HIGH SKILLS MAJOR DIPLOMA

            It gives me a great deal of pride to announce to St. Paul students and parents  that  our school has been approved to offer two high skills major diploma programs in Construction and the Changing Environment and Communications and Broadcasting. Negotiations began with the Program department and the Board after March break and will conclude with an agreement between our Board and the Ministry to have the programs designate graduates as early as this academic year.

WHAT IS A SPECIALIST HIGH SKILLS MAJOR (SHSM)?

1.         A bundle of  8–10 Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits that includes:

i:          4 major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills

ii:         2–4 other required credits from the Ontario curriculum, in which some     expectations are met through learning activities contextualized to the sector

iii:        2 cooperative education credits that provide authentic learning experiences in a workplace setting, enabling students to refine, extend, and practise sector-specific knowledge and skills

2.         sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses

3.         experiential learning activities within the sector

4.         “reach ahead” experiences connected with the student’s chosen postsecondary  pathway

5.         development of key Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector, and the use of the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP) for purposes of documentation.

The Specialist High Skills major diploma is accessible to students in the academic, applied, and workplace  streams at St. Paul. Students will continue to be required to earn their 30 credits to graduate, and all of the current compulsory credits must be taken. Because there is limited enrolment in these diploma programs, students will be expected to meet with Mr. Grenier, Ms. McHenry and Mr. Sacco in advance of the registration process, and program suitability to the students learning style and previous academic performance will be the overriding criteria for entrance into either diploma program.

HOW DOES AN SHSM BENEFIT ST. PAUL STUDENTS?

• It allows students to experience a range of customized learning opportunities in an area that interests them, and helps to engage them in their school program.
• It gives students the opportunity to explore, identify and refine career goals and make informed decisions related to postsecondary education or training and next  steps towards a career.
• It helps students gain confidence in their ability to succeed, and see the connections between their studies, the world beyond high school, and their future careers.
• The experiential learning opportunities, provided in an SHSM enable students to develop Essential Skills and work habits, that are required in the sector, and have their performance of those skills and work habits assessed and documented, using tools connected with the Ontario Skills passport.
• Through an SHSM students begin to establish relationships and networks in their chosen fields.
• Graduates can provide evidence of their achievement (eg. Sector recognized certification and training programs) to prospective employers and postsecondary educational or training institutions.

HOW IS SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF AN SHSM DOCUMENTED

• Successful completion of an SHSM is indicated on the students Ontario Secondary School Diploma by a red seal.
• The student receives an SHSM record that documents his or her achievement of the required components, including sector related certifications earned and/or training courses completed.
• Successful completion of an SHSM is indicated on the student’s Ontario Student Transcript (OST).

Students and parents can view the Pathways for both diplomas in the accompanying pages and are encouraged to discuss how the diploma might dovetail with your inclinations before you arrived at St. Paul. There are no substitutions allowed and the program must be completed in the four year framework. With the advent of St. Paul television (STPTV) , our commitment to preparing students for post secondary environmental education , our heightened presence in cyberspace, and our sustainability mandate through Ecosource, St. Paul’s aims to be a leader in Catholic education.