Havergal College Course Calendar, 2020-21 Academic Year

Diploma and Certificate Requirements and Related Procedures

Optional Credits (total of 12) (OS 6.1.2) In addition to the 18 compulsory credits, students must earn 12 optional credits. Students earn these credits by successfully completing courses they have selected from the courses listed as available in their school’s program and course calendar. (Canada. Ministry of Education, Ontario. Policy and Program. Ontario Schools Kindergarten to Grade 12 : Policy and Program Requirements. Toronto: Ministry of Education, 2016 Print. Section 6.1.1, 6.1.2 pp 60-62)

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements (OSSD) (OS 6.1) The requirements for earning an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) are as follows: • Students must earn a minimum of 30 credits, including 18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits. • Students must meet the provincial secondary school literacy requirements. • Students must complete 40 hours of community involvement activities. • Students are required to remain in secondary school until the student has reached the age of 18 or obtained an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Compulsory Credits (total of 18) (OS 6.1.1) Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma: • 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade) • 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12) • 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9) • 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10) • 1 credit in French as a second language • 1 credit in health and physical education • 0.5 credit in career studies • 0.5 credit in civics 3 additional credits, consisting of 1 credit from each of the following groups: • Group 1: English (including the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course), French as a second language, classical languages, international languages, Native languages, Canadian and world studies, Native studies, social sciences and humanities, guidance and career education or cooperative education. • Group 2: French as a second language, the arts, business studies, health and physical education or cooperative education. • Group 3: French as a second language, science (Grade 11 or 12), computer studies, technological education or cooperative education. Note – the following conditions apply to selections from the above three groups: • A maximum of 2 credits in French as a second language may count as additional compulsory credits, 1 credit from Group 1 and 1 credit from either Group 2 or Group 3. • A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education may count as additional compulsory credits, selected from any of Groups 1, 2 or 3. • 2 credits in science • 1 credit in the arts

The Secondary School Literacy Graduation Requirement (OS 6.1.3)

All students are required to meet the secondary school literacy graduation requirement in order to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). The requirement is based on the expectations for reading and writing throughout the Ontario curriculum up to and including Grade 9. The purpose of the secondary school literacy graduation requirement is to determine whether students have the skills in reading and writing that they will need to succeed in school, at work and in daily life. To meet this requirement, students are expected to take and successfully complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) in Grade 10. Once students have successfully completed the OSSLT, they may not retake it. Students who do not successfully complete the OSSLT will have additional opportunities to meet the literacy graduation requirement in the following two years by retaking the test. Students who do not successfully complete the OSSLT will be required to complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC). (Canada. Ministry of Education, Ontario. Policy and Program. Ontario Schools Kindergarten to Grade 12 : Policy and Program Requirements. Toronto: Ministry of Education, 2016. Print. Section 6.1.3 p 62) The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) (OS 6.1.3.1) The Ontario Secondary School Literacy test (OSSLT) is the usual method for assessing the literacy skills of students in Ontario for the purpose of determining whether they meet the provincial secondary school literacy requirement for graduation. The test thus identifies students who have demonstrated the required skills in literacy as well as those who have not demonstrated the required skills and will need to do further work. The test identifies the specific areas in which these latter students need remediation. The test is scheduled by and administered through the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) once each year, usually in the spring.

46  HAVERGAL COLLEGE | Course Calendar 2020–21