Grade 8 to Grade 9 Transition

This course provides opportunities for students to explore dramatic forms and techniques, using material from a wide range of sources and cultures. Students will use the elements of drama to examine situations and issues that are relevant to their lives. Students will create, perform, discuss, and analyse drama, and then reflect on the experiences to develop an understanding of themselves, the art form, and the world around them.
Prerequisite: None

This course emphasizes the creation and performance of music at a level consistent with previous experience and is aimed at developing technique, sensitivity, and imagination. Students will develop musical literacy skills by using the creative and critical analysis processes in composition, performance, and a range of reflective and analytical activities. Students will develop an understanding of the conventions and elements of music and of safe practices related to music, and will develop a variety of skills transferable to other areas of their life.

Prerequisite: None

This course emphasizes the creation and performance of music at a level consistent with previous experience and is aimed at developing technique, sensitivity, and imagination. Students will develop musical literacy skills by using the creative and critical analysis processes in composition, performance, and a range of reflective and analytical activities. Students will develop an understanding of the conventions and elements of music and of safe practices related to music, and will develop a variety of skills transferable to other areas of their life. This course runs all year during half of the lunch period. A student can only choose one 9th credit.

Prerequisite: None

This course emphasizes the creation and performance of music at a level consistent with previous experience and is aimed at developing technique, sensitivity, and imagination. Students will develop musical literacy skills by using the creative and critical analysis processes in composition, performance, and a range of reflective and analytical activities. Students will develop an understanding of the conventions and elements of music and of safe practices related to music, and will develop a variety of skills transferable to other areas of their life.

Prerequisite: None

This course is exploratory in nature, offering an overview of visual arts as a foundation for further study. Students will become familiar with the elements and principles of design and the expressive qualities of various materials by using a range of media, processes, techniques, and styles. Students will use the creative and critical analysis processes and will interpret art within a personal, contemporary, and historical context.

Prerequisite: None

In this course, students will learn what makes an entrepreneur thrive and the skills required to succeed in today’s business environment. Students will begin to develop their own entrepreneurial mindset, and learn why it’s important to take initiative, adapt to change, find creative solutions, and understand the financial considerations of entrepreneurship. This hands-on course will use business software and applications to help students plan and develop their entrepreneurial ideas and learn how to present them to a target audience. Throughout the course, students will enhance their communications skills as well as develop and refine their project management skills, including goal setting, time management, and networking.

Prerequisite: None

This course examines interrelationships within and between Canada’s natural and human systems and how these systems interconnect with those in other parts of the world. Students will explore environmental, economic, and social geographic issues relating to topics such as transportation options, energy choices, and urban development. Students will apply the concepts of geographic thinking and the geographic inquiry process, including spatial.

Prerequisite: None

This course enables students to continue to develop and consolidate the foundational knowledge and skills that they need for reading, writing, and oral and visual communication. Throughout the course, students will continue to enhance their media literacy and critical literacy skills, and to develop and apply transferable skills, including digital literacy. Students will also make connections to their lived experiences and to society and increase their understanding of the importance of language and literacy across the curriculum.

Prerequisite: None

This course provides opportunities for students to communicate and interact in French with increasing independence, with a focus on familiar topics related to their daily lives. Students will continue to develop language knowledge and skills by using language-learning strategies introduced in the elementary Core French program, and will apply creative and critical thinking skills in various ways. They will also enhance their understanding and appreciation of diverse French-speaking communities, and will develop the skills necessary to become life-long language learners.

Prerequisite: Minimum of 600 hours of French instruction, or equivalent

This course focuses on learning strategies to help students become better, more independent learners. Students will learn how to develop and apply literacy and numeracy skills, personal management skills, and interpersonal and teamwork skills to improve their learning and achievement in school, the workplace, and the community. The course helps students build confidence and motivation to pursue opportunities for success in secondary school and beyond.

Prerequisite: Recommendation of Principal

This course enables students to consolidate, and continue to develop, an understanding of mathematical concepts related to number sense and operations, algebra, measurement, geometry, data, probability, and financial literacy. Students will use mathematical processes, mathematical modeling, and coding to make sense of the mathematics they are learning and to apply their understanding to culturally responsive and relevant real-world situations. Students will continue to enhance their mathematical reasoning skills, including proportional reasoning, spatial reasoning, and algebraic reasoning, as they solve problems and communicate their thinking.

Prerequisite: None

FEMALE: This course emphasizes regular participation in a variety of enjoyable physical activities that promote lifelong healthy active living. Students will learn movement skills and principles, ways to improve personal fitness and physical competence, and safety and injury prevention. They will investigate issues related to healthy sexuality and the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and will participate in activities designed to develop goal-setting, communication, and social skills.

Prerequisite: None

MALE: This course emphasizes regular participation in a variety of enjoyable physical activities that promote lifelong healthy active living. Students will learn movement skills and principles, ways to improve personal fitness and physical competence, and safety and injury prevention. They will investigate issues related to healthy sexuality and the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and will participate in activities designed to develop goal-setting, communication, and social skills.

Prerequisite: None

This course enables students to further develop the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy choices now and lead healthy, active lives in the future. Through participation in a wide range of physical activities, students develop knowledge and skills related to movement competence and personal fitness that provide a foundation for active living. Students also acquire an understanding of the factors and skills that contribute to healthy development and learn how their own well-being is affected by, and affects, the world around them. Students build their sense of self, learn to interact positively with others, and develop their ability to think critically and creatively. This course will develop skills and focus on a variety of individual, dual, and small group activities, such as skating, stickhandling, passing, shooting, battle drills, and spatial awareness skills on a more complex level.

Prerequisite: None

This course enables students to develop their understanding of concepts related to biology, chemistry, physics, and earth and space science, and to relate science to technology, society, and the environment. Throughout the course, students will develop and refine their STEM skills as they use scientific research, scientific experimentation, and engineering design processes to investigate concepts and apply their knowledge in situations that are relevant to their lives and communities. Students will continue to develop transferable skills as they become scientifically literate global citizens.

Prerequisite: None

This course prepares students to use English with increasing fluency and accuracy in classroom and social situations and to participate in Canadian society as informed citizens. Students will develop the oral-presentation, reading, and writing skills required for success in all school subjects. They will extend listening and speaking skills through participation in 63 discussions and seminars; study and interpret a variety of grade-level texts; write narratives, articles, and summaries in English; and respond critically to a variety of print and media texts.

Prerequisite: ESL Level 3 or Equivalent

This course provides students with the skills and strategies they need to make the transition to college and university preparation courses in English and other secondary school disciplines. Students will be encouraged to develop independence in a range of academic tasks. They will participate in debates and lead classroom workshops; read and interpret literary works and academic texts; write essays, narratives, and reports; and apply a range of learning strategies and research skills effectively. Students will further develop their ability to respond critically to print and media texts.

Prerequisite: ESL Level 4, or Equivalent

This hands-on course enables students to further explore the engineering design process and develop other technological knowledge and skills introduced in earlier grades. Students will design and safely create prototypes, products, and/or services, working with tools and technologies from various industries. As students develop their projects to address real-life problems, they will apply technological concepts such as precision measurement, as well as health and safety standards. Students will begin to explore job skills programs and education and training pathways, including skilled trades, that can lead to a variety of careers.
See below for Unit descriptions.

Prerequisite: None

Woodworking Unit
This unit is designed to give students some basic skills using hand tools and power machinery to create 2 small projects, made of wood. Each project represents the 2 focus courses in grades 10 through 12, which are Construction and Custom Woodworking. Safety is always a priority and instruction and testing is necessary before tool use.

Technological Design Unit
This unit is outlined to give students some basic design skills using sketching, computer design software and their creative minds, to fabricate design projects with focus on architectural and interior design. Each project created in this grade 9 unit focuses on these two specific subject areas, in grades 10 through 12. These courses are part of our ICT SHSM program (Information and Communications Technology Specialist High Skills Major).

Transportation Unit
This unit is designed to give students an introduction to vehicle ownership and maintenance. Students work through 9 stations completing tasks such as fluid checks, tire maintenance, roadside spare tire change and many other life skills, that can be used throughout their lives. Students complete safety passports for tools and equipment use before the projects are started to ensure a safe environment and productive for their classmates and themselves.

Cosmetology Unit
This unit is designed to give students an introduction to hairstyling and aesthetics. Students work through 10 tasks such as eyebrow threading, different types of hair braiding, updos, shampooing and blow drying hair, and the safe use of thermal irons. Students complete safety passports for tools and equipment use before the tasks are started, in order to ensure a safe and productive environment for their classmates and themselves.

Communication Technology Unit
This unit is designed to give students an introduction to digital photography and picture composition. Using Adobe Photoshop Elements students explore the possibilities of picture manipulation and editing. PSE is a very powerful program that can be applied in all areas of study. In grades 11 and 12, students have the choice of two areas of focus, Communication Technology and TV, Video & Movie Production. These courses are part of our ICT SHSM program (Information and Communications Technology Specialist High Skills Major).

Computer Engineering Unit
This unit is designed to give students some basic skills in designing and writing computer code. They will also have an opportunity to build simple electronic circuits. Each project represents the 2 focus courses in grades 10 through 12, which are Computer Engineering and Computer Science. Safety is always a priority and instruction and testing is necessary before tool use. These courses are part of our ICT SHSM program (Information and Communications Technology Specialist High Skills Major).