1. Choosing Your Path A career/life planning resource for grade 7 & 8 students and their parents/guardians

2. What might you be doing in 5, 10 or 15 years? We all dream about the future...

3. You have already started choosing your path...

4. 4 Key Questions

5. Who am I?  What are my interest and abilities?  What is my learning style?  What are my traits and values?  What am I passionate about and what inspires me?

6. What are my opportunities?  What high school courses or specialized programs are available?  What extracurricular or community activities can I be involved in?  What occupations am I interested in researching?  What trends are impacting opportunities for future fields of work?

7. Who do I want to become?  What are my hopes and dreams for the future?  What are some goals I want to accomplish?  What does success mean to me?

8. What is my plan for achieving my goals?  What steps should I take to help me achieve my goals?  What resources can help me plan my pathway?  Who can support me in achieving my goals?  What are some potential obstacles or challenges and what might possible solutions or strategies look like?

9. What do you need to graduate? 40 Hours of Community Involvement 30 Credits Successfully complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

10. You can start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer before grade 9. Benefits include: ​ learn more about yourself develop self-confidence gain work experience

11. Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) measures reading and writing skills designed and marked by the Education Quality & Accountability Office (EQAO)

12. 30 Credits 18 compulsory credits 4 credits in English 3 credits in Mathematics 2 credits in Science 1 credit in Canadian History 1 credit in Canadian Geography 1 credit in the Arts 1 credit in Health and Physical Education 1 credit in French as a Second Language 0.5 credit in Career Studies 0.5 credit in Civics 12 optional credits

13. 6 compulsory 2 optional * Physical Education & Health * Canadian Geography * French * English * Mathematics * Science You will have 8 courses in grade 9

14. Course Types Designed to prepare you for further study in certain subjects Physical Education/Health, Arts, Business, Tech Open Focus on essential skills Provides additional support to upgrade your knowledge and skills through practical activities to develop literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills Locally Developed More hands on and teacher guided Develop knowledge through practical and concrete applications with some theoretical application Applied More independent learning, faster pace, & higher level thinking Develop knowledge and skills by emphasizing theoretical and abstract applications of essential concepts and explore related concepts Academic

15. Open “O” Locally Developed “L” Applied “P” Reading Course Codes ENG 1P0 The first three letters represent the subject department ie. English The number identifies the grade 1= Grade 9 2= Grade 10 3= Grade 11 4= Grade 12 Academic “D” The letter shows the course type (applied)

16. Grade 9 Course Selection Future goals Learning style Teacher recommendations Explore myBlueprint Strengths & interests Parent approval

17. Couse Selection Timelines Important steps and dates Modify for your school *ESL, ISSP, Secondary visits, verification forms signed etc.

18. myBlueprint.ca/peel Plan your high school courses Explore occupations Research post secondary pathways Set goals Document and reflect on your experiences Discover your learning style

19. Setting up a parent/guardian myBlueprint account Start at www.myBlueprint.ca/peel Select the secondary school and parent account

20. You can link your parent account with your son or daughter’s account. Click on the gear symbol and select My Links

21. Planning Ahead Use Prerequisite charts to map out all the courses in a subject area.

23. Percentage of Ontario students completing OSSD in 4 or 5 years in relation to the number of courses failed in Grades 9 and 10 89.3 74.7 59 28.2 none 1 2 3 or more # of failures in grades 9 and 10 Percentage of students completing the OSSD http://www.collegesontario.org/research/summary-who-doesnt-go-to-pse.pdf

24. Pathway Destinations Where are students going after High School? Destination of students after 4 or 5 years of secondary school 6% Apprenticeship 20% College 34% University 25% Workplace (without OSSD) 15% Workplace (with OSSD) 6% Apprenticeship 20% College 34% University 25% Workplace (without OSSD) 15% Workplace (with OSSD) http://www.collegesontario.org/research/summary-who-doesnt-go-to-pse.pdf

25. Regional and specialized programs provide students with an opportunity to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest. All students may apply for these programs.

26. These sector-related programs are available to students in grades 9 and 10 in some schools that offer Specialist High Skills Major programs for grades 11 and 12. It is a specialized program that allows students to focus their learning in an area of interest.

27. Students With Special Education Needs in Mainstream Classes Students in mainstream classes receive support in a variety of ways: a) Whole class instruction with specifically designed accommodations and/or modifications b) Differentiated instruction within the regular classroom c) Small group instruction in an alternate setting, such as ISSP support Secondary schools also offer a Learning Strategies course. Students would also have access to a Special Education teacher during specified periods of the day.

28. The student’s IEP can be maintained throughout secondary school An IEP is a written plan describing the special education program and/or services required by a particular student A transition plan will be developed for all students who have an IEP. It will include strengths, needs, transition goals, and a list recommended supports.

29. Special Education Programs ElementarySecondary -accommodations and/or modifications to the curriculum (such as working at a different grade level in a specific subject) -accommodations and/or modifications to the curriculum (such as changes to the number and/or complexity of the expectations) Some programs include: ASD Communication Developmental Disabilities Gifted/Enhanced GLD Some programs include: ASD Communication Developmental Disabilities Gifted/Enhanced Vocational

30. English Language Learners Who can take English as a second language (ESL) courses? students born outside Canada from a non-English speaking country students born in Canada who speak a second language or dialect recently arrived students who need to upgrade or develop their academic and language skills

31. English Language Learners Who can take English literacy development (ELD) courses? ELLs who need additional support to accelerate learning English and mathematics Students who have missed/interrupted schooling before coming to Canada If your teacher recommends this special one or two year program, bussing may be provided

32. ESL/ELD Programs ElementarySecondary -is a support program-is a credit course -up to 3 ESL/ELD courses can count towards the 4 compulsory English credit requirements for a diploma -receive support through a) an intensive small group setting withdrawn from classes b) an ESL teacher co-teaching with a classroom teacher c) a classroom teacher through accommodations and/or modifications -courses are offered as part of the student’s timetable, similar to English, math, or any other subject -ESL programs support the development of academic vocabulary and success in all subject areas

33. There are five levels of ESL courses: ESL A (beginners)  ESL E (advanced) Placement is based on language proficiency, not age or grade. Secondary ESL Courses

34. Sample Grade 9 Schedule Period (76 minutes) Semester 1Semester 2 1English ESLBO0English ESLCO0 2Science SNC1PLMath MPM1DL 3LunchDrama ADA1O0 4Business BTT1OLLunch 5Phys. Ed/Health PPL1OF Canadian Geography CGC1P0

35. Sample ESL Course Progression Students taking ESL English courses can transition into University, College, or Workplace English courses for grades 11 or 12.

36. Boundaries and bussing List all neighbourhood schools that your school feeds into. Which ESL/ELD, regional, French Immersion, etc

37. Extracurricular Activities Clubs, teams mascot

38. Specific information about the high school(s) that your students feed into Semesters #of lunch periods

39. Questions? Gr 8 teacher Makingmyway.ca High school guidance