Welcome to the Grade 8 course Selection Assembly 2014

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GRADUATE?

What Courses Do You Need to Graduate? The 18 compulsory credits include: 4 credits English (1 credit per Grade) 1 credit French as a second language 3 credits Mathematics 2 credits Science 1 credit Canadian history 1 credit Canadian geography 1 credit Arts 1 credit Health and Physical education .50 credit Career education .50 credit Civics AND

1 additional credit selected from Group 1 1 additional credit selected from Canadian and World Studies or English or Social Science and the humanities or French as a second language or Native language or Classical or international language or Cooperative Education or Guidance and Career Education

1 additional credit selected from Group 2 1 additional credit selected from The Arts (Visual Art, Drama, Music, Dance) or Business Studies Health and physical Education Cooperative Education French as a second language

1 additional credit selected from Group 3 1 additional credit selected from Science – Grade 11 or 12 or Technological Education Cooperative Education Computer Studies French as a second language

6 Compulsory Subjects + 2 Elective Subjects = 8 Courses Grade 9 Program 6 Compulsory Subjects + 2 Elective Subjects = 8 Courses

AMG 101 Course Codes for Grade 9 First three characters represents the subject area. Fourth character represents the Grade. Fifth character represents the level of difficulty

Decoding a Course Code The first letter in the course code denotes the course’s department area. For example: A = Arts (AVI1O1) B = Business (BTT1O1) E = English (ENG1P1) T = Technology (TFJ1O1)

Grade 9 Compulsory Courses Pink handout

Grade 9 Compulsory Courses SUBJECT AREA ACADEMIC APPLIED LOCALLY DEVELOPED CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY CGC1D1 CGC1P1 ENGLISH ENG1D1 ENG1P1 ENG1L1 FRENCH FSF1D1 FSF1P1 MATHEMATICS MPM1D1 MFM1P1 MAT1L1 SCIENCE SNC1D1 SCN1P1 SNC1L1 FEMALE MALE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION (OPEN) PPL1O4 PAR1O4 PPL1O3

Making Your Choices: Academic, Locally Developed or Applied? Academic courses focus on the essential concepts of the discipline PLUS additional related concepts. While course work exposes students to both theories and practical applications, there is a greater emphasis on THEORY as a basis for future learning and problem solving.

Making Your Choices: Academic, Applied or locally developed? Applied courses focus on the essential concepts of the discipline. While course work exposes students to both theories and practical applications, there is a greater emphasis on PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS.

Making Your Choices: Academic, Applied, or locally developed? Locally Developed courses focus on the most essential concepts of a discipline. These courses are offered in Math, Science and English in Grade 9. These courses will provide support for students making the transition to high school by enhancing their skills to allow them to be successful in High School.

Academic and Applied courses differ in the balance between essential concepts and additional material and in the balance between theory and application.

Math example Grade 8 – Volume of a Cube

Math example Grade 9 – Academic Students develop the formula for finding the Volume of a Cone and use it to solve problems.

Math example Grade 9 – Applied Teacher supplies the formula for volume of a cone and students use it to solve problems.

Grade 9 –Locally Developed Math example Grade 9 –Locally Developed No volume of a cone. Practice numeracy skills – fractions, integers, decimals, BEDMAS, etc.

Can I change levels in Grade 10? Yes! Students are able to move from APPLIED courses in Grade 9 to ACADEMIC courses in Grade 10. Students are able to move from ACADEMIC courses in Grade 9 to APPLIED courses in Grade 10. Math requires a Transfer course at summer school.

Students may select a variety of course types. Do all the courses that a student selects have to be at the same level? No! Students are encouraged to take the type of course that best suits their interests, goals and learning styles. Students may select a variety of course types.

Can a student take more than one course in the subject area? Yes! For example: Semester #1: MAT1L1 (Locally Developed Math) Semester #2: MFM1P1 (Applied Math)

Grade 9 Elective Courses. students select Grade 9 Elective Courses *students select *all elective courses are offered at the “open level” .

What is an Open Course? Open courses have one set of expectations for each subject and are appropriate for ALL students.

Grade 9 Elective Courses

COURSE NAME COURSE CODE DRAMA ADA1O1 DRAMA – PERFORMANCE & VOCAL MUSIC – MUSIC THEATRE (2 CREDIT COURSE: DRAMA – ADB1O1 AND VOCAL- AMV1O3) ADB1O1 DRAMA - MUSIC THEATRE – PRODUCTION ADD1O1 MUSIC – GUITAR AMG1O1 MUSIC – STAGE BAND AMH1O1 MUSIC – INSTRUMENTAL AMI1O1 MUSIC – VOCAL AMV1O1 VISUAL ARTS AVI1O1 INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY BTT1O1 EXPLORING FAMILY STUDIES HIF1O1 EXPRESSIONS OF ABORIGINAL CULTURES NAC1O1 RYTHYM AND MOVEMENT (FEMALE ONLY) PAR1O4 EXPLORING HOSPITALITY & TOURISM TFJ1O1 EXPLORING TECHNOLOGIES – VERSION #1 TIJ1O1 EXPLORING TECHNOLOGIES – VERSION #2 TIJ1O3

Grade 9 Elective Courses THE ARTS Drama Music – Guitar Music – Stage Band Music - Instrumental Music - Vocal Visual Arts Music Theatre-Performance ( 2 credits – ADB1O1 & AMV1O3) Music Theatre- Production ADA1O1 AMG1O1 AMH1O1 AMI1O1 AMV1O1 AVI1O1 ABD1O1 ADD1O1 It is STRONGLY recommended that students complete an art credit in Grade 9

Grade 9 Elective Courses BUSINESS Information & Communication Technology in Business BTT1O1 Software application Word Power point Excel

Grade 9 Elective Courses SOCIAL SCIENCE Exploring Family Studies HIF1O1 Learn: to get along better with friends and family to eat healthy to improve communication skills to spend money wisely to deal with peer pressure

Grade 9 Elective Courses NATIVE STUDIES Expressions of Aboriginal Cultures NAC1O1 Counts as an ART credit Examines Aboriginal Cultures through: Painting Sculpture Storytelling Dance Music

Grade 9 Elective Courses HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION Rhythm and Movement (females only) PAR1O4 Variety of dance forms including: Ballet Jazz Tap Hip hop Cultural and folk Creative

Grade 9 Elective Courses TECHNOLOGY Exploring Hospitality & Tourism TFJ1O1 Exploring Technologies – Design & Communication Version #1 TIJ1O1 Exploring Technologies – Construction & Transportation Version #2 TIJ1O3 TFJ1O1 Food preparation Food handling Event planning Local tourism Origins of foods TIJ1O1 Communication Technology Design – 3D printer TIJ1O3 Small Engines Carpentry, Plumbing, etc.

You will select your courses online using the Career Cruising website. course SELECTION You will select your courses online using the Career Cruising website.

STEP #1: Log In to Career Cruising Access Career Cruising: 1. Richardson website at http://richardson.ddsbschools.ca/ or 2. www.careercruising.com/login/ddsb

Richardson website  

Watch this video

STEP #2: Click “Choose My Courses”

STEP #3: View the Course Guide by clicking on the “blue book”

Course Guide A listing of all courses available in 2014-2015. It has been organized by departments to help you make your course selections. Grade 9 courses may be searched by 9th Grade Compulsory, 9th Grade Electives or by Subject Area ( i.e. Arts, Business, etc.)

Course Descriptions

STEP #4: SEARCH YOUR GRADUATION TRACKING

Diploma Requirements

What satisfies each mandatory credit? What do you have left?

STEP #5: Select your 6 Mandatory Courses Courses in “taupe”

STEP #5: Select your 6 Mandatory Courses

STEP #6: Select your 2 Elective Courses Courses in “white”

STEP #6: Select your 2 Elective Courses

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

STEP #7: Choose an Alternate Course

Step #8: Submit Your Choices to Guidance WARNING: This step cannot be undone!

Step #9: Print the Course Request Sign Off Sheet This must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to your Grade 8 Teacher by February 18, 2014.

WHEN THINKING ABOUT YOUR COURSES FOR NEXT YEAR……. Ask your Grade 8 teacher for suggestions Talk with your parents Reflect Personally

Due date to pick courses for grade 9: February 18, 2014

Thursday, January 30th, 2014 at 7 p.m. Grade 8 Parents’ Night Thursday, January 30th, 2014 at 7 p.m.

Optional Laptop Program In this optional program, students will attend their compulsory courses with other laptop students. Parents and Students must complete a registration form and submit it to Guidance. Parents who decide to have their children participate in this optional program will be expected to provide their child’s technology.

Laptop Program INFORMATION NIGHT Wednesday, March 5th, 2014 7:00 pm in our Library.

Grade 8 to 9 Advice Don’t be scared. Be yourself. Make smart choices. Have the right attitude. Do your work. Ask for help if you need it. Join as many activities as possible. Make new friends.

This concludes the Grade 8 course selection Assembly