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WHAT IS BIOTECH SHSM?
WHAT IS BIOTECH SHSM?
Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), is a ministry-approved program that allows students to focus on a career path that matches their skills and interests while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
Students in the SHSM program will complete a career-specific COOP practicum arranged by A.Y. Jackson Secondary School. Completion of the SHSM requirements results in the award of a Red Seal Designation on your OSSD. This indicates to Universities and Colleges that a significant portion of your high school courses have a focus in Biotechnology under the Health and Wellness Sector.
WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN SHSM?
CO-OP OPPORTUNITY
It prepares students for post-secondary education with experience in a career-specific COOP practicum.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
It helps students to develop specialized skills in an authentic working environment.
CAREER EXPLORATION
It provides an opportunity for students to identify, explore, and refine their career goals.
CERTIFICATION & TRAINING
It prepares students for post-secondary by offering various certifications and training.
DECISION MAKING
It helps students to make informed decisions about their post-secondary destination.
THE RED SEAL
The red seal on your OSSD will help you standout amongst the graduates and post-secondary applicants.
2013
2013
THE YEAR AYJ STARTED ITS BIOTECH SHSM PROGRAM
300+
300+
TOTAL SHSM GRADUATES AT AYJ FROM 2013 to 2025
200+
200+
TOTAL BIOTCH SHSM GRADUATES FROM AYJ FROM 2013 to 2025
GRADUATING WITH BIOTECH SHSM
GRADUATING WITH BIOTECH SHSM
Throughout your high school years, you will have to complete certain requirements in order to complete Biotech SHSM at AYJ and graduate with the red seal. These include:
Courses: CO-OP and IDC3O (LABIDC) or IDC4U (BIOIDC)
Trainings: (CPR-C, Standard First Aid, WHMIS, Infection Control + 3 electives)
CLAs
Reach-Ahead Opportunity
1. COURSES
1. COURSES
GRADE 10
GRADE 10
You may join Biotech SHSM by starting with IDC3O, a grade 11 course with a focus on general laboratory skills and techniques. IDC3O serves as an introductory SHSM course and is designed to prepare students to fulfill the many SHSM requirements in Biotech
GRADE 11
GRADE 11
Sign up to take COOP in the subsequent year (preferably in your Grade 11 year). COOP serves as a practicum for students who are interested in a health care-related career. We partner with health care networks in Toronto to offer COOP placements in hospitals, vet clinics, pharmacies, and other health care environments.
GRADE 12
GRADE 12
Sign up to take IDC4U in your final year (Grade 12). IDC4U is a grade 12 University course that serves as an introductory course to Biotechnology. We introduce advance laboratory techniques in this course in order to help student prepare for a post- secondary career in Biotech. Topics include: Gel Electrophoresis, Gene Cloning & Transformation, Chromatography, and Evolutionary Genetics.
2. TRAININGS
2. TRAININGS
There are 4 mandatory and 3 elective training that students has to complete in order to graduate with the SHSM red seal. It is essential that students take the three designated Biotech SHSM courses (IDC3O, COOP-2, and IDC4U) since we have incorporated the different training in these courses. Training #1 to 4 are mandatory. Students will have the option of selecting 3 elective training from #5 to 12.
1. CPR-C (AED)
5. Fitness
9. Mental Health Awareness
2. Standard First Aid
6. Lab Practices
10. Stress Management
3. WHMIS
7. Sterile Techniques
11. Customer Service
4. Infection Control
8. Leadership Skills
12. Communication Skills
3. CLAs
3. CLAs
Every year, Biotech SHSM will run several CLAs which are mini-crash courses on a variety of different topics. CLAs are great opportunities to dive into different subjects that might be of interest to you! You will be required to attend at least 3 from grade 10 to grade 12.
4. REACH-AHEAD OPPORTUNITIES
4. REACH-AHEAD OPPORTUNITIES
Reach-ahead opportunities allow SHSM students to explore post-secondary pathways. Whether it be through an in-person visit to a university or a virtual tour of a lab, these allow students to experience real-world environments and see what their future could look like.
TESTIMONIES
TESTIMONIES
YunXi, AYJSS Alumni
YunXi, AYJSS Alumni
"Biotech SHSM became my platform. I felt proud to be part of the program not because I can flaunt the red seal later but because of how SHSM has helped me grow as a person."
Kevin, AYJSS Alumni
Kevin, AYJSS Alumni
"Biotech SHSM exposed me to various leadership and behind-the-scene opportunities. These experiences allowed me to work comfortably with teachers and senior students."
Jamieson, AYJSS Alumni
Jamieson, AYJSS Alumni
"Biotech SHSM exposed me to various leadership and behind-the-scene opportunities. These experiences allowed me to work comfortably with teachers and senior students."
GET IN TOUCH
GET IN TOUCH
Drop by the SHSM office, contact Dr. Burt, or email biotech.shsm@gmail.com for more information!
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