High 5 – Principles to help you on your way

Keep on learning. Strive for continuous personal improvement. Stay motivated by learning new skills and developing new talents. Focus on the journey. Recognize that your career journey will be lifelong. Appreciate each and every experience along the way. Follow your heart. Pursue your passion to find fulfilment. Discover ways to match your interests with career opportunities. Team up with others. Rely on the support of your family, your mentors, and your peers. Make your career success a team effort. Be open to change. Recognize that the world around you is constantly changing. Stay open to that change and remain alert to new opportunities.

Student Success

Ontario's Student Success programs let you build on your strengths and interests as you explore new ways to earn high school credits. Three unique Student Success programs are designed to help you prepare for life beyond high school: Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSMs), dual credits and cooperative education.

Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSMs)

You learn in a real work environment, as well as in school, taking 8 to 10 courses (toward the 30 needed for graduation) in your selected major. At graduation, you receive your OSSD with an SHSM seal and an SHSM record that documents the credits, certifications and other components of the SHSM that you have completed. This SHSM record will be very valuable for you when applying for a job, an apprenticeship, or postsecondary education.

Dual credit

Dual credit programs allow you to earn high school credits toward graduation and either a college diploma or an apprenticeship certification. These programs are geared to students facing challenges in graduating who may thrive on learning opportunities outside of high school and want to benefit from a college experience.

Cooperative education

Cooperative education programs allow you to gain hands-on work experience while earning credits, including two compulsory credits, toward your diploma. You have an opportunity to test different career options in sectors that interest you and to build on your skills. Co-op helps all students, whether you are heading to university, college, apprenticeship, or the workplace.

Promoting settlement and fostering student achievement – Settlement Workers in Schools program

This program places community agency workers in elementary and secondary schools with high numbers of newcomer students. These workers foster newcomer student achievement in schools and support parents with access to settlement resources and programs. Learn more

Learn more

Contact your guidance office and visit Student Success.