Welcome to

1

• Welcome to
• Westheights Gr 8-9
• Parent Information Night
• Tuesday January 27th 6 7 pm

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DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS 0SSD Ontario Secondary
School Diploma
30 CREDITS by the end of Gr. 12
18 COMPULSORY
12 ELECTIVES
Plus
40 hours of Community Involvement Successful
Completion of Literacy Requirement ? Tracking
sheets and booklets are handed out at the end of
Gr.8 (can start in the summer before high school)
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COMPULSORY SUBJECTS
4 credits in ENGLISH 3 credits in MATHEMATICS
2 credits in SCIENCE 1 credit in GEOGRAPHY 1
credit in HISTORY 1 credit FRENCH 1 credit ARTS
1 credit PHYSICAL EDUCATION 1/2 credit in
CIVICS 1/2 credit in CAREER STUDIES ...that
makes a total of 15 out of the 18 required
credits. Plus 3 more credits in specific areas
are required
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3 More Compulsory Creditsx1 credit from EACH
group
1
2

• English
• Third Language
• Social Science
• Canadian and World Studies
• Guidance and Career Education
• Cooperative Education
• ___________________

• Health Phys. Ed.
• Arts
• Business
• Cooperative Education
• _______________
• Science, Gr. 11 or 12
• Technological Education, Gr. 9-12
• Cooperative Education

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Note a maximum of 2 Cooperative Education
courses may be taken
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12 ELECTIVES

• DRAMATIC ARTS
• MUSIC - INSTRUMENTAL
• MUSIC - VOCAL
• VISUAL ARTS
• PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• BUSINESS
• INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
• INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES
• INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY LIVING

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What Are My Interests?

• Instead of asking the question, what do I want
  to be when I grow up
• Ask yourself
• What am I passionate about?
• What am I interested in?
• What do I love?

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Course Type Destination

• Grade 9 and 10
• Academic
• Applied
• Essential
• Open

• Grade 11 and 12
• University
• University/College
• College
• Workplace
• Open

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Academic Courses

• Offered in core areas English, Math, Science,
  History, Geography, French
• Emphasis on theoretical applications of the
  essential concepts
• Catered to students who work best independently
• Lead to senior courses preparing for university
  and college
• Guideline benchmark 70 and over

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Applied Courses

• Offered in core areas English, Math, Science,
  History, Geography, French
• Emphasis on practical, concrete applications of
  the essential concepts
• Lead to senior courses preparing for college,
  apprenticeship, skilled trades, and the workplace
  (Not University)
• Guideline benchmark 50 - 70

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Essential Courses

• Locally developed courses designed for students
  functioning below grade level
• Hands on learning, smaller class sizes
• Lead to senior courses preparing students for the
  workplace
• SJAM offers Essential courses Magnet Program
  Fast Forward

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Open Courses

• Set of Expectations that is suitable for all
  students at a given grade level
• Provides students with a broad educational base
• Available in subjects like Physical Education,
  Technology, Art etc.
• Generally elective courses
• Class could have a mixture of grades in it (e.g.
  Art class with both grade 9 and 10 students)

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SAMPLE GR 9 STUDENT TIMETABLESemestered School
(e.g. FHCI)

• SEMESTER 1
• SEPT. TO JANUARY
• ENGLISH
• SCIENCE
• FRENCH
• ELECTIVE (e.g. Physical Education, Visual Art,
  etc.)

• SEMESTER 2
• FEBRUARY TO JUNE
• MATHEMATICS
• GEOGRAPHY
• ELECTIVE (e.g. Business)
• ELECTIVE (e.g. Integrated Technology)

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Forest Heights 2014-15 Schedule
Travel Time 5minutes between each class
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Frequently Asked Questions

• Will there be an opportunity to switch courses
  during grade 9, e.g., Academic to Applied?
• Not likely due to timetable constraints
• Is it possible to change course types from grade
  9 to 10?
• Yes, in all core courses except MATH can be
  changed from applied to academic
• (need to retake grade 9 math at the academic
  level
• BEFORE taking Gr. 10 academic math)

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What happens when a student or parent chooses a
  course type other than what has been recommended
  by the teacher?
• Secondary schools enter the information selected
  by the student or parents on MyWay.
• Families make the final decision.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Does a student have to take all the same course
  types?
• No, students can select different types
  (applied/academic) for the core courses according
  to their strengths, work habits, and learning
  style.
• E.g. academic English, applied Science, applied
  Math

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Grade 8 -9 Transition Timelines

• Grade 9 Course Selection Step
  _________DATES_________
• Principal to Principal Transfers Monday,
  February 2nd
• Status of Magnet programs acceptance Friday,
  February 6th
• Student declares intent for Magnet Friday,
  February 13th
• (if the school does not hear from students, they
  assume they declined)
• Term 1 Report Cards sent home Friday, February
  20th
• Trillium transfer Wednesday, February 25th
• (registered at home high school via WH
  Office)
• Course Selection opens on MyWay Thursday,
  February 26th
• (myway.wrdsb.ca)
• Course Selections completed/closes Friday,
  March 6th

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MyWay Course Selection

• Students and parents can log into MyWay starting
  Thursday February 26th to request next years
  courses
• 1. Go to MyWay (https//myway.wrdsb.ca)
• 2. Login using student school connect username
  and password
• 3. Click on the Course Request tab at the top
• 4. Choose appropriate options for student
• 5. Choose appropriate Course Type, Grade Level,
  and Courses from the drop down-menu
• 6. Logout (right side of menu bar)

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Requesting Next Years Courses
Instruction pages will be sent home in February
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Choosing Your Courses for Grade 9
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• Questions?
• Contact the High School directly for specific
  concerns (course codes, scheduling, levels etc.)
• General Questions
• Email
• Guidance Contact heather_pizzey_at_wrdsb.on.ca
• Vice-Principal liz_anderson_at_wrdsb.on.ca
• Phone
• Westheights P.S. 519-744-3549