR PROFESSOR.

• USE THE WRITING CENTRE, STUDY SKILLS CENTRE, ACCESSABILITY CENTRES.

• SOME CAMPUSES HAVE BLACK STUDENT ADVISORS.

POST-SECONDARY QUIZ

• T/F – PROFESSORS WILL CHECK TO SEE IF • YOU NEED ANY HELP.• T/F – YOU CAN ONLY APPLY FOR ONE POST- SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP.• T/F- THERE IS NO FINANCIAL SUPPORT IF YOU RUN OUT OF MONEY.• T/F – THERE ARE SUPPORT SERVICES ON CAMPUS FOR ACADEMICS, FINANCES, COUNSELLING, ETC.

POST SECONDARY QUIZ

• T/F – YOU WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IF YOU DEVELOP A SUPPORT SYSTEM.• T/F – YOU CAN’T HAVE FUN AND ACHIEVE GOOD GRADES.• T/F – IF YOU NEED INFORMATION, CHECK WITH THE REGISTRAR’S OFFICE.• T/F – FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAN BE HELPFUL.• T/F – ALL AFRICAN NOVA SCOTIAN STUDENTS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.