SPECIALIST HIGH SKILLS MAJOR (SHSM)

The SHSM is a ministry–approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and assists in their transition from secondary school to apprenticeship training, college, university, or the workplace.

OUR SHSM PROGRAMS

ARTS AND CULTURE

The SHSM – Arts and Culture enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Depending on local circumstances, this SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on dance, dramatic arts management, or technical production. Where a choice of focus areas is offered, students may select one.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

The SHSM - Construction program enables students to develop technical knowledge and skills related to the construction field. Students will gain hands-on experience using a variety of materials, processes, tools, and equipment to design, layout, and build projects. They will create and read technical drawings, learn construction terminology, interpret building codes and regulations, and apply mathematical skills as they develop construction projects. Students will also develop an awareness of environmental and societal issues related to construction technology, and will explore postsecondary and career opportunities in the field.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The SHSM–Health and Wellness enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on health care, fitness, or child care and family services. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

This program is designed to prepare students for occupations in a variety of multi-media fields. Students will be able to perform well in all media platforms: print, broadcasting and digital media. The curriculum will provide students with the most current knowledge and skills making them highly marketable across all media platforms. Students will be actively involved in hosting film festivals, promotional and media production for school and community events, DVD production for Villanova’s Community Festival Theatre, as well as live TV production and broadcasting using our closed circuit television system.

COMPUTER ENGINEERING - ROBOTICS MANUFACTURING

The Computer Engineering: Robotics SHSM program is a computer and manufacturing design program focusing on robotic technologies. The curriculum provides students with a strong design component and problem-solving approach, and is delivered in an atmosphere where collaboration, ingenuity and creativity are encouraged and recognized as valuable components of learning. All activities are student-centred and project driven, which “moves students from passive receivers of information to active participants in their own discovery process”. The curriculum focuses on the student’s development as an independent learner and critical/creative thinker. The Computer Engineering: Robotics SHSM program provides students with a solid foundation for a wide variety of post-secondary avenues.

ELECTRICAL ACADEMY

The Electrical Academy is a program offered at our school that offers training in multiple fields such as; Standard First Aid, CPR/AED, Basic Electrical Training, WHMIS, Working at Heights, Confined Spaces, Lock-Out Tagging, and working with Elevated Work Platforms. This program allows the opportunity to gain experience in the electrical field. With this academy, you can be granted a scholarship of $1500 to an electrical program. This allows students who want to pursue a job in electrical to have experience in the field early on. Students will need a 4 credit Co-Op in an electrical setting in order to join this SHSM, as well as completing a set of specific courses.

HOW DOES SHSM BENEFIT STUDENTS?

• Students are more engaged in their school program

• Students have the opportunity to explore, identify, and refine career goals and make informed decisions related to postsecondary education or training and next steps towards a career

• Through the experiential learning opportunities, students develop Essential Skills and work habits that are required in the sector, and have their performance of those skills and work habits assessed and documented, using tools connected with the Ontario Skills Passport

• Students establish relationships and networks in their chosen field

• Students can provide evidence of their achievement of the required components (e.g., sector-recognized certifications and training programs) to prospective employers and postsecondary educational or training institutions

EVERY SHSM PROGRAM MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS:

1. a bundle of 8–10 Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits that includes:

a. 4 major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills

b. 2 – 4 other required credits from the Ontario curriculum, in which some expectations are met through learning activities contextualized to the sector

c. 2 Cooperative education credits that provide authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting, enabling students to refine, extend, and practice sector-specific knowledge and skills

2. Sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses

3. Experiential learning activities within the sector

4. “Reach ahead” experiences connected with the student’s chosen postsecondary pathway

5. Development of key Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector, and the use of the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP) for purposes of documentation

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