September 2024 tuition deadline:  March 1, 2024

• • You must pay your tuition fee by the deadline to reserve your spot at school.  No payment or late payment will result in course selection cancellation.  Please contact our office secretaries to make payment arrangements.

PHOTO CONTEST: “OUR SCHOOLS, OUR PRIDE”

 Submit 1-3 photos about your school life with your friends, your teachers, in your school grounds, classrooms, etc. We are looking for images that would promote a great school for future students.  Your photos should represent a great school atmosphere or welcoming students for future students.

 To enter this contest, please upload your photos to this Google Drive folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jMWNJzyRdJmupEog3uBQKkZS-p_xC-Uz?usp=drive_link

 File name:  Your legal name _ your school name

A RESPONSIBLE CUSTOIDAN AND HOMESTAY CAN HELP A LONG WAY…

 The safety of International Students was a key topic to all Consulates and our school board/schools.  It is important for all international students under the age of 18 to have a legal custodian.  TCDSB asks all international students under 18 years old to live in a homestay family. 

 A good custodian can help to supervise and to monitor the safety of the international students in Canada.  A responsible custodian should visit the homestay family and the living conditions when the student arrives in Toronto.  Regular visits and/or communication with the student is expected.  Custodians should be aware of the well-being of their students.  Students are expected to live in homestay families approved by TCDSB.  A list of approved homestay/ custodian providers can be found on our website: https://www.tcdsb.org/o/internationaleducation/page/homestay

 Students attending our schools can usually learn general safety as a pedestrian and driver; social norms and events; laws in Ontario/ Canada.

 Examples of some common age-related laws in Ontario:

• Going to school is a legal requirement for young people between the ages of 6 and 17.  Visa students MUST attend schools because they are here on a Study Permit.

• As a rule, you must be at least 19 years old to drink alcohol in Ontario.

• You must not drive if you have been drinking alcohol.  Each person in the vehicle must have a working seatbelt and put the seatbelt on.

• If a student is under 18 years old, the consent of the parent or the legal guardian is needed to get the driver’s license.

• Be responsible!  Tragedy can happen:  https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/11/27/4-chinese-students-killed-in-car-crash-near-toronto-chinese-consulate-says/

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Hight School Graduating Students in January 2024 should review their graduation requirements with their day school counselors.  If you have question, feel free to email Ms. Chung:  teresa.chung@tcdsb.org

 To return for another semester to finish your graduation requirements or to meet your post-secondary admission requirements, you and /or your legal custodian must share the plan with your school vice principal or counsellor as soon as possible.

OUAC application deadline - January 15, 2024. To reduce the chance of delays and slower online response times, University-bound students should complete and submit your application before the January 15 deadline.

 OCAS application deadline – February 1, 2024 (Equal Consideration Date for Highly Competitive Programs)

SKILLED TRADES AT A GLANCE

In Canada, skilled trades, sometimes called vocations, are jobs where you work with your hands and require specialized training.  There are hundreds of designated trades in Canada.  54 of these trades are Red Seal certified.  Once a student passes the Red Seal exam, the certification will be recognized everywhere in Canada.  Some careers projected with high demand in the coming years are electricians, carpenters, industrial mechanics, cook, welders and painters/decorator.

There are FIVE sectors in Canada.  Most skilled trades fit under one or more of these sectors.

1. Construction

2. Information and Digital Technology

3. Manufacturing and Industrial

4. Services

5. Transportation

If you are interested in doing Skilled Trades in Colleges, you may want to discuss this pathway with your day school counsellor to develop a focused skill set while earning practical experience and industry connections through your school’s apprenticeships and co-op programs.

International graduates from eligible trades programs in Colleges may apply for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).  By graduating from a recognized skilled trades college program, you will get points for FSTP.  The high school apprenticeship and co-op program with local companies allow you build relationships that may help your Skilled Trades post-secondary program application and future job offer which is another FSTP requirement.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/skilled-trades

SCHOLARSHIPS/ AWARDS / BURSARIES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Most Universities in Ontario offer Entrance Scholarships based on academic average.  There is no need for you to apply.   Some open the In-Study Scholarships or Awards application to their International undergraduate.

Some Universities offer special scholarships / Awards to their International Undergraduates, with renewable opportunities. Click on the links below to understand the criteria of the scholarships.  They are for their international undergraduates,  high school students in their final years or have graduated by June; and will be going into the University in September. 

Don’t wait until your final year to do the research.  If you are now in grade 11, you should start your research!

Laurentian University: Laurentian University | International Student Scholarships

York University: https://yorkinternational.yorku.ca/scholarships-awards-and-bursaries/

 University of Winnipeg: University of Winnipeg President’s Scholarship for World Leaders

 University of Calgary University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship

 OCAD:  international student bursary program. 

University of British Columbia: https://you.ubc.ca/financial-planning/scholarships-awards-international-students/international-scholars/

 University of Guelph: International Student Support | Student Financial Services (uoguelph.ca)

 University of Toronto: Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program at the University of Toronto