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Pickering College launches two new initiatives: enhanced math curriculum and high performance student program
A key component to Pickering College’s continuing commitment to academic excellence is the ability to provide opportunities for individual students to flourish.
Enhanced Mathematics Curriculum
In an effort to address both the challenging leap from Grade 8 to Grade 9 mathematics and the desire to introduce an enhanced mathematics curriculum in the Senior School, the teachers and administrators have created an enhanced mathematics curriculum for Grades 8 through 12. This curriculum will simultaneously better prepare our Junior School students for Senior School Mathematics at the academic level and create a stream of classes beginning in Grade 9 designed to accomplish the completion of Advanced Placement Calculus by Grade 12. Advanced Placement courses are accepted by many universities and, upon review, may be accepted as a university-level credit.
Starting this month, Mr. Chan will be teaching a rigorous linking curriculum to all Grade 8 students to better ensure their preparedness for the Grade 9 curriculum.
In addition, beginning in the fall, students who are high achievers in mathematics and who have applied and been accepted, will be enrolled in the enhanced stream of Grade 9 Mathematics. This class will move at a quicker pace, reaching ahead into the Grade 10 curriculum where appropriate, with the goal of completing one quarter of the Grade 10 course by the end of Grade 9. The stream will continue in both Grades 10 and 11, reaching ahead where possible, culminating with the opportunity to enrol in Advanced Placement Calculus in Grade 12. In addition to greater scope of content, enhanced classes will endeavour to cover each topic to a greater and more challenging depth, as well as prepare students with the problem solving and critical thinking skills required for advanced mathematics studies and high performance on national mathematics contests.
Students going into Grade 9 who wish to pursue this program should complete the application package available by clicking here. Students going into Grade 10 who wish to pursue this program should complete the application package by clicking here. Some additional work will be provided to these students over the course of the summer to reinforce certain concepts and better prepare those students for the quicker pace of the enhanced stream.
Students not in the enhanced stream will continue with the Grade 9 Academic Mathematics programming as usual.
Students in Grade 10 for the 2010-2011 will also have the opportunity to apply for an enhanced stream. In this first year, the Grade 10s in this class will also increase the scope and depth of content covered in preparation for advanced mathematics studies and mathematics contests. However, it may not be possible for these students to cover all content required to complete AP Calculus in just two years.
This is an exciting enhancement to our current Mathematics programming at Pickering College.
High Performance Student Program
Pickering College High Performance Students are Pickering College students, who by virtue of very high levels of training and time commitments outside of school find it difficult to manage a full course load in high school. While often athletes, students in this program may also be artists or performers in non-athletic endeavours that require extensive commitment.
By virtue of flexible programming, students who qualify for this program may have the opportunity to carry a lighter course load, pursue online work, or have relaxed in-class schedules in order to permit attendance in other endeavours. Depending on the activity, it may be possible to earn academic credit while training and performing outside of school.
For non-athletes, this will be considered on a case-by-case basis with credit requirements determined at that time. For more information, please contact Ms. Gina Benvie, Director of Guidance.
For athletes, the following guidelines apply to earning the listed Physical Education credits.
The High Performance Student Athlete Program at Pickering College is designed to offer support and greater flexibility for students who are regularly involved in an individual or team sport (at an elite level*) outside of school. The mission of the program is “to assist exceptional student-athletes in achieving their academic potential while striving for athletic excellence.”
Features of the High Performance Student Athlete (HPSA) Program:
- Enrolment in “Personal and Fitness Activities” course – PAF1O (Grade 9), PAF2O (Grade 10), PAF3O (Grade 11), or PAF4O (Grade 12) (a maximum of one course per year may be taken).
o Each course carries a credit value of 1.0 (an equivalent study period [one 75 minute block every second school day] can therefore be used for work in other courses).
o Most of the course time commitment is completed through the training time for the student’s sport (completed outside of school hours).
o 15 hours are earned from the successful completion of health and leadership assignments throughout the year.
- Bi-weekly meetings (or additionally, as required) with HPSA advisor to discuss overall academic performance, school/sport balance, and other issues.
Admission Requirements for the HPSA Program:
√ The student must be identified as an “elite level” athlete by his/her provincial sport association. While individual consideration will be granted for each applicant, this level of athletic performance would usually be mirrored by participation at the provincial or national level. *Hockey players must be playing at the AAA level to meet this eligibility requirement.
√ The student’s primary coach must have full Level 2 (or equivalent) (technical, theoretical, and practical components) certification from the National Coaching Certification Program [NCCP].
√ The student must be involved in a minimum of 15 hours per week (for at least six months) of training for his/her sport.
*The High Performance Student Athlete Program Advisory Committee reserves the right to refuse any applicant to the program.
Students who wish to pursue this program should complete the application package available by clicking here. If you would like more information, please contact Ms. Gina Benvie, Director of Guidance.
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