1. COURSE PLANNING 8 to 9

2. New Curriculum

3. CORE COMPETENCIES
Communication -the set of abilities that students use to impart and exchange information, experiences and ideas, to explore the world around them, and to understand and effectively engage in the use of digital media.
Thinking - the knowledge, skills and processes we associate with intellectual development. It is through their competency as thinkers that students take subject-specific concepts and content and transform them into a new understanding. specific thinking skills as well as habits of mind, and metacognitive awareness.
Personal and Social - set of abilities that relate to students' identity in the world, both as individuals and as members of their community and society. Personal and social competency encompasses the abilities students need to thrive as individuals, to understand and care about themselves and others, and to find and achieve their purposes in the world.

4. Curriculum – Core Competencies
Curriculum, Assessment & Reporting
Curriculum – Core Competencies
Core competencies provide the foundation for the revised curriculum
Created on a continuum (not by grade level)
Each competencies will look different and be taught differently in each subject area
Thinking
Communication
Personal and Social
The main thing

5. Purpose of Today’s Presentation
learn about WHAT COURSES you should and ‘could’ select
review HOW to fill out the ONLINE computer course selection in a few weeks   

6. TIME LINE
TODAY FEB – we review what is possible; you take this info home and talk it over with your parents & take a look over the course selection guide ONLINE (School Website). This will tell you more about the courses so you make good choices
Wed FEB 22-6:30 your parents can come to PARENTS NIGHT and hear all about the courses you need so that . . .
Wed FEB 22 (evening) -Wed. MARCH 9th you and your parent go ONLINE (at home) and register on Parent Connect (link on school website) – then save and print a copy
April 6th Student/ParentCONNECT re-opens to make any changes

7. Required Courses for Grade 9
English 9 
Social Studies 9
Humanities 9 – Combination of both
- all in one class
Cornerstones 9

8. Required Courses for Grade 9
Math 9 or,
Math 9 Challenge (selected by the Math Dept)
Math 10 /10 Challenge for those already in Math 9
CORE Math 9 (if you were in CORE. Math 8, or if the teacher recommends it)
Science 9

9. The Math Question* If you FAIL Math 8:
45% or higher week summer school; lower than 40% typically
you will repeat Math 8
50-55% consider taking summer school to upgrade OR sign up for CORE math (if you have always struggled – C or C- gr. 4-7)
50-55% you used to be ok at math but this year you just didn’t do your work and didn’t study . . your other grades are high (C+, B etc.) consider summer school, take Math 9, work hard and get a tutor to help fill in the ‘gaps’ created in grade 8 through your poor work habits
NOTE: You must have a Math 11 to graduate. CORE math leads to Workplace Math 10 which flows into Workplace Math 11 which will meet this requirement, but will NOT meet the requirement to enter University Academic Level Programs or College level academic transfer programs (but will meet requirements for more hands on type programs)
NOT SURE? Speak with your Math teacher and your Counsellor !!
*the above mentioned %’s are suggested only/not requirements; discussion must be held with the counsellor and math teacher as individual needs differ.

10. Yes . .. .required . .. . PE 9 PE 9: Womens Volleyball (numbers based)
PE 9
PE 9: Womens Volleyball (numbers based)
Academy 9 PE credit (Softball, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Hockey, Soccer, Dance..etc )*
*all academy programs require application and are choice programs with tuition costs attached as well as travel to another site for part of the school day (odd days) unless Golf or Softball which are held at Seaquam; see School District Website for more information on program details, application process and fees

11. Choice Programs (Academies)
(BY APPLICATION ONLY) Baseball Academy (Sands Sec.)
Dance Academy (Delta Sec.)
Film Acting Academy (Delta Manor Educ. Centre)
Film Production Academy (Delta Manor Educ. Centre)
Golf Academy (Seaquam Sec.)
Golf Academy (Tsawwassen Springs)
Hockey Academy – Delta wild (South Delta Sec.)
Hockey Skills Academy (South Delta Sec.)
Hockey Skills Academy (Burnsview Sec.)
Lacrosse Academy (Delta Sec.)
Opera and Performance Academy (Delta Sec.)
Soccer Academy (Sands Sec.)
Soccer Academy (South Delta Sec.)
Softball Academy – Girls (Seaquam Sec.)
Softball Academy – Girls (Delta Sec.)
Farm Roots School – (Boundary Beach)

12. Academies

13. ELECTIVE COURSES helping you develop new directions . . .

14. Languages –yes, an elective
French 9
French 9 challenge (if you are recommended)
French 10* (if you took Fr. 9 or 9 challenge in your gr. 8 year)
French 10 Challenge – if you are recommended
Japanese 9
Japanese 10 (if you took JA. 9 in your grade 8 year)
*students are only advanced by one grade
level at Seaquam; please discuss with your French Teacher THEN Counsellor as needed if you have any questions regarding appropriate placement

15. Hmmmm . . . The French Question – to take or not to take
Maybe….But it is considered an ELECTIVE – meaning something you
‘choose’ to take but don’t ‘have’ to take – you need to discuss this with your parents
BUT – some universities – like UBC and SFU - still require you to have a second language at the grade 11 level to get in , so if you hope to apply to SFU or UBC, then YES it could be.
If you don’t know and you want to keep your options open, then YES.
 Uvic, UBC Okanagan, Kwantlen and many others no longer require the second language, but ALWAYS check with the particular school of interest
* your second language does not have to be Fr; it could be Japanese 11 or Spanish 11 (you can start Spanish in grade 10), or even a language you already have or are studying privately such as German 11 or Mandarin See me re. this if you have questions.

16. APPLIED SKILLS COURSES
Action Wear Design and Construction 9
Entrepreneurship and Marketing 9
Graphics 9
Home Ec. 9: Cafeteria
Home Ec. 9: Foods
Home Ec. 9: Textiles
Computer Technology 9: Digital Literacy
Computer Technology 9: coding
Tech. Ed. 9: Drafting & Design
Tech. Ed. 9: Intro Engineering
Tech. Ed. 9: Jewelry Art Metal
Tech. Ed. 9: Metalwork
Tech. Ed. 9: Woodwork
Tech. Ed. 9: Wood Art Carving

17. Applied Skills Continued…
Drafting for Robotics 9 Challenge
Robotics 9 Challenge (X block)
YOU NEED TO TAKE BOTH IF YOU ARE TAKING THIS!!

18. FINE ARTS COURSES Drama 9 Drama 9: Stagecraft (X Block)
Theatre Company 9(X Block)
Film and Video 9
Animation 9
Music 9: Concert Band
Music 9: Jazz Band ( X Block Morning)
Music 9: Choir
Photo Arts 9

19. STUDENT SUPPORT CLASSES
Students signing up for these classes are typically already taking a block of support in their grade 8 year. If you don’t already have one, but you feel you may need a support block please see your counsellor but do NOT sign up for one.
ELL (English Language Learners)
Learning Support 9: (Formerly Strategies for Learning LA/LD) teacher if you fall under LAC or LD

20. The Importance of ALTERNATES
You choose or WE do . .. (yikes!!! - IS there such a course??)

21. Don’t Skip Alternates PICK AT LEAST 3 ……
think about the alternative classes you will take (what you can live with if you don’t get what you want ; ensure you enter MORE than one alternate)
CAREFULLY check that you have selected alternatives that YOU agree to (vs. what your parents select while you’re asleep or glued to your phone!)

22. If you are in Jazz Band or Theatre Company – special note
5 required + 3 electives = 8 classes selected
Choices 9 and 10 and 11 will be your alternates
  but
If you take Jazz Band or Theatre Company – this is #9, and so
alternates will be choice #10 and #11 & 12!

23. Confused?

24. Navigating the course selection guide – Online at Seaquam.ca
TABLE OF CONTENTS at the beginning . . .this will send you to the right ‘area’ of the book if you click
COURSE INDEX at the back of the book . . this will send you to the page that a specific course is listed on so look up the course name (you may need to hunt . . .for example BAND is actually under MUSIC and ART is under VISUAL ART
A FULL LIST OF GRADE 9 COURSE OPTIONS can be found on page 4 of the book

25. Questions?

27. FAQ’s What if I select things online and then later I change my mind?
There will be a chance later in the spring to make the change when the system is opened up again for a few days; be sure to check the tv screens for specific dates
Proposed dates are April 6 – final verification will be April (view only on connect)

28. Why is it that when I pick my electives I don’t always get them??
There may have been more requests then there are spaces (so it is full; computer generated so random who gets it)
There may have been too FEW requests and the class is cancelled
The elective you picked is only offered in ONE block and this conflicts with another elective (known as a course conflict) – the computer does the selection, not us so it is random

29. What if I don’t pick alternates?
Your timetable will have a ‘hole’ – in Sept. You may have to take whatever ‘fits’ in that hole vs. what you ‘want’
I cannot try to complete your timetable in your absence; if you include them I can at least try! If I have to wait then is a chance that something that DID have space will no longer have space and you get what is left.

30. What if I make a mistake and pick the wrong level of math ?
Your math teacher will look at who has signed up for the different math classes in late spring; at that point the teacher will notice if you have signed up in the wrong one and let the counsellor know; or – if you notice it – let the counsellor know (can be changed at the office level)

31. Can’t I just change things around in September?
Not always – many classes are already full in Sept.
We cannot guarantee there will space left in the class you ‘should’ have signed up for
Remember – we do not make changes in electives so you can be with a particular teacher or friend
If you SELECT the elective the assumption is you want it – so, if you get it , you will be expected to keep it. We won’t change it just because you changed your mind or it wasn’t quite what you thought it might be

32. Questions?

33. Other Issues… Internet Safety Cyber Bullying Drug Issues
Effort and Attendance

34. Review of Important Dates
NOW: Read up on courses you are interested in (course selection guide) and/or speak to the teacher who runs that course- if you don’t do your research you may be disappointed later down the road when you have to stay with it.
Parent Night (same presentation as this – kids don’t need to attend – Wednesday -Feb. 22nd)
System Opens – Wednesday - Feb 22nd
System Closes - March 9th
Proposed ‘re-opening’ for “change of mind” April 6