Guidance appointments are hard to book at times like course selection and the start of a semester. To save you some time, here are some of the common questions:
Q: Can I take a Grade 10 course in Grade 9? etc.
Yes, this is called fast tracking, but you are not guaranteed a spot. You can go in and beg them to switch into one after the semester starts, but be prepared to go in EVERY SINGLE DAY starting the week before the semester. If you’re lucky and someone drops / there’s a spot, you can get into a higher grade course. Otherwise, you’re put on a waitlist.
Q: Can I drop a Grade 10 course if I take it in Grade 9? etc.
No, unless you drop it before the course starts, or guidance takes pity on you.
Q: What’s academic, locally developed, applied, or destreamed?
Just pick academic / destreamed. Academic is called destreamed for some Grade 9 courses.
Q: Do I have a chance in getting my alternatives?
They generally don’t care about your alternatives (most elective courses won’t be full if you picked it in your official course selections). Some courses are harder to switch into if you did not put it in your initial course selection (i.e. music) 90% of the time, you end up with a random course. If you put a course that is not from your grade (e.g. you’re grade 11, picking a gr12 course as an alternative) you will basically NEVER get that so don’t waste it and put something realistic.
“Because we assume you don’t actually want it that much” - Some guidance counsellor.
Q: Should I pick a College course if I want to go into university?
Universities only look at U (University) or M (Mixed, University / College) level courses. Any other C (College) or O (Open) courses will not count towards your top 6 mark for university admission. You can still apply to colleges with university level courses.
Q: How do I switch courses?
Beg guidance, fight for an appointment slot (check teach assist frequently to get leftover spots someone has cancelled). Book ahead of time before the time table releases in August, if you know you will need to switch. Book MULTIPLE slots since you will likely have to go back and check for new availability often. However, before semester one, there is a high chance that they will CANCEL ALL BOOKINGS last minute and lock themselves in guidance, since “bookings are not supposed to be open at this time”.
Fill in the course switch Google Form, but still try your best to make your way into guidance and at least talk to the front desk dude. (if you have compulsory courses needed, or an ESL course that they missed, make sure someone in there hears you, be like a karen!!!) Check frequently, if anything, ask your parents to email them, it speeds up your process.
There will be times where they say you will need to take a compulsory course in the next school year (it’s absolutely stupid) DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!!! Try your best to beg for a course somehow, you may have to give up some electives, but you NEVER want to take your compulsories late. When nothing comes of it, have your parents email / show up to guidance and explain how this will immensely impact your future education and career, they will be more likely to give it to you. Good luck.
Q: Can I get spares in Grade 9 & 10?
No. If you get any more than one empty period per semester, ask guidance for a course.
Q: Can I get spares in Grade 11 or 12 ?
Yes. Still submit a full 8 courses selection, dropping is easier than getting a course.
Q: Can I switch lunch periods?
Yes, if you give them a valid reason and you’re lucky that there is course availability.
Q: When is the latest that I can drop a course? (Not fast tracking)
Two months into the semester, there is a day called Full Disclosure, which is the last day you can drop a course without it being on your record.
Q: Should I take a random course or just have a spare?
This is really personal preference. Would you rather spend an hour and fifteen minutes doing stuff you’re not interested in for a credit, or spend the time studying, walking around school, eating your lunch?
Q: How does summer school work?
For day school, course selection happens in February for next year. For summer school, this happens in March/April. If you plan on taking a certain course in summer, do not put it in your day school schedule. When the summer selection opens, you can choose it, and most likely you will pick either Bur Oak Secondary School or PET, which should be different every year. The selection page can be found under Continuing Education on myBlueprint. If you do take it, keep in mind that information will not be sent until a day or two before it starts, so don’t panic. It runs throughout the whole of July, and the schedule is around 8:30 AM to 3:33 PM (yes it’s 3:33), with four “periods”, two recesses and one lunch.
Q: What about night school?
It’s also under Continuing Education. Check for availability there or here. If something is not available in day school, they would most likely tell you to take night school. It runs from 6:30 to 9:45 PM every Tuesday and Thursday. For the exam, it happens one week before day school’s exam week, and you most likely have to drive to Newmarket for that.
Q: What is SHSM?
Specialist High School Major. Our school offers arts and culture, business, health and wellness and information and communications technology streams. (To be expanded)
Q: What is Online Learning Opt Out?
Since sometime after COVID, you are required to take 2 mandatory credits through online courses. By selecting Online Learning Opt Out on myBlueprint, you remove this requirement with no effect on anything else such as your marks. You are still allowed to take online courses and get credits, the only thing Opt Out does is making it optional instead of mandatory. I would recommend choosing it.
Q: What is OSSLT?
It’s an English test assessing your reading and writing skills, taking place over 2 days. If you’ve been speaking English every day, it should not be hard to pass. However, in case you do, you can retake the test as they open it every semester. There’s also a course for this (OLC4O1) if you really cannot handle it.
Q: What does Course Median mean on my report card?
According to guidance, it is the median mark for all students taking that course during the same semester at our school. For example, if the course median for ENG1W1 on the Semester 1 report card is 90, then it means the median of all students in Semester 1 who has ENG1W1 in PETHS is 90.