Course Selections for 2013-2014

An overview of the Course Selection procedure for students who are returning to GRCI next year.

Outline for Today’s Session

1. Timelines 2. ‘The Big Picture’ 3. Making the Right Decisions 4. Departmental Updates 5. Using SOCR 6. Suggestions

TimelinesTuesday February 5th - You should have received the following in your

homeroom: - your personal CCS (marks are not final)

TODAY YOU WILL RECEIVE - GRCI course calendar supplement- instructions for completing your course selection

on-line (in your supplement) - a course selection worksheet (in your supplement)

WRDSB Common Course Calendar (more information about each course) www.wrdsb.ca

February 8th (at lunch) - Counsellors will be in T-108 computer lab to help students enter in their course selections.

February 11th – Students hand in a printed (from computer) signed copy of their course selections to their period A teacher. Please tell your friends

who aren’t returning that they need to do this too! After period A on Monday-return your forms to Guidance.

Part 2

The Big Picture

What are your plans for next year???

eLearning Online courses are available for the fall

and winter semesters. Check www.wrdsbelearn.ca

eLearning courses are either Semester Course offerings numbers annually

increase. Waitlists for courses can be an issue.

Courses count towards fulltime status at GRCI (5 credits + 1 online = fulltime GRCI) or

(2 credits + 1 online = fulltime) See Counsellor for more information

eLearning 2

Be VERY cautious with online courses. Most students find it is not the ‘answer’ they were looking for

You must be self directed and committed to self directed learning.

COOP 2 Credit Co-Op is the standard.

12 hours/week for 2 credits is the requirement

Class time = all of September, and then Monday afternoons for the rest of the year.

You can choose COOP2 or COOP4 as a course (2 = one semester, 4 = both)

Co-Op continued Transportation is NOT provided

Police and Military are possible, however they are extremely limited. Military is only available in semester 2.

GRCI’s Co-Op is not paid work. Co-Op is a great way to test drive a career.

Dual Credits Credits that can be earned at

GRCI. The universities will honour these courses. SES4UI and BAT4MI

Conestoga College also offers dual credits. * see your guidance counsellor for more information

Part 3

Making the Right Choices…

Course Types O = Open E = Essential W = Workplace P = Applied C = College A = Academic U = University M = University/College Preparation

Course Prerequisites Pay attention to prerequisites for every

course you choose Note: some courses have odd

prerequisites, and some courses don’t have prerequisites (that you’d think would)

If you choose a course without having the prerequisite:

you will come out of the class at one point (sooner or later…beware!)

Considerations1. Do you have the courses required to meet

the graduation requirements? Check carefully!

2. What courses do you need to select that will meet post secondary program entrance requirements?

3. What courses interest you? e.g. COOP4. In what courses can you get excellent

marks? 5. Talk to teachers about course

recommendations, school and programs.

OSS Diploma Requirements

18 Compulsory credits4 English 3 Math2 Science1 French1 Canadian History1 Canadian Geography1 Arts1 Health and Physical Education.5 Civics.5 Career Planning

OSS Diploma Requirements Group 1: 1 additional credit in English or French as a second language or

a native language or a classical or international language or Social Science and the Humanities or Canadian and World Studies or guidance and career education or cooperative education*. (The following courses fall under the heading of Social Science and the Humanities or Canadian and World Studies: Geography, History, Family Studies, Law and Economics).

Group 2 - 1 additional credit in Health and Physical Education or Arts or Business or cooperative education*

Group 3 - 1 additional credit in Science (Grade 11 or 12) or Technological Studies (any grade) or cooperative education* or computer studies

* A maximum of two credits in cooperative education can count as a compulsory credit.

40 Hours of Community Service Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test/Course

Please…

…check your CCS!

Part 4

Departmental Updates

34 CREDIT THRESHOLD THE GUIDELINES ARE CHANGING

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER STUDENTS EARN 34 CREDITS

Students will not be limited from taking more than 34 credits and will not be charged a fee for any of their additional credits; however, some courses may be offered through alternative programs.

i.e. summer school, night school etc.

34 CREDIT THRESHOLD Students who have not earned their

diploma and or under the age of 18 are required to be full time. This means registered in 3 full time subjects for 1, 2, or both semester.

Students who have earned their diploma and are 18 can be part time and enrolled in 1-2 subjects.

Part 5

The Course Selection Process (Using SOCR)

Apply on-line now or in line later!

Course Selection Procedure Access SOCR and make your selections Print out your selections and sign it (or get

your parents to sign it if you aren’t 18) Hand in the printed, signed form to your period

A teacher on Monday February 11th . Return the form directly to Guidance if you do not have a period A class.

As long as you get a signed form in by Monday, Feb. 11th, your selections won’t be marked LATE.

ONLINE COURSE

SELECTION

Please follow along closely as I go through the computer process with you.

Please put your hand up if your have any questions.

T-108 (Careers Lab)- Reminders

Over lunch–T-108 will be open for you to access the SOCR site.

Feb 8th – A Counsellor will be on-hand to answer questions in T-108

Making Changes to Your Course Selections1. Once your selections are made, changes may

be requested during the month of February. Timetabling and sectioning will take place in the spring. Course request changes won’t be processed during this period.

2. Conflicts will be dealt with.3. During the last week of August, you can fill in a

request form if changes are still needed.4. Once school has started in the fall – There will

be no course changes 5. Wait Lists will be used when courses are

filled. Wait Lists may start building as early as March.

Part 6

Suggestions and Considerations

General Entrance Requirements –

Colleges and Universities

Check Specific Requirements for every post-secondary school and program you are interested in!

College Admittance Averages

Admittance averages will be based upon your Grade 12 marks or your final year marks depending upon the college.

Check with college staff to find out how they will calculate averages.

The Significance of Grade 11 and 12 Marks for University

Entrance!

Early conditional offers are based upon Grade 11 marks and sometimes early Grade 12 marks.

Most offers of acceptance and scholarship are decided based upon your April Report Card Marks.

Differentiating Courses

A credit is a credit! Regardless whether the 4U or 4M

course is obtained from Night School, Summer School, e-learning they are all counted equally towards OSSD…BUT colleges and universities may treat them differently. (Contact the various institutions for direct answers.)

GeneralitiesFull Disclosure takes effect 5 “school days”

after the first Report Card.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE anticipate extremely short timelines for changing courses. Plan ahead for your own good.

Remember fulltime course requirements.

Teacher recommendations are very useful!

Assistance from CounsellorsCounsellors are interested and willing to assist

students with their decisions.

Students are strongly encouraged to: Visit websites Discuss options with Teachers Contact College /University liaison staff

before seeing your counsellor

Transferring to Another School In SOCR, indicate that you are not

returning by choosing (I will be moving to another school board in September)

Your counsellor will see you in about a month to fill out the Principal to Principal Transfer Form needed to change schools and/or boards. (Usually, you then will be contacted for an interview/choose courses)

Don’t know yet?

If your Plan A is university or college…don’t choose courses!

Log onto SOCR and choose “Univer” or “Collge”

(Although this may not be important to you, it is important to Counsellors who are trying to make sure your graduation is smooth.)