This document provides information for parents about course selection and programs offered at Queen Elizabeth District High School. It introduces the school administration and guidance counselors. It explains that students should carefully choose courses at the appropriate level to increase their chances of success. The document outlines the requirements to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or other certificates. It also describes specialized programs available at the school like co-op, apprenticeships, and SHSM programs. Parents are encouraged to be involved in their child's education and career planning process.

1. Welcome to
Queen Elizabeth
District High School
Grade 8 Info Session
April 16th, 2014

2. Our School Team
 Steve Poling- Principal
 Wayne Mercer- Vice Principal
 Rhonda MacRae & Trina Campbell –
Guidance Counselors
 Darlene Pike – Special Education Resource
Teacher
 All teachers and support staff… We are
here to educate your child well

3. Planning High School
 Read the course calendar.
 Conversations at home about high school.
 Talk to your teachers & QE guidance
counselors.
 Take time to dream about the future, set
achievable goals for the next year, then plan
the steps you need to reach your goals.
 Fill out the course selections for next year
based on this plan.

4. Course Selections
It is important for students to choose
courses carefully.
Placement at the appropriate level increases
a student’s chance of success.

5. Course Codes
 How to decipher course codes: See page
in the course calendar or the back of the
option sheets for a list of course codes.
 MFM1P: M = Mathematics Dept.; FM =
Foundations of Mathematics; 1 = grade 9;
P = Applied level
 Unless eligible for graduation, all
students must choose EIGHT courses
each year.

6. Course Levels
Grades 9 and 10 ---- Grades 11 and 12
Applied ---- College
Academic ---- University & College
Essential ---- Workplace
Open Courses ---- All destinations

7. Changing Course Levels
 Students must take courses at the level of difficulty
best suited to their abilities and destination goals.
 Any decisions about changing levels will be made
in consultation with student, parent, teachers, and
guidance staff – often including administration.
 Diagnostics are done early in grade 9 for literacy
and numeracy skills and recommendations are
made for consideration of level changes as
necessary.

8. Graduation Requirements
for an Ontario
High School Diploma
 30 Credits
 40 Hours of Community Volunteering
(documented minimum #)
 Successful completion of the OSSLT - Ontario
Secondary School Literacy Test or Course
[offered to students who are unsuccessful on
first attempt of OSSLT]

9. Credit Requirements for
Ontario Secondary School Diploma
 18 Compulsory credits:
 4 credits in English (ONE in EACH grade 9-12)
 1 credit in French or Native Language
 3 Credits in Mathematics (ONE in EACH grade 9-11)
 2 Credits in Science
 1 Credit in Geography (Grade 9)
 1 Credit in Canadian History (Grade 10)
 1 Credit in the Arts (music, drama, visual arts, media arts)
 1 Credit in Healthy Active Living Education (Phys. Ed)
 0.5 Credit in Civics + 0.5 Credit in Career Studies (Grade 10)
 + Three additional credits from a variety of groups
 12 Optional Credits of the student’s choice from our calendar

10. Ontario Secondary School Certificate
and Certificate of Achievement
 14 Credits and 7 credits in total respectively
 Students who leave school before fulfilling the
requirements for the Ontario Secondary School
Diploma may complete the requirements for either
the OSSC or a Certificate of Accomplishment;
 These are often granted to students with identified
learning needs and exceptionalities;
 Not acceptable for entry to post secondary
programs
 These certificates may be a useful means of
recognizing achievement for students who plan to
take certain vocational programs or other kinds of
further training.
 Students who later return to school to complete
additional credit and non-credit courses will have
their transcripts updated.

11. Post-Secondary Requirements
Work College University
OSSD
with courses at
workplace /college
or university levels
OSSD
with college or
university level
courses
OSSD
with minimum of 6
grade 12 university
level courses
[ENG4U is
mandatory]

12. Requirements for
Apprenticeship/Work
 Most apprenticeships require Grade 12
 Many jobs/training programs grade 10-12
 Good record of attendance
 Marketable employability skills

13. Specialized QEDHS
Programs
 Co-op
 OYAP [Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program]
 SHSM Specialized High Skills Major: Transportation / Health
Care / Business
 PASS[Parents at Secondary School]/Connections ILC
 College Articulated Credits (Dual)
 AYEP [Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program]
 Hockey Academy
 Phoenix Program [for students in care / FASD supports]
 New Roads [transition program for 12-16 year olds]

14. Cooperative Education
 Allows students to earn additional credits in a subject
through a work placement in the community.
 Offered to grade10-12 students.
 The program involves the following elements: an individualized
learning plan based on the curriculum expectations for a
course and the job-specific expectations of the related
placement; monitoring of students’ progress by a teacher;
opportunities for students to analyze their out-of-school
experiences and to integrate them with in-school learning; and
an evaluation process to determine whether course
expectations have been met.

15. Ontario Youth Apprenticeship
Program
 Students interested in apprenticeship can participate in the
OYAP [Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program] which allows
them to begin an apprenticeship while they are enrolled in
secondary school. Students in Grades 11 and 12 can earn
credits towards their secondary school diploma while
accumulating hours towards the completion of an
apprenticeship through cooperative education.
 Work experience and cooperative education are essential
aspects of school–work transition programs and the Ontario
Youth Apprenticeship Program. Co-operative education and
work experience will be developed and implemented in
accordance with ministry policy outlined Cooperative
Learning and Other Forms of Learning Programs 2000.

16.  Students at QE are
now using a tool
called MyBlueprint
to select courses for
the following school
year.
 Visit
www.myblueprint.ca
to peruse this
invaluable tool.
Be part of
your child’s
education
& career
plans…

17. We hope your child’s experience
here is a rewarding one!
Welcome to the
QEDHS Learning Community