St. Dominic C.S.S. - General Info

Phone: (705)646-8772 Fax: (705)646-7613
Mailing Address: 955 Cedar Lane, Bracebridge, ON P1L 0A1
E-Mail: domoffice@smcdsb.on.ca

Student Services

In an effort to support students in their academic endeavours, career planning and personal growth, a number of programs are offered by the Student Services Department. These include Chaplaincy, Guidance, Student Success, Special Education, Co-operative Education and Library as well as the services provided by the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board. Student referrals to outside agencies can also be co-ordinated through Student Services. Specialized career education and experience opportunities are facilitated through the Student Services Department.

Chaplaincy Services

Counselling, spiritual direction and resource support will be provided by the Chaplain. Chaplaincy helps to develop a Catholic spirit throughout the school community through prayer, retreats and spiritual counseling. These activities provide staff and students with opportunities to reflect upon their lives in light of the Gospel. The Chaplain also assists the teachers in developing Catholic principles within the curriculum. It is school policy that students respectfully attend prayer, retreats and religious services conducted during school time.

Guidance Services

In Guidance, our goal is to assist students when they have questions of personal concerns, course selection, post-secondary education and career planning. Education and career planning is facilitated in seminars delivered to specific groups with a common need, for example, students proceeding to work, apprenticeship, college or university. Representatives from these institutions are invited to St. Dominic to share their expertise. Information is also available for students in print, video and computer format.

To further enrich our program we ask for assistance from parents to share their knowledge and expertise with us. We sincerely want to work as partners in the education of our youth. Open communication with the home is necessary to meet the various needs of today�s youth.

Student Success - Learning to 18

St. Dominic is home to a thriving Student Success program that supports the Ministry of Education Learning to 18 mandate. Our Student Success Team includes Alternate Education, Credit Recovery, Credit Rescue, Special Education, Resource Withdrawal, Cooperative Education, and Guidance. St. Dominic students are recommended for these programs by the Student Success team and they are able to:

• receive one-on-one assistance with assignments
• catch up on overdue or missing work
• recover compulsory credits that they have been unsuccessful in attaining
• receive tips on organizational and time management strategies
• discover opportunities for cooperative education and school-to-work pathways

These unique opportunities allow all St. Dominic students to successfully complete their credits which will move them closer to graduation.

Special Education Services

Special Education services are available for all students identified as exceptional through an IPRC and also for students not formally identified but who have needs identified through a case conference or on a short-term basis. The needs of students identified as exceptional will be met primarily by the classroom teacher with support from the Special Education Resource Teacher, appropriate Board staff, and outside agencies where necessary. All identified students must have an IEP (Individual Education Plan) and this plan supports the provincial curriculum expectations for students working toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or Ontario Secondary School Certificate. For those working toward a Certificate of Accomplishment, the IEP sets out alternate curriculum expectations based on individual needs.

General Student Information

The student activity fee for 2007-2008 is $60.00 which is due upon registration or within the first week of school. Upon completion of the Student Registration Form, please attach a post-dated cheque for September 1, 2007 payable to St. Dominic C.S.S. This fee entitles each student to a student I.D. card, a yearbook, a student handbook & code of conduct (also available online at dom.smcdsb.on.ca), locker privileges, a school agenda and calendar, the opportunity to participate in clubs and in other school-sponsored events. A portion of the activity fee is given directly to the Student Council and the Student Athletic Association for the promotion and support of co-curricular activities.

In order to receive the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), students will have to earn thirty credits. The specific requirements are:

In addition, students enrolled at Catholic Secondary Schools in the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board must take a Religion / Family Life Education credit each year from grade nine through grade twelve. The remaining elective credits will be chosen from those available in each secondary school.

Note: A credit is granted on the successful completion of a course that has been scheduled for a minimum of 110 hours.

The principal will decide whether the student has met the board and ministry requirements.

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

The Certificate of Accomplishment may be used to recognize the achievement of students who leave school before fulfilling the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or Ontario Secondary School Certificate. Students who plan to take certain vocational programs or other kinds of further training or students who are working on alternative curriculum expectations may receive the Certificate of Accomplishment.

Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics
In the 2007 school year, the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) will be administering the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics to all our Grade 9 students who are enrolled in academic or applied mathematics programs. These provincial assessments in Grade 9 Mathematics will take place either in January or June of 2008.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
In the 2007 school year, the EQAO will be administering the Grade 10 Literacy Test to all Grade 10 students. The OSSLT is a test of the reading and writing skills acquired by Grade 10—successful completion is a graduation requirement. It is based on the reading and writing skills expected in the Ontario Curriculum across all subject areas up to the end of Grade 9.

Special Education Advisory Committee (S.E.A.C.)
The Special Education Advisory Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the District School Board, examining, reviewing and making recommendations regarding the provision of special education programs and services. S.E.A.C. membership is formed from local community association representatives, two trustees and the Superintendent of Education with responsibility for Special Education. Members of the community are welcome to attend and observe meetings. Information on S.E.A.C. meeting dates can be obtained through the Simcoe Muskoka C.D.S.B. at (705) 722-3555.

Individual Education Plan (IEP)
Exceptional students who are identified through the Identification, Placement, and Review Committee will be supported through an Individual Education Plan. This plan will be developed in consultation with parents/guardians, the student and staff. An IEP may also be prepared for students who are receiving special education programs and services but who have not been identified as exceptional by an IPRC.

Special Education Plan
The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board maintains a Special Education Plan, reviews it annually and amends it from time to time to meet the current needs of its exceptional pupils. A full description of programs and services can be found in the plan, located at each school.

Board Special Education Parent Guide
Copies of the booklet Parent Handbook for Special Education are available through the school principal. This guide reflects information contained in Regulation 181/98.

Remedial Programming
The Simcoe Muskoka C.D.S.B. provides a wide range of programs and services for students with special needs. A full description of programs and services can be found in the special education resource, titled Programming for Exceptionality - A Resource Handbook for Schools, located in each school. Remedial programming for writing the Reading and Writing Test is offered through specific courses and resource support.

Evaluation
Student assessment and evaluation is an ongoing process. Teachers use a variety of tools such as assignments, demonstrations, projects, tests and examinations, etc. to assess student achievement. Student achievement is reported to parents as a percentage grade on the Ontario Provincial Report Card. The final grade will be determined as follows:

70% of the grade will be based on assessments and evaluations conducted throughout the course and 30% will be based on a final evaluation suitable to the content of the course. Students will receive a credit if they achieve a final grade of 50% or higher.

Ontario Student Record (OSR)
Ontario schools are required to maintain an official record for each student which is known as the Ontario Student Record (OSR). The OSR contains achievement results, credits earned, diploma requirements completed, and other information important to the education of the student. Students and their parents (if the student is not an adult) may examine the contents of the OSR. These records are protected by the Education Act and freedom of information legislation.

Ontario Student Transcript (OST)
The Ontario Student Transcript (OST) provides a comprehensive record of a student�s overall achievement in high school. This record will include all the credits gained by the student, including day school credits, continuing education credits or those earned through alternative means. The OST will include:

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
Students in grade 10, 11 or 12, who have acquired knowledge and skills outside an Ontario classroom may have their skills and knowledge evaluated against expectations outlined in curriculum policy documents in order to earn credits towards the secondary school diploma. This must include formal tests (70% of the final mark) and a variety of other assessment strategies (30% of the final mark). Parents and/or students should contact Guidance for additional information.

There are four different types of courses in grade nine and ten. All courses have high expectations for all students.

Applied (P)
Applied courses focus on the essential learning concepts of the subject. Knowledge and skill will be developed through both theory and practical applications, but the focus will be on practical applications. Familiar, real-life situations will be used to illustrate ideas and opportunities will be given to experience hands-on applications of the concepts studied.

Academic (D)
Academic courses focus on the essential learning concepts of the subject plus additional related concepts. Although knowledge and skills in the subject will be developed through both theory and practical applications, the emphasis will be on theory and abstract thinking as a basis for future learning and problem solving.

Grade ten academic and applied courses will prepare students for specific grade eleven courses. The prerequisites for these grade eleven courses are available at the Ministry website. (http://www.edu.gov.on.ca)

Open (O)
Open courses are appropriate for all students. These courses may be taken to meet compulsory or optional requirements for graduation, or they may be taken for personal interest.

Locally Developed (L)
Locally Developed Compulsory Credit Grade 9 courses in English, mathematics and science are available for students who need additional background knowledge and skills. The grade 9 courses may be counted as compulsory credits (see the course descriptions for additional information).

Grade 10 Locally Developed Compulsory Credit Courses are available in English, mathematics, and history.

Approval of the secondary school principal (or designate) is required prior to choosing these courses.

In the senior years, students choose their courses based on their post-secondary destinations. The destinations are college, university and workplace.

University (U)
� designed for students heading towards university
� higher-level thinking / more abstract and theoretical concepts

College (C)
� designed for students heading towards college
� hands-on / more practical concepts

University/College (M)
� these are courses which may act as prerequisites for both university and college programs

Open (O)
� courses which are available to all students not specific to a post-secondary destination

Workplace (E)
� hands-on life skills courses designed for students heading directly into the world of work

For specific post-secondary requirements students should check with the Guidance department as requirements vary; also, some apprenticeships require college level courses and some university programs may accept only a certain number of �M� level courses.

Planning for Graduation and Post-Secondary Education

In the final two years of high school students must ensure two things:
� that they successfully fulfill the requirements for their diploma
� that they complete the correct prerequisites for their post-secondary plans

At this point the students' schedules become very individualized and specific to their needs. Careful planning on their Annual Education Plans and with the Guidance department is critical to make certain the requirements are met. Students should have successfully completed 16 credits and have 14 remaining. They need to determine which compulsories they have remaining because at this point it can vary between students.

Simcoe Muskoka Catholic Virtual Learning Centre
SMCVLC is currently used to offer students Senior-level courses online as a means of expanding availability of programming.
� courses run on-line when students cannot opt for them in a classroom environment
� decisions as to the specific courses offered are made in the spring
� students must be independent workers capable of keeping up a daily routine of logging on to the course website
� the courses will follow a regular semester timeline and all assignments must be completed by the end of the semester
� the course will count as 1 toward a maximum full course load of 4 per semester
� students may log on either at school or at home provided they are working daily on the course

What Is Co-Operative Education?
Co-operative education is a program that integrates classroom theory with practical experience in the workplace. The program is based on a partnership between the school and business/industry. Co-operative education helps students to make decisions about their future careers and gain confidence in making the transition from secondary school to the world of work or post-secondary education.

Students in the co-op program divide their time between school and the workplace, spending at least half the day with the employer. You can either enrol in a two or four credit program. You must have a minimum of sixteen credits to apply.

Why Get Involved In Co-Operative Education?
Making choices for the future can be a tough experience. It may not be easy for you to decide what you want to do once you have completed your education. What’s more, the career you choose may turn out to be very different from what you had expected.

Co-operative education can help smooth the way. It provides an opportunity for you to explore career choices and enables you to gain valuable experience before you start work on a full-time basis. As a result, you should be in a better position to make sound and realistic decisions about your future career.

Co-operative education is also concerned with developing the skills and attitudes you will need to pursue a worthwhile career. You may, for example, be working with advanced technology that is not available in your school, or be dealing with problems that do not occur in the classroom. The experience of real working conditions can improve your potential as a future employee and can help you develop a positive attitude towards yourself, your education, and your career.

Specialized programs are available. Please make an appointment with the co-op office.

There is a $25 program fee, payable before the placement begins. Co-Op—It’s Working!

OYAP - Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program is a form of Co-op that allows students to earn cooperative education credits for work experience in an apprenticeship occupation. Students must have completed sixteen credits and be a full-time student to apply for this program. The program sectors include Construction, Industrial, Motive Power and Service. Detailed information is available through Students Services or Co-op.

With parental consent, selected students with failing grades are withdrawn from courses for the last three weeks of the semester. They will work in the student support centre on essential skills. This may enable them to upgrade their marks with a goal to successfully completing their credits.

This program provides students, who have been unsuccessful at completing courses, the opportunity to upgrade their mark to a passing grade and to accelerate their recovery of missing credits. Selection criteria favours students who have:

1. demonstrated the ability to work independently
2. failed a course with a minimum grade of 35%
3. failed compulsory credits at the grade 9/10 levels
4. been in attendance for a minimum of 50% of the classes for the failed course
5. a midterm report indicating that they have completed at least half the course. This is especially important for students who transfer from another school.

Due to the practical, hands-on aspects of some courses, not all courses are available within this alternative learning program. In addition, university-level courses may not be completed in this program. For more information, consult the guidance department.

St. Dominic offers a number of pathways in a variety of subject areas for students to consider, such as:

Communication Technology
Construction Technology
Design Technology
Fine Art
or General Arts and Science.

Within these courses, students will be able to develop and solidify their skills in preparation for the world of work, apprenticeships, community college and/or university.

Outlines of Courses of Study
The principal retains on file up-to-date copies of outlines of courses of study for courses offered at the school. These outlines are available for parents and students to examine.

Course Stream Change Policy
Students will be prepared for either the academic or the applied course in the same subject in grade 10 if they are successful in the grade 9 academic or applied course. However, it is strongly encouraged that the student who changes from one type of course in grade 9 to the other type of course in grade 10, complete cross-over materials of up to 30 hours of additional work in order to ensure readiness to move to the different type of class. If a student wishes to change streams in grade 11 or 12, after consulting with guidance and the principal, they are required to complete a transfer course.

Course Coding System (eg. ENG1D)
The first three characters of course codes, issued by the Ministry of Education, relate to the subject and course being identified. Thus, �ENG� refers to English.

The fourth character indicates the grade level:
1 � Grade 9 2 � Grade 10 3 � Grade 11 4 � Grade 12

The fifth character refers to the type of course:
    D � Academic                         U � University preparation
      P � Applied                            C � College preparation
      O � Open                                M � University/College prep
      L � Locally Developed            E � Workplace preparation

Clubs	Teams
Alpine Skiing / Snowboarding	Badminton
Athletic Association	Basketball
Band	Cross-Country
Drama Club	Curling
Newspaper Club	Golf
Outers� Club	Gymnastics
Peer Support Workers	Hockey
Spirit Club	Soccer
Student Council	Track and Field
Yearbook	Volleyball