ANCASTER HIGH ANCASTER HIGH SCHOOLSCHOOL

Grade Nine Grade Nine

Option InformationOption Information

2014-20152014-2015

School Year School Year

How do we organize How do we organize your courses?your courses?

Two SemestersTwo Semesters– Semester 1Semester 1

4 courses Sept to Jan4 courses Sept to Jan

– Semester 2Semester 24 courses Feb to June4 courses Feb to June

How do we organize How do we organize your courses?your courses? We do our best to balance your semestersWe do our best to balance your semesters Here is a sample timetable:Here is a sample timetable:

Semester 1 Semester 2

English Exploring Technologies

Phys. Ed. French

Math Science

Visual Art Geography

What do you need What do you need to graduate?to graduate?

18 compulsory 18 compulsory creditscredits

12 elective credits12 elective credits 40 hours community 40 hours community

involvementinvolvement Ontario Secondary Ontario Secondary

School Literacy TestSchool Literacy Test

CONGRATULATIONS

Class of 2018!

How can you make sure you How can you make sure you get all the courses you get all the courses you need?need?

Grade 9Grade 9 Grade 10Grade 10 Grade 11Grade 11 Grade 12Grade 12EnglishEnglish EnglishEnglish EnglishEnglish EnglishEnglish

MathMath MathMath MathMath

ScienceScience ScienceScience

GeographyGeography HistoryHistory

FrenchFrench Careers/Careers/CivicsCivics

Phys. Ed.Phys. Ed.

ArtsArts

Each year students use an academic planner to make sure they are on track.

Grade 9 Compulsory Grade 9 Compulsory CreditsCredits 1 Canadian Geography1 Canadian Geography 1 English1 English 1 French1 French 1 Mathematics1 Mathematics 1 Science1 Science

Grade 9s also must Grade 9s also must selectselect A Physical and Health Education A Physical and Health Education

course:course:

Healthy Active Living (male/female)Healthy Active Living (male/female)

OROR Hockey Focused Course (co-ed)Hockey Focused Course (co-ed)

OROR Performance Sport Training Course (co-ed)Performance Sport Training Course (co-ed)

Students take basketball, volleyball, and soccerStudents take basketball, volleyball, and soccer

Grade 9 Elective Grade 9 Elective coursescourses

Students choose 2 of the following:Students choose 2 of the following:• Visual Arts Visual Arts • Dramatic ArtsDramatic Arts• Instrumental Music Instrumental Music

• Business Information Technologies - Business Information Technologies - computerscomputers

• Exploring TechnologiesExploring Technologies• Food and NutritionFood and Nutrition• LatinLatin

We recommend choosing 1 Arts course in grade 9

Community Community Involvement HoursInvolvement Hours Students can begin their community Students can begin their community

involvement hours during the involvement hours during the summer after grade 8summer after grade 8

We ask that students plan to have We ask that students plan to have these finished at the end of grade these finished at the end of grade 1010

Make sure you know if the activity is Make sure you know if the activity is eligible for this diploma requirementeligible for this diploma requirement

How do I know if the How do I know if the activity is eligible?activity is eligible? Is the organization community based Is the organization community based

or not for profit?or not for profit?GOOD!GOOD!

Is the activity something that is usually Is the activity something that is usually a paid position?a paid position?

NOT ELIGILBLE!NOT ELIGILBLE! Check out the Board’s website atCheck out the Board’s website at http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/students/cihhttp://www.hwdsb.on.ca/students/cih or the Ancaster High School website or the Ancaster High School website

for information on this.for information on this.

The OSSLT – grade 10 The OSSLT – grade 10 literacy testliteracy test Students start preparing for this in Students start preparing for this in

grade 9grade 9

All Ontario students will write this test All Ontario students will write this test in the spring of their grade 10 yearin the spring of their grade 10 year

Ancaster High School has a VERY high Ancaster High School has a VERY high success rate in passing the Literacy success rate in passing the Literacy TestTest

What levels of courses What levels of courses will you be selecting?will you be selecting?

Academic CoursesAcademic Courses Develop knowledge and skills with Develop knowledge and skills with

emphasis on emphasis on theorytheory and and abstract abstract thinkingthinking

Designed for the student who has Designed for the student who has mastered the grade 8 curriculummastered the grade 8 curriculum

Often these students are heading Often these students are heading to university or college after high to university or college after high schoolschool

Academic course Academic course successsuccess Students will learn at a quick paceStudents will learn at a quick pace Homework is an expectation each Homework is an expectation each

night – at least one hournight – at least one hour Independent work is very importantIndependent work is very important Studying for tests is criticalStudying for tests is critical The details are given a greater The details are given a greater

importanceimportance

Enriched CoursesEnriched Courses

Enriched courses in English, Math, and Enriched courses in English, Math, and ScienceScience

Cover the same curriculum as academic Cover the same curriculum as academic courses. courses.

Students can explore and investigate Students can explore and investigate extensions to the regular content. extensions to the regular content.

Well-suited for students who have a Well-suited for students who have a passion for the subject, who are identified passion for the subject, who are identified as “gifted” , students who are interested as “gifted” , students who are interested in the IB Diploma. in the IB Diploma.

Credit granted on the final student Credit granted on the final student transcript is the regular academic credit. transcript is the regular academic credit.

Levels of CoursesLevels of Courses

Applied CoursesApplied Courses

Develop knowledge and skills with Develop knowledge and skills with emphasis on emphasis on practical applications practical applications

Often these students are heading Often these students are heading to an apprenticeship or college to an apprenticeship or college after high schoolafter high school

Applied course successApplied course success

Students will be given more time Students will be given more time to work with concepts before to work with concepts before moving on to the next topicmoving on to the next topic

More class time will be spent More class time will be spent working with concepts, less working with concepts, less independent workindependent work

Homework is expected, but there Homework is expected, but there will be fewer hours of itwill be fewer hours of it

Focus is less on details and more Focus is less on details and more on understandingon understanding

LevelsLevels of Courses of Courses

Locally Developed Compulsory Locally Developed Compulsory CoursesCourses

These courses are for students not These courses are for students not yet ready for the grade 9 curriculumyet ready for the grade 9 curriculum

The Elementary School Principal will The Elementary School Principal will recommend students for this levelrecommend students for this level

Often these students are heading Often these students are heading directly to work after high schooldirectly to work after high school

What level do I What level do I choose?choose? Success in grade 9 is important.Success in grade 9 is important. Select the course level that suits Select the course level that suits

your current learning style in that your current learning style in that subject.subject.

Students can select Applied or Students can select Applied or Academic levels for different courses.Academic levels for different courses.

Changing pathways is possible once Changing pathways is possible once you are in high school.you are in high school.

Open CoursesOpen Courses-electives and Phys Ed-electives and Phys Ed

These courses are designed for These courses are designed for all types of learnersall types of learners

Provide students with a broad Provide students with a broad educational baseeducational base

These are interest based or skill These are interest based or skill based coursesbased courses

The Grade 9 Registration The Grade 9 Registration SheetSheet

The Grade 9 Option The Grade 9 Option Sheet Sheet

I.B. – International I.B. – International Baccalaureate DiplomaBaccalaureate Diploma Ancaster High offers the 2 year I.B. Ancaster High offers the 2 year I.B.

Diploma Programme, starting in Diploma Programme, starting in grade 11grade 11

Students will be granted BOTH an Students will be granted BOTH an O.S.S.D. and an I.B. diploma when O.S.S.D. and an I.B. diploma when they graduatethey graduate

To prepare for this grade 11/12 To prepare for this grade 11/12 program, students enroll in the program, students enroll in the Grade 9 Enriched coursesGrade 9 Enriched courses

SHSM – Aviation and SHSM – Aviation and AerospaceAerospace

•Students can begin this program in grade 11

•There are no special requirements to take this program, but we recommend you take “technology” courses in grade 9 and 10

What clubs are at What clubs are at Ancaster High?Ancaster High? Student Council – planning our school Student Council – planning our school

yearyear Art club – making the world more Art club – making the world more

beautifulbeautiful Econinjas – a better environment for allEconinjas – a better environment for all HOPE – helping othersHOPE – helping others Digital Photography Club – preserving Digital Photography Club – preserving

our memoriesour memories GAA and BAA – helping our athletes be GAA and BAA – helping our athletes be

their besttheir best

And even more!And even more!

OCEAN – social justice and OCEAN – social justice and environmentalenvironmental

Book ClubBook Club Dance TeamDance Team Student VoiceStudent Voice Knitting ClubKnitting Club

........ and the great thing is, if there’s ........ and the great thing is, if there’s something you want to start, you can!something you want to start, you can!

Sports at Ancaster Sports at Ancaster HighHigh There are girls and boys teams in There are girls and boys teams in

almost ALL sports going!almost ALL sports going! There are grade 9 or junior sports There are grade 9 or junior sports

in basketball, soccer, football, in basketball, soccer, football, hockey, waterpolo, tennis...hockey, waterpolo, tennis...

Course SelectionCourse SelectionDue DateDue Date The Board’s deadline for all Grade The Board’s deadline for all Grade

9 course selection sheets is9 course selection sheets is

February 28, 2014February 28, 2014

Questions?Questions?

Remember we are here to help Remember we are here to help you. you.

If you have any questions, please If you have any questions, please contact Student Services at contact Student Services at Ancaster High and we will work to Ancaster High and we will work to help you.help you.