Alexander Henry ??? About diplomas

[EyelashExtensions]

I'm wondering if French is offered at the Henry and if not how are students expected to receive their diploma if its not?

[Madmax]

You take a substitute course for it as french is not compulsory in which many seem to think it is, as i never took any french in High School, well except french lessons from certain girls... /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

[EyelashExtensions]

I was just reading over the guidelines for a secondary diploma, but that explains it if it can be substituted.

[goodasgold]

When my husband and I were in highschool he was allowed to take another english credit course to substitute for French. His grades were not high in grade school and because of his dyslexia he was able to opt out of it. My cousin had the same thing happen it him also.

[Karen-Annie]

The "Hank" does not deserve the somewhat derogatory reputation it has.It was the one place where my daughter was given the tools she needed to cope with her dyslexia.Had she struggled through "regular" high schools either she would have dropped out or not learned how to cope with her "disability".As it is,she eventually wound up making the National Honor Society and National Dean's List for 2-year colleges in the US. She sure wouldn't be where she is today if we didn't have the Henry...and she is able to help the little kids who might be struggling because she has gone through it herself.

(I know this is a little off topic,lizzardskills,and will remove it if you wish....but it bugs me when parents and kids are hesitant about Alexander Henry because of it's rep)

[Intangible]

I don't think that you get a regular Ontario Secondary School Diploma from the Henry. It is a different type of diploma I think, as the Henry is an "essentials" level school. Therefore, I don't think you have to have French.

[Madmax]

You need a regular OSSD diploma from the henry, but some of the courses are easier for people with learning disbilities to achieve their OSSD. It is less advanced math techniques and a lessor english as opposed to any of the other high schools.

[Macs II]

What I remember henry was for struggling/problem kids who couldn't make it in regular high school. French? ..I have no idea

[Madmax]

The henry does not offer french as far as i know, but you can substitute it for a second gym class or something else.

[curious1]

Sorry Lizzardskills if I am also off topic and I also will remove it if you wish, but felt I had to comment

Thank you Karen-annie for your positive comments regarding Alexander Henry High School !!!!

I have had family members who attended and they were on the receiving end of derogatory remarks because they attended Alexander Henry High School.

The teachers are a Very Special Group of Educators.
They have a certain something that the students admire, and I have heard them referred to as "awesome"

I have the pleasure of knowing some Graduates who have gone on to Post Secondary Education and like your daughter, would not be where they are today if it wasn't for education they were able to get attending Alexander Henry.
Congratulations to your daughter on her achievements and wishing her success in her chosen field

[EyelashExtensions]

Karen and Curious I don't mind at all....going off topic. The reason I am asking is because my step daughter wants to go the Alexander Henry rather then go to Bawating. I think she should attend Bawating but she doesn't. I would like her to get a regular diploma and she really doesn't care either way. I do think the Alex Henry could benefit her but I would like her to try Bawating first because once she attends Alex. Henry she can't go to any other school. It may be to easy for her and she will get bored...and I don't want that. She has no interest in school or her education which is making this a very touchy and hard subject. Thanks for all the info!

[Barney Rubble]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Macs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What I remember henry was for struggling/problem kids who couldn't make it in regular high school. French? ..I have no idea </div></div>

i went to korah & was told the same c-r-a-p about the Henry. Looking back, they had/have a great technical schooling & wouldve had no problem going there instead of another academic school.
JMO

[Tutones]

You do not receive a regular OSSD from Alexander Henry. You receive a certificate. In order to receive your OSSD you would have to transfer to another high school and successfully complete all the necessary compulsory courses.

Having said this, there are many students who graduate with an OSSD at other High Schools who DO NOT have a french credit. Students can be exempted from grade in nine french at the request of their parents for a number of reasons, although I am not sure what the specifics are.

btw - lizzardskills, your daughter can transfer from Alexander Henry to any other High School provided she does well in her courses and her teachers recommend it as a wise choice.

I agree that Alexander Henry is a great place for struggling students to find themselves. The student to teacher ratio is much lower and students are removed from the stress of trying to keep up with curriculum that may go by too quickly. Learning Disabled students get lost in a class of 30 and it is not always possible for the teachers to spend the time with them that they need to be successful. It is more important for students to learn at THEIR pace. Good luck to your daughter!

[EyelashExtensions]

Thanks for the information Tutones....I knew there were some teachers on here.

[Chako]

Check your PM /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

[Jackie B]

My gramma had five children, and I always remember her saying that the only 2 or 3 our of them that actually graduated, was from the Henry. The ones that went elsewhere never finished.

[GRUMPY]

.

[Jackie B]

Thank you for that thought provoking post there grumpy...LOL

[Karen-Annie]

My daughter was able to go to Sault College after graduating from the Henry.Now,she couldn't have gone to university with the high school diploma she had-but we knew that what she wanted to do with her life was more suited to community college anyway.

She did 3 years at the Hank and then thought she would like to get some general level courses and switched to a "regular" high school.BAAAAAAAAAAD mistake.The teachers had no idea how to help her deal with her dyslexia.It was a totally wasted year and towards the end she was skipping out because she was getting nothing from being there.Back to the Henry she went for a year then on to Sault College.

The questions you have to ask are "What does my child want to do with his/her life?Is it a realistic goal?How best can he/she prepare him/her self to achieve that goal?Where will my child get the tools he/she needs to succeed?"

I am quite certain that my daughter would NOT be where she is today had it not been for Alexander Henry.

[lk_wicked]

For the record: although french is stated that it is required for a grade 12 diploma. Certain students can be exempted. Students with learning disabilities, have a hard enough time with their english skills and math skills, and lets face it, unless french is their mother tongue, its kind of cruel to force them to take a course in another language when they can barely manage their first language. Discuss exempting your child from french if they have such large hurdles to deal with in english already. I would have loved all of my children to take french, and even raised one child in the french emersion system. However, some kids just cant grasp math or science or english in their mother tongue. So why throw those kids under the bus and not give them a diploma if they successfully managed their other hurdles. Common sense prevails. Your child can be exempted from french and can simple take a different elective for that credit.

The students at the Henry are often exempted because of learning disabilites. Students with learning disabilites can be exempted from taking french at all of the schools in this city, both elementary and secondary. You have to discuss those concerns with the principle and sometimes even with the Board of Education superintendent.

[lk_wicked]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tutones</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You do not receive a regular OSSD from Alexander Henry. You receive a certificate. In order to receive your OSSD you would have to transfer to another high school and successfully complete all the necessary compulsory courses.

Having said this, there are many students who graduate with an OSSD at other High Schools who DO NOT have a french credit. Students can be exempted from grade in nine french at the request of their parents for a number of reasons, although I am not sure what the specifics are.

btw - lizzardskills, your daughter can transfer from Alexander Henry to any other High School provided she does well in her courses and her teachers recommend it as a wise choice.

I agree that Alexander Henry is a great place for struggling students to find themselves. The student to teacher ratio is much lower and students are removed from the stress of trying to keep up with curriculum that may go by too quickly. Learning Disabled students get lost in a class of 30 and it is not always possible for the teachers to spend the time with them that they need to be successful. It is more important for students to learn at THEIR pace. Good luck to your daughter! </div></div>


YOU CAN GET A REGULAR OSSD FROM ALEXANDER HENRY....THAT STATEMENT IS NOT CORRECT. HOWEVER, SAYING THAT, THE HENRY DOES OFFER A CERTIFICATE FOR GRADUATING, THAT DOES NOT HOLD THE SAME WEIGHT AS THE REGULAR DIPLOMA. AT ANY HIGHSCHOOL, STUDENTS CAN ALSO RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE STATING THEIR CHILD HAS COMPLETED A MINIMUM OF 14 CREDITS IN THAT HIGHSCHOOL.

ALSO SINCE YOUR DAUGHTER WANTS TO GO TO THE HENRY AND YOU WANT HER AT BAWATTING, IT WOULD BENEFIT YOU TO KNOW, THAT MANY OF THE STUDENTS GO TO BOTH SCHOOLS. THEY ATTEND BAWATING FOR COURSES THEY CAN HANDLE AND THE ATTEND THE HENRY FOR THOSE COURSES WHICH ARE OVERWHELMING TO THEM. I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO IN AND TALK TO THEM AT THE HENRY OR BAWATTING TO SEE HOW TO SETUP SUCH A SCHEDULE AND SELECT THE COURSES THAT MOST BENEFIT YOUR DAUGHTER

[lk_wicked]

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) Requirements

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earn 18 compulsory credits.

4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)

3 credits in Mathematics (at least one credit from grade 11 or 12)

2 credits in Science

1 credit in Canadian Geography

1 credit in Canadian History

1 credit in the Arts

1 credit in Health and Physical Education

1 credit in French as a second language

0.5 credit in Civics

0.5 credit in Career Studies

1 additional credit in English, or a third language, or social sciences and the humanities or Canadian and world studies, or guidance and career education, or cooperative education.

1 additional credit in health and physical education, or the arts, or business studies, or cooperative education.

1 additional credit in science (grade 11 or 12), or technological education (grades 9 - 12), or cooperative education.

*A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education can count as compulsory credits


Earn 12 optional credits from the school's course calendar.

Complete 40 hours of community involvement.

Pass the Ontario Secondary Literacy Test.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) Requirements
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Earn 14 credits (including 7 compulsory credits).

2 credits in English

1 credit in Canadian Geography or Canadian History

1 credit in Mathematics

1 credit in Science

1 credit in Health and Physical

1 credit in the Arts or Technological education


7 elective credits

Students are not required to complete 40 hours of community involvement.

Students are not required to pass the Ontario Secondary Literacy Test.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Certificate of Accomplishment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Students who leave school before fulfilling the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the Ontario Secondary School Certificate may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment.

[Chako]

There are lots of misconceptions about Alexander Henry in our community. I will not go into it in greater detail.

Young At heart is quite correct. Lizzardskills, please check your PM.

[Tutones]

I do apologize and stand corrected. I knew Chako would have the facts.

Misinformation was passed on to me from within my school. I will be sure to clear it up next fall /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

[lk_wicked]

no need to apologize. I just wanted to clarify things. Alexander Henry is an incredible school, they have an amazing technical department, and there have been amazing students come from that school. Their team efforts is in the best interest of their students, working in conjunction with Bawating is well known.

I have two children with learning disabilites, and am aware of whats available to them through the educational system, because of my need to advocate on my children's behalf. I have four other children without learning disablities.

ANd the public board of education has exceeded beyond my expections in their support and assistance for all of my children.

You can even request meetings with your childs school and teachers to discuss your concerns and your child's individual needs. I did, and included my child in those discussions once we hit highschool The teachers, myself and my son, met at the beginning of each new semester, and my son was able to explain what his feelings are concerns were with the plans we set out for him. It empowered him and gave him choices, and also taught him to advocate on his own behalf.

He hasnt graduated yet, so the struggle continues. Good luck with your child.

and thank you tutones for your input aswell.

[Chako]

I agree. No need to apologize. My misconception comment was not aimed towards your statement Tutones...just to clear up the muddy waters. /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

[Karen-Annie]

When my daughter decided to go a "regular" school,I was not impressed at Parents' Night-for either the first or second semester.Not ONE of her teachers had been told about her dyslexia and how to work around it.I asked every one of them what the use was of having a student's file follow them to their new school if nobody bothered to read it and pass on the concerns to the teachers.Nobody had an answer.And when I described the form her dyslexia takes and what they had to do compensate,they looked at me like I had two heads.The Hank has some pretty amazing teachers and we are darn lucky to have that school and those teachers.Sometimes ya just can't force a square peg through a round hole-at the Henry,they know how whittle down those square corners so the student will fit through the round holes of life post-highschool.

[Macs II]

Everyone knows in reality it's a school for dummies..sure some students need it and that's why it serves it's purpose.

[Chako]

Macs..you are such an idiot that sometimes I am just speechless.

[adigirl]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Macs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Everyone knows in reality it's a school for dummies..sure some students need it and that's why it serves it's purpose. </div></div>

Macs!!! That is not true at all. the Henry is set up for kids that learn differently. They are not dummies in the slightest. The school meets their needs on a specialized skills level.

Some of those kids have serious esteem issues because of comments like yours. And the more they hear that negative comment, the more they believe it. Sooner or later they give up and act out.

Words can have a more powerful affect with kids that slapping them can. We have to be careful of the messages we send out to our kids.

[MaO3]

Wow that comment was rude and uncalled for Macs. /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/no_no.gif

[Karen-Annie]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Macs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Everyone knows in reality it's a school for dummies..sure some students need it and that's why it serves it's purpose. </div></div>

Yeah,my "dummy" daughter made the National Dean's list and National Honour Society in college.That's how much of a dummy she is.

Once again you're demonstrating your head is filled with stereotypes that you hang onto despite all the evidence showing you're wrong.Ya need a good slap upside the head.God forbid that you pass your attitudes on to your children-what a fine example you set for them.

[tippikitty]

Don't make me bring my dog over there Macs!

[Super Gram]

I am well aware of Macs attitude on this board to some people Karen so don't worry about it. Just ignore it.