Course Calendar 2007-2008
ACADEMIC COMMITMENT
Each student is expected to:
- be committed to achieving academic success through constant effort.
- keep an open mind and be receptive to new ideas and different methods of education.
- strive to demonstrate the ability to respond to change in a positive manner.
- seek extra help whenever she is having a problem achieving academic success.
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EXTRA-CURRICULAR COMMITMENT
Each student is expected to:
- endeavour to make an effective contribution to the overall
life of the school and its goals at all times.
- participate on at least one school team or to be a member of
one or more school organization(s) per school year.
- support all House activities as a participant or spectator.
- make a commitment to at least one community service activity
per school year (Grades 9 to 12 only).
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CODE OF BEHAVIOUR
Each student is expected to:
- commit to making every effort to integrate into the life and
community of the school and to facilitate and encourage the
same by others.
- promise to conduct herself in such a way as to be considered
a trustworthy, reliable, concerned, caring and respectful
member of the Trafalgar Castle School community.
- promise to exhibit civility and tolerance for others and to
make a commitment to protecting human rights and values,
respecting the multicultural character of our school community.
- abide by the school’s rules and regulations as outlined in
school literature.
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ATTENDANCE
It is the responsibility of each student to attend class punctually
and regularly. The school keeps accurate records and will notify
parents in extreme cases. A student who is continually late or
misses classes may forfeit credits.
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ONTARIO STUDENT TRANSCRIPT AND ONTARIO SCHOOL RECORD
All courses successfully completed and credits gained towards the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) are maintained on the Ontario Student Transcript. Entries are recorded as prescribed by Ontario Ministry of Education codes. These transcripts are kept on file, along with all other relevant student information, in the student’s Ontario School Record (OSR). The information in an OSR is available to supervisory officers, the principal and teachers of the school only, for the purpose of improving the instruction of the student. All students and the parents or guardians of students under 18 years of age have the right to examine the OSR and to receive a copy of its contents, if they so desire.
As of September 1999, a Full Disclosure Policy applies to all students taking Grade 11 and 12 courses. Under this policy, all courses taken after this date will be recorded on a student’s transcript. This includes all successful and unsuccessful attempts. This information will be made available to Ontario colleges and universities when a student applies to these institutions. If a student withdraws from a course after five instructional days following the issuance of the first term report card, the withdrawal will be recorded on the student’s Ontario Student Transcript, by entering a “W” in the credit column. The student’s percentage grade at the time will be recorded in the percentage column.
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EVALUATION AND REPORTING
Student progress will be evaluated throughout each course in which the
student is enrolled. A variety of methods will be used which may include
classroom participation, essays, projects, tests, skill demonstrations and
examinations.
All students in Grades 8 through 12 will write a set of examinations in June.
For students in Grades 9 through 12, final marks will be comprised of 70%
term work and 30% summative evaluation (occurring near the end of the school
year). Progress reports are issued in November and March. Formal report cards
are issued in January and June.
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COURSE CHANGES
A student may change a course (i.e. drop one course and add
another one) up to the end of October. After this time, a student
may drop a course without penalty until the end of the first five
school days after the issuance of the first term report card. A
student who drops a course after this time without the permission
of her teacher and the administration will receive zero for the
remainder of the course and a mark will be recorded on the
student’s Ontario Student Transcript as prescribed by the Full
Disclosure Policy.
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GUIDANCE SERVICES
The aims of the Guidance Department at Trafalgar Castle School are to assist students to:
- know and appreciate themselves.
- develop appropriate educational plans.
- explore career alternatives.
The Grade 7 and 8 students receive their guidance program by means of a series of in-class presentations. These presentations and activities focus on self-awareness, career investigation and short\long term educational and career planning. The students in Grades 9 through 12 participate in a guidance program, which focuses on interest surveys, career education, post-secondary research, educational planning and course selection and postsecondary application guidance. All students will complete and review an Annual Education Plan each year. Completion of this plan will help students set goals and review and assess their achievements and progress along the way through high school. This plan and related career interest inventory results will be kept on file in each student’s Career/Educational Planning portfolio at the school for future reference. Mr. McClure, Vice Principal – Academics, presents the school’s program and assists students with educational and vocational questions through classroom instruction as well as group and individual counselling. Parents are encouraged to contact Mr. McClure regarding any matters of concern.
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ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL SYSTEM
Four Year Program and DiplomaIn this four-year high school program, students will be required to complete 30 credits, including 18 compulsory credits. Upon completion of these minimum credit requirements, the student will be granted an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
Course Categories
Grade 9 and 10 courses are categorized as either academic or applied. In an academic course, a student will learn the essential concepts of a subject and explore related material as well. Knowledge and skills will be developed through both theory and practical applications. However, the emphasis will be on theory and abstract thinking as a basis for learning and problem solving. In an applied course, knowledge and skills will be developed through both theory and practical applications, but the focus will be on practical applications. Also at the Grade 9 and 10 levels there are open courses. These courses have one set of expectations, which are appropriate to all students. Grade 11 and 12 courses will be categorized according to the student’s destination. The four categories are:
- workplace,
- college,
- university/college and
- university.
Please note: The academic program at Trafalgar Castle School offers only academic, university, university/college and open courses. Course outlines for all courses offered are available to parents and students upon request through Mr. McClure.
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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
All students are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours
of unpaid community involvement activities before they
graduate from high school. This is a diploma requirement.
Students will plan and select their community involvement
activities from an approved list in consultation with their
parents. At the beginning of the academic year, each student
will submit a completed plan (signed by their parents) to her
Academic Advisor. When community service activities are
completed, the student will submit a form, signed by the
sponsoring organization or person, to verify the hours of service.
Students are encouraged to complete an average of 10 hours of
service for each year of their high school program.
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ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL LITERACY TEST
Each student will take a literacy test in Grade 10. The student’s
result will be recorded on her student transcript. Attaining an
acceptable level of achievement on this test is a diploma
requirement.
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TEACHER-ADVISOR SYSTEM
Trafalgar Castle School has a teacher-advisor system for
students in Grades 7 – 12. The Academic Advisor maintains
regular contact with students throughout the school year,monitors
their course work, extra-curricular involvement and acts as a
liaison between school and home. A student will have the same
Academic Advisor throughout her high school years.
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PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT
a) Through a prior learning assessment (PLA) process, students
who can demonstrate that they can pass a course will be able
to challenge for a credit without taking the course. All PLA
candidates will be required to pass a series of prescribed
assessment and evaluation items based on Ontario’s rigorous
provincial course standards. High school students will be able to
obtain a maximum of four PLA credits, two in any one subject.
b) Equivalency: Students entering Trafalgar Castle School from
outside the Province of Ontario will be granted equivalency
credits based on a review of their previous educational credentials
from other jurisdictions.
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ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA (OSSD) REQUIREMENTS
The OSSD will be granted on the recommendation of the
Principal to a student who has successfully completed
a minimum of 30 credits as follows:
- 4 credits in English
- 1 credit in Canadian history
- 1 credit in French
- 1 credit in arts
- 3 credits in mathematics (at least one in Grade 11 or 12)
- 1 credit in physical and health education
- 2 credits in science
- 1 credit in English, a 3rd language or a social science
- 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12 science or technology
- 1 credit in civics or guidance
- 1 credit in Canadian geography
- 1 credit in phys.ed., music, art or business
- 12 elective courses
Additional Requirements
- satisfactory level of achievement on the Grade 10 Provincial
Literacy Test.
- completion of 40 hours of community involvement actiities.
A credit is granted upon the successful completion of 110 hours
of instruction in a course based on Ontario Ministry of
Education guidelines.
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COMPULSORY COURSE SUBSTITUTION POLICY
In order to allow flexibility in designing a student’s program and
to ensure that all students can qualify for the secondary school
diploma, substitutions may be made for a limited number of
compulsory credit courses using the remaining courses offered by
the school that meet the requirements for compulsory credits. The
Principal may replace up to three of these courses. Substitutions
will be after consultation between the student, her parents, the
Vice-Principal – Academics and the Principal.
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COURSE SELECTION
The courses offered by Trafalgar Castle School have been developed according to the requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Education. Students must arrange their selection of courses to meet the appropriate OSSD. requirements. Although the school makes recommendations about preparatory courses or sequence of learning, students and parents have the right, as well as the responsibility, to make and amend course selections once the mandatory credit requirements have been met.
When making course selections, a student and her parents should consider the following factors:
- the abilities and interests of the student,
- the requirements necessary to obtain the appropriate OSSD and
- the requirements needed to pursue post-secondary educational and career goals.
As most courses are sequential in nature, students are strongly advised to complete pre-requisite courses. The student’s parents have the responsibility for approval of all course choices.
If a student has any questions concerning the required courses for post-secondary programs, she should consult with Mr. McClure.
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LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY
Each student at Trafalgar Castle School has signed an expectation contract and made a commitment to achieving academic success. Part of this commitment is accepting responsibility for completing and submitting assigned work on time. Teachers need to gather evidence of knowledge and skills attained by each student through this assigned work. This evidence allows each teacher to assign grades which are fair and which accurately reflect the student's mastery of course expectations.
It is the student’s responsibility to complete all assessment tasks (projects, assignments, presentations, etc.) by the due date assigned by her teachers. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of all tests, assignments, etc. in her student agenda. If a student is unable to complete a test due to insufficient knowledge or skills, it is the student’s responsibility to seek assistance from her teachers well in advance of the due date for the task.
Our teachers will clearly define assignment dates and this information will be readily available to students and parents/guardians. Major assignment/test calendars for each grade will be available on the school’s web-site.
If a student does not submit or complete an assigned task by the due date, that work may not be assessed/evaluated and the student may receive a mark of zero.
If a student determines that she will not be able to submit an assignment by the due date assigned by the teacher, the student will be allowed to negotiate a new due date with her teacher and the Principal of the school. This negotiation must take place not less than 24 hours, and not more than seven days, prior to the due date. The student must complete and sign, with the teacher’s approval, a Late Assignment Completion Contract. The student must then obtain the Principal’s signature for approval of the contract. The teacher will contact the student’s parents (or the RT in the case of a boarding student) by phone to communicate the new due date. In addition, the student must have a parent/guardian (or RT) sign the contract and the student must return it to the teacher the following day.
The following will take place if a student fails to hand in an assignment on-time, and has not negotiated a new due date as outlined above:
- The student will have a 24-hr grace period in which to complete and submit the assigned work.
- The student’s parents/guardians (or RT) will be notified immediately by phone or e-mail by the teacher.
- The 24-hr grace period does not apply to re-negotiated due dates.
If the student does not hand in the assignment at the end of this grace period, she will receive a mark of zero.
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I.S.U. ASSIGNMENT POLICY
ISU assignments, which are part of the 30% final summative evaluation component of a student’s mark, are in the same category as final examinations. As such, they are subject to the same absence policy. A student will receive a mark of zero if she is absent for an ISU presentation or does not submit an ISU project on time. The only valid reasons for missing an ISU presentation are illness and a family emergency.
In the case of illness, a doctor’s note must be presented, within 24 hours, indicating that the student was under the doctor’s care and unable to present/submit.
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