Business Studies

Welcome to Southwood's Business Studies Page!!

Hello! This is Mr. Kelly, the Department Head of Business Studies here at Southwood Secondary School. Here we hope to answer any questions you may have about Business Studies here at Southwood. If you are not able to find an answer to your question on this page, please reach out to me, Mr. Kelly at brandon_kelly@wrdsb.ca and I will be happy to answer your questions personally! I look forward to seeing your student in my class!

Take care and thank you for taking the time to visit!

Question: What Business courses can a grade 9 take?

Answer: There is one course available to students in grade 9, Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Grade 9, Open (BEM1O). This course will be introduced in the fall of 2024.

When each student enters grade 9, they receive a chromebook. Our Building and Entrepreneurial Mindset course introduces students to much of the software these devices use and will allow them to use these devices to their full ability. Students will learn many skills in this course that will prepare them for future courses, such as:

• Effective research skills: Evaluating the quality of online content and citing sources effectively

• Search skills: How to use google more effectively to find quality content

• Presentation skills: To build and deliver effective presentations in class

• Word Processing skills: To help prepare essays and reports

• Spreadsheet skills: Organizing and analyzing data. Performing calculations and preparing charts and graphs

• Design skills: Creating websites and infographics

• Email skills: To manage communication with teachers and peers

• Typing skills

In addition, students will also learn many skills that will help them in their personal lives, an area that seems to be more and more consumed by technology use.

• Hardware/ software skills: Essential for making informed decisions when purchasing and repairing technology

• Networks and the internet: Learning how networks function

• Technology Issues: The social, emotion, intellectual, physical and environmental effects technology has on us. As well online privacy and security will be discussed

Here is the course description:

In this course, students will learn what makes an entrepreneur thrive and the skills required to succeed in today’s business environment. Students will begin to develop their own entrepreneurial mindset, and learn why it’s important to take initiative, adapt to change, find creative solutions, and understand the financial considerations of entrepreneurship. This hands-on course will use business software and applications to help students plan and develop their entrepreneurial ideas and learn how to present them to a target audience. Throughout the course, students will enhance their communications skills as well as develop and refine their project management skills, including goal setting, time management, and networking. 

Question: I am REALLY interested in Business, what else can I do at Southwood?

Question: What courses can I take after grade 9?

After taking the "Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset" and "Launching and Leading a Business Courses", which can be taken in grade 9 or 10, there is a wide variety of courses you can look forward to in Grade 11 and 12. Take a look at the diagram below. 

**Note: Due to the greater amount of courses available in grades 11 and 12, it is advised that students interested in business , reach ahead and take a grade 11 course in grade 10. Which course is best depends on individual student strengths. See Mr. Kelly or your guidance counselor for more information **