Guidance

The Guidance department at College Heights Secondary School is here to support students in fulfilling their dreams and realizing their full potential. We do this by helping students with planning their pathways and supporting their emotional needs. Follow us on ⇒

Your Guidance Team

: Ms. Rivers (Student Success/Credit Recovery)

: Mr. Smith (Guidance Counsellor/Resource Teacher)

: Dave Sevigny (Social Worker)

: Jeff Patrick (CYC)

: Community Addiction Services Available

Student Appointment Request Form

During the school year if a student would like to see someone in guidance for a non-urgent matter they can fill out the following form (click here to access it) . It is checked during school hours.

If this is an emergency, call 911. If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs help:

Guelph/Wellington: 1 844 437 3247 (HERE247)
Dufferin: 519 941 1530 (DCAFS)
KidsHelpPhone: 1 800 668 6868
Compass Community Services LGBTQ+ Support Line: 226 669 3760 (call or text – free and confidential emotional support)
Compass Community Services Walk-In Counselling: Information is available here https://compasscs.org/ or at this link

Tutoring Supports Available

The Ontario Ministry of Education has provided funding to support community based tutoring opportunities for students. This year Upper Grand DSB will be working with The Grove, Streams Community Hubs, The Learning Disabilities Association & Reading Rocks Program, and Tutor Bright. We will share tutoring opportunities as they become available. Please share the following, initial, tutoring supports with your school communities. You may post on websites, social media, and send home print copies if helpful.

The Grove Tutoring (ages 12-26 tutoring support)
- PDF Flyer
- JPG Flyer
TVO Mathify (grades 4-12 Math tutoring support)
- PDF Flyer
- JPG Flyer
*NEW* Tutor Bright (K-12 tutoring)
- PDF Flyer

Course Information

Secondary Schools: Online Learning Graduation Requirement

Pathways Information Guide

School Board Pathways Website: Has information about future programs and pathways.

View all courses offered at College Heights Secondary School and where they can take you. Please download: Pathways Booklet

Grade Nine Course Description/Option Sheet and transition information

See all of the options available in Grade 9 and course selection sheet as well as information sites for transitioning.

Gr 9 Course Selection 2022 2023

Grade 9 Course Calendar

CHSS Prospective Student Information Site ⇒ Prospective Students

Starting High school UGDSB Pathways ⇒ Transitioning to Highschool

All Course Descriptions/Option Sheet

Read up on all of the courses that we offer and grade course selection sheet.

Course Descriptions Combined 2022 2023 *please review course selection sheet for current course offering

Grade 10 Option Form 2023 2024

Grade 11 Option Form 2023 2024

Grade 12 Option Form 2023 2024

Dual Credit Opportunities – Conestoga College

Information about dual credit can be found at the website below. Further details are also down below.

https://www.ugdsb.ca/dualcredit/

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

For more information about the program please visit the following website: https://www.ugdsb.ca/shsm

For an informative SHSM Slide Presentation follow along here ⇒ SHSM Presentation

Visit HERE to see more articles with our school involvement in the SHSM program.

Graduation Requirements

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/graduate.html

Post Secondary Information

Applying to College

Information about applying to college and college programs can be found here.

Students going to college can be eligible to receive financial support through OSAP.

This is up to date information about the process of identification for every college/university – the requirements are NOT the same from school to school. This answers many questions identified students have related to post-secondary. Transition Guide to Post-Secondary

Please speak to the guidance department if you would like support in applying for College we are happy to help.

Transcripts

Official ONTARIO STUDENT TRANSCRIPTS can be ordered by:

Downloading the Request for Ontario Transcript Form from here: Request For Transcript Form Effective Sept. 1, 2019
Maiden Name or Name while attending
Name of School last attended in Upper Grand District School Board
Final Year (if known)
Contact phone number
Date of Birth
Fax completed form to 519-821-4510 or via email to [email protected]
Transcript fee will be $20.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for any additional copies, payable by cash, cheque or money order payable to College Heights SS and must be received before the request is processed payment by school cash online is preferred ⇒ schoolcashonline
Two pieces of government issued ID must be provided for Transcript requests or Education Verifications
If you wish to have someone pick up your Transcript, you MUST provide written permission naming the person. This person will be asked to provide ID as well.
IF YOU ARE APPLYING ON THE OCAS (Ontario Colleges) SITE YOU DO NOT NEED TO FILL IN THIS FORM. Your transcript will be automatically uploaded.

Volunteer/Employment Information

Volunteer Hours

Students need to complete 40 hours of community service to graduate from High School. Students can start this as early as the summer before they enter Grade 9. The form and more information about volunteer hours can be found at the link below:

Community Involvement Form Activity Notification And Completion Revised 2023 Sep 11

Volunteer and Employment Opportunities

Students can connect with the people and information network for help finding volunteer opportunities. https://pinnetwork.ca/

Second Chance is a great resource for students to help them find a job. They have several locations and provide free support around getting a job. https://www.2ndchance.ca/

There are job and volunteer postings on the board outside of guidance. In addition we have some additional opportunities in a binder in Guidance.

Please feel free to speak to someone in Guidance if you would like some help with these opportunities.

Mental Health

If a youth or someone is in crisis please call 911 or Here 24/7 at 1-844-437-3247. This is also the front door to mental health, addition and crisis services in Waterloo and Wellington. More information can be found at their website. http://here247.ca/

The Waterloo Wellington Community Mental Health Association (CMHA) runs a weekly walk-in program. This is often the fastest way to be seen by someone. More information can be found here. This is often the fastest way to be seen by someone.

The school board has a mental health part of their website with a lot of very valuable information. There are links to other resources here as well. Please visit that at the following link. https://www.ugdsb.ca/students/mental-health-for-students/

Dual Credit/OYAP Message for Grade 11/12 College Level Classrooms

Don’t miss out on some exciting opportunities when it comes to Dual Credit and OYAP Level 1 Apprenticeship Programs available to Grade 12 students during the next school year!

Are you a Grade 11 student going into Grade 12 (or a returning Grade 12 student) that would like the chance to take a College course while you’re still in high school?
Are you still undecided about your post-secondary pathway?
Do you want to try something new when it comes to your high school course selections?

Then these programs might be exactly what you’re looking for. There is still time for you to sign up so take a look at the course offerings listed below and speak with your guidance counsellor if you are interested.

If you’re thinking about apprenticeship, you will see that we have some brand new OYAP Level 1 Dual Credit Programs that are being offered during Semester 2 of next year in a number of areas.

https://www.ugdsb.ca/dualcredit/

These programs will allow you to take your Level 1 in-school training for any of the above trades while you’re still in high school — totally for FREE! Tuition, textbooks, some tools, and mileage expenses are all covered. A requirement for this program is that applicants will need to be signed as an apprentice by an employer prior to the beginning of the in-school component in Semester 2. It might be a good idea to consider taking a co-op during Semester 1 or even this summer as part of the Skilled Trades Summer School Co-op Program.

If you have any questions, feel free to email the OYAP/Dual Credit Coordinator, Joanne Harris, at [email protected].