Embedded Files
Discover the Recipe for Success with the Culinary SHSM at LDHSS!
Discover the Recipe for Success with the Culinary SHSM at LDHSS!
Do you have a budding chef at home? Someone who dreams of creating delicious dishes, running their own restaurant, or exploring the world of food? The Culinary Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) at Longfields Davidson Heights Secondary School (LDHSS) is the perfect opportunity for students to turn their passion for cooking into a fulfilling career path.
This program is more than just a course—it’s an adventure in culinary arts that equips students with the skills, certifications, and experiences they need to excel in one of the world’s most exciting and creative industries.
What is the Culinary SHSM?
The Culinary SHSM is a specialized program designed to give students hands-on experience in the culinary arts, from mastering cooking techniques to understanding food science and the business of hospitality. This program prepares students for careers in hospitality, event planning, nutrition, and more, while opening doors to post-secondary programs, apprenticeships, and workplace opportunities.
Why Choose the Culinary SHSM?
1. Hands-On Culinary Experience
Students will work in a fully equipped kitchen where they’ll learn to prepare gourmet dishes, practice baking, and explore international cuisines. From knife skills to plating artistry, every lesson is designed to build expertise and confidence in the kitchen.
2. Certifications That Set Students Apart
Students will earn industry-recognized certifications, including Safe Food Handling, CPR/First Aid, and WHMIS. These certifications not only enhance employability but also ensure students are prepared for real-world culinary and hospitality settings.
3. Real-World Learning Opportunities
Students will participate in co-op placements at top local restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and event spaces. These placements provide invaluable hands-on experience, industry connections, and mentorship opportunities to guide students toward their culinary aspirations.
4. Entrepreneurial Skills for Future Success
The Culinary SHSM isn’t just about cooking; it’s about learning how to manage and market culinary businesses. Students will gain practical knowledge in budgeting, menu planning, and event organization, giving them a head start in creating their own successful ventures.
Careers in Culinary Arts and Hospitality
Chef or Sous Chef
Pastry Chef
Food Stylist
Nutritionist or Dietitian
Catering Manager
Restaurant Owner
Food Scientist
Event Planner
What Makes This Program Unique?
Pathway Flexibility: Whether your student is interested in college, university, apprenticeship, or the workforce, the Culinary SHSM provides the skills and experiences they need to thrive in any pathway.
Create Community Connections: With partnerships that include local restaurants, hotels, and hospitality businesses, students build networks and gain exposure to the industry while still in high school.
Showcase Talent: From hosting school events to participating in community fundraisers, students will have numerous opportunities to demonstrate their skills and creativity to family, friends, and the community.
Enroll in the Culinary SHSM Today!
The Culinary SHSM at LDHSS is your student’s ticket to exploring the art of food, developing essential life skills, and preparing for a vibrant future. Don’t let this opportunity simmer on the back burner—join us, and let’s cook up something extraordinary!
Longfields Culinary Arts Program (L-C.A.P.)
Longfields Culinary Arts Program (L-C.A.P.)
Host Location: Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School
Students in the program will acquire practical skills in a commercial setting, focusing on food preparation, catering, menu planning and food costing. They will prepare and serve meals for groups of all sizes, demonstrating various service skills. They will acquire the skills to demonstrate the safe handling and operation of industry standard equipment, food handling, safety and sanitation practices. The Safe Food Handler’s Certificate and Smart Serve will be offered along with First Aid/CPR, WHMIS and other industry certifications as they become available.
Students are expected to participate in related work experiences (such as catering events) and mandatory Cooperative Education credits. The Specialist High Skills Major in Hospitality and Tourism will enhance current opportunities for students through experiential learning, industry-recognized certifications, cross-curricular study through Contextualized Learning Activities (CLAS) in Math, Business and English and reach-ahead experiences. All of this will be combined with a comprehensive practical and theoretical curriculum.
Prerequisite: none
SHSM at the OCDSB https://ocdsb.ca/cms/one.aspx?portalId=55478&pageId=216426
COOP
COOP
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, the OCDSB will be offering the DCO3O Creating Opportunities Through Co-op, Grade 11 course through eLearning.
Student Criteria/Course Prerequisites
Open to OCDSB students in Grades 11 and 12 who are
Registered in a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), and are
Struggling to satisfy the 2-credit co-op requirement
Description
This non-placement course emphasizes empowering students to take ownership of their learning journey in Cooperative Education. Through guided self-exploration and career exploration learning tasks, students will strategically map out their academic and professional pathways. A key focus of this course will be acquiring valuable industry-recognized credentials and certifications, providing a tangible link between the co-op learning experience and specific career goals. This flexible structure encourages students to tailor their learning and co-op to directly align with their unique aspirations, fostering a highly personalized and career-focused educational experience. Note: The DCO3O credit may be earned once as either a value of 1 or 2 credits.
Delivery
The course will be delivered in two formats (screenshot below).
1-Credit Students may be registered for one semester
2-Credits Students may be registered on a continuous intake basis, as space allows
• The SHSM is a ministry-approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and assists in their transition from secondary school to apprenticeship training, college, university, or the workplace.
• An SHSM enables students to gain sector-specific skills and knowledge in the context of engaging, career-related learning environments and helps them focus on graduation and on pursuing their postsecondary goals.
• Every SHSM must include the following five components, which are outlined in detail in individual guides for each sector:
1. a bundle of 8–10 Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits that includes:
4 major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills
2–4 other required credits from the Ontario curriculum, in which some expectations are met through learning activities contextualized to the sector
2 cooperative education credits that provide authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting,
enabling students to refine, extend, and practise sector-specific knowledge and skills
2. sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses
3. experiential learning and career exploration activities within the sector
4. “reach ahead” experiences connected with the student’s chosen postsecondary pathway
5. development of Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector, and the use of the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP) for purposes of documentation
How does an SHSM benefit students?
How does an SHSM benefit students?
• An SHSM allows students to experience a range of customized learning opportunities in an area that interests them and helps to engage them in their school program.
• An SHSM program allows students to explore, identify, and refine career goals and make informed decisions related to postsecondary education or training and the next steps toward a career.
• An SHSM helps students gain confidence in their ability to succeed and see the connections between their studies, the world beyond high school, and their future careers.
• The experiential learning opportunities provided in an SHSM enable students to develop Essential Skills and work habits that are required in the sector and have their performance of those skills and work habits assessed and documented, using tools connected with the Ontario Skills Passport.
• Through an SHSM, students begin to establish relationships and networks in their chosen field.
• Students who have earned an SHSM can provide evidence of their achievement of the required components (e.g., sector-recognized certifications and training programs) to prospective employers and postsecondary educational or training institutions.
How is the successful completion of an SHSM documented?
How is the successful completion of an SHSM documented?
• Successful completion of an SHSM is indicated on the student’s Ontario Secondary School Diploma by a red seal.
• The student receives an SHSM Record that documents his or her achievement of the required components, including sector-related certifications earned and/or training courses completed.
• Successful completion of an SHSM is indicated on the student’s Ontario Student Transcript (OST).
Report abuse