The Woodlands School Welcomes You!

The Woodlands School Welcomes You!

3225 Erindale Station Road

Mississauga, Ontario

L5C 1Y5

905-279-0575

Our Mission:

Inspiring all students in an inclusive, caring, and supportive community to reach their potential as successful and responsible global citizens

Welcome to The Woodlands Secondary School!

This transition booklet has been created to help you determine the most appropriate course type for each of your Grade 9 core subjects, and to explain the optional courses that you may study. The staff of The Woodlands wishes you a smooth transition to secondary school and hopes that this information will be helpful to you.

Grade 9 students must take 6 core compulsory courses and 2 optional courses for a total of 8 courses.

Core compulsory courses: English, Math, Science, Geography and French. These courses are offered at either academic or applied levels. (See pages 6-11) All Grade 9 students also take Health and Physical Education. Optional Courses are open level courses available to all students. (See pages 12-13 for a description of optional courses.)

When selecting the correct course pathway, students and parents should consider:

• Grade 8 teacher recommendations

• Achievement in Grade 7
• Learning skills
• Post – secondary plans

Graduation Requirements

18 Compulsory credits are required for achievement of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma:

In addition to the compulsory courses, students must complete:

Academic or Applied?

To help you decide, complete the following.....

Achievement in Grade 7:

Use your final Gr. 7 report card to fill in below:

 Achievement of Level 4 (range of 80% - 100%) usually indicates an academic course is

appropriate in that subject.

 Achievement of Level 3 (range of 70% - 79%) may indicate that an academic course is

appropriate in that subject.

 Achievement of Level 2 (range of 60% - 69%) may indicate either academic or applied

is appropriate in that subject and both your learning skills and post-secondary plans should be considered

 Achievement of Level 1 (50% - 59%) may indicate that an applied course is appropriate

in that subject.

Learning Skills:

Check one answer to help determine which course type (academic or applied)

best matches your learning skills and preferences.

If you have 6-10 checks in the “Yes” column, Some or all academic courses may be appropriate for you.

If you checked mostly “No,” Some or all applied courses may be appropriate for you.

Possible Pathways

Considerations for Courses and Pathway Planning

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma is a 4 year programme. Depending on the individual student’s needs, a student may return for a 5th year to complete some requirements to a maximum of 34 successful credits. The goal of the staff at The Woodlands School is to ensure student success and choosing the appropriate pathway will allow students to successfully achieve the curriculum requirements.

Learning Skills are important when considering your pathway choices. If you checked “yes” 0-5 times when assessing your learning skills, you may not have the independent work habits necessary to be successful at the Academic level. If you checked “yes” 6-10 times, academic classes may be more appropriate. Academic classes involve a greater degree of independent study, stronger organizational skills and the ability to work well both in groups and independently. Applied classes provide more support and structure when learning new concepts.

Based on the information in this booklet, you should consider course selections carefully to ensure that the correct type of course is taken. If you are unsuccessful (achievement of less than 50%) in a Secondary School credit, you will need to repeat it in order to earn the credit, possibly delaying your graduation date.

For more information on Course choices, refer to and Chart Your Course, the common course calendar found online.

Core Courses:

English: Could you complete this work? At which level? When choosing English courses, consider your Grade 7 marks, your post-secondary plans and your learning skills. Remember, you must take 4 English courses, at either the applied or academic level, including 2 senior courses, in order to graduate from Secondary School

• One or more novel(s)
• One Shakespearean play
• Frequent writing activities
• Independent reading and assignments
• Collaborative work
• Group projects/presentations
• Individual presentations
• Media Studies

• At least one novel study
• One play
• A variety of writing activities
• A variety of reading activities
• Cooperative work
• Media studies

Mathematics: Try these questions. How did you do? If these questions are difficult for you to answer, applied Math may be a better choice. If these questions are straightforward for you to answer, academic Math may be an appropriate choice. Also, refer to your Grade 7 Mathematics marks, your learning skills and think about your post-secondary plans. Remember you need 3 Math credits, including 1 senior credit to graduate from high school.

1. Evaluate each of the following

[a] [b] [c]

1. A woodworker makes a picture frame. It costs him $18 in materials to make the frame. If he sells it for 25% more than the cost of the materials, what was the price he charged for the frame?

1. When x = -5 and y = 3, what would be the value of the expression 2x – xy + 7 ?

1. Determine the perimeter of the figure drawn 4cm

2cm

3.5cm

5cm

7.5cm

1. If 2m + 7 = 15, what is the value of m?

(See answers on page 14)

• If you take this course you can anticipate:
• Learning Mathematical concepts through abstract reasoning
• Developing an understanding of mathematical concepts by exploring, investigating, problem solving
• Using technology with minimal instruction
• Nightly homework

• If you take this course you can anticipate:
• Learning practical applications of math concepts
• Developing an understanding of mathematical concepts using a variety of methods, including hands-on activities and problem solving

Science:Read the questions in each of the academic and applied Science quizzes below. You don't have to know the answers; think about how the questions are similar and how they are different. If you enjoy linking concepts and considering how our world works in a big picture way, academic Science might be for you. If you enjoy learning the specifics about how things work, applied Science might be the best option for you. Also consider your Science marks from Grade 7, learning skills and your post-secondary plans. Remember, you need 2 Science credits to graduate from high school.

The following quiz on chemistry is an example of the questions students in Academic Science can expect to answer:

1. Describe how the Periodic Table is organized.

2. Consider P, Ca, N, K, O, Si

a) Choose 2 elements from this list that would likely form an ionic compound.

b) Choose 2 elements from this list that would likely form a molecular compound.

3. Simulate chemical changes through various lab experiments.

4. Draw the Bohr-Rutherford diagram for Potassium - indicate the number of protons,

and neutrons.

The following quiz on chemistry is an example of the questions students in Applied Science can expect to answer:

1. List the groups and families in the periodic table.

2. Consider the following elements;

Phosphorous, Calcium, Nitrogen, Potassium, Oxygen and Silicon

a) Classify each as a metal, non-metal or metalloid

3. List the characteristics of a chemical change.

4. Fill in the diagram to show the correct number of electrons for Potassium.

Geography:Try these questions. If these questions are challenging for you, you may find that applied Geography is the best option. If these questions are straightforward, academic Geography might be a better choice. Also consider your Geography marks from Grade 7, learning skills and your post-secondary plans. Remember, you need 1 Geography credit to graduate from Secondary School. (You will study History in Grade 10.)

Try the questions below based on the map.

1. How far is it from Tavernelle to Castellina?

a) 17 km

b) 50 km

c) 100 km

d) 200 miles

1. What direction will you travel between

Poggibonsi and Firenze?

a) Northwest and then northeast

b) Northeast and then northwest

c) southeast

d) south southeast

1. Which city is the largest?

a) Poggibonsi

b) Tavernelle

c) San Donato

d) Castellina

1. Which route would take the most time to travel?

a) Tavernelle to San Donato

b) Poggibonsi to Tavernelle

c) Poggibonsi to Castellina

d) Poggibonsi to San Donato (See Answers on Page 14)

French:Look at these writing assignments. Is the academic sample challenging to read? Would you have to look up more than 5 words? If so, applied French may be a better choice for you. If you found this passage easy to understand, academic French may be the best choice. You should also consider your Grade 7 French marks, learning skills and your post-secondary plans. Remember, you need 1 French credit to graduate from Secondary School.

Optional Courses

Answers: