Course Requirements

Students select their courses in Term II for the following school year.  Based on student requests, the timetable is built and staffing decisions are made.  Students must choose courses carefully, as it is sometimes not possible for timetable changes to be made during the new school year.

Changes to elective courses may be made in the first two weeks of the school year if space permits.  A “Course Change” form must be completed and approved by the counsellor before any changes can be made.

GRADE 8 STUDENTS: are required to take 9 courses
  • English Language Arts 8
  • Social Studies 8 or Sciences humaines 8
  • Mathematics 8 or Mathématiques 8
  • Science 8 or Sciences 8
  • Physical and Health Education 8
  • French 8 or Français langue 8
  • Career Education 8
  • Art Education 8: Visual Art, Ceramics & Sculpture, Drama Choir 8, Music Appreciation & Exploration or Music 8
  • Applied Design, Skills and Technology 8 (ADST): This is a four-module course which includes the following modules: Entrepreneurship and Marketing, Computers & Communication Devices, Textiles, Woodwork

GRADE 9 STUDENTS: are required to take 9 courses

  • English Language Arts 9
  • Social Studies 9 or Sciences humaines 9
  • Mathematics 9 or Mathématiques 9
  • Science 9 or Sciences 9
  • Physical Health and Education 9
  • Français langue 9 or Language elective
  • Arts Education Elective
  • Applied Design, Skills and Technology (ADST) elective
  • Career Education 9
Grade 9 Electives:
  • French 9
  • Spanish 9
  • Arts Education 9
  • Visual Arts 9: Ceramics
  • Band 9:  Concert Band
  • Band 9:  Jazz Band
  • Band 9:  Orchestral Strings
  • Choir 9: Concert Choir
  • Drama 9
  • Food Studies 9
  • Media Arts 9
  • Textiles 9
  • Woodwork 9
  • Entrepreneurship and Marketing 10
  • Computer Studies & Information Technologies 10 (for both Gr 9’s and 10’s)

GRADE 10 STUDENTS: are required to take 8 courses and begin to fulfil BC graduation requirements.

  • English Language Arts 10
  • Social Studies 10 or Sciences humaines 10
  • Mathematics 10
  • Science 10 or Sciences 10
  • Physical Health and Education 10
  • Career Life Education 10
  • Français langue 10 or Language Elective
  • Note:  Students receive 4 credits upon completion of each of the courses listed above.
  • An Arts Education or Applied Design, Skills & Technologies elective is required in Grades 10, 11, or 12.
Grade 10 Electives:
  • French 10
  • Introductory Japanese 11
  • Introductory Mandarin 11
  • Introductory Spanish 11
  • Introductory Farsi 11
  • Studio Arts 2D 11
  • AP Art 11: Art Studio 11
  • Studio Arts 3D 11
  • Photography 11
  • Drama 10
  • Drama: Theatre Company 10
  • Drama: Theatre Production 10   
  • Instrumental Music: Concert Band 10
  • Choral Music: Concert Choir 10     
  • Instrumental Music: Orchestral Strings 10
  • Entrepreneurship and Marketing 10
  • Food Studies 11
  • Computer Studies & Information Technologies 10
  • Textiles 11
  • Woodwork 10

GRADE 11 & 12 STUDENTS: will continue to fulfill the British Columbia graduation requirements by taking a selection of required or elective courses.  Students will also work with an advisor in Grades 11 and 12 to fulfill the requirements of Career Life Connections.

Students in Grade 11 are required to take eight courses in addition to Career Life Connections 12A.

Students in Grade 12 are required to take a minimum of seven courses plus Career Life Connections 12B (2 credits). Depending on their program of study, Grade 12 students may choose to take an eighth course.

When the school schedule is on the linear system, students accepted into the Pursuit Program are expected to take a minimum of six courses.

The following chart summarizes the course load options available to students in Grades 11 and 12:

Grade 11 Grade 12 Grade 12
8 courses

AND

Career Life Connections 12A

8 courses

AND

Career Life Connections 12B

7 courses

1 Study

AND

Career Life Connections 12B

Grade 12s – to be eligible for Honour Roll and Scholarships, students must be enrolled in, and complete, 7 face-to face courses (28 credits) at Sentinel.

Graduation Requirements

2018 Graduation Program (Grade 8-11)

Required Courses

Minimum Credits
Language Arts 10 4
Language Arts 11* 4
Language Arts 12 (English Studies 12) 4
Social Studies 10 or Sciences humaines 10 4
Social Studies 11 or 12* or Explorations 11 4
Science 10 or Sciences 10 4
Science 11 or 12* 4
Mathematics 10* 4
Mathematics 11 or 12* 4
Physical Health & Education 10 4
Arts Education or Applied Design, Skills & Technologies 10, 11 or 12* 4
Career Life Education/Career Life Connections + Capstone 8

Total:

52 credits

Elective Courses

Grade 12 level courses 16
Additional Grade 10, 11 or 12 courses 12

Total:

28 credits

At least 4 credits out of the required 80 credits must have an Indigenous focus

Overall Total:

80 credits

Provincial Graduation Assessments: Students must write a Grade 10 Numeracy Assessment and Grades 10 and 12 Literacy Assessments in order to graduate.

* denotes one from a number of course options

** an unlimited number of credits from either ministry or board/authorized or post-secondary courses may count toward graduation

International Student Graduation Credit Policy

To earn a Dogwood Diploma, International students must meet all 2018 BC Graduation Requirements. In addition, there are a number of specific conditions that pertain to International* students. (*International students being defined as those students who have not been educated in either English or French in the previous two years).

  • May earn credit for Language Arts 10, Science 10, and a Mathematics 10 course either by enrolling in the course or challenging the course.
  • New International Grade 11 students need to meet with their counsellor to evaluate course credits from outside of British Columbia.
  • Must earn credit for the following courses through instruction from a British Columbia-certified teacher. No Equivalency review or Challenge process is permitted:

Language Arts 11                                                                                                                Language Arts 12

One of Science 11 or 12                                     One of Mathematics 11 or 12

Social Studies 11 or 12                                                      Career Life Education 10

Career Life Connections

 

Other Graduation Program courses may receive credit through an Equivalency review or Challenge process.

 

A full description of the program and application forms can be obtained from the International Student Office or by visiting the International Program Website at: www.westvanintl.ca

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