OSS Diploma Requirements      *  *  *  *  *

 

In order to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) a student must:

·         earn 30 credits (18 compulsory & 12 elective)

·         complete 40 hours of community involvement activities (see Notes following)

·         successfully complete the provincial Literacy Test (written in Grade 10 – see Notes following)

 

18 Compulsory Credits as follows:

 

4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)

1 credit in French as a second language

3 credits in mathematics (at least one credit in Grade 11 or 12)

2 credits in science

1 credit in Canadian history

1 credit in Canadian geography

1 credit in the arts

1 credit in health and physical education

 ½ credit in civics and ½ credit in career studies

 

Group One: 1 additional credit in English, or French as a second language, or native language, or classical language, or international language, or social sciences and the humanities, or Canadian and world studies, or guidance and career education, or co-operative education*

 

Group Two: 1 additional credit in health and physical education, or business studies, or the arts, or co-operative education*

 

Group Three: 1 additional credit in science, or technological education, or co-operative education*

 

* A maximum of 2 credits in co-operative education can count as compulsory credits.

 

12 Elective Credits chosen from the available courses at secondary school.

 

Note that these courses should be selected by considering the requirements of the possible post-secondary destination(s).

 

Other Certificate Options     *  *  *  *  *  *

 

Most students will work towards an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Some students, for a variety of reasons, may choose to work towards a certificate. There is no literacy test requirement for either of these certificates.

 

1. The Ontario Secondary School Certificate

This certificate will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the OSSD, provided they have earned a minimum of 14 credits distributed as follows:

7 compulsory credits (2 English, 1 Canadian Geography or History, 1 Mathematics, 1 Science, 1 Healthy Active Living, 1 Arts or Technology) plus 7 elective credits.

 

2. The Certificate of Accomplishment

Students who leave school before earning either the OSSD or the OSSC may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment which will recognize achievement for those students who plan to find employment or take future training after leaving school.

 

Community Involvement      *  *  *  *  *  *

 

Students must complete 40 hours of community involvement activities in order to be granted their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. This community involvement is to be completed outside students’ normal instructional hours at any time during their years in secondary school. The community involvement activity will encourage students to develop awareness and understanding of civic responsibility and contribute to students’ personal development. There is a Community Involvement Information Manual available from Student Services to assist students and parents in completing and recording the community involvement activities.

 

The Grade 10 Literacy Test      *  *  *  *  *

 

All students who entered Grade 9 in the 2000-2001 school year, or in subsequent years, must successfully complete the Grade 10 Literacy Test in order to earn a secondary school diploma. This test will be written by students in their grade 10 year and will be based on the Ontario curriculum expectations for reading and writing across the disciplines, up to and including grade 9. Remedial assistance will be available for students who do not complete the test successfully. The necessary accommodations will be made to ensure that students who are receiving special education programs and services and who have an Individual Education Plan have a fair and equal opportunity to successfully complete the Test. The Principal, in consultation with the parent or adult student and appropriate school staff may request a deferral (for ESL/ELD students.) The Principal, in consultation with the parent or adult student, may request an exemption only if the IEP indicates that the student is not working towards a Secondary School Diploma.

 

Students who have been eligible to write the OSSLT at least twice and who have been unsuccessful at least once are eligible to take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4O). KCVI does not offer this course.

 

Adjudication Process

 

Students who would otherwise be eligible to graduate in June but, through no fault of their own, have not been able to take advantage of the normal opportunities to write the OSSLT and/or have not been able to enrol in or complete the OSSLC, owing to unforeseen circumstances, have the opportunity to meet the literacy graduation requirement. A Board adjudication panel will be established at the end of the school year to provide certain students with an additional opportunity to meet the literacy graduation requirement. Also eligible for the adjudication process are students who were receiving special education programs or services, and who had an IEP documenting required accommodations, but, owing to unforeseen circumstances, did not have access to these accommodations when they were taking the OSSLT.

 

Credit Definition      *  *  *  *  *  *  *

 

A credit is granted in recognition of the successful completion of a course that has been scheduled for a minimum of 110 hours.

 

Approved Locally Developed Compulsory (LDCC) Courses       *  *  *

 

These courses are designed only for students not ready to work at the Applied level in Grade 9 and 10. KCVI does not offer these courses. Please contact a counsellor in Student Services for additional information or assistance.

 

Language of Instruction      *  *  *  *  *  *

 

KCVI offers many core courses in Extended or Immersion French. Courses offered in French are noted in the course descriptions and on the Course Selection sheets. The requirements for language certificates issued by the Limestone District School Board are listed on page 58.

 

Completing the OSSD in 4 years      *  *  *  *

 

It is possible to complete an Ontario Secondary School Diploma in 4 years. Many students, however, may decide to take 4.5 or 5 years to complete their graduation requirements. This time-line will allow them to:

·         explore dynamic optional courses of study in order to expand their creative abilities and critical thinking skills;

·         participate in workplace opportunities to investigate career options and enhance their employability skills;

·         balance their rigorous academic timetable to prepare academically, socially and financially for postsecondary education;

·         enrich their high school experience by participating in school clubs, sports and activities.

Universities and colleges encourage students to maintain breadth in their secondary school courses and to keep their options open.