Notre Dame has long been known for its commitment to academic
excellence. Since its inception in 1947 at the hands of the Holy
Cross fathers, the Notre Dame Community has striven to provide a
solid, Catholic faith-based foundation for students going on to both
post-secondary education, and the world of work.
In the decades since, the staff, administration, and spiritual
leaders of Notre Dame have continued and enhanced this reputation
for providing a meaningful, relevant, and vital education.
The academic needs of students at Notre Dame are in great hands with
a solid line-up of course choices and an exceptional teaching staff.
Great care is taken in developing new courses to meet the needs of
students in a challenging new global economy, while maintaining the
tradition of strong core course offerings in the fundamentals.
The motto on the school crest says it all: “Sapere Aude” or Dare to
learn! The Notre Dame community does indeed dare to learn.
Definition Of
A Credit
A means of recognition of the successful completion of a course for
which a minimum of 110 hours has been scheduled. A credit is granted
to a student by the Principal of a secondary school on behalf of the
Ministry.
Grades 9 And
10 Courses
For all students in Grades 9 and 10, four types of courses are
offered: academic, applied, locally developed
and open.
Academic courses develop students’ knowledge and skills
through the study of theory and abstract problems. These courses
focus on the essential concepts of a subject and explore related
concepts as well.
Applied courses focus on essential concepts of a subject, and
develop students’ knowledge and skills through practical
applications and concrete examples. Familiar situations are used to
illustrate ideas, and students are given more opportunities to
experience hands-on applications of the concepts and theories they
study.
Students must
choose Academic,
Applied or Locally Developed
courses in the core subjects…
English
French as a Second Language
Mathematics
Science
Geography and
History
May combine Academic and Applied
or Applied and Locally Developed when
students are creating their pathway |
Open courses
are the only type of course offered in most subjects other than
those listed above. They are designed to prepare students for
further study in a subject, and to enrich their education. Open
courses comprise a set of expectations that are appropriate for all
students.
Locally Developed: This program is a locally developed
program designed for students whose Individual Education Plan
indicates she or he is working on Grade 5-7 expectations from the
Ontario Curriculum in English, Mathematics, and/or Science. The
suitability of one or all of these courses is determined at the
Grade 8 and 9 Annual Review held for students with an Individual
Education Plan (IEP). Students may also take a Learning Strategies
Course to support their learning.
Grade 11 And 12
Courses
Courses in grades 11 and 12 are designed to prepare students for a
post-secondary destination. There are five types of courses offered:
university, university/college, college,
workplace and open.
University Preparation Courses – these courses are intended
to provide students with the knowledge and skills to meet entrance
requirements for many university programs. Courses focus on theory
and also investigate related applications.
College/University Preparation Courses – these courses are
intended to provide students with the knowledge and skills to meet
entrance requirements for certain college and university programs.
There is a focus on both theory and practical application.
College Preparation Courses – these courses are designed to
equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the
requirements for entrance to most college programs or for admission
to apprenticeship or other training programs. Courses focus on
concrete applications of theoretical material.
Workplace Preparation Courses – these courses are intended to
prepare students to move directly into the workplace after secondary
school or to be admitted into apprenticeship or other training
programs. Courses focus on employability skills and on practical
workplace applications and theoretical materials that support these
practical applications.
Open Courses in Grades 11 and 12 – these courses allow
students to broaden their knowledge and skills in a particular
subject that may or may not be directly related to their
postsecondary goals, but that reflects their interests. These
courses are appropriate for all students regardless of
post-secondary destination. These courses are designed to provide
students with a broad educational base and to equip them for active
and rewarding participation in society. They are not designed with
the specific requirements of university or college programs or the
workplace in mind. |
