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Guidance

The aims of the NDSS Guidance department are:

  • To help students develop plans to meet personal, educational and career goals
  • To provide students, parents, guardians and teachers with information relating to personal, educational and career resources
  • To provide opportunity for students to access appropriate community, health, educational and career resources
  • To assist students in the development of skills that will enable them to deal effectively with daily living

The guidance department welcomes frequent contact with both students and parents.

DNA Arts Application

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College and University Visits

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Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements

The following requirements must be successfully completed in order to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (O.S.S.D.):

  • 30 credits (110 hours each), including 18 compulsory credits and 12 options;
  • 40 hours community involvement;
  • successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Requirements

COMPULSORY CREDITS

  • 4 English (1 per grade)
  • 3 Mathematics (1 at the Senior Level)
  • 2 Science
  • 1 French
  • 1 Canadian Geography (Grade 9)
  • 1 Canadian History (Grade 10)
  • 1 Arts (any of Visual Arts, Music, Drama, Dance)
  • 1 Health and Physical Education
  • 0.5 Civics
  • 0.5 Career Studies
  • One additional credit in English, OR a Third Language, OR Social Sciences and the Humanities, OR Canadian and world studies, or guidance  and career education, or cooperative education.
  • One additional credit in Health and Physical Education, OR the Arts OR business studies, or cooperative education.
  • One additional credit in Science (Grades 11 or 12) OR technology (Grades 9 – 12) or cooperative education.

OPTIONAL OR ELECTIVE COURSES

Students must complete a minimum of 12 elective credits selected from those available and those of specific interest to the student and their individual goals for career and future educational programs.  These will be selected with the assistance of parents, guidance counselors, teachers and administrators.

 

 

NDSS SCHOOL LETTER

The NDSS School Letter is awarded to deserving graduating students who have contributed to school through their participation, leadership and outstanding achievement.

To qualify for an NDSS School Letter a student must earn a minimum of 40 points during their four years of attendance at NDSS.  Points earned must be in at least two of the three categories.  Those who have attended NDSS for less than four years must earn at least 10 points per year, for a minimum of two years, and have  points from at least two categories.

In activities where more than one point may be earned, the teacher, advisor or coach shall decide on the number of points earned by each student for that activity.  Please note that the maximum points on a sliding scale should be reserved for excellence, and there is no obligation to award leadership points where none had been demonstrated.

 

 

 

         NDSS POLICY AGAINEST BULLYING

When staff, students and parents work together we create a safe, optimal learning environment at Niagara District.


Niagara District School does not tolerate bullying in any form. All members of the school community are committed to ensuring a safe and caring environment, which promotes personal growth and positive self-esteem for all.

Part A —What is bullying?

Bullying is an act of aggression causing embarrassment, pain or discomfort to another.
· It can take a number of forms: physical, verbal, gesture, extortion and exclusion
· It can be an abuse of power
· It can be planned and organized or it may be unintentional
· Individuals or groups may be involved

Part B—Examples of bullying

· Any form of unwanted contact or physical violence such as hitting, pushing or spitting on others
· Interfering with another’s property by stealing, hiding, damaging or destroying
· Using offensive names, teasing or spreading rumours about others or their families
· Using put-downs, belittling others’ ability and achievements
· Writing offensive notes or graffiti about others
· Making suggestive comments or other forms of sexual abuse
· Ridiculing another’s appearance
· Forcing others to act against their will
· Cyber Bullying
·Posting threatening messages or spreading rumours through email and chat
·Creating a website/weblog (blog) that makes fun of others
·It can take place on-line or involve technology (cell phones, computers, camera phones

Part C —If we are bullied
· We may feel frightened, unsafe, embarrassed, angry or unfairly treated
· Our work, sleep and ability to concentrate may suffer
· Our relationships with our family and friends may deteriorate
· We may feel confused and not know what to do about the problem

Part D —What do we do to prevent bullying?

As a school community we will not allow cases of bullying to go unreported but will speak up.

1) THIS REQUIRES STAFF TO:
· Be role models in word and action at all times
· Be observant of signs of distress or suspected incidents of bullying

· Make efforts to remove occasions for bullying by active patrolling during supervision duty
· Arrive at class on time and move promptly between classes
· Take steps to help victims and remove sources of distress without placing the victim at further risk
· Report suspected incidents to the appropriate staff member such as guidance, youth counselor, Vice-Principal, Principal

2) NDSS RECOMENDS THAT STUDENTS:
· Refuse to be involved in any bullying situation
· If you are present when bullying occurs: take some form of preventative action; report the incident or suspected incident and help break down the code of secrecy

3) NDSS RECOMMENDS THAT PARENTS:
· Watch for signs of distress in son or daughter e.g. unwillingness to attend school, a pattern of headaches, missing equipment, requests for extra money
· Advise son or daughters to tell a staff member about any incident.                  possible allow him/her to deal with the problem themselves
· Inform the school if bullying is suspected even if your son or daughter is not directly involved
· Keep a written record (who, what, where, when, why and how)
· Do not encourage retaliation
· Communicate that parental involvement, if necessary, will occur
· Be willing to attend any interviews with school personnel if son or daughter are involved in bullying
· Treat disrespect with respect