Guidance

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Guidance is an area where students can receive assistance with educational planning, career goals, personal counselling, or referrals to outside agencies.  Guidance counsellors are teachers with additional expertise in the area of Guidance and Career Education and are trained to help students make informed decisions about their future.

 Guidance Team

GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT HEAD

T. Craig

GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS

K. Dearn

L. Stout

C. Valjakka

STUDENT SUCCESS

J. Derylo

M. Hurd

GUIDANCE SECRETARY

B. Anderson Ext. 231020

 Guidance Appointments
 HOW TO BOOK A GUIDANCE APPOINTMENT 2022-23
Before booking an appointment, we kindly request that you review the
Guidance Google Classroom to ensure the information is not posted
there.
  1. Go to https://guidanceinterview.com/s/phs/
  2. Login in with your Gmail credentials

 

Making an Appointment
  1. Click Request Appointment at the top of the page , if it is not already
    selected.
  2. Select a reason for your appointment from the list.
  3. Select a counsellor from the Guidance Counsellor list (we do not assign
    counsellors at PHS). You must select a counsellor for your booking to be
    processed.
  4. If you would like to provide additional information about your
    appointment, enter that information in the Note to Guidance Counsellor
    box.
  5. Click View Appointments 
  6. Find an appointment date and time that you can attend and click Book
    to schedule your appointment.
If you are having difficulty with these instructions, please contact our
guidance secretary by phone (905-683-4760) or email Guidance.PickeringHS@ddsb.ca

At the time of your appointment, you must show your teacher your

electronic appointment slip. You will also be required to show your teacher
an admit slip upon returning to class.

 Student Registration
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

Verify your eligibility to attend Pickering High School by clicking the DDSB Find My School link.

TRANSFER FROM A CURRENT DDSB SCHOOL

Please follow the instructions outlined on the Pre-Admission Instruction Document.

 

STUDENTS NEW TO DDSB OR RETURNING FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL BOARD

Please follow the instructions outlined on the

  1. Pre-Admission Instruction Document

  2. Click DDSB Online Registration Link and follow New student or Returning student instructions.

  3. Wait for an email from PHS Guidance for next step.

 

Graduation Requirements
Please click on the link to see the graduation requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

 PHS Course Calendar & myBlueprint

Please click the myBlueprint button below for a link to myBlueprint course calendar information.

myBlueprint

Click on PHS Course Calendar button for PHS course calendar (information about all courses offered at PHS) at a glance.

PHS Course Calendar

Click on the button below to enter DDSB myBlueprint login page.

DDSB myBlueprint

Log In to MyBlueprint

  • Go to www.myBlueprint.ca/ddsb or click the DDSB myBlueprint button above
  • Click ‘School Account Log In’
  • Enter your school email/username and password

French Immersion Certificate Requirements
  • Durham District School Board (DDSB) has a French Immersion program that allows students to become proficient and fluent in French as well as English. Students who complete the elementary and secondary French Immersion program should be versed and confident enough in French to allow them to study French in post-secondary or accept employment in a French-speaking environment.
  • Generally, the program a student selects at the secondary school level is determined by the total number of hours of French instruction accumulated by the end of Grade 8: - a minimum of 600 for Core French - a minimum of 1260 for Extended French - a minimum of 3800 for French Immersion
  • In order to earn a Certificate of French Immersion Studies, students must complete a minimum of ten (10) French Immersion courses which must including four “FIF” – French Immersion courses (one per grade level).

Grade 9: FIF1DF French Immersion /SNC1WF Science / CGC1DF Geography /HIF1OF Exploring Family Studies

Grade 10: FIF2DF French Immersion /CHV2OF CIVICS&GLC2OF Careers /CHC2DF History /TGJ2OF Communication Technology

Grade 11: FIF3UF French Immersion /CGG3OF Travel and Tourism /HSP3UF Into to Anthropology, Psychology & Sociology

Grade 12: FIF4UF French Immersion /CGW4UF World Issues

 

DELF Information Sheet

 

Senior students may also select FIF2D9 CO-OP (1 English and 1 French credit) or 1 credit peer helping.

Note: Although it is our intention to offer the French Immersion courses listed above, Pickering High School reserves the right to substitute other French Immersion courses due to student demand and/or the availability of qualified teachers.

Gifted Certificate Requirements
  • Ontario Ministry of Education defines giftedness as an unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability that requires differentiated learning experiences of a depth and breadth beyond those normally provided. Your child must be identified as gifted by an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) in order to be placed in a gifted program.
  • All curriculum in the Gifted courses parallels the regular program but provides differentiated instruction (enrichment) to meet the specific needs of students in the Gifted program.
  • In order to earn a certificate of Gifted studies, students must complete a minimum of eight (8) courses that have been designated as gifted courses, including a minimum of one grade 11 gifted course.

Listed below are the Gifted courses currently available:
Grade 9: ENL1WG English CGC1DG Geography MTH1WG Mathematics SNC1WG Science
Grade 10: ENG2DG English CHC2DG History MPM2DG Mathematics SNC2DG Science
Grade 11: NBE3UG English MCR3UG Mathematics

Note: Although it is our intention to offer the Gifted courses listed above, Pickering High School reserves the right to substitute other Gifted courses due to student demand and/or the availability of qualified teachers.

Elective Course Information

 Please review the different elective courses from different departments at PHS!

 

 Arts
 Business/Computer Science/Law
 Canada World Studies
 English
 Mathematics
 
 Moderns/French Immersion/Languages
 Physical Education

 
 Science
 Social Sciences and Humanities
 Technology
 CO-OP Education

 Grade 8
 

Welcome Grade 8 Students!

 

 

What to Expect in 2024/2025:

  • Guidance Visit to the Elementary Schools

    • Course selection presentation TBD 

  • Grade 8 Parents Information Night (Regular Program/French Immersion/Gifted): 

    • Thursday, February 6th, 2025 at PHS from 5 - 7 pm

    • If you attend one of our family of schools please contact them directly for the registration information.  If you do not currently attend a DDSB school that feeds to PHS, please contact guidance.pickeringhs@ddsb.ca for the registration information.

  • Online Course Selection

    • Grade 8 students from our Family of Schools must submit their course selections for Grade 9 online through myBlueprint. 
 Grade 9 Program at PHS

  • Compulsory Courses:

    • 1 English

    • 1 Math

    • 1 Science

    • 1 French

    • 1 Geography

  • 3 Electives:

    • 1 Art Credit

      • Vocal Music

      • Instrumental Music

      • Drama

      • Visual Arts

    • 1  Physical Education
    • 1 Technology and Skilled Trades (can be taken in Grade 9 or 10)

    • 1 Other

      • Exploring Family Studies

      • Building the Entrepreneurial Mindset

      • Gap Closing Math

French Immersion Courses (Recommendation of at least 3 FI Classes)
Elective:

  • Exploring Family Studies

Gifted Course Package

  • English

  • Math

  • Science

  • Geography
 Community Involvement Hours
  • Every student must complete 40 hours of Community Involvement in order to graduate.

  • Check the Pickering High School website to review the Board's guidelines about where your involvement hours can be completed.

  • You can start your hours only after you have graduated from Grade 8 (Starting July).

  • Complete the Community Involvement Activities form. Submit the form to your school. You will need a principal's signature if the activity is not on the DDSB list of examples or if the activity is one of "school community service."
 New To PHS Tip Sheet
Plan Your Route

  • There are navigational signs posted throughout the school identifying which hall you’re in, which offices and classrooms are in that hall, and which direction are nearby hallways.

  • Ask a teacher for assistance at any time – we get turned around looking for specific classrooms sometimes, too!

Get Involved

  • There are so many different kinds of opportunities at PHS … find the ones that are right for you and jump right in!

  • Student Activity Council

  • Athletics

  • Clubs and Events

  • The Arts (visual art, music, drama)

Stay on Top

  • Assignments, tests, presentations, and homework will all pile up on you quickly. Keep yourself organized by using your agenda every single day, ask for help from your teachers, and know how to maximize your time and talents to earn the highest marks you possibly can! 

"Go to" People

  • If questions or problems arise, be sure to voice them to someone who can help you.

  • Your classroom teachers or any other teachers in the halls

  • Office staff (secretaries, vice-principals, etc.)

  • Guidance Counsellors

  • Guidance Student Ambassadors
Elective Course Brochures
Helpful Resources

 

 Grade 9

 

INDIVIDUAL PATHWAY PLANNING

The IPP must be completed by all students twice a year, once in December and again in May.  The IPP is a planning tool for students as they move through high school towards their post secondary destination. The information collected in the IPP can also be used to create resumes, discover learning styles, search career opportunities, and explore post-secondary programs. Completing an IPP each year helps students make the right course selections and will help guide them toward their future pathway.

IPP my Blueprint Instructions

 

 

 Grade 10

 

INDIVIDUAL PATHWAY PLANNING

The IPP must be completed by all students twice a year, once in December and again in May.  The IPP is a planning tool for students as they move through high school towards their post secondary destination. The information collected in the IPP can also be used to create resumes, discover their learning styles, search career opportunities, and explore post-secondary programs. Completing an IPP each year helps students make the right course selections and will help guide them toward their future pathway. 

IPP my Blueprint Instructions

 

 Grade 11

Post Secondary Planning Parent Night Presentation



INDIVIDUAL PATHWAY PLANNING

The IPP must be completed by all students twice a year, once in December and again in May.  The IPP is a planning tool for students as they move through high school towards their post secondary destination. The information collected in the IPP can also be used to create resumes, discover their learning styles, search career opportunities, and explore post-secondary programs. Completing an IPP each year helps students make the right course selections and will help guide them toward their future pathway. 

A copy of the student pathway presentation can be found in their Guidance Google Classroom.

IPP my Blueprint Instructions

 Grade 12
INDIVIDUAL PATHWAY PLANNING

The IPP must be completed by all students twice a year, once in December and again in May. The IPP is a planning tool for students as they move through high school towards their post secondary destination. The information collected in the IPP can also be used to create resumes, discover their learning styles, search career opportunities, and explore post-secondary programs. Completing an IPP each year helps students make the right course selections and will help guide them toward their future pathway.

IPP myBlueprint Instructions

 

 Post Secondary

 Post Secondary Pathway Presentation

 

 Universities
Ontario Universities Information - search all programs and universities in Ontario
 Colleges
Ontario Colleges - search all programs and colleges in Ontario



Financial Planning/Scholarships/OSAP

Show me the Money

Myth: There is a “scholarship season”.

  • Scholarships and awards are available throughout the year and new ones pop up all the time.  Start looking in grade 10 and 11 so you are prepared and organized when it comes time to apply.

Myth:  Scholarships are only for top students or those in financial need.

  • You can win money for being nice (the June Callwood Harmony Scholarship), for being creative (the Stuck at the Prom contest), as well as, awards for playing minor hockey or ringette as a kid, cheerleading, being tall or a new Canadians, you just have to go look for them.

 

Where can I find scholarship and bursary information?

 School
  • PHS scholarship and bursary commencement package (available in the spring)
  • Bulletin board outside of Guidance
 Database Websites
 Search Engines
 Using various search engines (Google, Yahoo, etc.), type in some of the following words to obtain more information:  scholarships, bursary or awards. 
 Scholarships for Specific Universities and Colleges
 Go to individual university and college websites to research scholarships.  Some things to look for are as follows:
  • Entrance scholarships and bursaries
  • Faculty scholarships and bursaries
  • University scholarships and bursaries
  • Financial aid offices throughout the school year 
 OSAP - Ontario Student Assistance Program
 Financial help for students attending university and college.

  • Is your child making plans to attend college or university next fall? Visit Ontario.ca/OSAP to see what financial aid is available to help pay for tuition and other expenses.

  • This year, about one-third of students attending college or university full-time are receiving free tuition from OSAP. Visit Ontario.ca/OSAP and use the calculator to see what your child may be eligible to receive from OSAP.

  • Apply early and use the OSAP comparison tool to help your child make the best choice for their future.

 

Find out more and apply at: http://www.ontario.ca/osap

 
 Parents'/Guardians' & Student's Employers
 Check with your employer or a family member's employer to see if they offer any scholarships, grants or bursaries.
 Community
Check with organizations that you are involved with (banks, unions, churches, sports clubs, girl guides, etc…) to see if they offer any financial awards.

 

​​Need help with your scholarship applications? 

 

Check out the following websites and information:
 8 Tips for Submitting a Great Scholarship Application - By Student Awards

 1.  Passion for the Subject - Only apply for an award if you actually have an interest in the subject matter. Your passion or disinterest will be reflected in your writing. 

 

2.  Research - Do the appropriate background work and find out exactly what a specific scholarship panel is looking for. Read the rules and regulations / terms and conditions. 

 

3.  Clarity of Thought - Be clear and concise. “How” you communicate is just as important as “what” you’re trying to communicate. Answer the essay question and only provide relevant information. Do not go over the word limit count. 

 

4.  Not a Résumé - Your scholarship application essay is not a substitute for your résumé so don’t simply re-write your résumé in essay form. Don’t list, discuss! Expand on your personal experience and clearly articulate your goals. 

 

5.  Structure, Spelling & Grammar - Be aware of proper essay structure. Always double-check your spelling & grammar and have someone proof read your work. 

 

6.  References – Ideally, references should be professionals at your school or organization who can vouch for your participation. Inform your references and make sure that their contact information is up to date. Assume that the scholarship administrator will check your references. 

 

7.  Complete All Requirements - Follow the instructions and make sure that you have collected and provided all the required materials. Making a checklist of all the elements will help. 

 

8.  Don’t Miss the Application Deadline - Apply early and don’t procrastinate. Give yourself plenty of time to fill out the application and to gather required documents (reference letters and transcripts). 

 

REMEMBER TO START EARLY AND PLAN AHEAD!

 

 Night School/Summer School
 
You MUST get permission from the Pickering High School Guidance Department BEFORE registering for a night school or summer school course.
  • Durham Continuing Education is responsible for night school offerings.

Continuing Education

Alternatives to Day School are available at the Durham Continuing Education website.

Check out for information and opportunities on:

  • Learn at Home
  • Summer School
  • Night School