OAKRIDGE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Grad Guide Presentation

2025 - 2026

Guidance and Learning Services Website

Find all information on the Oakridge homepage:

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➪ Guidance and Learning Services (link on the red

horizontal toolbar)

➪ select “Grad Guide Presentation 2025 - 2026”

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Sign up for the Oakridge Grads 2026 Google Classroom

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• important information regarding post-secondary

applications and programming

• scholarships and commencement awards
• information regarding the Oakridge Commencement

ceremony on Tuesday June 9, 2026.

Class code: cyqiop6

Student Services Department

Guidance Counsellors

A – D: Mr. Kunder

E – Mc: Mr. Michailidis

Me – Z: Ms. Favento

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Learning Support Teachers (IEP)

Ms. Hubert Ms. Basso

Student Success Teacher (SST)

Mr. Harris

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Student Graduation Summary (SGS)

• lists all the final grades you have achieved (failing grades and passing grades)
• shows how many credits (Compulsory and Optional) you have completed
• shows the number of hours of Community Involvement you have completed and submitted to the Guidance office
• indicates the status of your Literacy Requirement (“In Progress” or “Met”)

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All the above information can also be found on your student portal

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The graduation summary is NOT an official transcript and will not be accepted at institutions requesting an official Ontario Student Transcript

Students are responsible to check their student portal regularly to make sure all graduation requirements are on track.

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Not completely confident that you will meet the graduation requirements by the end of June?

➪ Make an appointment to see your Guidance Counsellor ASAP.

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) Requirements:

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1. Credit Accumulation - 30 Credits
• 18 Compulsory
• 12 Elective (referred to as “Optional” on the SGS)

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2. Community Involvement

• Minimum of 40 hours

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3. Literacy Requirement

• Successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) OR successful completion of the Ontario Literacy Course (OLC4O)

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4. Online Requirement

• Successful completion of 2 online credits

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Online Learning Graduation Requirement:

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

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Students who are 18 years or older may opt out, using the same process above, through their student portal.

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Opting Out of Online Learning Graduation Requirement

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Ontario Student Transcript

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The Ontario Student Transcript

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• official document
• shows all credits successfully earned in grades 9 and 10, plus all grade 11 and 12 courses continued past the full-disclosure date.

See the following slides for full disclosure timelines in each semester.

What is Full Disclosure?

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The Ministry of Education has a policy of full disclosure stating that all senior-level (grade 11 and 12) courses attempted by students must be recorded on their Ontario Student Transcript, UNLESS that course is removed from the student’s schedule BEFORE the full disclosure deadline.

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After the full disclosure deadline, any grade 11 or 12 course completed, withdrawn from or failed will appear on a student transcript along with the marks earned in the course.

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Full disclosure does not apply to grade 9 or 10 courses. 

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2025 - 2026 Midterm Marks and Full Disclosure Dates – courses at Oakridge

(grade 11 and 12 courses only)

Semester 1:

• Midterm Reports go Home: TBA (late November)
• Full Disclosure Deadline: TBA (late November or early December)
• Full Disclosure Begins: 5 school days after midterm report cards are distributed by the school

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Semester 2:

• Midterm Reports go Home: TBA (late April)
• Full Disclosure Deadline: TBA (late April or early May)
• Full Disclosure Begins: 5 school days after midterm report cards are distributed by the school

To officially drop a senior-level course before the full disclosure deadline students MUST:

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• see their counsellor to complete a “Request for Timetable Change” form AND
• have the form signed by the classroom teacher and a parent/guardian AND
• have the signed form returned to Guidance no later than 3 pm on the deadline date

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The full disclosure date will be 5 school days after the midterm report cards are distributed by the school.

2025 - 2026 Midterm Marks and Full Disclosure Dates – eLearning courses

(grade 11 and 12 courses only)

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For students who are taking a senior-level eLearning course, please check with your eLearning teacher to determine the full disclosure date for your course.

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Do NOT assume that the full disclosure dates for eLearning courses are the same as your day school Oakridge courses.

Transcript Information

Ontario Colleges

and

Ontario Universities:

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The Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) and Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) receive your transcript information directly from Oakridge and then send it to the colleges and universities you’re applying to for September 2026.

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The first electronic data file submissions for OCAS and OUAC were completed by Ms. Rhee on October 3, 2025

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The Application Process - Ontario Colleges:

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• Grade 11 and 12 marks are considered

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• Programs will have specific prerequisites

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• Research and apply to college programs on “ontariocolleges.ca”

Researching and Applying to Ontario Colleges

You can research and apply for

up to 5 Ontario college programs

(no more than 3 programs at any one Ontario college)

by accessing:

ontariocolleges.ca

The Application Process - Ontario Universities:

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• Admission average will be based on top 6 grade 12 (4U or 4M) courses, which MUST include all program prerequisites.
• For most Ontario university programs, ENG4U will be a prerequisite course.
• In some cases, ENG4U will only be “strongly recommended” (not considered a prerequisite) e.g. Sciences at Brock.

• May require a supplementary application (essay, portfolio, interview, etc.)
• Research universities/programs on “ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca”
• Apply to universities/programs on the OUAC website “ouac.on.ca”�

Scholarships and Awards – Scholarship deadlines often come before conditional offers are received.

➪If you are applying to a university, ensure to apply before the deadline, for applicable scholarships/bursaries, EVEN if you have not yet received a conditional offer. Do your research.

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Language Requirements – If English is not your first language, you MAY be required to demonstrate proficiency (TOEFL Test) in listening, speaking, writing and reading English, regardless of your performance in ENG4U. Do your research.

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Extenuating Circumstances – Every university will have their own process for the submission of “extenuating circumstances” documentation. Deadlines will also vary from university to university. Do your research.

From the Homepage at a Selected University on Ontariouniversitiesinfo.com

Do Your Research

Access the following websites to research Ontario university programs and apply for Ontario university programs (no more than 3 programs at any one Ontario university):

Student guide of the OUAC Research/Application Process:

• A Guide for Ontario High School Students Applying to Ontario’s Universities

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Research:

• ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca
• Ontario Universities Resource Guide – Fall 2025

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Applying through OUAC:

• ouac.on.ca/guide/undergrad-guide

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Researching and Applying

to Ontario Universities

Ontario Universities’ Indigenous

Student Resources (OUISR)

OUISR provides information about supports and services for Indigenous students interested in, or already attending, an Ontario university.

Students can find information about:

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• academics
• admissions
• financial aid
• housing
• Indigenous student services
• student life
• well-being

OUISR also features videos of Indigenous role models who have achieved success in postsecondary education in Ontario. Students can learn about how to connect with Indigenous university representatives in a city near them.

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Visit: ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca/indigenous-student-resources

Applying to Ontario Universities and

Ontario Colleges

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Applying to Ontario Colleges

• Must first create an account with Ontario College Application Service (OCAS)

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Applying to Ontario Universities

• Must first create an account with the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC).

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For both Ontario Colleges and Ontario Universities follow instructions below:

• Must use your Ontario Education Number (OEN) and NOT your Oakridge student number.
• To access your OEN either view a past report card or open your Myblueprint account, click on your name at the top right of the screen and select “Account Settings” and your OEN will be found under “General Information”.

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Applying to Out of Province Universities

• Students applying to the out-of-province universities listed on the previous slide can authorize those universities to request their academic information from OUAC.

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• Students MUST first apply to OUAC for selected out of province universities (see next slide) to have access to student marks because an 11-digit OUAC Reference Number must be provided to those out of province Universities.

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• To do this, the applicant must include their 11-digit OUAC Reference Number on the university’s application form. The 11th digit is always the number “0”.

To receive your OUAC reference number, you must :

• create an OUAC account
• complete your OUAC application
• submit your online payment (credit card only)

This number is needed by the out-of-province universities to access your Oakridge grades.

Applying to Out of Province Universities

The OUAC assists these out-of-province universities in collecting academic data for Ontario high school students who apply through them:

• Acadia University
• Bishop’s University
• The University of British Columbia
• Concordia University
• Dalhousie University
• Saint Mary’s University
• Simon Fraser University
• The University of Victoria

Transcript Information

Out of Province Colleges

and

Out of Province Universities:

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• Transcript information needs to be sent by YOU to all out of province colleges you apply to

• Transcript information needs to be sent by YOU to all out of province universities you apply to that were NOT listed on the previous slide.

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To request an official transcript, fill out and submit a “Transcript Request” form (printed on pink paper), located inside the Guidance Office door.

Information on Transition between Ontario Colleges, Universities and Indigenous Institutes

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Find the information and tools you need to transfer courses or find pathways to/from Ontario’s public colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes by clicking on the following link:

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Ontransfer.ca

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Joint Programs:

Ontario Colleges and Ontario Universities

Click here for :

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• information regarding collaboration between Ontario colleges and Ontario universities in 2026-2027

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• an overview of the available programs and will indicate where to send your application (OUAC or OCAS)

Quick Facts: College vs. University, in Ontario

Application Fee:

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College –

• $150 for 5 program selections
• max 3 programs at any one college
• NO additional program selections allowed

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University –

• $156 for 3 program selections
• NO more than 3 selections at any one university (including affiliates, e.g. Huron or King’s at Western)
• $50 for each additional program choice

OUAC Program Codes

Every program, at every University, has their own unique OUAC program code.

For example:

The OUAC Program Code for Social Science at Western University (main campus) is EO.

➪ No other program in Ontario uses the EO code.

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OUAC Program Codes

Many programs in Ontario will offer multiple “Majors”

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For example:

The Social Science program at Western University (main campus) offers 27 “Subjects of Major Interest”, including Anthropology, Global Justice, Psychology, Sociology, among 23 others.

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Remember that you are applying to a Program, and NOT a specific Subject of Major interest. Therefore, if you are interested in Psychology and Anthropology, you are still only applying ONCE to the Social Science program (EO).

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-NEVER USE THE SAME OUAC CODE TWICE-

Supplemental Program Fees (Ontario Universities)

Supplemental program fees cover the cost of individual faculty admission processes. The supplemental program fee is non-refundable and you pay it along with your OUAC application fee.

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$60 University of Guelph (Landscape Architecture)

$50 McMaster University (Engineering)

$30 McMaster University (Honours Health Sciences)

$100 University of Toronto (Architecture)

$51 University of Toronto (Commerce)

$51 University of Toronto (Computer Science)

Supplemental Program Fees (Ontario Universities) cont’d

Supplemental program fees cover the cost of individual faculty admission processes. The supplemental program fee is non-refundable and you pay it along with your OUAC application fee.

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$43.86 University of Toronto (Engineering)

$50 University of Toronto (Medical Radiation Sciences)

$70 University of Toronto (Music)

$60 University of Waterloo (Architecture)

$60 University of Waterloo (Engineering)

$25 York University (some programs in the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design)

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Key Dates - College vs. University, in Ontario

College –

• Online applications open

October 10, 2025

• Equal consideration application deadline February 1, 2026
• Conditional offers may be received as early as November 1, 2025
• Conditional offer must be accepted in your OCAS account by May 1, 2026

University –

• Online applications opened

September 18, 2025

• Equal consideration application deadline January 15, 2026
• Conditional offers may be received any time after your OUAC account has been submitted and payment has been received. (The latest date all applicants who applied by January 15 can expect a response from an Ontario University is May 28, 2026)
• Conditional offer must be accepted in your OUAC account by June 1, 2026

Can I Apply for “Early Acceptance”?

There is NO such thing as “Early Acceptance”

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ALL offers of admission to college and university are CONDITIONAL, regardless of the month the conditional offer is received.

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What are the “Conditions” of Your Early Conditional Offer?

1. You must meet all OSSD graduation requirements

• Credit Accumulation - 30 Credits
• Community Involvement - 40 Volunteer Hours
• Literacy Requirement - OSSLT or OLC4O met
• Online Requirement - met or waived

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2. You must maintain the minimum admission average, including prerequisites, as outlined by the college or university in your

conditional offer.

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3. In some cases, a minimum final mark in a specific course(s) will

be required by the college or university in your conditional offer

➪ e.g. a 70% final mark in each of ENG4U, MHF4U, MCV4U, SCH4U,

SPH4U for University of Waterloo Architectural Engineering.

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➪ e.g. a 70% in ENG4C or 60% in ENG4U final mark for Fanshawe College

Police Foundations

• Admission Scholarships – based on admission average, no application required
• University/College Scholarships
• School Specific
• Faculty Specific
• General Scholarships – e.g. TD Scholarship
• Parents’ Employment – e.g. 3M
• Community Organizations – e.g. YMCA

Scholarships / Awards / Bursaries

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➪ Example #1 Western University

• 90% - 91.9% $1500
• 92% - 100% $2500

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• Note: an additional $1000 for optional study abroad experience

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• Top high school admission average $6000

(250 Scholarships available)

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• Note: an additional $2000 for optional study abroad experience

Scholarships:

Admission Scholarships

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➪ Example #2 King’s at Western

• 85% - 89.9% $1500
• 90% - 94.9% $2500
• 95% - 100% $3500

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• Note: these values are for all programs, excluding Arts and Humanities.
• The values for Arts and Humanities students are $2000, $3000, and $4000

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Scholarships:

Admission Scholarships

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➪ Example #3 Huron at Western

• 90% - 92.99% $1500
• 93% - 100% $2500

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• Note: an additional $1000 in the upper year to use toward an international exchange.

Scholarships:

Admission Scholarships

• Recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding character, service, and leadership
• Deadline: October 16, 2025 (12pm ET)
• Value: $100,000
• Minimum Average: 85% in grades 9, 10, and 11
• Up to 36 Scholarships available across Canada

Scholarships: Loran

• Recognizes students who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community leadership
• Deadline: October 22, 2025 (11:59pm ET)
• Value: $70,000
• Minimum Average: 75% in the 2024/2025 school year
• Up to 20 Scholarships available across Canada

Scholarships: TD Scholarship for Community Leadership

• scholarshipscanada.com
• studentawards.com
• scholartree.ca
• ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca
• osca.ca/scholarships-financial-aid/

Scholarships: Online Sources of Scholarship Information

• Scholarships bulletin board outside Guidance office
• Announcements posted on Oakridge Grads 2026 Google Classroom.
• Class code: cyqiop6
• Announcements posted on Scholarship Nominations 2025 – 2026 Google Classroom.
• Class code: n6zqm5u2
• Schedule an appointment with your Guidance Counsellor

Scholarships: Other Sources of Scholarship Information

How to Apply for a Scholarship Requiring a School Nomination

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• Join the Scholarship Nominations 2025 – 2026 Google Classroom.
• Class code: n6zqm5u2

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A separate “Assignment” will be posted for each of the scholarships (next 3 slides) requiring school nomination

Scholarships Requiring a School Nomination: Queen’s Chancellor’s Scholarship

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• Value: $48,000
• Up to 2 nominations
• Details will be posted in the Scholarship Nominations 2025-2026 Google Classroom in October, including the application deadline for submission in the classroom

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• NOTE: you MUST apply to Queen’s University via OUAC by November 20 to be eligible for this scholarship

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Scholarships Requiring a School Nomination: Western National Scholarship

• Value: $30,000 - $100,000
• 4 Nominations + 1 International Student Nomination
• Details will be posted in the Scholarship Nominations 2025-2026 Google Classroom in November, including the application deadline for submission in the classroom

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• Details will be posted in the Scholarship Nominations 2025-2026 Google Classroom in December, including the application deadline for submission in the classroom

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Scholarships Requiring a School Nomination: Schulich Leader Scholarship

• Value: $100,000 (Science / Technology / Mathematics)

$120,000 (Engineering)

• 1 Nomination

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Scholarships Requiring a School Nomination:

Please note, the scholarships requiring nominations on the previous 3 slides may NOT be the only scholarships available that require a school nomination.

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If you discover another scholarship opportunity that requires a school nomination, please contact Ms. Favento as soon as possible.

• A letter of reference is required if you are nominated for a major scholarship
• Please speak with your reference before listing their name and email on an application requiring a school nomination
• Ask a staff member or community contact who knows you well
• Please allow your reference a reasonable amount of time to prepare a letter. We recommend giving a minimum of 2 weeks prior notice.

References

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• OSAP is a combination of grants and loans to help with education costs and basic living expenses
• Grants = money that you do NOT have to repay (some exceptions)
• Loans = borrowed money you must repay which are interest and payment-free while in school full-time

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• Even if you don’t want to accept student loan funding still apply!! You can opt out of the loan portion and receive only the grants you are eligible for.

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• OSAP is not meant to be the only source of funding while in school. It is a supplement – not a replacement.

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ontario.ca/osap

Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)

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• OSAP does not pay for everything – it is meant to supplement other financial resources.

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• Students are generally expected to contribute $3600 per school year towards educational costs.

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• Students can also work while receiving OSAP!! As long as they earn less than $5600 per term while in school it will not affect their OSAP funding.

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ontario.ca/osap

Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)

What is a Bursary?

• Non-repayable grants for students who demonstrate financial need.

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How do I Qualify?

• Generally, to qualify for a bursary, you must also have applied for Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).

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Types of Bursaries:

• Admissions Bursaries – for students entering first year
• Work Study Bursaries – on campus paid positions available to students who demonstrate financial need

Bursaries

Available Thames Valley Education Foundation (TVEF) Awards can be found at the following link:

Thames Valley Education Awards

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• Select “Oakridge S.S.” to search TVEF awards specific to our school.
• The majority of the awards are for graduating students, but some awards apply to grade 10 and 11 students.
• Search individual awards for specific details (e.g. eligibility criteria, deadlines, etc.).

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Further details on the application process for TVEF Awards will be outlined in the Oakridge Grads 2026 Google Classroom in early March 2026.

Thames Valley Education Awards, Bursaries and Scholarships

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Oakridge has the tradition of hosting a Social Graduation in June. Commencement this year will be held on Tuesday June 09, 2026.

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Social Graduation means that students do not have to officially graduate to participate.

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Commencement this year is for ALL students who entered high school in the 2022 – 2023 school year, even if all 3 graduation requirements (30 Credits, Literacy Test, Volunteer Hours) are not met by the end of June 2026 AND/OR even if they plan on returning for an extra year or semester in the 2026 – 2027 school year.

2026 Oakridge Commencement

QUESTIONS