Course - Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

Specialist High Skills Major and Focus Programs
Creative Arts Program (Arts Canterbury)
A District Arts Program, known as Arts Canterbury, is offered at
Canterbury High School. The program gives students the opportunity
to do an in-depth study of one of Dance (Modern and Ballet), Drama,
Literary Arts, Music (Wind or Stringed Instruments and Vocal), or
Visual Arts.
Entry to the program is by audition only. Students may audition in
only one of the Arts areas offered. The audition process assesses
the student’s ability and potential in the Arts area chosen, academic
achievement, work habits, motivation, and Arts background. The
auditions are held in February each year for entry into the program
the following September.
The Arts Canterbury programs are suitable for students with a high
interest and ability in the Arts and academics. Students are required
to complete 30 high-school credits, designated by the Ministry
of Education, to achieve the Ontario Secondary School Diploma
including the courses in their special Arts focus area. Students who
successfully complete the Arts Canterbury Program will also receive
a Fine Arts Certificate recognizing this additional achievement. Although
the actual Arts courses take place during the regular school
day, students are expected to also participate in music ensembles,
productions, recitals, and shows that occur outside the school day. It
is expected that most students will go on to further studies in either
Arts or academic disciplines after completing their OSSD.
For more information on the specific Arts programs, contact the arts
coordinator at Canterbury High School at 613-731-1191, ext. 302
or visit the school’s website at www.canterburyhs.ocdsb.ca.
High Performance Athlete Program
The High Performance Athlete Program (HPA) is a specialty program
located at John McCrae Secondary School in Barrhaven. The program
ensures that students endeavouring to maximize their athletic
potential receive an education of the highest quality. Provision is
made through both traditional and alternative forms of program
delivery to support and balance educational goals with athletic
goals. Candidacy for the program is done through an application
process that measures the potential level of athletic performance
and competition, training needs, academic performance, and flexibility.
Criteria for admission are available upon request from Student
Services at John McCrae Secondary School.
Focus Programs and Specialist High Skills
Major (SHSM) Programs
Focus programs and Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs
give students the opportunity to take a concentration of courses in a
subject area that may not be available at their home school. These
programs feature a combination of in-class and practical experience,
with the benefit of specialized facilities, equipment and teacher
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expertise. Students enrolled in Focus and SHSM programs will attend
the host school for one semester and then return to their home
school to complete diploma requirements.
Note:
Students who wish to enrol in a Focus Program or Specialist
High Skills Major program must apply for these programs in
addition to filling out their home school option sheet. Contact
your Guidance counsellor for registration instructions.
Students are not required to follow the OCDSB School Transfer
Procedure if they attend the host school for only one semester.
Transportation is not provided.
Since the time of publication, other Focus or SHSM programs
may have been approved, in addition to the ones listed below.
Check with your Guidance counsellor or on the electronic version
of the course calendar on the Board’s website www.ocdsb.ca for
an up-to-date list of available programs.
Focus Program
Exploring an area of interest
Taken in grade 11 or grade 12
Offered at a host school
One semester commitment
Package of four credits
Specialist High Skills Major Programs
Taken in grade 11 and grade 12
Apprenticeship, College, University, or Workplace pathways available
Student takes a bundle of credits
One semester at a host school
Certification and in-depth training in a
chosen employment sector
Remaining credits and other requirements completed at
home school
Red Seal on OSSD plus additional program record transcript
911 Specialist
SHSM Sector: Justice, Community Safety, and Emergency Services
Host Location Program Type
Sir Robert Borden High School SHSM
This program enables students to build a foundation of sectorfocused
knowledge and skills before proceeding to post secondary
studies or the workplace. It provides opportunities to learn about
all areas of emergency services (police, fire, paramedic services),
emergency management, community safety administration, correctional
services, security and private investigative services, animal
welfare services, search and rescue, and the armed forces. With
its low rates of unemployment (for example, 0.4 per cent for police
officers and firefighters) and high future retirement rates, graduates