GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

OAKRIDGE

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

Counsellors

A – D Mr. Kunder

E – Mc Mr. Michailidis

Me – Z Ms. Favento

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Support Staff

Aspen Secretary Ms. Rhee

Guidance/IB Secretary Ms. Bal

GUIDANCE OFFICE

GUIDANCE OFFICE

• Counsellor offices
• Desk of the Aspen secretary (Ms. Rhee)
• Desk of the Guidance/IB secretary (Ms. Bal)
• Volunteer Forms
• Ontario Student Records (OSR)
• All report cards
• Volunteer hours
• Medical reports
• Suspension records
• Student photos

BULLETIN BOARD OUTSIDE OF THE GUIDANCE OFFICE

GUIDANCE BULLETIN BOARD

1. QR Code for easy access to making a guidance appointment
2. Graduation Requirements
3. Community Volunteer Opportunities
4. Tutoring Opportunities
5. Part-time Jobs
6. Post Secondary Information
7. Scholarships

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

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• 30 Credits (17 Compulsory Credits + 13 Optional Credits)
• 40 Hours of Community Service
• Completion of Literacy Requirement – Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) OR Ontario Literacy Course (OLC4O)
• Financial Literacy Requirement (Starting in 2026-2027 school year) – part of your compulsory Grade 10 mathematics course. Must achieve a mark of 70% or higher in the Financial Literacy unit
• Online Learning Requirement

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For detailed information on Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements and for a link on volunteer opportunities leading to completion of 40 Hours of Community Service, click here.

17 COMPULSORY CREDITS

• 4 English (1 per grade)
• 3 Math (gr. 9, gr. 10, and 1 must be at Senior level - gr.11 or gr.12)
• 2 Science
• 1 French
• 1 Geography (gr. 9)
• 1 History (gr. 10)
• 1 Civics/Careers (2 half credits)
• 1 Art
• 1 Physical Education
• 1 Technological Education (must be at Junior level - gr. 9 or gr. 10)
• 1 STEM-related course group (see next slide for list)

STEM-RELATED COURSE GROUP

• Business Studies
• Computer Studies
• Co-operative Education
• Mathematics
• Science
• Technological Education

ENTERING GRADE 9 IN 2024 OR LATER

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See the following link for changes to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements for students entering grade 9 in 2024 or later.

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“OSSD Requirements for Students” poster

13 OPTIONAL CREDITS

“Optional Credits” are elective credits that students can choose from any subject area, any grade, and can be taken at any level (i.e. academic, applied, college, de-streamed, locally developed, mixed, open, university, workplace) providing the prerequisite credit (if any) has been previously earned.

COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS

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• Hours of Community Service accumulated starting in July 2025, and submitted to the Guidance office, count towards your 40 Hours of Community Service graduation requirement
• How to Submit your hours:
1. Pick up “Completion of Community Involvement Activities” form from guidance office or download here
2. Make sure to include your FIRST and LAST name on the form
3. Have your supervisor sign the form
3. Have a parent/guardian sign the form
4. Photocopy or take a picture of the form before turning into Ms. Bal in the Guidance Office

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LITERACY REQUIREMENT

• All grade 10 students will write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) in the fall (first semester).

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• What if I don’t pass the OSSLT in the fall (first semester) of my grade 10 year or if I was away on the day of the test?
• you will have a second opportunity to write the OSSLT in the spring (second semester) of your grade 10 year.

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• What if I don’t achieve the OSSLT graduation requirement in grade 10?
• you will have an additional opportunity to write the OSSLT in grade 11.

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• What if I don’t pass the OSSLT in grade 11 or if I am away again on the day of the test?
• You will have the option to write the OSSLT or be enrolled in the Ontario Literacy Course (OLC4O) in grade 12.

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��ONLINE LEARNING GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

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Students are required to earn at least two online learning credits to earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

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ONLINE LEARNING GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

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Opting Out:

Parents/guardians who wish to opt out or exempt their student from the two online credit graduation requirement may complete the “Online Learning Graduation Requirement Opt-Out Form – Parents/Guardians/ Caregivers” form available in the Guidance office OR submit a request through their parent portal account.

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REASONS TO BOOK A GUIDANCE APPOINTMENT

• Timetable inquiries – availability of courses
• Course changes – add/drop course
• Summer school registration
• eLearning course registration
• Volunteer hours and part-time employment
• Academic planning – meeting Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirements
• Peer tutoring – you will be matched up with a peer tutor in grade 10/11/12 if you require academic assistance in a subject area
• Scholarship investigation and application support
• Post-secondary planning – apprenticeship/college/university/workplace destinations
• Social/emotional support – Concerns about school, peers, life, etc.

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HOW TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR

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1. Go to the Oakridge homepage: https://oakridge.tvdsb.ca
2. Scroll down and click on the “Book a Guidance Appointment”
3. Click on the Guidance Counsellor that corresponds to the first letter of your last name
4. Select a day and time (Guidance appointments can only be scheduled up to one week in advance)
5. Ensure you have included your full name and email address and mobile phone (if you have one)
6. Select the reason for the appointment from the drop down menu
7. Click on the blue “Book” button at the bottom of the page

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OAKS CARE

• Anonymous reporting site to let a caring adult at Oakridge know about concerns regarding a friend/classmate/student or situation.
• You may be worried because you see a change in someone’s mood, behaviour, or coping strategies as a result of a personal loss, bullying or other life issues.
• This tool is for non-emergency incidents of bullying and other school safety issues, it is not monitored on a 24/7 basis. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

HOW TO SUBMIT AN OAKS CARE REPORT

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1. Go to the Oakridge homepage: https://oakridge.tvdsb.ca
2. Scroll down to horizontal burgundy tool bar on the homepage
3. Click on the “Oaks Care” link, third icon from the left side
4. Complete the electronic form with as much information as possible and then click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the page

ANNUAL AWARDS ASSEMBLY

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• Awards Assembly in November to celebrate academic achievements from the previous school year
• All course credits (including eLearning and summer school) granted by publicly funded schools, from September 1 to August 31, will count towards the calculation of your average
• Academic Excellence: achieving a minimum of 80% average in the required number of courses each school year, from September 1 to August 31.
• Grade 9: 8 credits
• Grade 10: 8 credits
• Grade 11: 7 credits
• Grade 12: 6 credits

COMMENCEMENT - SOCIAL GRADUATION

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• Oakridge has the tradition of hosting a Social Graduation in June

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• Social Graduation means that students do not have to officially graduate (30 credits, successful completion of literacy requirement, completion of 40 hours of community service, financial literacy requirement - minimum 70% achieved) to participate and cross the stage at Centennial Hall.

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• Your Commencement will be held in June 2029, with everyone who entered into high school in the 2025 – 2026 school year.

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Any Questions?