1. Part A: Choices for Nine Optional Attendance and Timelines Part B: Messages for Success Part C: Ontario Secondary School Program The Transition from Grade 8 to 9 Presentation Overview

2. Check out Education Planning at www.tdsb.on.ca/goingtohighschool

3. Accessing myBlueprint www.myBlueprint.ca/tdsb

4. Part A Optional Attendance and Timelines

5. Choices for Nine (October) Choices: Secondary Schools Course Selection & Planning Guide (January with course selection sheets) Choices: Planning Guides

6. Find Your School www.tdsb.on.ca Click on “Find your School”

7. High School Information Evenings (dates & times) are listed in the Choices for Nine brochure and posted on the TDSB website: Information Nights at TDSB High Schools www.tdsb.on.ca/GoingtoHighSchool

8. Where and What are the Specialized Programs? Check the Choices for Nine legend www.tdsb.on.ca/HighSchool/Guidance/Choices

9. Information Nights at Specialized Schools Specialized programs and designed for students with a strong passion and skill in a specific area To investigate specialized schools or programs, contact the specific school for admission requirements Specialized requirements may include auditions, tests, interviews, etc. Check deadline dates for applications

10. Optional Attendance Students are encouraged to attend the secondary school that serves their residential address – “home-school” Use an Optional Attendance Application Form when applying to a school other than your home-school (forms available at Grade 8 school) Students may apply to : - two regular schools - two specialized programs Some schools are CLOSED to Optional Attendance www.tdsb.on.ca/FindyourSchool/OptionalAttendance

11. Specific Dates February January 31, 2014 - Optional Attendance applications due to secondary schools – delivered by student/parent/guardian February 14, 2014 - Secondary schools will inform Optional Attendance applicants Mid to late February 2014 - Course Selection sheets completed and returned to current school counsellor February 28, 2014 - All course selection sheets due to secondary schools – delivered by current school counsellor Only ONE course selection sheet per student is submitted for ONE secondary school

12. Part B Messages for Success

13. Key Message for Success “16 by 16” 16 credits by 16 years of age

14. The Importance of Credit Accumulation

15. Where do students go after secondary school?

16. Part C Ontario Secondary School

17. Once a course is passed, a credit is granted (50% or higher) Students are expected to take 8 courses a year To graduate from high school a student must earn 30 credits Credit System

18. Total of 30 course credits - 18 compulsory courses - 12 elective courses (options) 40 hrs. Community Involvement - Begins in July after Grade 8 Ontario Literacy Requirement - Written Test in Grade 10 (OSSLT) Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) ~ Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12: Policy & Program Requirements, 2011

19. Compulsory Credits Students must earn the following 15 compulsory credits: 4 English - one credit per grade 1 French as a Second Language 3 Mathematics - at least one in grade 11 or 12 2 Science 1 Canadian History 1 Canadian Geography 1 Arts (Visual Arts, Music, Integrated Arts, Media, Drama or Dance) 1 Health and Physical Education 0.5 Civics 0.5 Career Studies

20. Compulsory Credits Continued Plus ONE CREDIT from each of the following 3 Groups: Group 1 An additional English credit or French as a second language*, or third language, or Social Science and Humanities credit, or Canadian and World Studies credit, or Guidance and Career Education credit, or Cooperative Education credit* *A maximum of 2 credits in Cooperative Education and 2 credits in French can count as compulsory credits.

21. Group 2 One credit in Health and Physical Education, or the Arts, or Business Studies, or French as a second language or Cooperative Education * Group 3 One credit in Gr. 11 or 12 Science, or a credit in Technological Education, or Computer Studies, or French as a second language or Cooperative Education * * A maximum of 2 credits in Cooperative Education and 2 credits in French can count as compulsory credits. Compulsory Credits Continued

22. Open Applied Academic Locally Developed Compulsory Credit (LDCC) Course Types in Grade 9 and 10: Making your choices: choose success!

23. Learning expectations are the same for all students Designed to prepare students for further study and to enrich general education in a subject Can be counted as compulsory or elective credits Grade 9 Open Courses at Zion Include: Physical Education Arts (Music, Visual Arts, Drama, Integrated Arts) Business Exploring Technologies Exploring Family Studies Introductory French What is an Open Course?

24. Academic Courses Cover the core content and have an emphasis on the theoretical aspects of the content Applied Courses Cover the core content and have an emphasis on practical applications Academic & Applied Courses

25. Work Habits Sample Academic Works independently in a focused manner Synthesis skills – uses prior knowledge and experience to assist with solving problems Completes homework consistently and thoroughly Applied Works in a focused manner (not always independently) Applies new learning to tasks (may need reminding of previous knowledge) May need assistance to organize and complete homework Locally Developed Works in a focused manner with prompting Applies new learning to tasks that have been directly modeled in the lesson May begin homework in class with direction and take home to complete

26. Changing Course Type After Grade 9: Gr. 9 Academic Gr. 9 Applied Gr. 9 LDCC Gr. 10 Academic Gr. 10 Applied Gr. 10 LDCC ( except Mathematics)

27. Changing Course Type After Grade 9: Gr. 9 Academic Gr. 9 Applied Gr. 9 LDCC Gr. 10 Academic Gr. 10 Applied Gr. 10 LDCC Gr. 9 Applied to Gr. 10 Academic Mathematics (Transfer Course worth 0.5 credit) T

28. Grades 9 and 10 Applied Academic Locally Developed Open Grades 11 and 12 College University Workplace Mixed Making Your Choices

29. Zion’s Grade 9 Course Selection Sheets Distributed in class the week of February 3 rd with teacher recommendations Due in homeroom by February 20 th Current Grade 8 Zion students will complete course selection on-line using www.myBlueprint.ca/tdsb

30. Accessing myBlueprint www.myBlueprint.ca/tdsb

31. Search for Course Descriptions www.tdsb.on.ca/choices