PREPARING FOR HIGH SCHOOL COURSE SELECTION PRESENTATION AJAX HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

AGENDA 1. The Guidance Dept. - A Short Introduction 2. Ajax High School - Overview 3. Ontario Secondary School Diploma 4. Choosing the appropriate course types: - Open, Academic, Applied, Essential - Learning Strategies (referred by SERT) 5. The Individual Pathways Plan (IPP) 6. The Grade 9 Program - Course Selections 7. Questions

HOW CAN GUIDANCE HELP? What role does Guidance play at Ajax High School? Transition from grade 8 to grade 9 Course selection information Short term counseling and referrals Post-secondary research and applications Career planning Timetabling and alternative education (summer school/night school/learn-at-home) Student records and awards Awards Assembly/Commencement

AJAX HIGH SCHOOL AT A GLANCE School Structure – Our school year is divided into two semesters: Semester 1 (September – January) Semester 2 (February – June) You will take FOUR courses per semester - 75 minute classes - School start time – 9:05 am - End time - 3:05 pm - Lunch - 11:45 to 12:30 (45 minutes)

AJAX HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS Get Involved! Ajax Food and Toy Drive Committee PRIDE Club Arts Council PROM Battle of the Books Read-A-Thon Breakfast Club SAC Breaking Barriers  Ski Club Concert Band Spanish Club Concert Choir Squash Club DECA Club Student Council French Club Tech Crew Improv Club Therapy Dogs Impact Club Trivia Club Literacy Test Prep (OSSLT) University of Waterloo Math Contest Me to We Victory in Europe 2020 Multicultural Club White Pine Reading Club Murder Mystery Get Involved! Poetry Slam Team

AJAX HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Badminton Rugby – Boys Basketball - Boys Ski Club Basketball - Girls Soccer - Boys Cross Country Team Soccer - Girls Curling Team Softball Girls - Senior Fastball - Girls Squash Club Field Hockey - Girls Swim Team Golf Hockey Boys - Junior Track and Field Hockey - Boys Volleyball - Boys Hockey - Girls Volleyball - Girls Rugby - Girls

ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA (OSSD) REQUIREMENTS 30 credits (110 hours each) 18 compulsory credits 12 optional credits 40 hours of community involvement; (Students may begin community involvement hours during the summer after grade 8) Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (Grade 10)

ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA (OSSD) REQUIREMENTS 4 credits English (1 credit per grade) 1 credit French as a second language 3 credits Mathematics (at least 1 credit in grade 11 or 12) 2 credits Science 1 credit Canadian History 1 credit Canadian Geography 1 credit Arts 1 credit Physical & Health Education 1 credit Civics and Career Education Plus the following 3 additional courses....

ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA (OSSD) REQUIREMENTS 1 additional credit selected from this group: English, or French as a second language*, or Spanish, or Social Sciences and Humanities, or Canadian and World Studies, or Native Studies, or Guidance and Career Education, or Co-operative education** 1 additional credit selected from this group : Health & Physical Education, or The Arts (visual art, drama, music), or Business, or French as a second language*, or Co- operative education** Science (Grade 11 or 12), or Technological Education, or Computer Studies, or French as a second language*, or Co-operative education** * a maximum of 2 French credits can count towards these additional credits (one from group 1 and one from either group 2 or 3) ** a maximum of 2 Co-op credits can count towards these credits.

SELECTING COURSES AND TYPES Before selecting courses and/or course types, students must consider their: Career goals EQAO results Report card marks & learning skills Academic rigour & homework completion Talk to parents / teachers / pathway counsellor / course planning tool Complete your Individual Pathways Plan (IPP) Read the Ajax High School Course Calendar on-line Examine career goals, personal interests Examine academic strengths and possible destinations (university, college, apprenticeship, or work destination)

Choosing the Appropriate Course Type Academic (D) Focus on essential concepts, plus additional related concepts Emphasis on theoretical, abstract applications with some practical application Academic courses allow students to pursue post-secondary at UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE, APPRENTICESHIP, WORLD OF WORK Depending on the University program, other academic courses may be required (such as science and mathematics) Consult Grade 8 teacher, pathway counsellor, SERT, administration, course planning tool

Choosing the Appropriate Course Type Applied (P) Focus on essential concepts Emphasis on practical, concrete applications, with some theoretical application Applied courses allow students to pursue post-secondary at COLLEGE, APPRENTICESHIP, WORLD OF WORK Consult Grade 8 teacher, pathway counsellor, SERT, administration, course planning tool Students are able to change course levels as they move between grades 9 and 10, Mathematics requires an additional course in the summer to switch from applied to academic.

Choosing the Appropriate Course Type Essential - Locally Developed (L) Intended for students who require support and flexibility to meet credit requirements Reinforce elementary curriculum while providing the skills necessary for further study at the secondary level Students are traditionally identified and reviewed into these courses Open (O) One set of expectations Designed to prepare students for further study in certain subjects and enrich their education Not a requirement for post-secondary destinations Note: All subjects DO NOT have to be taken as the same course type

Choosing the Appropriate Course Type Complete your “Choosing my Success – Course Planning Tool” Which course types are appropriate for you? Use the following concrete data to help decide: your grade 7/8 marks EQAO reading, writing and math achievement learning skills in grade 7/8

On-Line Course Selection/IPP Process Log on to: www.careercruising.com/login/ddsb If you have been on CareerCruising this school year use the password you created at that time

Completing your Individual Pathways Plan You will be taken to your “Dashboard” Click on “My Progress” to complete your IPP

“Individual Pathways Plan.” Completing your IPP Follow the instructions in your handout to complete the required components of your “Individual Pathways Plan.”

Completing your IPP “Career Matchmaker” Answer a series of questions in order to create a list of careers that may be of interest to you based on your likes and dislikes.

“Learning Styles Inventory” Completing your IPP “Learning Styles Inventory” Answer a series of questions in order to learn about your specific learning style.

“Career and Life Goals” Completing your IPP “Career and Life Goals” Record your future goals and save it to your portfolio.

Completing your IPP “Skills and Abilities” Identify your: Attributes Language skills Computer skills

Completing your IPP After completing each section you need to click on each section once more and check off the following:

Completing your IPP Your IPP helps you to understand more fully: your academic skills your personal attributes future education goals possible careers. Upon completion of your IPP you are ready to choose courses for Grade 9 at Ajax High School.

On-Line Course Selection Process Click on “Course Plan: Grade 9”

On-Line Course Selection Process The Course Calendar, is available by clicking the blue book icon at the top right of your screen.

Compulsory Courses English Math Science Geography Physical Education In Grade 9 there are six compulsory courses: English Math Science Geography Physical Education French

Compulsory Courses Geography French These two courses are only offered at the Academic level: Geography French

Compulsory Courses: French Immersion Students If you are in the French Immersion stream there are three classes that you must take as French Immersion classes: Science (SNC1DF) Geography (CGC1DF) French (FIF1DF)

Choosing Compulsory Courses Click on the subject box to see the options for that course

Choosing Compulsory Courses Click on the course type that you wish to take.

Choosing Compulsory Courses Click on “Add Courses” to select this course.

Choosing Compulsory Courses Click on the other compulsory subject boxes to see the options for each of these courses. If you are French exempt choose French - FSF1D1 . At your IPRC meeting a different course will be added to your course selections.

Choosing Elective Courses Click on an “Elective” box to choose one of your two elective courses

Choosing Elective Courses You will be able to choose courses under “9th Grade Elective Courses” from the Discipline drop-down menu

Choosing Elective Courses Once you click on your course you will get a description of this course Select this course by clicking on “Add Courses”

Choosing Elective Courses All students should choose at least one Arts credit as an “Elective”

Choosing Elective Courses Students may then decide to choose an additional Arts credit, or one of the following courses for their second Elective:

Choosing Your Alternate Students must now select an alternate course. This course will be used if one of your two chosen elective courses is unable to be scheduled.

Course Notes Read important notes about the course(s) that you selected by hovering your curser over the blue circle.

Submitting Your Courses Click on the “Submit” button at the bottom of your course selections once you have completed all of your selections (with your parents’/guardians’ approval). Once you “submit” your courses you cannot go back in to change courses on this site.

Submitting Your Courses Course selections must be completed and submitted on-line by: Tuesday, February 19

Submitting Your Courses Print and submit the “Course Request Sign-off Sheet,” along with your “Course Planning Tool” to your teacher.

Questions?