Welcome toWelcome to

Westheights Gr Westheights Gr 8-98-9

Parent Information Parent Information NightNight

Tuesday January 27Tuesday January 27thth 6 – 7 pm 6 – 7 pm

DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS 0SSD 0SSD

Ontario Secondary School Diploma Ontario Secondary School Diploma

30 CREDITSby the end of Gr. 12

18 COMPULSORY 12 ELECTIVES

Plus40 hours of Community Involvement & Successful Completion of Literacy Requirement Tracking sheets and booklets are handed out at the end of Gr.8 (can start in the summer before high school)

COMPULSORY SUBJECTS 4 credits in ENGLISH

3 credits in MATHEMATICS 2 credits in SCIENCE 1 credit in GEOGRAPHY 1 credit in HISTORY 1 credit FRENCH 1 credit ARTS 1 credit PHYSICAL EDUCATION 1/2 credit in CIVICS 1/2 credit in CAREER STUDIES

...that makes a total of 15 out of the 18 required credits. Plus 3 more credits in specific areas are required:

3 More Compulsory Credits

x1 credit from EACH group• English

• Third Language• Social Science• Canadian and World

Studies• Guidance and Career

Education• Cooperative

Education*

___________________

• Health & Phys. Ed.• Arts• Business• Cooperative Education*

_______________• Science, Gr. 11 or 12• Technological

Education, Gr. 9-12• Cooperative Education*

1 2

3

* Note: a maximum of 2 Cooperative Education courses may be taken

12 ELECTIVES • DRAMATIC ARTS

• MUSIC - INSTRUMENTAL

• MUSIC - VOCAL

• VISUAL ARTS

• PHYSICAL EDUCATION

• BUSINESS

• INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

• INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES

• INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY

LIVING

What Are My Interests?

Instead of asking the question, “what do I want to be when I grow up”

Ask yourself:What am I passionate about?What am I interested in?What do I love?

Course Type & Destination

Grade 9 and 10• Academic• Applied• Essential• Open

Grade 11 and 12• University• University/

College• College• Workplace• Open

Academic Courses Offered in core areas: English, Math,

Science, History, Geography, French Emphasis on theoretical applications of

the essential concepts Catered to students who work best

independently Lead to senior courses preparing for

university and college Guideline benchmark: 70% and over

Applied Courses

Offered in core areas: English, Math, Science, History, Geography, French

Emphasis on practical, concrete applications of the essential concepts

Lead to senior courses preparing for college, apprenticeship, skilled trades, and the workplace (Not University)

Guideline benchmark: 50% - 70%

Essential Courses• Locally developed courses

designed for students functioning below grade level

• Hands on learning, smaller class sizes

• Lead to senior courses preparing students for the workplace

• SJAM offers Essential courses – Magnet Program: Fast Forward

Open Courses

• Set of Expectations that is suitable for all students at a given grade level

• Provides students with a broad educational base

• Available in subjects like Physical Education, Technology, Art etc.

• Generally elective courses • Class could have a mixture of

grades in it (e.g. Art class with both grade 9 and 10 students)

SAMPLE GR 9 STUDENT TIMETABLESemestered School (e.g.

FHCI)SEMESTER 1SEMESTER 1

SEPT. TO JANUARY•ENGLISH•SCIENCE•FRENCH•ELECTIVE (e.g. Physical Education, Visual Art, etc.)

SEMESTER 2SEMESTER 2FEBRUARY TO JUNE•MATHEMATICS•GEOGRAPHY•ELECTIVE (e.g. Business)

•ELECTIVE (e.g. Integrated Technology)

Forest Heights 2014-15 Schedule

Travel Time:

5minutes between

each class

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will there be an opportunity to switch courses during grade 9, e.g., Academic to Applied?Not likely due to timetable constraints

• Is it possible to change course types from grade 9 to 10?Yes, in all core courses except MATH can be

changed from applied to academic (need to retake grade 9 math at the academic level

BEFORE taking Gr. 10 academic math)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What happens when a student or parent chooses a course type other than what has been recommended by the teacher?

Secondary schools enter the information selected by the

student or parents on MyWay. Families make the final decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does a student have to take all the same course types?

No, students can select different types (applied/academic) for the core

courses according to their strengths, work habits, and learning style. E.g. academic English, applied

Science, applied Math

Grade 8 -9 Transition Timelines

Grade 9 Course Selection Step _________DATES_________

•Principal to Principal Transfers Monday, February 2nd

•Status of Magnet programs acceptance Friday, February 6th

•Student declares intent for Magnet Friday, February 13th (if the school does not hear from students, they assume they declined)

•Term 1 Report Cards sent home Friday, February 20th

•Trillium transfer Wednesday, February 25th

(registered at home high school via WH Office)

•Course Selection opens on MyWay Thursday, February 26th

(myway.wrdsb.ca)

•Course Selections completed/closes Friday, March 6th

MyWay – Course Selection

Students and parents can log into MyWay starting Thursday February 26th to request

next year’s courses

1. Go to MyWay (https://myway.wrdsb.ca)

2. Login using student school connect username and password

3. Click on the Course Request tab at the top

4. Choose appropriate options for student

5. Choose appropriate Course Type, Grade Level, and Courses from the drop down-menu

6. Logout (right side of menu bar)

Requesting Next Year’s

Courses

Instruction pages will be sent home

in February

Choosing Your

Courses for Grade

9

Questions?Questions?

Contact the High School directly Contact the High School directly for specific concerns (course for specific concerns (course

codes, scheduling, levels etc.)codes, scheduling, levels etc.)

General Questions:General Questions:Email: Email: Guidance Contact: heather_pizzey@wrdsb.on.ca Guidance Contact: heather_pizzey@wrdsb.on.ca

Vice-Principal: liz_anderson@wrdsb.on.caVice-Principal: liz_anderson@wrdsb.on.ca

Phone: Phone: Westheights P.S. 519-744-3549Westheights P.S. 519-744-3549