The Transition from Grade 8 to 9
Guidance Program & Services DepartmentSuccess for all Learners
Zion Heights JHS
This PowerPoint presentation is available in the Guidance area of our school website:
http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/zionheights
Choices for 9 Presentation
Part A: Choices for Nine Optional Attendance and Timelines
Part B: Messages for Success
Part C: Ontario Secondary School Program
Presentation Overview
Choices for NineDelivered each fall
Choices: Secondary Schools Course Selection & Planning Guide
Arrives each January during the Course Selection Process
Choices: Planning Guides
High School Information Evenings (dates & times) are listed in the Choices for Nine brochure and posted on the TDSB website:
Information Nights at TDSBHigh Schools
www.tdsb.on.ca/GoingtoHighSchool
Information Nights forSpecialized Programs & 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
www.tdsb.on.ca/HighSchool/Guidance/Choices
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
• Students may apply to :- two regular schools- two specialized programs
• Some schools are CLOSED to Optional Attendance
www.tdsb.on.ca/FindyourSchool/OptionalAttendance
Specific DatesFebruary
• January 30, 2015 - Optional Attendance applications due to secondary schools – delivered by student/parent/guardian
• February 13, 2015 - Secondary schools will inform Optional Attendance applicants
• Mid to late February 2015 - Course Selection sheets completed and returned to current school counsellor
• February 27, 2015 - All course selection sheets due to secondary schools – delivered by current school counsellor
Only ONE course selection sheet per studentis submitted for ONE secondary school
Key Message for Key Message for SuccessSuccessKey Message for Key Message for SuccessSuccess
““16 by 16”16 by 16”16 credits by16 years of age
•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
Semestered Schools• 8 courses in 2 blocks of time:
4 courses from September to January4 courses from February to June
• All 4 courses taken daily
Non-Semestered Schools• 8 courses taken throughout the school year
• Courses taken every other day
• Total of 30 course credits (110 hours per credit)
– 18 compulsory courses – 12 elective courses (options)
• 40 hrs. Community Involvement
– Begins in summer after Grade 8 *
• Ontario Literacy Requirement (OSSLT)- Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
Ontario Secondary SchoolDiploma (OSSD)
~ Ontario Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12: Policy & Program Requirements, 2011
Compulsory Credits Compulsory CreditsStudents 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
Compulsory Credits Continued
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.
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
Compulsory Credits Continued
• Academic
• Applied
• Locally Developed Compulsory Credit
(LDCC)
• Open
Course Types in Grade 9 and 10:
Making your choices: Making your choices: choose success!choose success!
• 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)BusinessExploring TechnologiesExploring Family StudiesIntroductory French
What is an Open Course?
Academic Courses
Cover the core content and havean emphasis on the theoreticalaspects of the content
Applied Courses
Cover the core content and havean emphasis on practicalapplications
Academic & Applied Courses
Locally DevelopedCompulsory Credits
For students with significant gaps in
knowledge and skills in a specific subject
Ideal for students who need support with the
curriculum content in grade 9
Work HabitsSample
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
focusedmanner 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
English Language LearnersESL/ELD
• Prepare students for success in English and other courses
• ESL/ELD credits count as compulsory English credits (to a maximum of 3 credits)
• Students will be placed in Level A, B, C, D or E (assessment in March/April 2015)
• Can move to Academic/Applied/LDCC courses when appropriate
Grades 9 and 10AppliedAcademicLocally DevelopedOpen
Grades 11 and 12CollegeUniversityWorkplaceMixed
Making Your Choices
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)
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
Zion’s Grade 9 CourseSelection Sheets
Distributed in class the week of February 2nd with teacher recommendations
Due in home-form by February 19th
Grade 8 Zion students will completecourse selection on-line usingwww.myBlueprint.ca/tdsb