1. Grade 7-9 Curriculum Night
‘Be the best you can be’
-Rick Hansen

2. Agenda Why RHSS Life at RHSS Diploma requirements Course offerings
Course selections
Self directed tours

3. RHSS Mission
To prepare all the learners in our building to be thinking, caring, flexible individuals who can meet the challenges of the 21st century
ADMINISTRATION

4. Community Feeder Schools
Fairwind Senior Public School
Hazel McCallion Senior Public School
Fallingbrook Middle School
Bristol Road Middle School
We also have ESL students coming from a larger boundary area + an international student program

5. Why Rick Hansen? EHS and SHSMs Hospitality and Tourism Manufacturing
Health Care program
Pathway planning
High success rate (June 2017: 87% uni acceptance rate; 97% college acceptance rate)
Positive and inclusive school environment

6. Why Rick Hansen? Literacy Numeracy
Commitments to student success – supports in place such as extra help sessions, Peer Tutoring, Counting on You (literacy and numeracy), Student Success (Link, Lighthouse, and Legacy), transition planning, high success rate
Wide range of extracurricular activities – in athletics, the arts, leadership, technology, and more…

7. Secondary School Overview
Student population (Sept – approx students)
School year divided into 2 semesters
Semester 1: September to end of January
Semester 2: February to end of June
All grade 9 students take 8 courses (4 each semester)
Students have individualized timetables
Students do not rotate with their class
Exams at the end of each semester

8. A Typical School Day
School day starts at 8:30am and finishes at 3:05pm
School day includes 4 classes plus a lunch period (school has a full-service student run cafeteria)
Each class is 75 minutes long
Class rotation
75 minute lunch period

9. Three Diploma Requirements for Students Entering Grade 9
30 credits to graduate*
18 compulsory
12 optional
*students must earn a mark of 50% or higher to earn a credit*
Completion of 40 hours of community services
Successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or equivalent

10. Your Child's Grade 9 Program
8 SUBJECTS
6 Compulsory Subjects
English
Math
Science
Geography
French
Health and Physical Education
2 Optional Subjects
1 from the Arts
Visual Arts (AVI 1O)
Drama (ADA 1O)
Instrumental Music (AMI 1O)
Vocal Music (AMV 1O)
Guitar (AMG 1O)
Dance (ATC 1O)
1 from Business or Technology
Information and Communication Technology (BTT 1O)
Hospitality (TFJ 1O)
Exploring Technologies (TIJ 1O)

11. Exceptions English as a Second Language (ESL) Learners
Eligible to take two ESL/English courses
Potentially, other ESL supported compulsory courses (i.e. science, geography, learning strategies)
Special Education Students
Eligible to take Learning Strategies (GLE 1O)
Do not have to take French

12. Your Child's Grade 9 ESL Program
8 SUBJECTS
7 Compulsory Subjects
ESL (two core courses)
Math
Science
Geography
French
Health and Physical Education
1 Optional Subject
1 from the Arts, Business or
Technology
Visual Arts (AVI 1O)
Drama (ADA 1O)
Instrumental Music (AMI 1O)
Vocal Music (AMV 1O)
Guitar (AMG 1O)
Dance (ATC 1O)
Information and Communication Technology (BTT 1O)
Hospitality (TFJ 1O)
Exploring Technologies (TIJ 1O)

13. Your Child's Grade 9 IEP Program
8 SUBJECTS
6 Compulsory Subjects
English
Math
Science
Geography
Health and Physical Education
Learning Strategies
2 Optional Subjects
1 from the Arts
Visual Arts (AVI 1O)
Drama (ADA 1O)
Instrumental Music (AMI 1O)
Vocal Music (AMV 1O)
Guitar (AMG 1O)
Dance (ATC 1O)
1 from Business or Technology
Information and Communication Technology (BTT 1O)
Hospitality (TFJ 1O)
Exploring Technologies (TIJ 1O)

14. Course Types
Open
Locally Developed
Applied
Academic

15. Open Courses (i.e. AVI 1OO)
Suitable for all students and not specific to any particular post secondary destination
Same curriculum expectations for all students, regardless of destination
Examples
All grade 9 optional subjects
Grade 9 Health and Physical Education
*Staff from optional subject areas are available on the first and second floors to answer your course specific questions*

16. Locally Developed Courses (i.e. ENG 1L0)
Recommended by grade 8 feeder school staff
Focus on essential skills using relevant and practical (hands on) activities
For students who are visual and/or concrete
Offered in Math, English, and Science
Leads to workplace courses in grades 11 and 12

17. Applied (i.e. ENG 1P0)
Concrete approaches to learning and practical applications
More demonstration and less writing/research
Slower pace
More teacher guided
English, French, Math, Science, and Geography
Typically lead to college courses in grades 11 and 12
Generally a student will be working consistently at a Level 1 or 2 (between 50-69%)

18. Academic (i.e. ENG 1D0)
Abstract approaches to learning and theoretical applications
Faster pace
Greater opportunities for independent learning
English, French, Math, Science, and Geography
Typically leads to university, university/college, or college type courses in grades 11 and 12
Generally a student will be working consistently at a Level 3 or higher (70% or higher)

19. Academic or Applied? Consider:
Current learning skills and academic achievement
Grade 8 teacher’s recommendation
Post-secondary plans
Speak with compulsory subject teachers

20. Changing Pathways - is it possible?
Locally Applied Academic
Developed
Student achievement
In consultation with parents, teacher, and student
On successful completion of a grade 9 course (not likely to occur during the semester)
Takes time

21. Explore High Skills Offered in Hospitality and Manufacturing
Specialized programs offering unique learning opportunities
Learning focused on area of interest
Build self-confidence
Learn essential skills
Develop sense of belongingness in school and community
Apply on line (Nov. 6th – Nov. 24th)
rehighskills/Pages/default.aspx

22. Importance of Making the Best Decision
Student success
Difficult to change a course during the semester because:
The timetable is built based on student choices. There may not be any spaces in the class
Complex timetable. Changes could impact all courses being taken

23. Course Selection Process
Completed through grade 8 HOME SCHOOL
Blue COURSE SELECTION FORM (October) to bring home
Students enter courses online as a class using myblueprint (Nov. 13th – 30th)
myBlueprint course verification sheet is printed and brought home to be signed
Returned signed course verification sheets are sent from the home school to the RHSS guidance department
*an opportunity for course revisions will take place in March to factor in teacher level recommendations
Other board/non-RHSS feeder schools – record name at guidance table. We will contact you after March 1st

24. Student Success Tips Be the best student you can be
Choose the most appropriate course type
Attend all classes
Be on time
Be engaged
Complete your course work
Ask for help
Maintain a balanced lifestyle

25. Get Involved!!! Activities Teams Clubs Student Council Peer Mentors
Athletics Council
Arts Council
Band
Drama
Fashion Show
Math Contests
Model UN
and more….
Teams
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Cricket
Golf
Soccer
Swimming
Volleyball
and more…
Clubs
Robotics
Chess
Weight Room
DECA
Muslim Students Association
Christian Fellowship
Sikh Association
and more….

26. Online Resources www.myblueprint.ca/peel
(making my way)
Rick Hansen Secondary School website
(student services tab)

27. Questions?