Graduation Requirements

February 16th, 2009

Check out everything you need to know about your graduation requirements in the pdf file bellow.

graduation_requirements

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA

(for students entering Grade 9 in September 1999 or later)

COMPULSORY CREDITS

ADDITIONAL DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS
In addition to completing 30 credits a student must:

• perform 40 hours of community involvement activities
• pass the Provincial Secondary School Literacy Test (administered in Grade 10)

THE ONTARIO STUDENT TRANSCRIPT

As of September 1999, all transcripts will include the following information:

• all successfully completed grade 9 and 10 courses
• all grade 11 and 12 courses completed, regardless of a pass or failing grade
• all attempts at grade 11 and 12 courses for upgrading purposes
• any course dropped after 5 school days following the midterm report card

Transcripts can be ordered through the Guidance Department by calling the school at 905-436-2074 x 229 or email: Donna_Hopkins@kprdsb.ca

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate is granted on request to students who leave school before earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, provided that 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
THE 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. The Certificate of Accomplishment is a way of recognizing achievement for students who plan to take certain vocational programs or other kinds of further training, or who plan to find employment after leaving school.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES
As part of the diploma requirements, students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities. These activities may be completed at any time during their years in the secondary school program. However, in order not to jeopardize fall admission to post-secondary institutions and to ensure graduation at the fall Commencement, the official “Completion of Community Involvement Activities” form must be completed and submitted to the Guidance Office by the previous May 31st.

Community involvement activities may take place in a variety of settings, not-for-profit organizations, public sector institutions (including hospitals), and informal settings. Students may not fulfil the requirement through activities that are counted toward a credit (cooperative education and work experience, for example), through paid work, or by assuming duties normally performed by a paid employee. The requirement is to be completed outside students’ normal instructional hours – that is, the activities are to take place in students’ designated lunch hours, after school, on weekends, or during school holidays.

Further information about community involvement and the forms required for recording participation are available from the guidance office.
THE PROVINCIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL LITERACY TEST
All students who enter 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. The test will be based on the Ontario curriculum expectations for language and communication – particularly reading and writing – up to and including Grade 9.

Students who are unsuccessful may try the test again each year when it is administered by the Education Quality and Accountability Office. (EQAO)

Accommodations

The necessary accommodations must be made to ensure that students who are receiving special education programs and services and who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) have a fair and equal opportunity to successfully complete the secondary school literacy test. Students needing such accommodations may or may not have been formally identified as exceptional by an Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC). The accommodations made will be the same as those that are set out in the student’s IEP and/or that are available to the student in the course of his or her regular school work, including examinations and other forms of evaluation. While accommodations such as alternative forms of print and extra time are acceptable, the actual content of the secondary school literacy test must not be altered.

Deferrals
If a parent or an adult student requests a deferral, the principal will determine whether or not a deferral should be granted and, if so, for what period of time. A principal may also initiate consideration of a deferral.

Exemptions
Students whose IEP indicates that the student is not working towards the attainment of a secondary school diploma may, with parental consent and the approval of the principal, be exempted from participating in the secondary school literacy test.
SUBSTITUTIONS FOR COMPULSORY CREDITS
In order to allow flexibility in designing a student’s program and to ensure that all students can qualify for the secondary school diploma, substitutions may be made for a limited number of compulsory credit courses using courses from the remaining courses offered by the school that meet the requirements for compulsory credits. To meet individual students’ needs, principals may replace up to three of these courses (or the equivalent in half courses) with courses from the remainder of those that meet the compulsory credit requirements. In all cases, however, the sum of compulsory and optional credits will not be less than thirty for students aiming to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma and not less than fourteen for those aiming to earn the Ontario Secondary School Certificate.

SPECIAL AWARDS

COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS AWARD
Awarded to a graduating student who has made a significant contribution to the
CSS Drama Club production, either on stage or backstage.

JENNIFER COPITHORN MEMORIAL AWARD
This award was donated by the employees of National Trust/Scotiabank in memory of Jennifer Copithorn, a graduate of Courtice Secondary School. The award is to recognize two graduating students, one in English and one in Drama who have made a great achievement and/or effort.

CSS STUDENT COUNCIL PLAQUE
Awarded to the Presidents of the Student Council

CSS OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS AWARD
Awarded to the top male and female performers in the musical theatre production.

DURHAM COLLEGE BURSARY
One bursary is available to each participating high school in the Durham Region. The purpose of the bursary is to cover tuition and compulsory fees.
ONTARIO POWER GENERATION DARLINGTON NUCLEAR AWARD
This award is to recognize a student at CSS who contributed the most to the partnership programs between CSS and Darlington Nuclear Station/Darlington Site Planning Committee.
ONTARIO POWER GENERATION SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Awarded to a student who has completed their Grade 12 with a specific focus in either: Engineering/Electronics, Science, Information Technology, Environment, Mathematics, Physics or Business.
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 178 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Awarded to the student with the highest standing to further his/her education.

SIVRUP BURSARY
Awarded to a student who has demonstrated a commitment to environmental protection and is pursuing studies/career in environmental sciences/engineering/technology
THE CSS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Awarded to the student with the highest standing in each grade level.
Grade 12…………………………………………..
OAC………………………………………………..

GOVERNOR GENERAL’S ACADEMIC MEDAL PROGRAMME
Awarded to the student with the highest standing in his/her graduating year.
STEVE POTTIER CONSTRUCTION AWARD
Awarded to the student with the highest standing in construction technology who is attending a college apprenticeship program.
BOB WILLSHER STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
Awarded to a graduating student eligible for the first year of post-secondary studies or entering a related skill training program.

PRO FINISH CONSTRUCTION AWARD
Awarded to the student with the greatest achievement or highest mark
who has received no other awards in Science

DURHAM PROVINCIAL PC ASSOCIATION AWARD
Awarded to the student who exemplifies the qualities of good citizenship

COURTICE RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION AWARD
Qualifications to be announced