Health & Wellness

A bundle of nine Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits

These credits make up the bundle:

• four health and wellness major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills.  The four courses can be any combination of Grade 11 or 12 credits (including all four credits in Grade 11 or all four credits in Grade 12).  This may include up to three cooperative education credits related to the sector to count as the major credits (in addition to the two required cooperative education credits in the bundle).

• three other required credits from the Ontario curriculum. Schools may commit to including a contextualized learning activity (CLA) for the health and wellness sector in each of the three credits. In each credit, some of the course expectations are then met through the CLA. (Schools that do not formally commit to including CLAs are still free to offer them in one or more of the credits.) The three credits include:

  • one in English;1

  • one in mathematics; and

  • one in science or social sciences and humanities (or a cooperative education credit related to the sector, which would be additional to the two cooperative education credits required in the bundle; see below); *note: allow an additional major credit to replace the science credit, see below; 

• two cooperative education credits that provide authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting, enabling students to refine, extend, apply, and practise knowledge and skills outlined in the cooperative education curriculum as well as sector-specific knowledge and skills.

Experiential learning and career exploration opportunities relevant to the sector might include the following:

• one-on-one observation of a cooperative education student at a placement in the sector (an example of job twinning)

• a day-long observation of a skilled tradesperson in the ector (an example of job shadowing)

• a one- or two-week work experience with a member of an industry association or a professional in the sector (an example of work experience)

• a volunteer experience in a long-term care facility

• an experience coaching an elementary school student in reading as part of a reading buddy program, or other curricular or extracurricular activities

• assisting in an exercise class in a long-term care facility

• attendance at a health and wellness sector career fair

For more information on Experiential Learning at YCDSB visit: https://ycdsb.link/elycdsb

These experiences enable Grade 11 and 12 students to gain confidence in their ability to be successful, refine skills and work habits, and make informed choices about future careers and next steps. Reach ahead opportunities could include:

• interviewing an employee in the field of work the SHSM student is considering;

• visiting an approved apprenticeship delivery agent to investigate a program of interest to the SHSM student;

• interviewing a college or university student enrolled in a program of interest to the SHSM student;

• attending a number of college or university classes in the student's area of interest;

• attending a conference or workshop held by the sector;

• completing a dual credit course, which counts for credit towards both the OSSD and a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or degree, or Level 1 apprenticeship. Dual credit courses are ministry funded and subject to separate approval policies and procedures. For more information about dual credit courses, please refer to Dual Credit Programs – Policy and Program Requirements, 2020.

All students pursuing an SHSM must complete at least one sector-partnered experience (SPE). SPEs are learning experiences tied to a student's chosen SHSM sector, developed and delivered by sector partners in tandem with teachers. All SPEs focus on one of the following:

• innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship (ICE) 

• coding

• mathematical literacy

The concepts of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship (ICE) are inextricably linked. Innovation is the generation and realization of a new idea in the world; this means that innovation contains within it elements of both creativity and entrepreneurship. Creativity comes into play in the generation of ideas to meet a need in the world, based on a fundamental belief that there is more than one right answer to a given problem. Entrepreneurship is the set of activities aimed at building, scaling and sustaining the new ideas into an organization, whether extending an existing organization or creating a new one.

ICE, coding (computer programming), and mathematical literacy are all areas of knowledge that are key to a wide variety of 21st century careers. An SPE is designed to support students in cultivating the mindset that is needed for success in any of these areas of focus – a mindset that includes proposing ideas and solutions, taking smart risks in a safe environment, studying the results, and applying critical thinking.