COURSE SELECTION INFORMATION 2010-2011

 

HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION CERTIFICATE

1. Students entering Grade 10 in or after September 2008 require:

  • 18 credits to obtain a high school completion certificate. 
  • No more than seven of the eighteen credits can be grade ten level courses. 
  • At least five credits must be grade twelve level courses. 
  • Compulsory credits:

                        Three English (one at each grade level)

                        Two Math

                 Two Science, (one from SCI 10, Chemistry, Physics or Biology, and one other approved 

                 Science course)

                        Canadian History 11, plus one Global Studies (Global History or Global Geography)

                        One Fine Arts (Music, Dance, Art or Drama)

                        One Physical Education credit

                             Two other credits from Technology, Mathematics, or Science.

      (Students who entered grade 10 before Sept. 2008 require PAL/CLM 11 in place of a Physical Education Credit)                                                                                                                                                                   

CREDIT

Each course offered at NCHS is recognized as one credit except Career Development 11 and Workplace Safety 11 which are ½ credit courses. No student shall receive credit towards a high school completion certificate for two courses in the same subject at the same grade level with the exception of Grade 10 Academic Math Plus and Grade 12 Advanced Math, Pre-calculus 12 and Calculus 12, all of which will count as credits.

Example: Having already attained a credit in Math 11 Foundation one may choose to upgrade that subject by taking Math 11 Academic; however, only one of these subject offerings counts as a credit towards a high school completion certificate as they are at the same grade level.

 

CREDIT TYPES - Each course is categorized as one of the following credit types:

academic:  These courses are designed for students who expect to enter college, university, or other post-secondary institutions.

advanced:  These courses are designed to meet the needs of students who have demonstrated an exceptional degree of academic ability or achievement. 

foundation:  These courses are designed for students who wish to obtain a graduation diploma with a view to proceeding to employment or some selected area of post-secondary study.

open:  Although none of these courses are designed to meet the specific entrance requirements of university, individual courses may meet entrance requirements of some institutions. Many of these courses satisfy community college and some private trade schools entrance requirements.

graduation/essential: These courses are designed to meet the needs of students in obtaining their High School diploma. They are usually not considered as meeting University entrance requirements.

 

 

Students should note opportunities for credits are possible through "Challenge for Credit", "Independent Study" or, Virtual High School” options. 

 

The Nova Scotia Public Schools Program allows provision for challenge for credit and independent study credits. Any student wishing to pursue these options should contact the Guidance office for further information.

 

CHALLENGE FOR CREDIT:

The challenge for credit process allows the school to recognize that a student has already acquired the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that an existing course seeks to develop.

Challenge for credit may occur in fine arts, languages, mathematics and physical education.  Schools, through their boards, may apply to the Department to offer challenge for credit on a pilot basis in subject areas other than those listed above.

 

 

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Students may be granted one independent study credit in each of grades 11 and 12.  Independent study credits help promote individualized programming and allow students to initiate and develop courses tailored to their needs, abilities, and interests.

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS PROGRAM (O2)

O2 is a program designed for students entering Senior High. Options and Opportunities (O2) offers students a more hands-on learning experience. It's designed to help them make successful transitions from high school to work, a career path, or a post-secondary program. Students interested in O2 have to fill out an application and be interviewed. An information session for grade 9 parents has also been held. Students interested in this program should contact the Guidance Office.

 

VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL

The following courses may be available on the internet:

 

1st Semester                                             2nd Semester

Art 10                                                           Art 10

Chemistry 11                                            Chemistry 12  

          Entrepreneurship 12                                 African Canadian Studies 11

Film & Video 12                                       Multimedia 12

Multimedia 12                                          Film & Video 12

Physics 11                                                     Pre Calculus 12

Advanced Math 12                                   Physics 12

         Pre Calculus 12                                              Calculus 12

                                                              

                                                                    

In order to take one of these courses through the virtual high school, a student must be highly motivated, computer & internet literate, able to work independently and able to devote 4 to 5 hours a week of their own time to the course.  Online classes will take place during school time but assignments will have to be done outside of regular school hours. Students may be allowed to replace a regular course with a virtual one although semestering may make this impossible. Interested students should see the Guidance Counsellor.

 

THE NEXT PAGE IS A COURSE SELECTION FORM. STUDENTS MUST SELECT ONE COURSE FROM EACH OF BLOCKS A-H AT THE APPROPRIATE GRADE LEVEL.

GRADE 12’S ONLY NEED TO TAKE 7 CREDITS BUT THEY CAN TAKE 8.

 

GRADE 10 – Students must take English 10, Science 10, PE 10, a Math credit and a Fine Arts Credit. Students taking Math 10 Academic must sign into in both blocks A & B.

Grade 11  - Students must take Canadian History 11, English 11, and a Math credit. Students who choose Math 11 Advanced must choose Math 12 Advanced.

Grade 12 – Students must take English 12 & Global History 12 or Global Geography 12. Students who take Pre-calculus 12 1st term must either take Calculus 12 2nd term or have a free period 2nd term only.

Students must complete a Phys Ed credit to graduate

 

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO SELECT THE COURSES NEEDED TO GRADUATE AND GO ON IN A CHOSEN FIELD OF STUDY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT COURSES OR IF YOU REQUIRE A DESCRIPTION OF A COURSE PLEASE SEE YOUR HOMEROOM TEACHER OR THE GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR. Course Descriptions are also available on the school website:

 

http://schools.ccrsb.ednet.ns.ca/nch/index.html

 

*Acronyms:   PAL = Physically Active Lifestyles     CAF = Canadian Families   

 

 

 

Course selection form 2010/11                                                                                Name:_____________________________

 

Please return to your homeroom teacher by May 12/10      

 

                             Grade 10                                            Grade 11                                           Grade 12

 

BLOCK A             Construction Tech 10 O                      Physics 11 A                                 Chemistry 12 A

 

                             Math 10 Acad                                     Math 11 Acad                                     Law 12 A

 

                                                                                        Math 11 Found                                  

 

                                                                                        Math  11 Essent   

 

                             

BLOCK B               Math 10 Acad                                      English 11 A (O2)                         French 12 A                            

                                                                           

                            Math 10 Found                                     Chemistry 11 A                                 Home Trades 12 0

      

                            Math 10 Essent                                                                                                 Phys Ed 12 O

 

                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                

BLOCK C              Geography 11A                                   Adv. Math 11/12                               Biology 12 A              

    

                            Science 10 A                                    PAL 11 O                                                Global Geo 12 A    

                        

                                                                                     Co-op 11 (O-2)          

                                                 

 

BLOCK D              French 10 A                                     English 11 A                                           Physics 12 A                 

 

                            Visual Arts 10 A                               Can. History 11 A (O2)                           CAF 12 O

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 

BLOCK E              English 10 A                                     French 11A                                              Global History 12 A   

                     

                            Phys Ed 10 O                                  Communications Tech 11 O                     CO-OP 12 (O2)

 

                                                                                                                                                      PreCal  Math 12/ Cal 12

 

                                                                                                                    

                 

BLOCK F                Phys Ed 10 O                                  Career Dev 11 (O2)                                 Global History 12 A          

                                                                                                                         

                             English 10 A (O2)                             Tourism 11 A                                           Math 12 Acad    

                    

                                                                                     Adv. Math 11/12                                       Math 12 Found

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                      Math Workplace 12  

 

 

BLOCK G            Science 10 A (O2)                           Biology 11 A                                              English 12 A   (O2)       

                                                                                                   

                           Economics 11 A                             Production Technology 11 O                       English 12 A                      

 

                                                                                                                                                     PreCal Math 12/ Cal 12       

                                                                                                                                                                             

 

BLOCK H            Drama 10 A                                     Can History 11 A                                                 Production Tech 12 O

 

                          Career Dev 10 (O2)                      Oceans 11A                                                   English 12 A                      

 

                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                            Grade 12 students may take Coop 12 in place of any elective

 

Parent’s Signature: _____________________________________                                                                              – see Mrs. Pickard for details.