makingthe TRANSITION Finding Your Way From Grade 8 to Grade 9 A Guide for Students and Parents/Guardians This publication was produced by the Rainbow District School Board Parent Involvement Committee with funding from the Ministry of Secondary School Education Parent Engagement Office. Your future Terms and Definitions Community Service Hours Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics begins Students must complete 40 community The Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics here! provides individual and system data on service hours, at any time in secondary school, as part of their Ontario Secondary student knowledge and skills based on the School Diploma (OSSD) requirements. curriculum expectations in Grade 9 applied and academic programs. All students in these Welcome to secondary school, programs are required to participate. Chelmsford Valley District a new and exciting time in your life where endless Compulsory Course Composite School (EP & FI) opportunities and pathways are yours to discover. This is a specific course students must take 3594 Highway 144, Chelmsford Exams Throughout this journey, caring teachers and supportive that fulfills part of the Ontario Secondary 705.675.0225 School Diploma (OSSD) requirements. Students may write an exam, which tests school administrators will work with you to help you their knowledge on the entire course work, Confederation maximize your potential and fulfill your aspirations. Secondary School (EP & FI) Course Code at or near the end of the semester. 1918 Main Street West, Val Caron As a secondary school student, you will have important 705.671.5948 This six-character code describes the subject, choices to make that will open doors for your grade level and stream or destination of a Optional Courses Espanola future. You will also be given opportunities secondary school course. Students will select 12 courses that are of High School (EP) to gain hands-on experience and explore specific interest to them and which will count 147 Spruce Avenue, Espanola careers of interest. towards the 30-credit OSSD requirement. 705.869.1590 Credit Lasalle This guide will help you along the way. A credit value of 1.0 is granted upon Ontario Secondary Secondary School (EP & FI) It contains information about course successfully completing a 110-hour 1545 Kennedy Street, Sudbury codes, pathways, timetables and tips. course with a minimum of 50%. School Diploma (OSSD) 705.566.2280 This guide will also be of benefit to The Ontario Secondary School Diploma is Lively District parents/guardians, our partners in the Culminating Activity granted after fulfilling all necessary credit, Secondary School (EP) learning process. Parental involvement Students may be literacy and community hour requirements. Integrated Technology Program asked to complete a 265 Fifth Avenue, Lively improves student achievement 705.692.3671 and we thank parents/guardians course culminating Prerequisite Course for supporting their children as activity, which is This is a specific course students must Lockerby a major project successfully complete before taking another Composite School (EP & FI) they make the transition into Science Technology Education Program secondary school. for each course. course at the next grade level. 1391 Ramsey View Court, Sudbury There are a 705.522.1750 In Rainbow Schools, we are variety of Semester committed to giving students every assessment The school year is divided into two semesters. Lo-Ellen Park opportunity to achieve success in Secondary School (EP & FI) practices that A student will take four courses in each learning and life. 275 Loach’s Road, Sudbury teachers may semester. 705.522.2320 Your future begins here. use to address Manitoulin the individual Student Success learning styles Secondary School (EP) Secondary schools have staff and programs 107 Bay Street, M’Chigeeng Enjoy the journey! of all students. 705.368.7000 in place to support and improve student learning. Sudbury Education Quality and Secondary School (EP & FI) Inside Arts Education Program Accountability Office (EQAO) Timetable 154 College Street, Sudbury 3 Secondary school terms 9 myBlueprint Literacy Test A timetable outlines the course, time, room 705.674.7551 and definitions education planner number, lunch period, teacher and semester The literacy test is written in in which students will take all of their courses. EP – English Program 4 Decoding a course code 10 Individual Grade 10. A student must pass the FI – French Immersion and timetable Education Plan literacy requirement to earn an OSSD. 5 Ontario Secondary 12 How parents can help The purpose of this test is to ensure School Diploma 13 Learning skills that students have acquired the essential 6 Selecting courses reading and writing skills that apply to all 14 Ensure success subject areas in and up to the end of 7 Programs and resources 15 Tips from Grade 9. 8 Learning opportunities secondary students Rainbow Schools | Reaching minds. Touching hearts. 3 Decoding What do I need to graduate? This school identifier is used to distinguish course characteristics. Ontario Secondary School Diploma Ontario Secondary School Diploma The OSSD is the diploma that students work towards achieving in A Course Code 1 = Common code M = Male 18 Compulsory Credits Credits high school. Every Rainbow District School Board secondary F = Female Credits Required Earned school student must successfully complete the following q7 Courses use a six-character This letter identifies the course type requirements: for Grades 9-10: English (1 per grade) 4 q q q q course code for identification. n 30 credits - 18 compulsory and 12 optional D = Academic L = Locally Developed n The first five characters of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Requirement Math (at least 1 in Grades 11 or 12) 3 q q q P = Applied O = Open n course code are set out by the 40 Community Service Hours Science 2 q q Ministry of Education. This number identifies the grade: French (Grade 9) 1 q 1 = Grade 9 3 = Grade 11 What you should know... Canadian Geography (Grade 9) 1 q The sixth character is used q 2 = Grade 10 4 = Grade 12 How do I earn a credit? Canadian History (Grade 10) 1 by school boards to identify The Arts 1 q a specific characteristic of These three letters identify the subject. You must earn a final grade of 50% or more in a course Health and Physical Education 1 q Subject codes: The first letter in the course to earn a credit. the course, for example, Civics (Grade 10) 0.5 q code denotes the course’s department area. Careers (Grade 10) 0.5 q Co-operative Education. A = Arts How many credits can I earn each year? B = Business The table below outlines a typical student’s Group 1 - Choose one from... 1 q C = Canadian and World Studies credits and credit totals year by year. A Third Language E = English Humanities and Social Sciences F = French Yearly Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 Canadian and World Studies G = Guidance and Credits 8 8 8 6 - 8 Guidance and Career Education Career Education Co-operative Education* H = Humanities and Totals 8 16 24 30 - 32 Social Sciences Group 2 - Choose one from... 1 q L = International Languages What will happen if I fail the Additional Health and Physical Education M = Mathematics literacy test? Additional Arts P = Physical Education Business S = Science You will be given opportunities to repeat Co-operative Education* A Timetable T = Technology the test or take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course in its place. Group 3 - Choose one from... 1 q Semester 1: When can I start to earn my 40 hours Additional Science (Grades 11 or 12) of community service? Technology (Grades 9 - 12) September - January Co-operative Education* n After graduating from Grade 8. *Note: A maximum of two Co-operative Education credits can be used Period Time Subject n Community service hours must not be to fulfill compulsory requirements under Group 1, 2 or 3. Period 1 / scheduled during class time. 1 8:45 am English Course Credit Optional Credits 12 q q q q Homeroom: Students take q q q q to 10:04 am ENG1D1-01 What happens if I fail a course? Approximately Atwood, M. | 203 4 credits in q q q q 15 minutes longer each semester. You need to meet with your guidance counsellor or to allow for morning 2 10:07 am Mathematics student success teacher to explain the following options Literacy Requirements announcements. to 11:21 am MFM1P1-03 that might be available to you: Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test q Course Code Taken in Grade 10 Descartes, R. | 105 and Section n Repeating the course the next semester. Lunch 11:21 am to 12:14 pm Course and specific class n Completing the course at Summer School. Community Service Hours Requirements n Recovering the credit in Credit Recovery. 40 Hours completed over 4 years q 3 12:14 pm Art to 1:28 pm AV1101-01 Class Time: Da Vinci, L. | 105 Teacher’s Name 75 minutes 4 1:31 pm Geography with 3 minutes travel time to 2:45 pm CGC1D1-04 Cabot, J. | 215 Room Number 4 Making the Transition | Finding Your Way From Grade 8 to Grade 9 Rainbow Schools | Reaching minds. Touching hearts. 5 How do I know if my child is at risk? Which one Q& Definition of “at risk’’ A According to the Ministry of Education, the following students may be considered How schools do I choose? at risk of not being successful in their courses, which significantly reduces their chances of graduating: Academic, Applied or Locally Developed Am I locked into a course n Elementary students who are n Students who are skipping classes. can help students performing at level 1 or below n Students who are performing poorly Secondary schools have a variety You will be asked to select a course type for Grade 9 or can I switch if I need to? grade expectation.