Ontario Secondary School Diploma (O.S.S.D.) Requirements

In order to earn an OSSD a student must:
• Earn 30 credits (18 compulsory and 12 optional credits)
• Complete 40 hours of Community Involvement Activities
• Successfully complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

Compulsory Credits:
4 - English
1 - French as a Second Language
3 - Mathematics
2 - Science
1 - Canadian Geography
1 - Canadian History
1 - Health and Physical Education
1 - Arts
5 - Civics
5 - Career Education
1 - Group 1 - English, or a Third Language, or a Social Science or a Canadian and World Studies or a Guidance and Career Education or a Cooperative Education
1 - Group 2 - Phys. Ed. or Business or Arts or a Cooperative Education
1 - Group 3 - Science (Gr. 11 or 12), or Technology (Gr. 9-12) or Computer Studies or a Cooperative Education
18 TOTAL COMPULSORY CREDITS

Optional Credits:
In addition to the 18 compulsory credits, students must earn 12 optional credits selected from the courses listed as available in the school course calendar.
* All students are required to take a Religious Education course each year.

Ontario Secondary School Certificate

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma provided they have earned a minimum of 14 credits (distributed as follows):

Compulsory Credits: (total of 7)
2 - English
1 - Canadian Geography or History
1 - Mathematics
1 - Science
1 - Health and Physical Education
1 - Arts or Technological Education

Optional Credits: (total of 7)
• Seven credits selected by the student from available courses.

Cerficate of Accomplishment

Students who leave school before fulfilling the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the Ontario Secondary School Certificate may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment. This certificate may be a useful means of recognizing achievement for students who plan to take certain vocational programs or other kinds of further training. Students who return to school to complete additional credit and non-credit courses will have their transcript updated but will not be issued a new Certificate of Accomplishment.

Community Involvment Requirement and Procedures

Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities during their years in the secondary school program. This requirement is to be completed outside students’ normal instructional hours and in a variety of settings. Details will be outlined and students will be provided with a Community Involvement Information Manual and Community Involvement Student Summary Sheet.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

All students must successfully complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test in order to earn a secondary school diploma. The test will be administered in grade 10. Students who are not successful will have the opportunity to rewrite each year. The test is based on Ontario curriculum expectations for language and communication, particularly reading and writing, up to and including grade 9. This test may not be retaken once it has been successfully completed. Accommodations, deferrals and exemptions for the Provincial test will be considered on an individual basis.

Policy on Substitutions for Compulsory Courses

To meet individual students’ needs, Principals may replace up to three compulsory courses with courses from the remainder of those that meet the compulsory credit requirements.

Certificate of Concentration in Extended French

Upon graduation, the Halton Catholic District School Board issues a Certificate of Concentration in Extended French. Successful completion of the following 7 mandatory courses is required in order to receive this certificate. The courses and course codes are as follows:

FEF 1D1 – Extended French, Grade 9, Academic
FEF 2D1 – Extended French, Grade 10, Academic
FEF 3U1 – Extended French, Grade 11, University Preparation
FEF 4U1 – Extended French, Grade 12, University Preparation
CGC 1DF – Geography of Canada, Grade 9, Academic
CHC 2DF – Canadian History Since World War I, Grade 10, Academic
HRT 3MF – World Religions: Beliefs, Issues, and Religious Traditions, Grade 11, University/College Preparation