PLANNING 10 Unit 1 Graduation Program

Unit Overview Main topics Identify the requirements of the Graduation Program Begin planning how to meet the requirements Course requirements Exam requirements Ways that course credits can be earned “Focus areas”: what are they? Graduation Transitions

What You Need to Graduate In order to graduate with a Dogwood Diploma, every student in the Graduation Program as to pass certain basic courses. As well, each course that you take is assigned a point value (“credit”). To graduate, you must obtain a minimum number of credits: - 48 credits from required courses - 28 credits from elective courses - 4 credits from Graduation Transitions Total 80 credits

What You Need to Graduate: Courses and Credits

Graduation Program Required Exams All B.C. students must write five graduation program exams: - Language Arts 10 - Science 10 - Mathematics 10 - a Social Studies 11/12 - a Language Arts 12. ** As of the 2011/12 school year, optional provincial exams will no longer be offered. All five required provincial exams remain in place and continue to form part of the graduation program.

Provincial Scholarships The provincial examination scholarships, typically valued at $1,000 each with the top 20 students earning $2,500, had previously been awarded based only on students’ performance in their Grade 12 exams, both required and optional. This year, optional provincial exams will no longer be offered. As of the school year, scholarship criteria will shift to focus on students’ performance in grades 10, 11 and 12 required provincial exams.

Focus Areas Focus Areas help students: Explore a range of learning and work options Develop an area of interest to focus their learning during Grades 11 and 12 Think about and organize the courses they take in Grades 11 and 12 Explore post-secondary education or training options

Focus Areas Business and Applied Business Focus Area This Focus Area provides the opportunity to explore careers in areas such as marketing, finance, human resources, accounting or computer use in a business or office setting. Fine Arts, Design, and Media Focus Area This Focus Area supports the development of skills and knowledge in a range of specialties including Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts.

Focus Areas Fitness and Recreation Focus Area Students who choose this Focus Area have the opportunity to pursue learning experiences related to athletics, recreation, personal health and wellness, coaching and team performance. Health and Human Services Focus Area In this Focus Area, students get a broad overview of the skills and attitudes relevant to fields such as health care, child and family services, teaching and the legal services sector.

Focus Areas Liberal Arts and Humanities Focus Area This Focus Area supports students to develop skills, competencies and know- ledge in areas such as history, literature, writing, philosophy, international languages, First Nations studies and geography. Science and Applied Sciences Focus Area This Focus Area can provide a foundation of skills and knowledge in areas such as Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Geology/ Earth Science, Resource Sciences or Science and Technology.

Focus Areas Tourism, Hospitality, and Foods Focus Area This Focus Area can provide students with a broad introduction to the hospitality industry and support them to develop skills and competencies in areas such as hospitality and food services, events and conference planning, and a variety of tourism services. Trades and Technology Focus Area This Focus Area addresses a spectrum of education and skills in areas such as industrial and commercial trades, and in many computer and telecommunication technologies.