ANCASTER HIGH SCHOOL

1. ANCASTER HIGH SCHOOL Grade Nine Option Information 2014-2015 School Year

2. How do we organize your courses? Two Semesters • Semester 1 • 4 courses Sept to Jan • Semester 2 • 4 courses Feb to June

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

4. What do you need to graduate? • 18 compulsory credits • 12 elective credits • 40 hours community involvement • Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2018!

5. How can you make sure you get all the courses you need? • Each year students use an academic planner to make sure they are on track.

6. Grade 9 Compulsory Credits • 1 Canadian Geography • 1 English • 1 French • 1 Mathematics • 1 Science

7. Grade 9s also must select • A Physical and Health Education course: • Healthy Active Living (male/female) OR • Hockey Focused Course (co-ed) OR • Performance Sport Training Course (co-ed) • Students take basketball, volleyball, and soccer

8. Grade 9 Elective courses Students choose 2 of the following: • Visual Arts • Dramatic Arts • Instrumental Music • Business Information Technologies - computers • Exploring Technologies • Food and Nutrition • Latin We recommend choosing 1 Arts course in grade 9

9. Community Involvement Hours • Students can begin their community involvement hours during the summer after grade 8 • We ask that students plan to have these finished at the end of grade 10 • Make sure you know if the activity is eligible for this diploma requirement

10. How do I know if the activity is eligible? • Is the organization community based or not for profit? GOOD! • Is the activity something that is usually a paid position? NOT ELIGILBLE! • Check out the Board’s website at http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/students/cih or the Ancaster High School website for information on this.

11. The OSSLT – grade 10 literacy test • Students start preparing for this in grade 9 • All Ontario students will write this test in the spring of their grade 10 year • Ancaster High School has a VERY high success rate in passing the Literacy Test

12. What levels of courses will you be selecting? Academic Courses • Develop knowledge and skills with emphasis on theory and abstract thinking • Designed for the student who has mastered the grade 8 curriculum • Often these students are heading to university or college after high school

13. Academic course success • Students will learn at a quick pace • Homework is an expectation each night – at least one hour • Independent work is very important • Studying for tests is critical • The details are given a greater importance

14. Enriched Courses • Enriched courses in English, Math, and Science • Cover the same curriculum as academic courses. • Students can explore and investigate extensions to the regular content. • Well-suited for students who have a passion for the subject, who are identified as “gifted” , students who are interested in the IB Diploma. • Credit granted on the final student transcript is the regular academic credit.

15. Levels of Courses Applied Courses • Develop knowledge and skills with emphasis on practical applications • Often these students are heading to an apprenticeship or college after high school

16. Applied course success • Students will be given more time to work with concepts before moving on to the next topic • More class time will be spent working with concepts, less independent work • Homework is expected, but there will be fewer hours of it • Focus is less on details and more on understanding

17. Levelsof Courses Locally Developed Compulsory Courses • These courses are for students not yet ready for the grade 9 curriculum • The Elementary School Principal will recommend students for this level • Often these students are heading directly to work after high school

18. What level do I choose? • Success in grade 9 is important. • Select the course level that suits your current learning style in that subject. • Students can select Applied or Academic levels for different courses. • Changing pathways is possible once you are in high school.

19. Open Courses-electives and Phys Ed • These courses are designed for all types of learners • Provide students with a broad educational base • These are interest based or skill based courses

20. The Grade 9 Registration Sheet

21. The Grade 9 Option Sheet

22. I.B. – International Baccalaureate Diploma • Ancaster High offers the 2 year I.B. Diploma Programme, starting in grade 11 • Students will be granted BOTH an O.S.S.D. and an I.B. diploma when they graduate • To prepare for this grade 11/12 program, students enroll in the Grade 9 Enriched courses

23. SHSM – Aviation and Aerospace • 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

24. What clubs are at Ancaster High? Student Council – planning our school year Art club – making the world more beautiful Econinjas – a better environment for all HOPE – helping others Digital Photography Club – preserving our memories GAA and BAA – helping our athletes be their best

25. And even more! OCEAN – social justice and environmental Book Club Dance Team Student Voice Knitting Club ........ and the great thing is, if there’s something you want to start, you can!

26. Sports at Ancaster High • There are girls and boys teams in almost ALL sports going! • There are grade 9 or junior sports in basketball, soccer, football, hockey, waterpolo, tennis...

27. Course SelectionDue Date • The Board’s deadline for all Grade 9 course selection sheets is February 28, 2014

28. Questions? • Remember we are here to help you. • If you have any questions, please contact Student Services at Ancaster High and we will work to help you.