Grade 8 Information Session
Donald A. Wilson Secondary School
Soon you will be a
GATOR! Welcome
to the SWAMP!
Learning Goals
By the end of this presentation you will:
 know what high school will look like
 how to pick your courses for grade 9.
 learn about the ways WE
can support YOU in
achieving your goals.
DAWSS – Bell Schedule
Week 1 and Week 2
Week 1:
Period 1 Period 2 LUNCH
Period 3 Period 4
WEEK 2:
Period 2 Period 1 LUNCH
Period 4 Period 3
What is secondary school all about?
CREDITS
1 COURSE = 1 CREDIT
4 credits are earned
each semester
Semester 1:
Sept to Jan
Semester 2:
Feb to June
Ontario Secondary School Diploma


30 Credits to graduate
 18 Compulsory
 12 Optional
You will get 8 of these in
your grade 9 year!
40 Hours of Community Involvement
 You can start the summer of your grade 9 year…more
information to follow in the spring
 Provincial Literacy Requirement
 must pass to graduate – you will get LOTS of support!
Choosing the Right LEVEL for You!
 Consult with parents/guardians, teachers, SERT
 Difference between lack of understanding and
lack of effort
 Suggested Ranges:
 Failing current courses – LOCALLY DEVELOPED
 50 – 60% - APPLIED
 70% - ACADEMIC
 Between 60% and 70% is a gray area
 NOT ALL COURSES HAVE TO BE AT THE SAME LEVEL
Choose the Right Level
We create the timetable
for your ENTIRE grade
based on what YOU
choose…
If you don’t choose the
right level initially then
there might not be any
space for you if you need
to move levels once the
semester has started
Locally Developed Courses
 Targets important concepts not completed at
elementary level
 Fills in the GAPS missing from Grade 8
 Develop students’ knowledge and skill
 Emphasize practical, concrete applications of
basic concepts
 Generally designed for workplace bound students
 Potential option to upgrade to applied
Applied Courses
 More hands on concrete (practical )
 Directed, step by step, teacher-directed approach
to learning
 Students recognize & describe what is heard &
read
 College bound students
 There is potential to upgrade to academic!
 Many university programs do NOT require
academic math
Academic Courses
 Drawing conclusions & making predictions from
research
 Explaining & analyzing what is heard & read
 More complex & global examples
 More independent, student initiated, studentdirected learning
 University bound students
**Note: if you are interested in pursuing an
NCAA scholarship, all Academic level courses are REQUIRED!
Grade 9 Compulsory Subjects
Subject Area
Academic
Applied
Locally Developed
English
ENG 1D1
ENG 1P1
ENG 1L1
French
FSF 1D1
FSF 1P1
Canadian Geography
CGC 1D1
CGC 1P1
Mathematics
MPM 1D1
MFM 1P1
Healthy Active Living
Education (Female)
PPL 1O4
Healthy Active Living
Education (Male)
PPL 1O3
Science
SNC 1D1
SNC 1P1
MAT 1L1
SNC 1L1
Grade 9 Optional Subjects
Pick one from…
Description
Code
Drama
ADA 1O1
Instrumental Music
AMU 1O1
Vocal Music
AMV 1O1
Visual Arts
AVI 1O1
and one from…
Description
Code
Information Technology in Business
BTT 1O1
Exploring Technologies
TIJ 1O1
French?!
• In COURSE PLANNER you must choose
either FSF 1D1 or FSF 1P1
French
• If you have an IEP and are FRENCH EXEMPT then
you will pick another BUSINESS/TECH or ARTS
course during your IPRC Review with the Special
Education Department
• If you are not identified but have a FRENCH
EXEMPTION, your teacher will notify Mrs. Roberts
in Guidance and one of your alternate choices will
be put in to your course selections.
Choosing Your Classes
 All of your course selections are done through
CAREER CRUISING COURSE PLANNER
 To choose your classes you have to:
1. SELECT your classes on Course Planner
2. SUBMIT your choices
3. PRINT out a copy of your classes
4. Have your parent SIGN the sheet
5. RETURN the signed copy to your GRADE 8
teacher
How to Access Course Planner…
Go to the Career Cruising
website:
www.careercruising.com/login/ddsb
Demonstration of Course Planner
A video if you
need assistance
Choosing Courses
Click on the for the course
to choose the appropriate
level.
Click here to add the course
To delete a course click on the course
and hit the delete button.
An INCOMPLETE Course Planner
This is an incomplete example
of a COURSE PLANNER.
Every box MUST have a
selection.
Electives: Choose a Tech or
Business AND an Arts Course
AND a Physical Education Class
Alternates: Choose another
Tech or Business AND another
Arts Course
A COMPLETE Course Planner
This is a COMPLETE example of
a COURSE PLANNER.
Every box has a selection.
Electives: Every box has a
selection.
Alternates: Every box has an
alternate selection.
Course Request Sign Off Sheet
After hitting SUBMIT,
PRINT this form and
have it SIGNED by your
parent and RETURN it
to your Grade 8
TEACHER
You will get a copy of this
sheet from your teacher.
Option sheets are due to
WILSON on February 19th.
Your teacher will set a
deadline for you.
Academic Supports
If you need help…
 Guidance Counsellors!
 Subject teachers
 Special Education for
IEP students
 Peer tutors
 Grade 9 classrooms
 Paid Private Tutors
 Credit Rescue
 After School Help
Extra Curricular Activities
 Athletics – badminton,
baseball, basketball, curling,
football, golf, lacrosse, rugby,
volleyball, soccer, swimming,
track & field, hockey
 Clubs – Chess, Cultural
Mosaic, Environmental, GSA,
Gator Gazette, Pen Strokes,
Run Club, DECA, STAR, White
Pine, Ski/Snowboard, Weight
Training
–
 Student Leadership
Relay
for Life, Student Parliament,
SLAM!, Leadership Camp
 Music – Band, Choir, Jazz
 Drama – Sears Festival, One-Act
Plays
 Art – Arts Preview Night, Craft
Club
Welcome to Wilson!
Grade 8 Parent Night
February 12th, 7:00 PM
Wilson Tour
May 2015
Grade 9 ONLY Day
September 8th - Lots of Activities!