General Information

Careful planning

Turner Fenton Secondary School takes pride in the many excellent courses offered to students.

Please read the following information carefully for the contents contain important information concerning credits required to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
  1. There are 30 credits required in total; the following lists the available grade 9 and grade 10 courses. Full credits are scheduled for 110 hours.
  2. Students should seek the advice of parents, teachers and counsellors to determine a realistic career direction. Students must consider their own strengths and weaknesses along with the information from previous report cards as guidelines. The decision to take academic or applied courses should be based on long term goals.

By the end of Grade 10, students will have taken 12 of the 18 compulsory credits.
 

Grade 9 and 10 Program in Peel Secondary Schools
 
Grade 9 Ministry of Education Compulsories
1 Canadian Geography
1 English
1 French
1 Mathematics
1 Science
Peel District School Board Compulsories
1 Health and Physical Education
2 optional courses chosen from:
Arts, Business Studies, Guidance & Career Education (Learning Strategies), Social Science (Family Studies), Technological Education.
Grade 10 Ministry of Education Compulsories
1 Canadian History
½ Career Education
½ Civics
1 English
1 Mathematics
1 Science
Peel District School Board Compulsories
1 Arts (completed in either grade 9 or 10)
Optional Courses
Arts, Business Studies, Guidance & Career Education, Health & Physical Education, Interdisciplinary Studies, Languages, Social Science, Technological Education.

 

Requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma

In order to earn the OSSD, a student must successfully complete:   18 compulsory credits:
  • 4 credits - English (1 credit per grade)
  • 3 credits - Mathematics (at least 1 credit in grade 11 or 12)
  • 2 credits - Science
  • 1 credit  - French as a Second Language
  • 1 credit  - Canadian History
  • 1 credit  - Canadian Geography
  • 1 credit  - Arts
  • 1 credit  - Health and Physical Education
  • .5 credit - Civics
  • .5 credit - Career Studies
  • 1 credit  - English or a third language, or Social Sciences and the Humanities or Canadian and World Studies
  • 1 credit  - Health and Physical Education or Arts or Business Studies
  • 1 credit  - Science (grade 11 or 12) or Technological Education

+
12 Elective Credits
+
40 Hours of Community Involvement Activities
+
The Provincial Secondary School Literacy Test
 
 Requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Certificate

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the OSSD, provided they have earned a minimum of 14 credits:

7 Compulsory Credits:
  • 2 English
  • 1 Canadian Geography or Canadian History
  • 1 Mathematics
  • 1 Science
  • 1 Health and Physical Education
  • 1 Arts or Technological Education

And 7 Optional Credits

Certificate of Accomplishment

May be granted to students who leave school before fulfilling the Diploma or Certificate.
Types of courses

The Organization of Courses:
Grade 12 University Preparation Courses University/College Preparation Courses College Preparation Courses Workplace Preparation Courses Open courses
  Transfer Courses
Grade 11 University Preparation Courses University/College Preparation Courses College Preparation Courses Workplace Preparation Courses Open courses
  Transfer Courses
Grade 10 Academic Courses Applied Courses Open Courses
Grade 9 Academic Courses Applied Courses Open Courses

 

Types of courses

In grades 9 and 10, three types of courses are offered: academic, applied and open.

Open courses are suitable for all students and prepare them for further study in certain subjects that will enrich their education generally. Open courses are credit-based and are counted towards diploma requirements.

Academic courses emphasize theory and abstract problems. They are designed to prepare students for Grade 11 and 12 university and university/college preparation courses.

Applied courses focus on practical applications and concrete examples. They are designed to prepare students for Grade 11 and 12 college and workplace preparation courses.

Note: Crossover materials will be available for students who wish to change from Grade 9 Applied to Grade 10 Academic courses.

In grades 11 and 12, four types of courses are offered:

Workplace preparation courses prepare you to move directly into the workplace after high school or to be admitted into apprenticeship programs or other training programs in the community. Courses focus on employment skills and on practical workplace applications of the subject content. Many workplace preparation courses involve cooperative education and work experience placements, which allow students to get first-hand experience in a workplace.

University/College preparation courses are offered to prepare students to meet the entrance requirements of certain university and college programs. They focus on both theory and practical applications.

College preparation courses provide students with the knowledge and skills students need to meet the entrance requirements for most college programs. Courses focus on practical applications and also examine underlying theories.

University preparation courses provide students with the knowledge and skills students need to meet university entrance requirements. Courses emphasize theoretical aspects of the subject and also consider related applications.

Note: Transfer courses will enable students who alter their post secondary plans to move from one destination course to another. (e.g.: college preparation to university preparation).
Community involvement activities

All students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of unpaid community involvement activities before graduating from high school. This requirement is in addition to the 30 credits needed for a high school diploma.

Students, in collaboration with their parents, will be able to choose their own community involvement activities, within guidelines that will be provided by the Peel District School Board. Students will be responsible for fulfilling this requirement on their own time, and for keeping a record of their activities on a form supplied by the school. Completion of the required 40 hours must be documented and submitted to the school by the student.

The community involvement requirement is designed to encourage students to develop awareness and understanding of civic responsibility and of the role they can play in supporting and strengthening their communities.
The Provincial Secondary School Literacy Test

Students will take the Secondary School Literacy Test in Grade 10. Students must pass the test in order to graduate, and their result is recorded on their student transcript. The literacy test evaluates students' reading and writing skills based on curriculum expectations in language and communications up to and including Grade 9. Students who are unsuccessful may retake the test until they meet the provincial standard. ESL students will take the test only when they have reached this level in their language studies. Accommodations will be made for students with Individual Education Plans(IEPs).
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