2019 - 2020

Learn how to navigate our website to access information for course planning.

In grades 9-12 you will need to follow these same steps!

Yours Truly, (with good advice…) Ms. Ruffo

Dear Students and Parents,

Course Guides, forms, and Power Points are

on our website.

www.wgss.ca

Click on the 3rd tab over: Programs and Departments.

Click on Counselling and Careers

Click on the rectangular teal blue box with the weebly address .

Click on the tab: Course Planning

Click on the heading needed, and then on the grade level you are entering in September.

Program Application forms are under “Specialty Forms”

All Grade 8’s must take:

English Language Arts 8 (or Honours)Social Studies 8Science 8Mathematics 8 (or 9)Physical & Health Education 8French 8ElectiveElective

= 8 courses

Grade 8 French Immersion

French Immersion students take:

1.) English 8 or English 8 H

2.) Francais Langue & Comm. 8

3.) Sciences Humaines 8

4.) Sciences 8

5.) Mathematics 8 or Mathematics 9

6.) Education Physique 8

7.) Elective 1

8.) Elective 2

Must include one course from Fine Arts and one or more ADST course

French Immersion + Humanities? X NOFrench Immersion + Gator Pod? X NOFrench Immersion + Math 9? ✔️ YESFrench Immersion + English Honours 8? ✔️ YESFrench Immersion + Math 9 + English Honours 8? ✔️ YESFrench Immersion + Full Year Elective? ✔️ YES

CAN I TAKE, AT THE SAME TIME…

ENGLISHMATHEMATICS SCIENCES

HUMAINES

SCIENCES

EDUCATION

PHYSIQUE

FRANCAIS

LANGUE

(FRAL)

ELECTIVE

CHOICE

ELECTIVE

CHOICE

FRENCH IMMERSION

Physical & Health Education (PHE) 8:

- Boys & Girls together (Co-Ed)

- Is done in French

Specialized Courses and Programs

French immersionHumanities Gator PodEnglish HonoursMath 9PHE Co-EdYear Long Electives

Humanities – go ahead and choose it on your course form

Gator Pod – application and interview

English Honours – application, challenge exam and teacher reference

Math 9 – application, challenge exam and teacher reference

Co-Ed PHE – go ahead and choose it. Note: if it’s not on your form – write it on! It is not on all forms but is offered.

Year Long Electives – go ahead and choose

Gator Pod + Humanities? X NOMath 9 + Gator Pod? ✔️ YES English Honours + Math 9? ✔️ YESGator Pod and English Honours? X NOHumanities and English Honours? X NOHumanities and Math 9? ✔️ YES

CAN I TAKE, AT THE SAME TIME….

ADVICE:

IF YOU AREN’T SURE WHICH COURSE OR PROGRAM TO APPLY FOR… WRITE ALL THE CHALLENGE TESTS AND APPLY FOR THEM ALL!

THEN LET THINGS FALL WHERE THEY MAY AND MAKE YOUR DECISION. ( EG. YOU MAY GET INTO GATOR POD BUT NOT ENGLISH HONOURS ---- DECISION MADE!)

THIS IS WHY WE PUT THE TESTS AND APPLICATIONS ON DIFFERENT DATES!

LEARNING SUPPORT

Students who are eligible for a Learning Support block: these are not added to timetables until JUNE.

Schools meet to transfer information about designatedstudents beginning in late May and through June.

The Resource Departments at elementary schools and the high school schedule the meetings.

Humanities is English and Socials together in one class and it’s every day.

Gator Pod is English, Socials, Science, and Computers together.

English Honours is enriched English Language Arts; it’s harder.

Math 9 means you have covered Math 8 concepts and you advance one grade level in Math only. You’re in a grade 9 class.

PHE Co-Ed is both boys and girls combined into one class.

Year Long Electives last for 10 months instead of 3.5 months:Art and Computers.

HUMANITIES’ PROJECT WORK UNDERWAY

GP 8-Who would thrive in this program?

STUDENTS WHO…

collaborate well with peers

demonstrate leadership skills.

show initiative in their own learning.

have an interest in enriching their community.

Students who enroll in Gator Pod 8 will receive credit for English 8, Social Studies 8, Science 8 and Computer 8.

PHE INFORMATION

Your choices are • GIRLS PHE• BOYS PHE• CO-ED PHE

BUT! Your course form may not have Co-Ed PHE as an option. This is an error. If you would like to select it, please write it on the form between Girls and Boys PHE and circle it. This was corrected on forms given out in the last school visit/s.

A word of advice for Grade 7’s:

Keep ACTIVE this summer. You will do ten timed loop runs each term. These come more easily to you if you have been walking, running, cycling and/or swimming throughout the summer. Live longer and healthier – ‘up’ your fitness level!

CAREER EDUCATION 8

Students will take this course in ONE termAND

either 5 more term electives OR 2 term and 1 full year elective.

Note: If you are in BAND or GATOR POD… this course is taught within the program and you will not have it in your timetable. We adjust this no matter what your course selection form says –

not to worry.

ELECTIVE COURSE CHOICES

ADST

Applied Design Skills and Technologies

(Life Skills)

ADST ELECTIVE COURSES1 term

* Textiles* Food Studies* Drafting* Woodwork* Electronics & Robotics* Engineering * Metalwork

The Voice (Fine Art)

Fine Arts Electives

* Visual Arts (one term)

* Drama (one term)

* Computers (one term)

* Visual Arts (full year)

* Band (full year)

* Computers (full year)

* The Voice (full year)

ENGLISHMATH SOCIAL

STUDIES

SCIENCE

PHE FRENCH ELECTIVE

CHOICE

ELECTIVE

CHOICE

A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF 8 COURSES AT ONCE

TERM 1 TERM 2 TERM 3

BAND BAND BAND

DRAMA CAREER

EDUCATION

WOODWORK

EXAMPLE OF A FULL YEAR ELECTIVE IN A TIMETABLE

TERM 1 TERM 2 TERM 3

VISUAL ARTS VISUAL ARTS VISUAL ARTS

CAREER

EDUCATION

FOODS STUDIES ENGINEERING

TERM 1 TERM 2 TERM 3

ELECTIVE CHOICE ELECTIVE CHOICE ELECTIVE CHOICE

ELECTIVE CHOICE ELECTIVE CHOICE ELECTIVE CHOICE

TERM 1 TERM 2 TERM 3

FOODS WOODWORK DRAMA

VISUAL ARTS CAREER

EDUCATION

TEXTILES

Courses Outside the Timetable

Run before and after school

* Choir

* Drumline

* Jazz Band

IMPORTANT DATES

Course Selection Forms Due (at the latest)

Fri. Mar. 8

Gator Pod Application Forms Due Fri. Mar. 8

Gator Pod Interviews Thur. Apr 4

Accelerated Math 9 Testing Tues. March 5

English Honours Testing Tues. April OR

Wed. April

Counselling Services -Need Help?

Counsellors are available to help students with:

Personal concerns

Study/organizational skills

Course selection

Career planning

Vocational Counselling

Graduation requirements or ‘Grad Check’

Post-secondary information

Scholarship information

Counselling - Appointments

Students may make appointments to see a counsellor

before & after school, between classes and during the

lunch break. To make an appointment, students go to

the front desk in the Counselling Centre or the counter

at the main office.

Counsellors will also initiate appointments based on

teacher and or parent referrals.

Welcome To WGSS !

You are the Graduating Class of 2024