Grade 9 Information

Expecting to enter Grade 9 at Manitoulin SS soon? Here's all the information you'll need!

Important Annual Grade 8 Transition Activities

January : information is sent home with Grade 8 students about course selection (2025 booklet) for Grade 9 (RDSB Brochure)
Late January - early February: Guidance counsellors visit Grade 8 classrooms to present information and answer questions; Practice Course Selection Sheet
February 12th 2025 at 6:30: Grade 8 Information night for parents hosted by the guidance department; (2025 Virtual Connection Link)
last years resources (2024 slide show) (2024 'Virtual' Video Recording Part 1 - Part 2)
February 14th 2025: Course Selection information is submitted either through myBlueprint or on paper to Grade 8 teachers. After this date all changes need to be made by guidance counsellors at MSS.
March - May : new timetables are created, including conversations about bridge courses and IPRC meetings.
May - June: Various Transition Days at MSS
End of August : Grade 8 Welcome day at MSS "Grade 9 BBQ"
September : First Day of classes, and Grade 9 "Week of Welcome"
September : "Welcome to Grade 9 @MSS" Meeting for parents

De-streaming

Through the 2021-22 school year the Ontario Government introduced the concept of "De-streaming" for grade 9 students. This meant they were not required to choose between Academic and Applied pathways when entering Grade 9. Part of the reason to do this is to support equity of opportunity for all students, and promote diversity of learning opportunities to everyone.

In the 2022-23 school year all of Grade 9 were de-streamed so that students will choose a course subject and not have to choose a pathway until the Grade 10 year.

Locally Developed Courses

These courses may be offered for grade 9 and 10 students who have experienced difficulties in English, Mathematics and Science, and may be working below standard grade level in elementary school. They allow the student to obtain sufficient background and skill development, to prepare them for future courses in the subject area and for the world of work after high school. The Locally Developed pathway, leads to the Workplace pathway, and they lead to a full Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Courses

NOTE: Full course descriptions are available through www.myBlueprint.ca, or by contacting the department directly.

Compulsory Courses for Grade 9 Students (Course Codes Explained)

English De-streamed (ENL1W) OR Locally Developed (ENG1L)
Science De-streamed (SNC1W) OR Locally Developed (SNC1L)
Math De-streamed (MTW1W) OR Locally Developed (MAT1L)
Geography De-streamed (CGC1W)
Language - French De-streamed (FSF1D) or (FSF1O for anyone with less French experience),
- or - Ojibwe Open (LNOBO) or LNOAO (Beginner Ojibwe)

Plus THREE additional credits from the list below: (all in the 'Open' pathway)

Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset (BEP1O) (New for Grade 9 2025)
Music (AMU1O)
Native Arts (NAC1O)
Physical Education (PPL1O)
Visual Arts (AVI1O)
Technology and the Skilled Trades (TAS1O)
Communications Technology (TGJ1O)

Students are required to take ONE 'Arts' course and it is recommended students take this in Grade 9 by choosing between Visual Art, Music and Native Arts. However, a student can wait and select a later course in the 'Arts' such as Visual Art, Drama, Musical Theatre or Guitar. Students are also required to take one course in Physical Education before graduation. Please refer to the diploma requirements posted here for more information.

New - Starting with the 2024-25 School year, students will also need to take one Grade 9 or Grade 10 'Technology' course to graduate.

Additional Course Choices available with recommendation from Grade 8 teachers, special education teachers, parents and secondary school staff:

Bridge English (ENG1L8)
Bridge Mathematics (MAT1L8)
Empower English (ELS2O)

What are "Bridge" Courses?

Some students need some additional review and reinforcement of their learning from Grade 8, 7 or even Grade 6 studies before entering the Grade 9 De-streamed courses. Bridge Courses in Math and English are designed to support new Grade 9 students to expand their skills and knowledge and help them prepare for destreamed Math and English, and of course literacy skills in general. So Bridge Courses are scheduled in Semester 1, and would hopefully lead to De-streamed Math and English in Semester 2.

Depending on timetable options, students would choose a Bridge course in place of an elective course (e.g. Art), and sometimes in place of a compulsory course (e.g. Geography). Bridge Courses are considered high priority to lead to future success, and so the class they miss, such as Art or Geography, can be taken in later years, or skipped and the graduation requirement waived with principal approval. Bridge Courses are still credit bearing and count towards the 30 credits required for graduation, likely as one of the 12 elective credits needed.

Each spring Grade 8 teachers make recommendations to us on who should take a particular Bridge courses, and then MSS staff will contact parents to discuss the options of taking a Bridge course or two.

NOTE: These courses are not designed for students who will pursue the Locally Developed pathway, however having taken a Bridge course, a student can choose to not pursue the de-streamed pathway, but rather go directly to Grade 10 Locally Developed Math and English after completing the Bridge courses.

Here are some videos to help explain Bridge Courses further:

Other General Information

Special Education Support

The right choice of academic course level and resource programming has an impact on student success in secondary school. Each year, the exceptional student and his/her parent or guardian are invited to an IPRC (Identification, Placement, Review, Committee) meeting to discuss the support options that may offer greater success to the student. Accommodations may be provided to instruction and assessment. For example, your child could be offered extra time to write tests or use of assistive technology to complete assignments. Resource programming is a service offered to exceptional students as determined by the IPRC.. Access to the Resource Room may be on a daily basis for the learning strategies course and daily help with other course work or on a “needs basis” as determined by the student and/or teacher.

Resource Support:

Exceptional students have access to the resource room “as needed” throughout the school year to write tests/exams, to complete assignments and/or use assistive technology.

Resource Withdrawal:

Exceptional students go to the resource room for the Learning Strategies course on a daily basis per semester. This course provides a credit as well as supports for a student’s other subjects. A student may achieve up to four Learning Strategies credits.

Many exceptional students are in regular classes. For those students with more challenging needs, we offer more intensive supports in our Transition and Life Skills classes. For students with behavioural and/or mental health needs, we offer a Section 23 program.

Intensive Support Programs (I.S.P.)

Transition Program

This program is a self-contained class program for students identified with an intellectual exceptionality. The focus is placed on developing literacy, numeracy, independent living skills and work related skills geared towards specialized college programs, trades assistants’ programs and the workplace.

Life Skills Program

This program is a self-contained class program for students identified with a moderate intellectual exceptionality who require development of daily living skills. The focus is placed on developing basic literacy, numeracy and independent living skills.

Section Program

This program is a self-contained class program offered solely by RDSB and in partnership with The Child & Family Centre for students identified with behavioural and/or mental health challenges. The placement in these programs is short term with a goal of reintegration into the regular program. The focus is placed on developing appropriate social emotional adaptive skills, with an additional focus on literacy and numeracy.

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