The Forestry Part B- Grade 12 takes place during first semester of of grade 12 and is a full-time program.

Credits: 26

*NOTE: Students must be enrolled in the forestry program (full time) to access these classes. Individual classes are not available to students outside of the program. 

Forestry Part B- Grade 12 includes the following five courses:

1. FORESTRY 11 / 12 

YRNR-1F-4S / YRNR-2F-4S 

Credit: 4 

Prerequisite: Enrollment in Forestry Program The Forestry 12 course is designed to help students build on their forestry skills and knowledge learned in Forestry 11. In Forestry 12, students will build on their wilderness survival skills. Self-sustainability in the forest is further explored. Students will have more opportunities to practice their survival skills and first aid rescue skills through hands-on activities. Some activities include a mock survival situation, as well as a transportation endorsement course. Forest Ecology, which includes studying tree and plant identification, is looked at in more detail. Students will also complete a gallery walk of City Park to broaden the scope of their tree identification expertise.

2. SILVICULTURE 11/12 

YRNR-1D-4S / YRNR-2D-4S 

Credits: 4  

Prerequisite: Enrollment in Forestry Program 

Silviculture 12 is designed for students to build on their fundamental skills and knowledge learned in Silviculture 11. In Silviculture 12 students will learn to use their vegetative resource inventory to synthesize harvesting plans for specific forest types. Students in Silviculture 12 will take part in activities that allow for the application of technologies previously learned in Silviculture 11. In addition, students are introduced to skills which are important for continued success in Silviculture related activities. The skills include the Incident Command System certification, as well as their Safe Boaters Licence. 

3. UTILITY ARBORIST 11A / 12A 

YRNR-1A-4S / YRNR-2A-4S 

Credits: 4  

Prerequisite: Enrollment in Forestry Program 

The Utility Arborist 12A course is a continuation of Arborist 11. Students work to complete the study guide and practice test of the rest of the Utility Arborist Manual Level 1. The course is designed to help students further develop the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to participate safely in tree-care activities. Students are familiarized to the equipment, technology, pre-climb safety procedures as well as power line safety. Utility Arborist 12A is integral for the preparedness of students writing the Industry Training Authority Level 1 exam.

4. UTILITY ARBORIST 12B 

YRNR –2B-4S 

Credits: 4 

Prerequisite: Enrollment in Forestry Program 

The Utility Arborist 12B (UA12B) course is a continuation of Utility Arborist 11 and 12A. Students will learn how to safely use climbing and rigging techniques and become comfortable navigating through the tree canopy. The course moves students from theory to practice in all aspects related to safe tree climbing, trimming and rigging from heights. Building on their fundamentals from UA11 and UA12A, students will have the opportunity to perform/simulate industry level climbs from pre-job planning through to evaluation. The majority of instructional time is spent within the tree canopy using specialized climbing equipment. As with UA11 and UA12B, safety is the top level priority in the course. The course culminates with each student receiving an assessment of an industry specialist.

5. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 11 

MEVSC11-4S 

Credits: 4 

The learning outcomes of this course are embedded in the Forestry curriculum. 

6. CAREER TRANSITIONS 12 

MSTX—2B-4S 

Credits: 4 

Prerequisite: Enrollment in Forestry Program 

Completion of "My Action Plan" (MAP). In addition, RSS forestry students will receive training that enables them to qualify for their Level One Utility Arborist * Certificate. This is a Certified Apprenticeship Program that will allow students to directly enter the Utility Arborist employment field. Partial training for this is provided by the Electrical Training Institute. 

* Utility Arborist means a person who undertakes any work required to prune or clear vegetation in proximity to energized electrical equipment (a distance of three meters or less from a primary conductor with a voltage of 750 volts or greater), structures and conductors or who in the course of utility line clearing operations, prunes, falls, or removes trees which could come into contact with energized power lines. 

The Secondary School Apprenticeship program is designed to allow grade 10 - 12 students to become registered Apprentices with the Industry Training Authority (ITA) while completing B.C. Graduation requirements. The students selected to participate in this program must be motivated and have an aptitude in the selected trade, as well as maintain passing grades in the selected course of studies. 

Special Features of Program: 

• must successfully complete an application and selection process involving application form, letters of recommendation and interview. 

• must successfully complete a 3 to 5 day unpaid work orientation period.

 • must be registered with an acceptable employer. 

• must successfully complete a minimum of 480 hr. of paid work experience in selected trade prior to graduation. When student successfully completes 480 creditable hours, they will receive the following high school course credits: SSA 11A, SSA 11B, SSA 12A, SSA 12B. 

• must maintain a C+/B average in courses most relevant to the selected trade (e.g. auto mechanics - Math 11, Physics 11, Mechanics 11 and 12, English 11). 

• successfully graduate with B.C. Graduation Certificate. • School District may assist in the location of a host employer. 

• student will make the transition from school to work in a more efficient manner. 

• student will be paid during training process and will accumulate hours towards his/ her journey person status. 

Details relating to the application procedure for this program may be obtained through the Career Programs teachers or Career Centre Manager in the Counseling/Career Centre. 

At RSS, we offer AP courses in Art, English, Biology, Physics, Political Studies, Chemistry, Calculus and Computer Science. 

WHAT IS AP? 

Click here for all of the Advanced Placement courses offered at Rutland Senior Secondary.

The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is an international program of acceleration and enrichment which allows bright and motivated students to actually begin their College or University studies while still in high school. AP courses are equivalent to first year university courses in all ways except for class size and cost. They contain the same (or greater) content of the comparable courses found in Canadian Colleges and Universities. 

WHAT DOES A STUDENT GET OUT OF TAKING AN AP COURSE? 

1. Course Credit or Placement The original purpose of the AP program was to recognize that some students in secondary school are capable of and ready for challenge beyond the regular curriculum and to provide that challenge. Colleges and Universities have recognized over the years that students who take AP courses are at least as well prepared, and in fact usually better prepared, than regular first year students. As a result, most Canadian Universities are prepared to offer AP students exemption from taking their equivalent course (called placement), or credit (actual course credits granted by them) for the AP course(s). Obviously, from a student’s point of view, credit is preferable as it can save lots of money! 

2. Exposure to University Level Expectations Since all AP courses offer instruction at first year university level, following university level curricula, using university level texts and resources, students gain the real benefit of having experienced these rigors prior to going to university. Studies by the College Board following up on AP students find a very high level of success by these students in first and second year courses beyond regular entry students. 

3. Challenge AP courses give students an opportunity to challenge themselves beyond the normal expectations and thereby extend themselves intellectually. It also teaches students to develop effective work and study habits crucial to survival and success after secondary school. 

4. Preparation AP courses are excellent preparation for Provincial exams. 

WHO SHOULD CONSIDER TAKING AP COURSES? 

A student taking AP does not necessarily require high intelligence. The characteristics below are of greater importance than raw intelligence: 

• A proven record of success in school, particularly in the Pre-AP courses that lead to the AP course that you are thinking of taking. 

• A serious commitment to and recognition of the importance of education.

• Motivation to achieve an ever-higher level of personal achievement. • A well-developed work ethic including positive attitudes towards learning, challenge, and the consistent production of high quality work. 

AP is not a gifted program for the select few. It is a program of enrichment and acceleration for the interested and motivated student. 

WHAT ARE THE AP EXAMS? 

Each of the AP courses has a final exam. For a college or university to consider granting you credit or placement for your AP course, you must write and pass the AP exam for that course. This exam is developed by a committee of AP teachers and University professors under contract to the College Board. The exams are 3 hours long and are written worldwide during the second and third week in May each year. The exams are sent to the College Board who hires AP teachers and university professors to mark them. Results of the exam are converted to a 5-point scale and mailed to students, their secondary school, and colleges or universities of the student’s choice. The mark on the exam is really the College Boards way of providing recommendations to universities about the relative preparedness of this student for advanced placement at their university. 

Any student who scores a 4 or 5 on an AP exam can use their result to apply for a Provincial Scholarship. 

DO CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES REALLY ACCEPT AP? 

Yes! Every university develops their own acceptance policy for AP as they see fit, but all major Canadian Colleges and Universities have acceptance policies in place that grant AP students placement, course credit, or both. For example, McGill grants credit and placement for any AP course with a score of 3 or better. UBC grants credit for some and placement for others with a score of 4 or 5. Your counselor can provide you with each university’s policy. 

DOES AP COST ME ANY MONEY? 

There is a fee to write the AP exam part of which the school subsidizes.

 DO I GET HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT FOR AP COURSES AS WELL AS COLLEGE? 

Yes. The BC Ministry of Education recognizes all AP courses for credit. Generally you get credit for the equivalent high school course plus additional credit that the Ministry has determined an AP course is beyond the regular course if you complete the course by writing the exam.