Getting Started
This page is intended for those who have never taken a St. Nicholas course before or for those who need refresher in how to get started with the course.
Please note that you will not be able to login to your course nor complete the orientation assignments without your username and password. You can read through the information on this page ahead of time so that you are ready once you have received your login credentials.
St. Nicholas courses are 6 week intensive, independent-learning, online courses.
All the lessons reside online in Brightspace by D2L (Desire2Learn). Your content will always be available and accessible on devices with internet access.
There are no scheduled classes - you can work on your course on your own when it is convenient for you.
Maintain a habit of logging into your course daily as teachers record attendance according to your course activity. If you are not active 5 days a week (any 5 days between Monday and Sunday) or if you miss logins for 5 consecutive days you will be withdrawn. If you cannot login for 5 days in a week or keep up with your coursework, it is recommended that you self-withdraw from the course and return when you are able to meet the course requirements.
It is highly recommended that you use a desktop or laptop computer (PC or Mac) for your courses.
Computers and Netbooks are available for use in classrooms or the Learning Commons.
While you are able to access many components of your course on a tablet or phone, some tools may be difficult to access on them. If using a mobile device, we recommend using the Desktop version rather than the app in order to access all features.
Reliable internet access is required.
Steps to Get Started
If you are a new student or if you have not been enrolled in an OCSB school for 2 or more years: You will be sent your login information through an email from the school board. You should receive this email by the Monday that you start your course. Please check your spam folder.
If you have been enrolled at St. Nicholas or another OCSB school in the last two years: You will continue to use the same username and password. Contact your teacher if you have forgotten your login information. It is recommended that you register to be able to reset your own password. Please consult Microsoft Self-Service Password Reset Step-by-Step Guide for instructions.
Students must be logged into their school Google account to access their course. From the main page of the Student Hub, click on the Brightspace icon.
Printable Instructions: Logging in to Your Course
Logging into Brightspace.mp4
Linking your @stu.ocsb.ca Google account to Brightspace will allow you to easily access your Google Drive to upload assignments.
Printable Instructions: Linking Google to Brightspace
Connecting Google to Brightspace.mp4
At the start of every course, students must complete a quiz on the St. Nicholas policies and complete a Student Profile document and upload to the dropbox. Individual courses may have other starting requirements which will be outlined in the course.
Printable Instructions: Completing the Orientation Assignments
Copy of How to Complete the Orientation Assignments.mp4Please go to the Brightspace section on the Training Centre to get more detailed information on how to navigate Brightspace and use the Dropbox and Quizzes tools.
It is highly recommended that all students register to be able to reset their own passwords. Please consult Microsoft Self-Service Password Reset Step-by-Step Guide for instructions.
If you have not registered for the self-service password reset and you have forgotten your password, please contact your teacher.
Course Assignments
Timeline/Assignment List
Students can find a timeline and/or assignment list either in the Welcome email sent by the teacher on the first day or within the Orientation unit of the course itself.
Please note that courses at St. Nicholas are 6 week intensive courses. Students must closely follow the timeline provided to complete the course within 6 weeks.
Assignments
Assignments are due every week of a course, but the number or type of assignments vary from department to department and course to course. Follow the timeline provided by your teacher. Very limited assignment extensions will be permitted but the course length will not be extended by the teacher.
The most common types of assignments are done through either the Quiz tool or the Dropbox tool. For instructions on how to use these tools, please visit the Brightspace section on the Training page. In addition, teachers may provide specific instructions in the course on how to complete and submit assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions
To view answers, click on the arrow next to each question.
1. I did not receive a Welcome email from my teacher. What should I do?
The Welcome email will be send at some time by the end of the school day (3 p.m.) on the first day of classes. If you have not received an email from your teacher by that time:
Check your Spam/Junk folder to see if the email was filtered as spam.
Otherwise, email your teacher (if you have an email address) or call the school (613-228-8888) and ask to be forwarded to your teacher's phone.
2. Why am I getting a Google error message when I try to login?
You must be logged into your @stu.ocsb.ca account in Google to access your Brightspace account. If you are not sure how to change your account in your Chrome Browser, please go to the section above titled 'How to login to your course'.
3. Why can't I see the units and lessons in my course?
You must complete the assignments in the Orientation Unit of your course before the course content will appear.
Complete the Policies Quiz. You must achieve a mark of 100%. Repeat the quiz until you get a perfect score.
Submit a Student Profile to the provided dropbox.
Complete other assignments as outlined by your teacher in the Orientation Unit.
Once the required assignments are completed, the course lessons will appear in the Table of Contents (you may need to refresh your screen).
Please review the section above titled 'How to complete your orientation assignments'.
4. Can I complete a course in less than 6 weeks?
Our courses are designed to be completed in 6 weeks for a student working 5 days a week, 20-25 hours per week in the course. Sometimes a student may have extra time on their hands and wishes to get through the course more quickly. In consultation with the teacher, it is possible to discuss and develop an accelerated timeline for completion; however, please be aware that there is a minimum amount of time that a student must dedicate in order to earn a credit in a course.
5. Can I take longer than 6 weeks to complete a course?
Students have six weeks to complete a St. Nicholas course. If a student has personal circumstances arise while they are taking a course that prevent them from meeting the requirements, they are advised to self-withdraw and return when they can dedicate the time and energy required. Students will be given the balance of their six weeks when they reregister. For example, if a student withdraws after 2 weeks, upon reregistration they will be permitted 4 weeks to complete the course.
6. An emergency has come up and I can't complete my course. Will I need to start over?
Sometimes other circumstances arise that do not allow students to spend the time required in their course. If this delay is for a week or less and you think that you will be able to make up the missed work in the remaining weeks of the course, discuss your timeline options with your teacher. Even if assignment due dates are delayed, you will be required to login to the course throughout the week.
If you will be unable to meet timelines for 2 weeks or more, contact your teacher to arrange a self-withdrawal from your course. When you are able to dedicate the time and energy into your course again, you can re-register. Students will be given the balance of their six weeks when they reregister. For example, if a student withdraws after 2 weeks, upon reregistration they will be permitted 4 weeks to complete the course.
7. I didn't start very strongly in my course, can I start over?
St. Nicholas does not allow re-starts of courses within the same school year.
If you feel that you are having problems in your course, please consult with your guidance counsellor.
8. Are there in-person or virtual classes to attend?
St. Nicholas follows an independent learning model. There are no scheduled classes (neither in-person, nor virtual). The lessons in Brightspace contain all of the information you will need to complete your course, at your convenience, while following the timeline provided by your teacher.
9. How can I get help from my teacher?
Although our courses are online and independent learning, you do have a teacher who can help you throughout your course. If you have difficulty with a lesson or with navigating your course, you can email your teacher to request help. Your teacher's contact information can be found in the Welcome email sent to you at the start of the course.
Help may be provided during school hours (M-F 9:00 am - 3:00 pm) in many possible ways:
An email response
A phone call
A virtual meeting through Google Meet
An in-person appointment with your teacher
If you come to the school to see your teacher, please make arrangements ahead of time to make sure that your teacher will be available.
10. Can I come to the school to work on my course?
Yes, absolutely! All teachers have space allocated for students to work (in their own classroom or in the Learning Commons). There are desks and computers available for student use during regular school hours, Monday to Friday 9 am - 3 pm.
If you are coming in to ask questions of your teacher, please check ahead of time to make sure that the teacher will be available.
