The English program in Grades 9 to 12 includes compulsory courses and optional courses. The compulsory courses emphasize strong core competencies in listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and representing. Students choose between course types on the basis of their interests, achievement, and post-secondary goals.
New for September 2020 "Grade 11 English: Aboriginal Voices" NBE3U/C/E
Msgr. John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School community is pleased to announce that effective September 2020 we will be offering a new Grade 11 English curriculum, inspired by Indigenous voices and focused on contemporary literature. These mandatory Grade 11 English courses will explore the themes, forms, and stylistic elements of a variety of literary, informational, graphic, oral, cultural and media text forms emerging from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures in Canada and will reflect our Catholic Graduate Expectations and Catholic Social Teachings. "English: Contemporary Aboriginal Voices" NBE3U/C/E will be offered at all levels (university, college and workplace preparation) to fulfill the mandatory requirement for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and are recognized by all post-secondary institutions.
Strands in the English program
The English program focuses on four strands:
1. Oral Communication
2. Reading and Literature Studies
3. Writing
4. Media Studies
Accelerated Reader program
As part of the course work in all English classes (except 12U), students can participate in the Accelerated Reader (AR) program. In order to earn the 5% allotted to AR, students must pass a minimum of three quizzes based on books they have read. In addition, students must accumulate a minimum number of points as outlined below:
| Grade Level | Course Level | Points |
|---|---|---|
|
Grade 9 and 10 |
Academic |
25 points |
|
Grade 9 and 10 |
Applied |
10 points |
|
Grade 11 |
University |
30 points |
|
Grade 11 and 12 |
College |
15 points |
All quizzes are completed in the Learning Commons (Library) Centre and signed by the teacher-librarian (or designate). Taking quizzes is an individual activity, not for pairs or groups.
All protocols for computer use in the library are as follows:
- Students must sign up for a computer at the circulation desk by displaying their student ID card.
- Students may only take quizzes with the teacher-librarian's knowledge and permission.
- Students may not have books, pens, pencils, paper, cell phones, etc. at the computers during an AR quiz.
- Students may not take an AR quiz until the STAR reading assessment has been completed.
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
All students must meet a literacy requirement in order to graduate high school. In Grade 10, students will write the Ontario Secondary School Literary Test. Students who do not pass the OSSLT on the first attempt can meet the literacy requirement either by rewriting and passing the test or by successfully completing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC). The credit earned for this course may be used to meet the Grade 11 or Grade 12 compulsory credit requirement in English.
