Toronto District School Board CHOICES FOR NINE THE

Toronto District School Board CHOICES FOR NINE THE TRANSITION FROM GRADE 8 TO 9 Guidance Program & Services Department Success for all Learners 2010 -2011

Our Goals This Evening Are: To inform students how to make a smooth and successful transition from grade 8 to 9 • To assist parents and students in making informed choices for grade 9 • To raise student and parent awareness of the various program pathways available throughout the TDSB Check out Education Planning at www. tdsb. on. ca/programs/

Format of Presentation Part A: Promotion, Transfer, and Retention Procedures Part B: B Messages for Success Part C: C Ontario Secondary Schools Part D: D Specific School Information Specialized Programs

Part A Promotion, Transfer & Retention

Promotion, Transfer & Retention Criteria A student is promoted when: 1. The student has successfully completed the curriculum expectations in each of the following grade 8 subjects at a Level 1 or higher: • English • French • Geography • Mathematics • Science & Technology AND 2. The student has achieved an average equivalent to Level 1, or higher, across all grade 8 subjects. A student is transferred when: The student has not met the criteria as outlined for Promotion or Special Education Students who are deemed exceptional and are working on a modified program are transferred. Program recommendations are discussed during the spring IPRC English Language Learners ESL/ELD students who may be working on a modified program and may not be meeting grade level curriculum expectations are transferred to the following grade

Part B Messages for Success

Where do students go after secondary school? W o r kw it h o u td i p l o ma C o l l e g e Appren t i c e s h i p ving Independent li ersity Univ a lom h dip k wit Wor Grade 9 Enrollment

The Importance of Credit Accumulation TDSB Grade 9 Cohort Study: 2000 -2004

Part C Ontario Secondary Schools

Credit System • Once a course is completed successfully a credit is granted • To pass a course one must achieve a level of 50% or higher • Students are expected to take 8 courses a year • To graduate from high school a student must earn 30 credits

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (O. S. S. D. ) • Total of 30 course credits (110 hours per credit) – 18 compulsory courses – 12 elective courses (options) • 40 hrs. Community Involvement – Begins in September of Grade 9 • Ontario Literacy Requirement – Written Test in Grade 10 (OSSLT)

Course Types in Grade 9 and 10: • Applied • Academic • Locally Developed Compulsory Credit (LDCC) • Open

Making Your Choices: Choosing Success!

What is an Open Course? • Learning expectations are the same for all students • Designed to prepare students for further study and to enrich general education in a subject • Can be compulsory or elective credits Grade 9 Open Courses Include: Arts (Music, Visual Arts, Drama, Dance) Business Guidance (Learning Strategies) Exploring Technologies Physical Education

Academic & Applied Academic Courses Cover the core content and have an emphasis on theoretical aspects of the content Applied Courses Cover the core content and have an emphasis on practical applications

Making Your Choice Grade 9 Science Academic Applied • formulate scientific questions • identify a current problem or related to reproduction • gather, record, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data using an appropriate format • plan ways to model and/or simulate an answer to questions asked about the motion of celestial objects concern relating to reproduction • organize and record information gathered • formulate scientific questions about a problem or issue in space exploration

Making Your Choice Grade 9 English Academic • analyze information, ideas, and elements to make inferences • locate and evaluate information and ideas from sources • select narrative style and appropriate level of language to suit the form, audience and purpose of the work Applied • describe information, ideas, opinions and themes • locate and record information and ideas from sources • identify the specific audience for each piece of writing

Making Your Choice: Locally Developed Compulsory Credit • For students with gaps in knowledge and skills in the specific discipline • Ideal for students who need support with the curriculum content in grade 9 • Students who require two or more Locally Developed Compulsory Credit Courses or who require significant modification to their program will be assisted in investigating programs/schools that provide a full array of supports and services to meet their unique needs

English Language Learners (ESL/ELD) • Prepare students for success in English and other courses • ESL/ELD credits count as compulsory English credits (to a maximum of 3 credits) • Students will be placed in Level A, B, C, D or E • Can move to Academic/Applied/LDCC courses when appropriate

Work Habits Sample Academic Applied • Works independently in • Works in a focused manner (not always independently) • Synthesis skills – uses • Applies new learning to tasks (may need prior knowledge and experience to assist with reminding of previous knowledge) solving problems • Completes homework consistently and thoroughly • May need assistance to organize and complete homework Locally Developed • Works in a focused manner with prompting • Applies new learning to tasks that have been directly modeled in the lesson • May begin homework in class with direction and take home to complete

Making Your Choice Grades 9 and 10 • Academic • Applied • Locally Developed • Open Grades 11 and 12 • College/University • Open • University • Workplace

A Sample Course Selection

Changing Course Type After Grade 9: (except Mathematics) Gr. 9 Academic Gr. 10 Academic Gr. 9 Applied Gr. 10 Applied Gr. 9 LDCC Gr. 10 LDCC

Changing Course Type After Grade 9: Gr. 9 Applied to Gr. 10 Academic Mathematics (Transfer Course worth 0. 5 credit) Gr. 9 Academic Gr. 10 Academic Gr. 9 Applied Gr. 10 Applied Gr. 9 LDCC Gr. 10 LDCC

Semestered Schools · Students take 8 courses in 2 blocks of time: 4 courses from September to January 4 courses from February to June · All 4 courses taken daily

Non-Semestered Schools • 8 courses taken throughout the school year • Courses taken every other day

Part D Choices for Nine Optional Attendance Timelines

Choices: Planning Guides Choices for Nine delivered each fall and Choices: Secondary Schools Course Selection & Planning Guide Arrives each January with Course Selection Sheets

The Year Ahead

Information Nights at Secondary Schools • Program and school specific information is shared • Information evening dates are listed in the Choices for Nine brochure and on the TDSB Website www. tdsb. on. ca/programs/

Home School Website: http: //www. tdsb. on. ca Click on “Find your School” and enter your home address

Optional Attendance • Students are encouraged to attend their home school • Must use an “Optional Attendance Application Form” when applying to a school other than their home school • Forms available at Grade 8 school • Specific information regarding Optional Attendance Procedures will follow in early January

Important Dates January • List of “Closed” and “Limited” schools made available • Optional Attendance applications available from elementary schools • Distribution of Course Selection Sheets

February Specific Dates • February 1, 2011 - Optional Attendance applications due to secondary schools – delivered by student/parent/guardian • February 14, 2011 - Secondary schools will inform Optional Attendance applicants by this date • Mid to late February 2011 – Course Selection sheets completed and returned to elementary teacher/counsellor • March 1, 2011 - All Course Selection sheets are due to secondary schools – delivered by Elementary Counsellor ** Only ONE course selection sheet per student is submitted for ONE secondary school by the elementary school counsellor

Information Nights at Specialized Schools • If you want to investigate specialized schools or programs, contact the specific school for admission requirements • Other requirements may include auditions, tests, interviews, etc. • Check DEADLINE DATES for application

Where are these specialized schools/programs? • Check Choices for Nine legend • www. tdsb. on. ca/programs select Guidance Programs and Services then Educational Planning then Choices for Secondary School

What Are the Specialized Program? Ontario Secondary Schools

Any questions? ? ?