Getting Ready for High School!

OSSD Graduation Requirements at a Glance

Community Involvement

Wondering where or how to start your community involvement hours? Check out Volunteer Waterloo Region (linked above) for resources and opportunities as well as the various suggestions below!

Click the spreadsheet to the left and when prompted, make a copy. As you complete community involvement activities, add them to your sheet!

Online Learning Opt Out Form

Click the form to the left and complete the fillable form. When you begin grade 9 (or at any point in time before graduation), print and return this to your high school guidance counsellor. This form may also be available on School-Day once you begin high school!

Thinking Ahead

Co-Op

Cooperative Education, or Co-op, can be a rewarding and

important part of your high school education. In Co-op, you

work and learn on the job for a WRDSB-approved employer.

Co-op placements are available in many different sectors and

we start with your career interest! Besides a work placement,

Co-op includes in-class sessions that cover topics such as

resume writing, safety and what to expect in a workplace. All

of it prepares you for your future!

OYAP

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is

a Cooperative Education experience in a skilled trade

placement. Students become OYAP Participants when

they submit an OYAP form and a record of their learning

is created in the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training

and Skills Development (MLITSD). An OYAP Participant

may become a registered Apprentice while still enrolled in

high school. Students must be at least 15 years of age and

have 14 credits to become an OYAP Participant. (All MLITSD

regulations for specifc ages on certain worksites still apply.

For example, a person must be at least 16 years old to be at

a construction worksite.)

Dual Credit

Ontario’s Dual Credit program offers you an opportunity in

Grade 12 to experience a regular college course while earning

both a college credit and a credit towards your Ontario

Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

The Dual Credit program is intended to encourage eligible

secondary school students to complete a Ontario Secondary

School Diploma while exploring post-secondary education at

an Ontario community college.

SHSM

SHSM is recognized and funded by the Ministry of Education and meets the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). There is no cost to participate in SHSM. There are 5 common components of the SHSM program and they are customized for each of the sectors (career fields) that are offered. They include:

1) Taking a bundle of courses in grades 11 and 12.

2) Earning the certifications connected to have a career in that field.

3) Participating in reach-ahead opportunities that help you plan a path in that career.

4) Taking advantage of learning experiences in the sector such as workshops, field trips and especially Cooperative Education placements.

5) Real-world problem solving by working with people in the field through sector partner experiences.

Page updated

Report abuse