Footprints to Your Future 2017

33 Pages·2016·3.92 MB·English

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord,
plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
— Jeremiah 29:11
Loving God,
you invite me to rely on your goodness
as I prepare for high school and my future.
Help me to trust in the plans you have for me
that I may readily commit to the unique tasks to which you call me
as your beloved child.
Spirit of God,
you are the source of wisdom and understanding.
Guide and fill me with your grace
as I set out to discern and identify the skills and interests
that will direct my educational and career paths.
Sustain me in my efforts to develop
that I may become an engaged and successful life-long learner
who brings you glory.
Lord Jesus,
you invite me to learn from your gentle and humble heart.
Teach me your ways that,
as I live and learn in our Catholic faith,
my life might be rooted in love and mercy and
I may contribute to the building of a school community
that is marked by the spirit of the Gospel.
Amen
Please be aware that the information contained within Footprints to Your Future: A Guide to High School is subject to change
throughout the year. Information related to program availability, school attendance areas, course offerings, etc. may change to
accommodate factors including changing demographics, the opening of a new school, the closing of an existing school, to relieve
overcrowding in schools, etc.
This information has been provided for the convenience of parents and students for reference as a guide only, and the Calgary
Catholic School District (CCSD) cannot guarantee the accuracy or precision of the information after the printing of this booklet. The
Calgary Catholic School District will not be held liable for any actions taken, decisions made, or actions not taken from reliance on any
information presented in the attached booklet. The most current information can be found online at www.cssd.ab.ca, by contacting a
school directly, or by phoning 403-500-2000.
© 2018 Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy-
ing, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Calgary Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 1.
Table of Contents
1 Message from Your Chief Superintendent
3 Catholic High School Education Philosophy
4 Guidelines for Admission
5 Alberta High School Diploma Requirements
6 Certificate of High School Achievement
7 Certificate of School Completion
9 Calgary Catholic High Schools
10 District Recognized Programs
12 District Supports
17 Student Supports in High Schools
19 Building Your Future
20 My Style Worksheet
23 Career Options
28 Setting Your Goals
32 Course Descriptions
32 Religious Education
33 English Language Arts
35 Social Studies
36 Mathematics
38 Science
39 Physical Education
40 Career and Technology Studies (CTS)
42 Fine & Performing Arts
44 French and International Languages
46 Senior High English Language Learners (ELL)
48 Selecting Your Courses
50 Post-Secondary Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees
51 Student Finance Information
51 Post-Secondary Information
51 Additional Information
51 Summer School
51 Returning Grade 12 Students
52 Alexander Rutherford Scholarship
53 Lifelong Learning
55 High School Attendance Areas
56 High School Regular Program
57 Advanced Placement Program
58 Extended French Program
59 International Baccalaureate Program
60 Hockey Canada Skills Academy Program
61 Spanish Bilingual Program

Message from the Chief Superintendent
DEAR STUDENTS:
The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) is a learning community that is dedicated to providing each and
every student with the high-quality education they deserve. We are committed to ensuring every student has
the opportunity to succeed.
High school is an important chapter in your education and the three years spent in senior high will be a jour-
ney of self-development and discovery. To prepare you for this exciting new chapter in your life, CCSD has
developed Footprints to Your Future: a Guide to High School. This guide will help identify subjects of interest
to you, and determine what courses and careers might suit your goals.
Selecting courses, which can have a significant influence on post-secondary options and career choices fol-
lowing your high school years, might seem overwhelming at first. When making course selections, consider
your talents, interests, skills and strengths carefully. There are no right or wrong decisions when it comes to
course selections; however, it is important to keep possible career aspirations and future goals in mind. We
encourage you to work collaboratively with your family as you make these selections.
If you are planning to attend college or university, it is important to obtain the necessary information regarding
admission requirements into post-secondary programs and tailor your course selections accordingly. Plan-
ning to seek employment immediately after high school is also something you should seek information about
in order to ensure you have the requirements to pursue this goal. Support from teachers, guidance counsel-
lors and school administration is always available and can provide useful insight and information.
Calgary Catholic is committed to providing diverse environments and pathways that meet the unique needs
of all high school students. We believe the foundation of education will help you thrive in life, work and contin-
ued learning. The future will hold many opportunities and challenges. Wherever the next chapters in your life
story may take you, we hope your journey includes joy, faith and fulfilment. As an organization dedicated to
the education and empowerment of our students, we are proud of each and every one of you. I wish you the
best in all your future endeavours.
Sincerely,
Gary Strother
Chief Superintendent
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Calgary Catholic School District Footprints to Your Future 2018

Catholic Education Philosophy
“The Catholic school EDUCATION
pursues cultural
The goal of Catholic schools is to help develop students whose knowledge, skills and attitudes will prepare
goals and the natural
them to deal with the challenges of life and help them grow in understanding towards the teachings and
development of youth traditions of the Church. In our Catholic schools, faith and culture come together so that faith becomes an
to the same degree as active and visible part of the lives of the students and staff – in what they study and in how they relate to one
another. In a climate of openness, trust and cooperation, the school, the home and the parish work together
any other school. What
to create an authentic community and sense of partnership. Students who choose to attend a Catholic high
makes the Catholic school will have the benefit of this authentic community.
school distinctive is its
attempt to generate a THE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY
community climate in the
A Shared Responsibility
school that is permeated
by the Gospel spirit of The Catholic academic tradition is strong in our schools. It remains strong through our students, our staff
and our beliefs. Calgary Catholic School District teachers are role models for our students. They demonstrate
freedom and love.”
Christian values in their daily teaching and in their contact with students, parents and other members of the
– (Second Vatican community. These values are taught in Religious Education classes at every grade level and are reinforced in
Council) all subjects.
Opportunities for religious celebration and prayers are part of the overall program in each CCSD school.
Student are expected to be a contributing member of their high school community. When a young person
chooses to attend a Catholic high school it signifies an acceptance of the teachings and values of the Ro-
man Catholic tradition. These values are lived out when the student displays a serious attitude toward his
or her academic studies, commitment to the goals of the school community, a willingness to participate in
prayer and liturgical celebrations, respect for members of the community and a true sense of responsibility
for his or her actions.
A chaplain is assigned to each high school. He/she brings theological knowledge to the school community
and offers pastoral counselling to both students and teachers. All of our high schools have a chapel, which is
open for private contemplation for all members of the school community and for the celebration of mass.
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Calgary Catholic School District Footprints to Your Future 2018
Guidelines for Admission
Students who have one or both parents/guardians who is/are Roman
Catholic or students themselves have a Roman Catholic baptismal
certificate, even if their parents do not present their proof of Catholicity,
may register in a Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) high school.
Students whose parents are both non-Catholic and they are non-
Catholic may be admitted only if sufficient resources and facilities are
available.
It is important to note that as with our elementary and junior high
schools, CCSD has designated high school attendance areas. CCSD
uses boundaries to ensure optimal student populations that support vi-
able programming across the district. It is the expectation that students
will attend their designated high school based on the resident address
of their parents/guardians.
CCSD has eight district recognized programs at various schools
throughout the district. These programs are International Baccalaureate
(English and French), Advanced Placement, Extended French, Spanish
Bilingual, Bishop Carroll Self-Directed Learning, Bishop Grandin March-
ing Band, Hockey Canada Skills Academy and Chamber Ensemble
Strings program. Acceptance of students registering into one of these
programs is based on specific program criteria, program qualifica-
tions, room and resources. Acceptance into any of the programs is not
guaranteed.
District recognized programs also have defined attendance areas. If a
student chooses to withdraw from a designated program for which an
exemption to high school boundaries is granted, the expectation is that
the student would return to his or her designated school. For example,
a student is granted acceptance to the Hockey Canada Skills Academy
at Notre Dame High School and lives in the regular attendance area for
Bishop McNally. The student then withdraws from the Hockey Canada
Skills Academy. The expectation is that he/she will return to Bishop
McNally as this is the student’s designated high school-based on the
resident address of his/her parent/guardian.
As well, if a student currently attends a year-round junior high program,
the student will follow the guidelines for admission to high school. For
example, a student attends the year-round junior high program at St.
in the Hockey Canada Skills Academy for high school. For regular pro-
Joseph School. For high school, the student attends the high school
gramming, this student would attend the high school in his/her atten-
in his/her attendance area based on the resident address of his/her
dance area based on the resident address of his/her parent/guardian.
parent/guardian.
Registration of students for programs outside of their designated
Furthermore, a student attending junior high outside of his/her atten-
school are student specific. Siblings of students are not accepted un-
dance area will transition to the high school in the student’s attendance
less they qualify for one of the eight district recognized programs, and
area unless he/she qualifies for and is accepted into a district desig-
there is sufficient room and resources. For example, an older sibling at-
nated program at high school. For example, a student lives south of
tends St. Mary’s for International Baccalaureate. Younger siblings who
Fish Creek yet attends St. Bonaventure Junior High, which is not his/
do not live in the St. Mary’s High School regular attendance boundary
her regular attendance school. For regular programming, this student
area would not attend St. Mary’s unless they qualify for and are ac-
would attend Bishop O’Byrne High School, not Bishop Grandin High
cepted into one of the district recognized programs at St. Mary’s, such
School. In another example, a student attends St. Helena for the
as International Baccalaureate or Extended French.
Hockey Canada Skills Academy. The student does not plan to continue
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Footprints to Your Future 2018