Everything you need to know to effectively select courses for next year.
Students are expected to review and discuss course selections with parents/guardians prior to submitting their course requests. Students will complete course selections electronically through the Student/Parent Portal of PowerSchool. Students will log on to PowerSchool (https://sisccrsb.ednet.ns.ca/public/) with their PowerSchool username and password. Online course requests must be completed by Thursday, April 17, 2025 Instructions are available on our school website (herh.ccrce.ca).
Students are advised to review this information carefully in order to make informed choices for their academic future. It is critical that all selections made by students reflect graduation requirements, personal interests and needs. Course changes will be made in September 2025 for academic reasons only.
Contact information for School Administration and Student Services
Leanne Searle
Principal
902-758-4621
SearleLM@ccrce.ca
Natalie Horne
Vice Principal
902-758-4623
HorneNK@ccrce.ca
Trudi Isenor
Vice Principal
902-758-4699
IsenorT@ccrce.ca
Kari Densmore
Registrar
902-758-4612
densmorekl@ccrce.ca
Caroline Shea
Counsellor
902-758-4624
SheaC@ccrce.ca
A total of EIGHTEEN credits are required to obtain a Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma. The following compulsory credits from the following subject groupings must be taken and passed for students to be eligible for graduation:
Language, Communication, and Expression
3 English Language Arts, one at each grade level
1 Fine Arts (Art, Dance, Drama, or Music)
Science, Mathematics, and Technology
2 Science (ONE from Biology, Chemistry, Science 10, or Physics, and one additional approved science course)
3 Mathematics (three different grade levels)
1 other from Science, or Technology
Personal Development and Society
1 Physical Education High School Credit
1 Canadian History (African Canadian Studies 11, Canadian History 11, Contemporary Canadian Studies 11, Gaelic Studies 11, Études acadiennes 11, and Mi’kmaw Studies 11 fulfill this requirement)
1 Global Studies (from Global History, Global Geography, Global Politics, or Global Economics)
Note: Dance 11 may count as a fine arts credit or a physical education credit, but not both.
At least Five (5) credits must be at the Grade 12 level, and no more than Seven (7) may be at the Grade 10 level.
Please Note: The above are minimum requirements for graduation, and may not be sufficient to allow a student to meet the entrance requirements for all post-secondary educational institutions
Course selections made in the spring for the next academic year are generally considered final. Course changes will be made for Academic reasons only.
Course changes may not be made unless:
The scheduling process has resulted in an incomplete schedule
A course and its prerequisite are in reverse order on a student's schedule
A course is scheduled for which a credit has already been granted
A student did not pass a required course and must retake it.
Student request was not granted due to a conflict with other courses
A potential graduate lacks a required course to complete graduation requirements.
A student is scheduled in a course without the recommended prerequisite course
A potential graduate is able to complete graduation requirements in a single semester
Student's post-secondary plans have changed.
Course changes in September will not start until the third day of classes and will be prioritized by Student Services. Please ensure you select your courses carefully to limit the need for course changes.
Prior to registration, you should carefully consider:
post-high school goals
educational requirements necessary
Select the courses and level of difficulty that will enable you to achieve these objectives
Plan your program into the future as far as possible
Occasionally, it is necessary to cancel a proposed course due to insufficient enrollment. The school reserves the right to not offer the course as described in the booklet should unforeseen circumstances arise.
Care should be taken in the choice of subjects to ensure that you meet the entrance requirements of the postsecondary or career path institution of your choice.
If you are unsure of your course selection for next year, check with one of the school counsellors prior to registration. Course selection is also important for those going directly to work after graduation.
Students are encouraged to keep the course worksheet, and enter marks as courses are completed to keep track of their progress until graduation.
Requirements for universities/colleges and other educational institutions vary considerably and are subject to change. It is advisable to consult calendars frequently when making long-range plans. Requirements for ANY post secondary programs including university, community college, apprenticeships, and other post-secondary institutions vary according to the institution and program. Students should check with university and college websites and Student Services on entrance requirements.
Averages required for entrance vary; however, students are advised that in many instances, achievement of minimum requirements in no way guarantees acceptance. This is particularly true for specialist diplomas such as Computer Science, Engineering, Nursing, etc. Be advised that Nova Scotia Community College accepts applications from students once they have completed grade 10.
"Open" or “Graduation” credit type courses may not be accepted by some post secondary programs. In addition, some Academic type credit courses are not acceptable. Acceptance of specific courses vary from one educational institution to another, and students should consult institution calendars carefully before making final course choices. When in doubt, email or call admissions of the university.
Choose courses according to your own abilities and needs. A school counsellor is available for interviews with students and/or parents. Appointments can be arranged by phoning 758-4622 or by booking an appointment with Kari in the office.
Transcripts
Credit System
Course Identification
Course Load
Promotion
Learning Support
Challenge for Credit
A transcript is an official school document listing your high school marks for Nova Scotia courses. Transcripts are required by colleges, universities and other post-secondary institutions, and will include marks from your high school courses. One transcript will be included with your graduation certificate when you graduate. Current students should see Kari in the office to request transcripts. Transcripts must be requested two days in advance.
A credit is awarded to students who have successfully completed an approved course that would normally be completed in a minimum of 110 hours of scheduled class time (usually 1 semester). Some courses are compulsory in order to receive a High School Graduation Diploma, while others are optional.
TRANSFER CREDITS
Students transferring into HERH from independent schools or from outside of Nova Scotia will receive credit for courses taken at these institutions on an individual basis. Not every course offered at these schools necessarily qualifies as a valid Nova Scotia credit for graduation.
Courses are identified by subject title and grade level. For example: Mathematics 11. In addition, each course is categorized as one of the following credit types:
Graduation: These courses are designed for students who wish to obtain a graduation diploma with a view to proceeding to employment or some selected areas of post-secondary study.
Open: These courses are generally not designed to meet the requirements for university programs. Although none of the open courses are designed to meet the specific requirements of any post-secondary institutions, individual courses may meet entrance requirements of some institutions.
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.
Students in grade 10 must enroll in a full course load of eight credits in order to earn as many credits as possible towards the eighteen required credits for graduation. Grade 11 students should enroll in a minimum of seven (7) courses. It is recommended that grade 12 students enroll in 3 or 4 courses per semester.
Due to provincial class caps courses have a limitation on the number of students who can enroll in them. Due to these restrictions, students may have to make other selections. Students who may not be permitted to repeat these courses are as follows: 1) students who have already received credit for the course, 2) students who have failed any or all of these courses, 3) students who have withdrawn from these courses.
ATHLETICS
Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) regulations require student athletes to be regular students in order to participate in NSSAF competition. Any student who is registered as a regular student shall be eligible to compete. In semestered schools, a regular student is defined as one who is registered in a minimum of three courses in a semester at the school. Students enrolled in fewer than three courses are not considered full-time students and are ineligible for participation in NSSAF sanctioned athletics.
FREE BLOCK
Students wishing to register for a free block must have scheduled the necessary course requirements to graduate. Please refer to the recommendations above for each grade when considering a free block.
Students are promoted in individual subjects by achieving a satisfactory level of performance. Students are assigned to a grade level based on the number of credits they have achieved.
Grade 12 students are those who are eligible to graduate that year if they successfully complete the courses for which they have registered.
Grade 11 students are those students who can graduate within two years by successfully completing the required credits. All other students are considered to be in grade ten.
Background
The Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development recognizes that students may have already acquired the knowledge, skills and attitudes that an existing course seeks to develop. Challenge for credit provides a process for students to demonstrate that they have achieved learning outcomes as defined in the Public School Programs and the curriculum guide for a directly-related course.
Policy
All students currently enrolled in a public school in Nova Scotia may challenge for credit.
Challenge for credit is applicable only to designated Nova Scotia senior high school courses.
Students may challenge for any number of credits, but no more than two credits at each grade level for a total of six will count towards a High School Graduation Diploma.
Courses for which students have already received credit are not eligible for challenge for credit. Challenge for credit is not intended as a way to improve a course mark. Similarly, challenge for credit is not intended as a process by which a student can challenge a lower level course in the same subject at the same grade level as another course which the student has not completed successfully.
Successful challenges for credit will be given a mark.
For information on challenging for credit, please see a school counsellor.
This three-year secondary school program allows students to earn a Nova Scotia High School Diploma while also acquiring occupational skills in small class settings and on-the-job training. The mandatory work placement component, completed each year, provides co-op credits towards graduation. Students must participate in all aspects of the program, both academic and the co-op work placement, in order to remain in good standing within the program
Click here to learn more about the CEP Program
In-school component
Career exploration, self-evaluation, and goal setting
Resumes, cover letters and interview techniques
Workplace practices and workplace health and safety
80 hours – can be completed during the school day, in the evenings and/or on weekends, PD days, holidays, depending on the placement.
Real world experience
Learn about different careers so you can decide what is right for you
Contacts in the working world
You must be 16 or older in September
Select co-op 12 during online course selection
Co-op requires an application, community and teacher references, plus an interview
Application forms are available from Ms. Vance (Rm302), the school counsellors, and in the main office. They are also available on our school website HERH.ccrce.ca in the “Our School” menu.
Interviews will be scheduled after applications have been received.
O2 is for anyone!
Especially those asking “What am I going to do when I leave school?”
The most successful students are: Willing to learn, positive attitude, interested in investigating careers, hard working, independent
Students in O2 must complete specific courses to earn an O2 certificate which provides them with assured seating status at the Nova Scotia Community College. Students entering the O2 Program in Grade 10 (September 2021) must complete the following courses along with courses required for a graduation diploma:
Career Development 10 - taken in grade 10
Community Based Learning 11 - taken in grade 10
3 Cooperative Education courses - taken in grades 11 & 12
O2 requires an application, community and teacher references, plus an interview
Application forms are available from Mrs. Isenor, the school counsellors and in the main office. They are also available on the HERH website
Interviews will be scheduled after applications have been received.
At all levels, English Language Arts follows an outcomes-based structure. This means that all program content contributes toward student achievement of the General and Specific Outcomes, as defined by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, required to attain the Essential Graduation Learnings required for high school completion. Students enrolled in English and English Communications work toward achievement of the same grade level outcomes. The courses, however, differ in pace, scope, emphasis and source texts.
HERH offers Integrated French, and French Immersion.
Click here for information on French Second Language options at HERH.
The Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development recommends "that the study of mathematics revolve around a core curriculum, differentiated by the level of investigation of each topic and the nature of the applications".
Click here for more for more information about high school mathematics courses.
Skilled Trades courses are the starting point for Nova Scotia high school students who want to explore the skilled trades as a possible career option. These courses are based on curricula that immerse students in the realities of skilled trades work. They were designed by high school teachers and experienced trades educators from the Nova Scotia Community College in consultation with industry representatives.
The great thing about Skilled Trades courses is that they keep one door open to pursue a four-year university degree while opening a second door to a three- to five-year apprenticeship training program. Skilled Trades courses can double your chances of finding a rewarding career.
The NSVS online courses are available for high school students registered in a Nova Scotia Public School. Note that a maximum of one (1) online course is intended to be 1 of the 4 courses a student takes in each semester. For Virtual High course registrations, please speak to the HERH in-school coordinator (Stephanie Isenor Rm 322), who will enter the student in the NSVS Online Student Registration Portal.
For additional information on NSVS, please visit https://nsvs.ednet.ns.ca/ or make an appointment to talk to a school counsellor.
Personal development credits will be awarded for approved courses or programs of a high school standard that contribute to the Atlantic Essential Graduation Learnings. The Personal Development Credit Policy will acknowledge the value of student learning outside the public school system by recognizing for high school credit, achievements and credentials earned in the community. In order for a Personal Development Credit to be granted, a student must complete and submit the necessary forms and supporting documentation, which can be obtained from Student Services. Personal development credits will be reflected on a student’s high school transcript thereby enhancing the transcript for the student.
Personal Development Credits may be granted in grades 10, 11 and 12.
Personal Development Credits may be half or full credits.
Personal Development Credits will not duplicate the courses or programs that are part of Nova Scotia’s Public School Program.
Within the 18 credits a high school student requires for graduation, one elective credit can be a personal development credit.
A personal development credit may not be used to fulfill a student’s requirement for the 13 mandatory credits required for graduation.
A student may have an unlimited number of personal development credits entered on their transcript, beyond the 18 required for graduation.
Students who have earned a personal development credit from an approved provider prior to entering grade 10 may be awarded that credit any time after they enter grade 10.
For a list of approved providers and courses, as well as more information about Personal Development Credits, please visit the Department of Education website https://www.ednet.ns.ca/cbl/personal-development-credits