CHOOSING COURSES FOR 2013/2014 GRADE 10 INTO 11 Brooks Secondary School Your life will be no better than the plans you make, and the actions you take. You are the architect and builder of your own life, fortune, and destiny. ~Alfred Montapert~

Course Selection Process  Attend Course Selection Information session during FLEX.  March 5 th (theatre)  Complete the research assignment given to you by the school counsellors.  Attend classroom Course Selection sessions during your B block class (March 7 th – March 15 th ).  The counsellors will be to your B block class for two sessions. Session 1: examining careers/post-secondary requirements Session 2: reviewing course selection sheets  Discuss course selections with parents/guardians and have them sign your Course Selection Sheet.  Course selection sheets must be signed and returned during the 2 nd classroom session.

Choose Your Courses Thoughtfully  The timetable is developed by determining how many students have selected each course. Then we create enough classes in each course to meet those needs.  When you select a course you are indicating a commitment to include the course(s) in your educational plan for next year.  Courses with low enrollment may not be able to be offered.

What You Need to Graduate  20 courses in Grade (80 credits)  12 courses from required courses  7 courses from elective courses  4 credits from Graduation Transitions  4 of the 20 courses must be at the Grade 12 level

Standard Grade 11 Timetable  Language Arts 11  Mathematics 11  Science 11  Social Studies 11 or BC First Nations 12  Elective

How Do I Know Which Courses to Choose?  Think about your future plans.  Do some research.  Explore your options.  Stay flexible.

What Do I Need to Think About?  the elective courses and programs that you would like to take at the high school level  some courses/programs require a separate application (ex. Community Service 11/12 or the CMA program)  the programs available at various post-secondary institutions that you might be interested in  it’s okay not to know exactly what career you want to have  it is important, though, to think about the possibilities and start planning for them  most post-secondary programs have high school prerequisites

What Do I Need to Think About? cont...  research math requirements for various programs and post-secondary institutions  Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics 11  Foundations of Mathematics 11  Pre-calculus 11  research English requirements for various programs and post-secondary institutions  English 11/12  Communications 11/12

What Do I Need to Think About? cont...  decide on a Science 11 course  Biology 11  Chemistry 11  Earth Science 11  Physics 11  Science and Technology 11

SHATTERING MYTHS: MYTH: Only certain types of people go to post- secondary education.  People from all socio-economic and academic backgrounds go to post-secondary.  For example, government programs do not expect any contribution from families who earn less than $50, 000 and provide the maximum amount of aid. "Shattering Myths." Perspectives: Getting an Inside Look At Post-Secondary. Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation.

SHATTERING MYTHS: MYTH: If I make all of these decisions about my future now, I will be locked into something I’m not sure about. “The average student across North America will change their major three times.” Education and career readiness is “a process you navigate and not a correct answer you find” (BCCAT). "Shattering Myths." Perspectives: Getting an Inside Look At Post-Secondary. Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation.

SHATTERING MYTHS: MYTH: Certain schools and programs are better than others.  Each post-secondary institution is different (“different” does not equal “better”).  Investigate each school to find a match that will work for your values and goals. "Shattering Myths." Perspectives: Getting an Inside Look At Post-Secondary. Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation.

Resources     

Grade 11 Course Selection  Language Arts 11  Mathematics 11  Science 11  Social Studies 11 or BC First Nations 12  Elective

Course Handbook  The Course Handbook and more information about the course selection process are available on the Brooks website:

School Counsellors  Mr. Marciniak (A – L)  Mrs. Burt (M – Z)  Mr. Brach (International Students)  Mr. Palm (Career Coordinator)