For an OSSD, it’s as easy as…
(Ontario Secondary School Diploma)

30 credits in total
40 hours of community involvement
completion of the Literacy Requirement

F.Y.I. optional credits of students choice***
What’s It Take? (OSSD)
* A maximum of 3 English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Literacy Development (ELD) may be counted toward compulsory English credits. The fourth must be a Grade 12 compulsory English credit.
** A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education can count as compulsory credits.
*** May include up to 4 credits achieved through approved Dual Credit Courses.

For an OSSCA
(Ontario Secondary School Certificate of Accomplishment)

This certificate recognizes achievement for students who plan to pursue certain vocational programs or other kinds of community integration.

7 compulsory credits
plus
7 optional credits

Substitutions: Principals may replace up to three compulsory credit courses with courses from the list of 18 courses that meet the requirement. Substitutions are granted on an individual basis.

Apprenticeship

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College

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University

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Work

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The Avon Maitland District School Board maintains a Special Education Plan. This plan is reviewed annually and amended when necessary to meet the needs of exceptional students.

It is available in every school, or on the Board website,

www.yourschools.ca, for parents, guardians and students to review.

Student Success Teams

Student Success Teams are in every secondary school. The team is made up of the principal (or vice-principal), Guidance, Special Education and Student Success Teachers. SS Teams develop credit rescue, credit recovery and transitional plans with students. They make sure that programs and activities are in place to help all students be successful.

Student Services

Guidance Counsellors are teachers with special training who provide assistance with choosing courses, postsecondary plans and personal crises. Parents and students are encouraged to make use of the Student Services department.

Student Success Teachers

There is a Student Success Teacher in every secondary school. Student Success Teachers help students who are having difficulty. They work hard to ensure that every student has a successful secondary school experience.

Summer School

Summer School courses may be available for students to:

• retake a course not completed successfully
• improve achievement in a course
• take a transfer course

The number and delivery of summer school courses depends upon student need.

English as a Second Language

Secondary ESL students face challenges as they work toward their OSSD and become fluent in English. Teachers help ESL students in their classes by matching activities and content with the student’s needs. Students beginning to learn English may earn partial credits if they are not able to meet the learning expectations for a full credit. Tutoring may be available to help ESL students. In the Avon Maitland District School Board, ESL students are given the help they need to fulfill their goals.

Special Education Advisory Committee

The Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) examines, reviews and makes recommendations about the special education programs and services of the Avon Maitland District School Board. SEAC is composed of up to 12 community association representatives, trustees and the superintendent responsible for special education. For more information, contact the school principal.

Identification, Placement & Review Committee

Students with identified obstacles to learning will meet annually with parents, teachers and their school principal to decide placement and level of support within a range of Special Education services. Students who are a part of the Identification, Placement and Review Committee process will also have an IEP.

What’s An IEP?

Individual Education Plans are created to help students be successful through the use of accommodations and/or modifications in specific courses. At the secondary level, alternative courses are non-credit courses.

Alternative Programs

In these courses, learning expectations are individualized for students and generally focus on preparing students for daily living. There are three types of alternative programs:

1. Developmental Disability

Students participate in a program designed to fit the unique needs of each learner. This program focuses on life skills, literacy and numeracy skills, community integration and work skills. These are non-credit courses.

2. Undifferentiated

This program focuses on providing students with skills necessary for success in school and everyday life. Students may earn up to three credits per year. The remainder of the program will consist of non-credit courses.

3. Destinations

This program is intended for students working toward a Certificate of Accomplishment. The focus is on learning literacy and numeracy, employment and life skills.

* Talk to the principal to find out what alternative programs are available in your secondary school.

Specialist High Skills Majors are specially designed programs that allow students to customize their secondary school program based on their interests and talents. These programs provide the knowledge and skills students need to be successful in any pathway: Apprenticeship, College, University and the World of Work. Focus credits, certifications, work experiences and essential work skills of the SHSM prepare students for further education or employment in a particular sector of the economy.

Students in SHSMs will:

• focus on knowledge and skills of a particular economic sector
• earn certifications recognized by sectors
• participate in a variety of work experiences
• gain valuable employability skills
• have ‘reach ahead’ opportunities (e.g. attend conferences, job shadow, dual credit programs)

Specialist High Skills Majors in Avon Maitland

• F.E. Madill S.S. – Construction
• Listowel D.S.S. – Construction

The Construction Specialist High Skills Major program at Listowel District Secondary School focuses on the unique skills related to cabinetmaking and construction including electrical systems, roofing, concrete, design, and estimating.

In Wingham, F.E. Madill’s off-site Specialist High Skills Major Construction program is a full day experience that combines knowledge acquired in the classroom with hands on construction projects in the community.

Students study industry standards; building codes; consider health and safety issues; and explore careers, lifelong learning opportunities, and the impact of construction technology on society.


• Stratford Central S.S. – Arts & Culture

The Arts and Culture Specialist High Skills Major at South Huron District High School offers courses in Drama, Visual Art and Music, where each discipline participates in many school and community events. The addition of Digital Audio Studies, a program designed to offer experience working with professional technical applications in a recording studio environment, gives students an exceptional experience.

The Stratford ArtsCentral Specialist High Skills Major program has a distinguished history of arts education. With the largest offering of arts courses in the area, students can specialize in dance, drama, instrumental music, vocal music, visual art and technical production.


The digitalCentral Specialist High Skills Major program at Stratford Central Secondary School was chosen as a launch site, under the Information and Communications sector and promotes the creation and production of communication systems and software and digital media. Strong partnerships with local colleges and film festivals and affiliations with experts in the digital media and communications field ensures that students are continually involved in the exciting technology of today while developing the emerging media of tomorrow.



• Stratford Northwestern S.S. – Manufacturing, Hospitality and Tourism, Transportation

A key strength of the Manufacturing Specialist High Skills Major at Stratford Northwestern is that the local manufacturing industry works closely with the school so that the work they accomplish meets or exceeds that of industry standards. This program also gives students the opportunity to gain dual credits at a community college.



• Stratford Northwestern S.S. – Hospitality and Tourism
• MDHS – Hospitality

Students involved in the Culinary Specialist High Skills Major at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School and Mitchell District High School operate their school’s own trendy café, where they plan, prepare, market and serve a wide variety of meals. Through fundamental connections with local farmers, their own gardens and greenhouse, students gain invaluable seed-to-table education.



• GDCI – Environment

The Environment Specialist High Skills Major program at Goderich District Collegiate Institute enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering the workplace, apprenticeship, college or university. Energy is an emerging sector with employment growth that will provide a variety of opportunities for GDCI graduates. Strong partnerships within the community allow students valuable knowledge through experiential learning, career exploration, certifications and training programs in first aid, CPR, GPS Global Positioning Systems and hazardous materials.



• SHDHS – Transportation, Arts & Culture
• Stratford Northwestern S.S. – Transportation

At South Huron District High School the Specialist High Skills Major program also prepares students for all four pathways – Apprenticeship, Workplace, College & University. Their current facility has a designated workshop with 7 bays which include two inground hoists. They are well supported by local dealerships that hire graduates from the Transportation Specialist High Skills Major program and take on CO-OP and OYAP students.

The Transportation Specialist High Skills Major program at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School focuses on the service, repair, and modification of vehicles and vehicle systems and promotes skills related to the organization and management of transportation services. Certifications and training programs in basic health and safety, first aid, CPR and hazardous materials are also achieved.

More specifically, this program helps students and their parents learn about:

• Skills and Interests
• Future career options
• Pathways
• Opportunities for getting work experience

At school it is important for you to do more than just course work. Your secondary school has many exciting clubs, teams and activities for you to become involved in. These are offered before and after school and at lunch time.  Join in and catch your school’s spirit.

Developing personal relationships is also important. Get to know other students in your school. Talk to your teachers and school staff about who you are and what you want to do with your life. They can help you set academic and personal goals.

Secondary school students lead very busy lives. Many are trying to balance part-time jobs, school work, clubs and/or teams as well as family responsibilities.  This can be quite a challenge.  Remember, you are not alone!  Ask for help from your parents, friends, teachers and school administrators.  They are there to help!!

To enroll, please see your Student Services department. For further information and course offerings, go to: amdec.ca

www.ilc.org

www.thecentreforemploymentandlearning.ca