CHSS Course Calendar 2018

By Chris Smith - Principal of Central Huron Secondary School
The Avon Maitland District School Board is committed to ensuring students have the opportunity to graduate secondary school in four years and to ensuring a variety of course offerings for our students. In order to achieve both goals efficiently students need to be registered full time in each semester. Students in Avon Maitland District School Board secondary schools are required to register with a sufficient number of courses to be considered full time for each semester in which they attend our schools.

School Goals and Philosophy

CHSS is a safe, vibrant community which values mutual respect and active citizenship. Staff and students learn together through a variety of relevant experiences in the classroom, and through extracurricular activities. We strive for excellence in achievement through support and collaboration.

School Support Services and Resources/Library

Central Huron Secondary School has a new, state of the art Library. The Library’s collection includes non-fiction, fiction, and reference books, magazines, newspapers, computer programs, Internet access, videotapes and audiotapes. A qualified staff member will provide library orientations and skills workshops so students can successfully access and interpret information. Students are assisted on a one-on-one, small group, and whole class basis. Library holding can now be researched from home over the internet by going to destiny.amdsb.ca.

Special Education Services

The Central Huron Special Education Department, in consultation with the school principal, offers a range of services to support exceptional students, parents/guardians and teachers. The individual learning needs of each student determine the specialized support required with integration and inclusion as the primary goal. The majority of students meet success in regular classrooms with program accommodations and environmental supports. The resource room is available throughout the day to assist in accommodation supports that may include technological supports, test and exam writing assistance, social/emotional assistance, etc.

Course Changes: Policies and Procedures

Any students wishing to change a course should consult their Guidance Counsellor. Course changes can occur at different times in the year for a variety of reasons. At the beginning of semesters, course changes are to be completed within the first two weeks. Any change in courses should be made with careful consideration of the student’s needs and career goals and with the consent of the parent or guardian. Any student wishing to have a study period must have at least 16 credits. To comply with the Ministry of Education’s policy on full disclosure, senior courses which are dropped five days or more after the first formal report card, become part of the student’s permanent record and are recorded on the student’s OST (transcript). Students who have attained the Age of Majority may accept responsibility for their own curricular choices.

Cooperative Education and Work Experience

Cooperative education may be the culmination of a series of experiential learning opportunities that include job shadowing; job twinning, and work experience, and is often an integral part of school-work transition programs, including the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP). A cooperative education course must be based on a related course (or courses) from an Ontario curriculum policy document or on a ministry-approved locally developed course in which the student is enrolled or which he or she has successfully completed. The cooperative education course and the related course (or courses) together constitute a student’s cooperative education program, designed to suit the student’s strengths, interests and needs and to enhance the student’s preparation for the future.

Cooperative education courses include a classroom component, comprising pre-placement and integration activities, and a placement component. Prior to their placements, students attend structured orientation sessions as part of the classroom component of the program. Students earn cooperative education credits by integrating classroom theory with planned learning experiences in the community to achieve learning based on the curriculum expectations of the related course. Placements should provide students with challenging opportunities to apply and extend their knowledge, to practice and refine the skills acquired in the related course and to demonstrate achievement of placement expectations that reflect current workplace practices and standards. Students apply to take a cooperative education course during the course selection process. A counselling and interview process - conducted by cooperative education teachers in collaboration with guidance counsellors, teacher-advisers, and administrators - determines applicants’ suitability for the program.

Dual Credit Programs

Dual credit programs allow senior students the opportunity to earn high school and college credits at the same time. AMDSB is currently offering dual credits with the following college partners: Fanshawe College, Lambton College and Conestoga College. Students attend one of the College campuses for either a full or half day a week for approximately a fifteen week period. All travel and tuition costs are fully paid for by School College Work Initiative (SCWI). SCWI is collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.

Primary Focus of Dual Credit Programs

Dual Credit Programs are intended to assist secondary students in the completion of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and successful transition to college and apprenticeship programs. The primary focus is on those students facing the biggest challenges in graduating. This includes disengaged and underachieving students with the potential to succeed but who are at risk of not graduating from high school, and students who have left high school before graduating. Approved Dual Credit Programs also include students in Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Programs (OYAP).

Courtesy of Dual Credit Policy and Implementation

For more information on how to apply and what dual credit courses are currently being offered please contact your home school Student Services department. Please note this is not an entitlement program. To learn more about Dual credits visit www.gotocollege.ca and www.successforlife.ca

Guidance and Career Education Programs

Guidance and Counselling Services

As students progress through high school, they are encouraged to discuss their plans and courses with counsellors who are available to assist with academic, vocational and other concerns. Information is available to help students select courses with regard to future plans. Students can view the course calendar on-line, which is a valuable resource for both students and parents. It also provides a guideline for courses to be considered when making course selections for each year of high school. Parents are encouraged to contact the counsellors regarding any assistance or information requested by their son or daughter.

Our goal is to counsel each student each year. It is particularly important to ensure that students have the necessary requirements for admission to any postsecondary institution which they are considering attending. Information on careers, universities and colleges is available to all students. The computer program “My Blueprint” also supports the search for career and post secondary school information and provides an interest test called Discovery for Grades 7-9 and Exploration for Grades 10-12 on their website www.myblueprint.ca.

For students with particular challenges, referrals for testing can be made through the Guidance Department to the psychologist or to an appropriate agency. There are several opportunities for enrichment for our capable and gifted learners: Math contests, exchange opportunities and board-wide and regional enrichment opportunities.

The compulsory career studies course, which can be taken either in grade 10 or 11 in conjunction with civics, is an integral part of the career planning program as students consider their own strengths, skills and interests when looking at postsecondary destinations.

It is essential that students have the necessary requirements for admission to the postsecondary career and/or institution which they are planning to attend. There are three excellent web-based planning tools for use by students and parents, as they offer insight into what is required to prepare for many different careers. www.successforlife.ca is a comprehensive website that has been developed by the AMDSB; it addresses all four destinations with hotlinks to many other sites (much of the information is about local resources). myBlueprint.ca is a tool for planning a path through high school and beyond and is also used in the course selection process each year. Students require a school activation key in order to set up an account for the first time. The username,password and the school activation key for MyBlueprint are available in the guidance office or by contacting the school. Hard copy information (postsecondary calendars, CD's, videotapes) about colleges, universities, private schools, apprenticeships and specific careers is available on a loan basis from the Guidance Office. Due to improvements in technology, most postsecondary destinations have a website and the Guidance Office makes these addresses readily available.

The final responsibility for the selection of courses rests with the student and parent. Again this year, course selection will take place online and parents will want to discuss the process with their child. During the classroom visits, students will be given a sheet of instructions on how to use the online course selection tool. Course selection must be completed within the first three weeks of February, 2017. Since it may be difficult to change course selections after this date, students must choose carefully. We invite all parents/guardians to take an active role as your children plan their future at CHSS and beyond.

Peer Tutoring

Students experiencing difficulties in a particular course are encouraged to seek help from their teacher and, if necessary, request a peer tutor. Recommended senior students offer help one lunch hour per week and are matched with a student requesting help. Most often, tutors work on Mathematics, but any subject is possible.

Peer Mentors

At Central Huron, students from grades 11 and 12 are recommended, interviewed, trained in listening and communication skills then are matched with students from grade 9 or 10 who need support at high school. Group activities like skating or bowling are planned as well as partner meetings, for lunch or just a chat. Peer Mentors are called upon frequently to help with school functions such as Grade 8 Orientation Day.

Awards

Central Huron Secondary School has a rich and long tradition of community support through our Awards program. Over 100 students are honoured at Commencement and our annual Fall Awards Assembly. Awards vary from recognition in specific subjects and overall proficiency, to citizenship and recognition of contributions to the Arts programs. A detailed list of awards is available in the Student Services Office.

Student Responsibilities

Achievement and Attendance

Students who fail courses or choose to withdraw from a course may jeopardize their attainment of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Regular attendance at school is critical for the student’s learning and for achievement of course expectations. The Central Huron Secondary School attendance policy is published in the student handbook. Students are required to attend all classes but may occasionally be excused for medical and dental appointments. Every effort, however, should be made to schedule these appointments outside of school time. If a student is absent, the parent or guardian must notify the school of the date, time, and reason for the absence either by calling the school prior to or on the day of the absence or by providing a signed note by 9:00am on the date of the student’s return to school.

Lateness

If a student is late for any period they must obtain an admit slip before going to class. Lateness for class results in detentions. Habitual lateness leads to more serious consequences up to and including suspensions.

Student Fees

There will be no fees or cost charged to students to participate in the regular day school program. Fees may be charged where the student chooses to upgrade the material or where purchase of material is optional. Students enrolled in secondary schools in Avon Maitland District School Board can expect to be provided with the basic classroom learning resources that are required in order to complete the course expectations. It is recognized there may be optional resources that students may purchase to enhance their program; e.g. field trips, upgrading materials in courses such as construction technology and visual arts.

Students are expected to come to school ready and willing to participate actively in their own learning. To that end, students are expected to bring materials with them for their own personal note-taking (e.g. pencils, pens, paper, binders, i-pads for Grade 9 and 10 students).

Students are encouraged to purchase their school’s student card by paying the student activity fee. The student card includes but is not limited to the benefit of participating in the co-instructional program and in the Student Council dances and activities. Students involved co-instructional teams, groups and clubs will be made aware of any additional fund-raising obligations or participation fees prior to making a commitment to participate.

Student Conduct

Each school has a Code of Conduct, which is derived from Ministry of Education and Avon Maitland District School Board policies. It is contained in the booklet “Together for Safe Schools: Code of Conduct” which is available through each school and the Avon Maitland District School Board website at www.yourschools.ca. At CHSS, the student Code of Conduct is published in the student handbook, which is available on-line.