Graduation Transitions Program and Post-Secondary Institutions GUIDE 2015-2016 CHANGING DESTINY by CHANGING MINDS CONTENTS
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GRADUATION TRANSITIONS PROGRAM AND POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS GUIDE 2015-2016 CHANGING DESTINY BY CHANGING MINDS CONTENTS Post-Secondary Information Guide 02 Graduation Requirements 03 Language Proficiency Index (LPI) 04 What is the Graduation Transitions Program? 05 Application and Admission Procedures Summary 2015-16 06 Disability Services at Post-Secondary Institutions 08 Psychological-Educational Assessments and Post-Secondary Education 09 Self-Advocacy 10 Post-Secondary Checklist for Students with a Learning Disability 11 Further Education Institutions 12 Volunteer and Travel Programs 20 General Information on Scholarships, Awards 22 and Financial Aid Canadian Bursaries for Students with Disabilities 24 © Fraser Academy POST-SECONDARY INFORMATION GUIDE This booklet contains important information for your son or daughter’s final year at Fraser Academy. All information is accurate as of September 2015. For those students wanting to attend post-secondary institutions, the program options are practically limitless. As each student has unique needs, preferences and circumstances, finding a good fit is the result of teamwork (student, plus his or her family, teachers and counsellors). Please note that each institution has its own application opening and deadline dates, as well as documentation requirements. Check each individual school online for the most up-to-date information. There are also many options for those students taking a year off, including volunteering, working or travelling in Canada or another country. The Transitions Team can help students work on their resume or interviewing skills, and offer information about GAP and other programs. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Sincerely, Hannah McCormack Counsellor; Team Lead Post-Secondary Planning Key Post-Secondary Grade 12 Planning Dates Ongoing Meetings with the Post-Secondary Planning Counsellor; calendar updated with upcoming post-secondary events, fairs and information sessions. Oct. 8, 2015 Grade 12 Parent and Student Information Session Night. Work Experience Week. Grade 12 students complete Feb. 15-19, 2016 one week (minimum 30 hrs) of work experience in their graduating year. Placements are organized by the students and their parents under the supervision of the Post-Secondary Planning Counsellor. Language Proficiency Index (LPI) Test for students with less April 2016 than 80% in English applying to post-secondary schools in BC. Fraser Academy suggests all students potentially going to post-secondary in BC to write the test. Grade 12 Graduation Presentation, which includes the May 16-27, 2016 completion of a Graduation Transitions Plan outlining career and life plans (e-portfolio with transition plan questions, an updated resume, completed work experience forms and more). 02 © Fraser Academy G RADUATION REQUIREMENTS Most students leave Fraser Academy with more than the 80 credits required by the Ministry of Education to graduate. Please refer to the Fraser Academy course selection guide for additional information or arrange a meeting with the Transitions Team or Assistant Head of Teaching and Learning. Specific Graduation Requirements English 10 4 credits English 11 OR Communications 11 4 credits English 12 OR Communications 12 4 credits Social Studies 10 4 credits Social Studies 11 4 credits Any Math 10 4 credits Any Math 11 4 credits Science 10 4 credits Science 11 OR Science 12 4 credits Fine Art OR Applied Skill 10, 11 or 12 4 credits Physical Education 10 4 credits Planning 10 4 credits Graduation Transitions Program 4 credits Elective Courses Total elective course credits taken between Grades 10-12 28 credits TOTAL 80 CREDITS © Fraser Academy 03 LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY INDEX (LPI) The Language Proficiency Index (LPI) Test is a standardized test for students applying to BC colleges or universities. It provides general information about a student’s competency in the English language. If a student achieves an 80% or higher in an English 12 course, the LPI test is not necessary. However, for those students who fall below this average, the LPI mark will be used for entrance and English placement. Fraser Academy suggests that all students potentially going to post-secondary in BC write the test. Different schools have different LPI requirements. UBC requires a minimum of 30/40 on the essay section or an overall score of 5, whereas Langara College requires 26/40 and Capilano University requires 24/40, both overall scores of 4. Fraser Academy will host a sitting of the LPI in April 2016. Students will be eligible for extended time and receive most of the accommodations for the test that they receive for exams (except reading comprehension). The usual time slot is 2.5 hours but students with double or unlimited time can have up to 5 hours maximum. 04 © Fraser Academy W HAT IS THE GRADUATION TRANSITIONS PROGRAM? The Graduation Transitions Program is toward the Dogwood Diploma. Successful designed to help students make a successful completion of the program is required to transition to life after high school. It is an graduate. opportunity for students to reflect on their knowledge and abilities and plan for life after Students begin Graduation Transitions in high school by collecting evidence of their Health & Career Education 7-9. In Planning 10, achievements. Students are expected to plan they work on their education and career goals, and prepare their education, career and life health and finances. In Grade 11, career and goals with the help of staff or their parents personality assessments are done as well as as needed. The program is worth 4 credits an interview project. “The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Chinese Proverb What do students need to do in Grade 12? Career and Life Students need to explore personal and career goals in Grades 10-12. They will create a Transition e-Portfolio that includes the framework for a two-year plan for after graduation plus other requirements and present it at the Grade 12 Graduation Presentation in May 2016. Community Connections Students need to participate in a minimum of 30 hours of unpaid work experience during Work Experience Week in February 2016. Students need to find a placement before December 13, 2015. Transitions Classes All Grade 12 students will have mandatory transitions classes once a month to keep track of their progress. Meetings will include PowerPoint lessons, group discussion, and speakers. Personal Health Students need to complete 150 minutes of exercise per week (tracked by Athletics Department). If they are not enrolled in PE 12: Sport and Recreation or Health and Fitness, students need to do this on their own time and record it via the form handed out at the start of the year. © Fraser Academy 05 AP P LICATION AND ADMISSION PROCEDURES SUMMARY 2015-2016 The Transitions Team has “getting Eastern schools to know you” sessions with Grade may require interim 12s to get an idea of what their transcripts for students plans are shaping up to be. with high enough grade averages seeking early The students receive information admission. on application openings and deadlines. Admin will send interim transcripts to schools for Students wanting to apply to post- students with averages secondary institutions outside of 75% and above. Canada begin the application process. GAP program application should begin right away. Sep Oct - Nov Dec - Jan The post-secondary application process for Canadian institutions begins. The Transitions Team is available to help with applications (parents need to provide credit card information for application fees). Regular application deadlines for most universities are around mid to late Feb. Schools like BCIT, Langara, Capilano, VCC and Douglas have ongoing semester admission (they are often first come, first served, so apply early for September 2016 admission). Online portal for most BC post-secondary applications: https://applybc.ca. Online portal for most Alberta schools: www.applyalberta.ca. Online portal for Ontario schools: www.ouac.on.ca. 06 © Fraser Academy Students may receive confirmation of conditional acceptance to certain institutions at this time. Please advise the Transitions Team of acceptances. Students can self-report grades for early admission for certain universities. Students applying to post-secondary institutions in BC take the Language Proficiency Index Test in April. Final marks sent out to post-secondary institutions through the PSI form. Final Post-secondary offers of admission are institutions review secured. student applications. Feb - Apr Early Mar Mar - Apr May Summer Students may begin to hear back about “conditional acceptances” awaiting their final Grade 12 marks and graduation status. Students fill out the Ministry PSI (Post-Secondary Information) form via the Student Secure Web. The PSI form ensures that final transcripts are sent to designated post-secondary institutions within Canada. Transcripts with interim marks for courses not yet completed will be sent in May by the Ministry of Education to all designated post- secondary institutions. © Fraser Academy 07 D ISABILITY SERVICES AT POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS Most public post-secondary institutions in Canada and the US are required to provide services to individuals with learning or other disabilities. In BC, post-secondary institutions are bound by Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development guidelines. As part of these guidelines: Students Must Identify Themselves Students must self-identify that they