Requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma

In order to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) a student must:

· earn 30 credits (18 compulsory and 12 optional credits),

· complete 40 hours of community involvement activities,

· meet the provincial secondary school literacy diploma requirement through successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course or adjudication process.

Compulsory Credits

Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits in order to obtain the OSSD:

· 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)

· 1 credit in French as a second language

· 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)

· 2 credits in science

· 1 credit in Canadian history

· 1 credit in Canadian geography

· 1 credit in the arts

· 1 credit in health and physical education

· .5 credits in civics

· .5 credits in career studies

Plus:

Group 1:	1 additional credit in English, French as a Second Language, or a Native Language, or a Classical or International Language, or social sciences and the humanities or Canadian and world studies, or guidance and career education, or co-operative education*
Group 2:	1 additional credit in health and physical education, or the arts, or business studies, or co-operative education*
Group 3:	1 additional credit in science (Grade 11 or 12) or technological education (Grades 9-12), or co-operative education*
*A maximum of 2 credits in co-operative education can count as compulsory credits.

Optional Credits

In addition to the 18 compulsory credits, students must earn 12 optional credits selected from the courses listed as available in the school course calendar.

Community Involvement Requirements and Procedures

Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities during their years in the secondary school program. This requirement is to be completed outside the student’s normal instructional hours and in a variety of settings. Students may not complete the hours through activities that are counted towards a credit, through paid work or by assuming duties normally performed by a paid employee.

Parents and students play a major role in this initiative. Organizations or persons supervising the activities must confirm completion of the 40 hours. Documentation attesting to the completion of each activity must be submitted. This documentation must include for each activity, the name of the person or organization receiving the service, the activity performed, the dates and hours, signatures of the student and his or her parents and a signed acknowledgment by the person (or representative of the organization) involved.

More details on community involvement requirements and procedures are available at the Student Services Office.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

All students who entered Grade 9 in the 2000-2001 school year or in subsequent years must successfully complete the provincial secondary school literacy test in order to earn a secondary school diploma. Students will normally be administered the literacy test when they are in Grade 10. The test is based on Ontario curriculum expectations for language and communication, particularly reading and writing, up to and including Grade 9.

The test will identify areas for remediation for students who are unsuccessful in completing the test. Students who write the test but do not succeed must re-take the test and complete it successfully in order to qualify for a secondary school diploma. There is no limit to the number of times the test may be re-taken.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course

The standard method for assessing the literacy skills of students in Ontario for the purpose of meeting the literacy requirement for graduation is the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) has been developed to provide students who have been unsuccessful on the test with intensive support in achieving the required reading and writing competencies, and with an alternative means of demonstrating their literacy skills. Students who have been unsuccessful on the OSSLT may be eligible to take the literacy course.

Requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Certificate

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma provided they have earned a minimum of 14 credits, distributed as follows:

Compulsory credits (total of 7)

· 2 credits in English

· 1 credit in Canadian geography or Canadian history

· 1 credit in mathematics

· 1 credit in science

· 1 credit in health and physical education

· 1 credit in the arts or technological education

Optional credits (total of 7)

7 credits selected by the student from available courses.

Certificate of Accomplishment

Students who leave school before fulfilling the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the Ontario Secondary School Certificate may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment. This certificate may be a useful means of recognizing achievement for students who plan to take certain vocational programs or other kinds of further training. Students who return to school to complete additional credit and non-credit courses will have their transcript updated but will not be issued a new Certificate of Accomplishment.

Cooperative Education at Chippewa

Cooperative Education is a planned learning experience, for which credits are earned. 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, comprised of pre-placement and integration activities, and a placement component. 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 the knowledge, and practice and refine the skills, acquired in the related course and to demonstrate achievement of placement expectations that reflect current workplace practices and standards.

Cooperative education involves a partnership between education and business, industry, agriculture, labour, or community organizations that includes students, teachers, parents, employers, and placement supervisors. Additional participants may be involved in the case of exceptional students and other students with special needs. Joint planning by these individuals ensures that students are provided with a systematic introduction to career exploration, experiential learning, and career planning.

Admission to the cooperative education program involves a counselling and interviewing process – conducted by the cooperative education teacher in collaboration with guidance counsellors, teacher-advisers, and administrators – to determine an applicants’ suitability for the program.

Students may register in half- or full-day co-op programs for either two or four credits. If you are interested in a two credit (half-day) co-op, select GWL3O2. If you are interested in a four credit (full-day) co-op, select GWL3O4. Students may earn credits in any subject discipline (e.g., business, health and physical education, science, social sciences, technology)

Completion of 2 Cooperative credits can be used toward the Specialist High Skills Major in Business.

Some Benefits of Cooperative Education

· Provides exposure to a career of your choice.

· Opportunity to earn references from local employers in your chosen field.

· Develop personal management skills such as teamwork and communication.

· Learn how to market yourself effectively through the development of a resume and interview skills.

· Gather evidence that may be used in your portfolio.

· Develop a network of contacts in your field of interest.

For further information, see your co-operative education coordinator for more details.

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

Do you want to earn your high school credits and work towards an apprenticeship in a highly skilled trade? Then, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) could be for you!

In the next five to ten years, one-third of the skilled tradespeople in Ontario will be eligible to retire. Continued growth of the Ontario economy requires that young workers be trained to meet the new demands as well as replace those leaving the workforce.

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program offers students a chance to make a smooth transition into their post-secondary education and training apprenticeship programs. It allows students to complete their credits for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and gain apprenticeship training leading to a Certificate of Apprenticeship. Students undertake a structured, but flexible program beginning after Grade 10. Students could spend approximately 50% of their time in school and 50% of their time in the workplace.

Prior to being registered as an apprentice, students will participate in specific trade-related Co-operative Education placements to determine their suitability for apprenticeship registration. Students, once registered, may be paid wages for training in the workplace.

Why get involved in OYAP?

Begin your post-secondary education & training while still in high school;
Earn apprenticeship credits (traditionally taught at a local community college) while completing your high school diploma;
Potential to earn while you learn;
Skilled trades offer both job security and excellent earning potential;
Reduce your apprenticeship qualification time;
Establish yourself with a potential employer;
Prepare for technician/technologist programs offered at community colleges or universities.

OYAP Admission Requirements

Must have completed two years of secondary school with a minimum of 16 credits;
Must have an acceptable attendance record;
Be a worthy representative of the school and the program;
Be responsible for organizing transportation to and from the placement work site with the school's Co-op teacher;
Completion of Grade 10 Technological Education credits in the selected apprenticeship area would be an asset;
Completion of a Co-operative Education application form and OYAP application form (available in Guidance & Co-op offices);
How to Register - OYAP applicants are processed through the students's Co-op teacher.

Pathways to Destinations

Definition of a Credit

A means of recognition of the successful completion of a course for which a minimum of 110 hours has been scheduled. A credit is granted to a student by the principal of a secondary school on behalf of the Minister of Education.

Definitions of Types of Courses

Four types of courses are offered in Grades 9 and 10:

Academic courses emphasize theory and abstract problems.
Applied courses focus on practical applications and concrete examples.
Open courses are designed to prepare students for further study in certain subjects and to enrich their education generally.
Essential courses are designed to prepare students for direct entry into the workplace. These students have traditionally experienced significant difficulties in school.

Five types of courses are offered in Grades 11 and 12:

· Open courses are appropriate for all students regardless of postsecondary destination. They are not designed with the specific requirements of a postsecondary destination in mind.

· Workplace courses are designed to prepare students for a variety of jobs, training programs and careers. These courses emphasize workplace applications but also explore theoretical material underlying practical applications.

· College courses are designed to prepare students for most college programs and related careers.

· University/College courses are designed to prepare students for entrance requirements for specific university and college programs, and related careers.

· University Preparation courses are designed to prepare students for entrance requirements for university programs and related careers.

Transfer courses are designed to bridge the gap between two courses of different types. Typically, they are shorter and more focused. They are intended to enable students who alter their postsecondary plans to transfer from one type of course to another in Grades 10, 11 and 12.

Course Coding System

In Ontario a

six-character code is used to identify each course. The first five characters are mandatory and are designated by the Ministry of Education and Training. The sixth character is optional, and is assigned by the school.

Course Codes Explained

Code Character

Explanation

Example

1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd

Subject discipline of the course in letters

SNC - Science

4^th

1= grade 9

2=grade 10

3=grade 11

4=grade 12

SNC2 - Grade 10 Science

5^th

Type of Course

C = College

D = Academic

E = Workplace

L = Locally Developed

P = Applied

O = Open

M =College / University

U = University

SNC2D - Gr 10 Academic Science

6^th

Board designated character

E=taught in English

F= taught in French

T= Enriched/Contest

SNC2DE - Gr 10 Academic Science taught in English