Handbook for Students and Parents/Guardians
2004 - 2005
This complete Handbook in pdf format 1 mb

Graduation Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
• Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC)
• The Certificate of Achievement
• Ontario Student Record
• Ontario Student Transcript
• Provincial Secondary School Literacy Diploma Requirement
• Community Involvement

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

The secondary school program is based on the credit system. The Ministry of Education defines a credit as “a means of recognition of the successful completion of a course that has been scheduled for a minimum of 110 hours”. The 110 hours involves planned learning activities related to the learning expectations in a course. They do not include homework.

In order to graduate students must successfully complete at least 30 credits. Credits are earned in four grades: Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12.

• 18 credits are compulsory credits that every student must take. They include:
   

  • 4 English - one per grade

  • 1 French as a second language

  • 3 mathematics - at least one in Grade 11 or 12

  • 2 science

  • 1 Canadian geography

  • 1 Canadian history

  • 1 arts (dance, drama, media, music, visual arts)

  • 1 health and physical education

  • 0.5 civics

  • 0.5 career studies

  • 1 of:
    an additional English credit or
    a third language or
    a social sciences and the humanities credit or
    an additional Canadian and world studies credit or an additional credit in health

  • 1 of:
    a business studies credit or
    physical education or
    an additional credit in the arts

  • 1 of:
    a grade 11 or 12 science or
    a credit in technological education.
     

• The remaining 12 credits are optional credits.

• Students must also:
   

  • meet the Provincial Secondary School Literacy Diploma Requirement;

  • complete 40 hours of Community Involvement activities.

Upon graduation, the student receives an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.


The Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC)

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, provided they have earned a minimum of 14 credits, as follows:

• 2 English

• 1 Canadian geography or Canadian history

• 1 mathematics

• 1 science

• 1 health and physical education

• 1 arts or technological education

• 7 optional credits selected from any available courses.

The provisions for substitution for compulsory credits outlined on page 14 apply to the OSSC.


The Certificate of Accomplishment

Students who leave school before fulfilling requirements for the OSSD or OSSC may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment. This Certificate is a means of recognising a student's participation in the secondary school program, especially for those students who plan to take certain types of vocational programs or further training for employment after leaving school.

A student may return to school or take additional credit courses after receiving the Certificate. The student's transcript (OST) will be updated, but a new Certificate of Accomplishment will not be awarded when the student leaves again.

A student who receives the Certificate and chooses to return to study at the secondary level may earn the OSSC and/or the OSSD after fulfilling the appropriate credit requirements for each.


Ontario Student Record

• The Ontario Student Record folder (OSR) is an official record created when a student enters the Ontario school system and moves with the student from school to school. It is developed under the authority of the Education Act, and the contents are protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

• The OSR folder contains achievement results, credits earned, and other information important to the education of the student.

• The Ontario Student Transcript (OST) is a provincially standardised document that provides a comprehensive record of a student's achievement in secondary school.

• The credits that a student has earned towards fulfilment of the requirements for graduation will be recorded on the OST.

• In Grades 9 and 10, the student's achievement with percentage grades earned and the credits gained are recorded for successfully completed courses.

• In Grades 11 and 12, the student's achievement for all courses taken or attempted is recorded, showing percentage grades earned, credits granted, (if successful), or “W” for “withdrawn before completion.” (Students repeating a course for which they have already received a credit will have all marks recorded, but only one credit granted.)

• Identification of any course that has been substituted for a compulsory course will be made. Also, confirmation that the student has completed the mandatory requirements of Community Involvement and the Literary Requirement will be noted.

• In the fall of their Grade 10 school year, students will write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

• Students must pass the test in order to graduate from secondary school and earn a diploma.

• The OSSLT is based on the Ontario curriculum expectations for language and communication - particularly reading and writing - up to and including Grade 9.

• The test determines whether students have acquired those skills necessary for literacy and show whether students have attained the provincial expectations for literacy.

• The test identifies those students who have not demonstrated the required skills and indicate areas for remediation.

• Students unsuccessful on the first attempt may rewrite the test. There is no limit to the number of attempts a student may make.

• Once successful, the student cannot take the test again.

• Students who have had two opportunities to write the OSSLT, with at least one failure, may satisfy the Provincial Secondary School Literacy Diploma Requirement by successfully completing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)

• Only successful completion will be noted on the student's Ontario Student Transcript (OST). There will be no specific mark, or date.

• For further information, please refer to the “Learning Tips” section.

• In order to develop a sense of civic responsibility and community values, students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of Community Involvement prior to graduation.

• Community Involvement is a graduation requirement. An indication of completion will be entered on the student's Ontario Student Transcript, once the 40 hours have been submitted and approved.

• School staff will discuss appropriate types of Community Involvement activities and projects with students and may offer suggestions, but the selection and management of the involvement is to be directed by the student.

• Students must record each community involvement activity in the Student Log Book and obtain written approval from the school office prior to commencing the activity.

• Activities may take place inside or outside the school; those which occur inside the school may not be part of a credit program.

• Activities may take place during the school day, but must occur outside the student's scheduled course time, that is, during the lunch hour, or before or after classes.

• Student fundraising, and acting as a student assistant, tutor, or peer helper or mediator within the school all qualify as Community Involvement activities.

• Volunteer activities, tutoring, fund-raising, coaching, or other work with community groups or charitable organizations all qualify as Community Involvement, as long as the student is not paid for the work done.

• Independent activities in the community may count, such as visiting, helping out, and picking up groceries or supplies for an elderly or disabled neighbour; shovelling snow or taking leaves, etc. Documentation must be received from the community member, and no payment of any kind may be received for these activities.