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UniversityofAlberta Library 1620 26602 67 Curriculum Handbook SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Parents for Catholic School Version 2007-2008 Further information can be found at: http://www.education.gov.ab.ca LB 1564 C3 A3 /dlberra C872 EDUCATION senior 2007/ 2008 CURR GD HIST Ex LlBRIS Universitatis Albertensis £ Curriculum Handbook SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Parents for Catholic School Version 2007-2008 This Curriculum Handbook provides parents with information about the senior high school curriculum. It includes: • selected learning outcomes for each subject area from the provincial curriculum • links to the Alberta Education Web site where more information can be found • information on personal and career development transitions into work and further learning • a feedback form. Alberta Education This document, along with most Alberta Education documents, can be found on the Web site at http://www.education.gov.ab.ca . Parent documents referenced in this handbook, along with mostAlberta Education documents, are available for purchase from: Learning Resources Centre 12360 - 142 Street Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5L 4X9 Telephone: 780-427-2767 Toll-free: 310-0000 (inside Alberta) Fax: 780-422-9750 Internet: http://www.lrc.education.gov.ab.ca Telephone numbers ofbranches referred to in this handbook canbe reached, toll-free inside Alberta, by dialling 310-0000. Curriculum Branch Learning and Teaching Resources Branch Telephone: 780-427-2984 Telephone: 780^27-2984 Fax: 780^22-3745 Fax: 780-422-0576 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Distributed Learning Resources Branch Learning Technologies Branch Telephone: 780-674-5350 Telephone: 780-415-8528 Fax: 780-674-6561 Fax: 780^22-9157 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] • For information about LearnAlberta.ca First Nations, Metis and Inuit Services Telephone: 780^15-8528 Telephone: 780^15-9300 Fax: 780^22-9157 Fax: 780^15-9306 E-mail: LearnAlberta.Contact@edc. E-mail: [email protected] gov.ab.ca French Language Services Branch Special Programs Branch Telephone: 780^27-2940 Telephone: 780-422-6326 Fax: 780^22-1947 Fax: 780-422-2039 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] LearnerAssessment Telephone: 780^27-0010 Fax: 780^22-4200 E-mail: [email protected] ISSN 1481-9406 Copyright©2007, theCrown in RightofAlberta, as represented bythe MinisterofEducation. Alberta Education, 10044-108StreetNW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 5E6. Permission isgivenby thecopyrightownertoreproduce thishandbook foreducational purposes and on a nonprofit basis. UNIVERSITY LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA Catholic Curriculum Handbookfor Parents: Senior High School TABLE OF CONTENTS v Message from the Minister of Education vi Letter from Bishop Frederick Henry 1 Introduction 1 Finding Information 2 Helping YourChild at Home 3 Senior High School 3 Overview 6 Religious Education 10 Completing Senior High School 10 Alberta High School Diploma Graduation Requirements 16 Required Courses/Programs 16 English Language Arts 21 Mathematics 30 Science 36 Social Studies 41 Information and Communication Technology 43 Physical Education 10 46 Career and Life Management (CALM) 48 Optional Subject Areas 48 Aboriginal Studies 10-20-30 49 Careerand Technology Studies 50 Fine Arts 53 Physical Education 20-30 55 Languages 64 Off-campus Programs 66 Locally Developed Courses 67 Information for Parents 67 Learning in Alberta 68 School Councils 68 School Fees and Fundraising 69 School Choice 70 Information about Curriculum — 70 Curriculum Content Deciding What Students Should Learn — 71 Curriculum Development Who Is Involved in the Process? 71 Ensuring Curriculum Is Current 71 Planning Curriculum Changes 72 Revising Curriculum 72 Implementing Curriculum 73 Aboriginal Education IV CatholicCurriculumHandbookforParents: SeniorHighSchool 74 Supports for Learning 74 Guidance and Counselling 74 English as a Second Language 74 Special Education Needs 76 Distributed Learning 76 Digital Resources toSupport Curriculum Outcomes 77 Knowledge and Employability 78 Assessment 78 Provincial Diploma Examinations 80 Transitions from Senior High School into Work and Further Learning 82 Post-secondary Learning 85 Frequently Asked Questions 87 Feedback Form Catholic Curriculum Handbookfor Parents: Senior High School Message from the Minister of Education The parent's role in today's education system is important to the child's current and future success. It is not always easy for parents to connect to what a child is learning in the classroom. The curriculum cannot always be the central focus with today's busy households and the extracurricular activities pursued by our Kindergarten to Grade 12 students. To connect you with what your child is learning in school, Alberta Education created the Curriculum Handbooks for Parents series. This handy reference tool will assist you in following your child's programs of study. One of the special attributes of Alberta's curriculum is that it is the same for every student at every grade level in every corner ofthe province. I am confident this handbook will provide the opportunity for you to become more engaged in Alberta's curriculum and answer any questions you may have on what your child is learning. I hope this publication will also serve to create an open dialogue between you and your child on curriculum outcomes and expectations. Use this handbook as a window into your child's education and see why Alberta's curriculum is producing the best students in the world. If you have any questions about the content of the andbook, do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher(s). I wish you and your family a successful and enjoyable school year. V Ron Liepert Minister of Education VI ©AlbertaEducation,2007 CatholicCurriculumHandbookforParents: SeniorHighSchool Dear Parents and Guardians: On behalfofthe Catholic Bishops ofAlberta, I wish to express my appreciation to the Government ofAlberta and Alberta Education for providing you this updated Kindergarten to Grade 12 Curriculum Handbooks for Parents. You, parents, are the first and primary educators ofyour children especially with regards to education in the faith. By ensuring that the Gospel is truly lived in the context ofyour family and in the life ofour schools and communities you are a powerful witness for yourchildren. The role ofthe parents is vital in providing the best possible education for our children. When you enroll your children in a Catholic school you can be assured ofour support in your role. I encourage you to work closely with the school byjoining your local school councils or parent groups. You can assist young men and women, boys and girls, to understand themselves as moral persons living the way ofChrist through the experience and teaching ofthe Catholic Church. Be a strong voice for the Catholic identity ofour schools. In this way, you will share in the central mission ofthe Church, which is to proclaim Jesus and his Gospel in the world today and, in so doing, hand on our faith to our children. We commend Alberta Education for providing these updated Curriculum Handbooks for Parents. They provide a comprehensive presentation ofthe content and expectations ofthe Religious Education program approved by the Canadian Conference ofCatholic Bishops. May their use be a source ofgrowth in faith, hope and love in all ofourcommunities throughout Alberta. Sincerely Yours in Christ, Bishop Frederick Henry Diocese ofCalgary Education Liasion, Alberta Conference ofCatholic Bishops Catholic Curriculum Handbook for Parents: Senior High School Introduction — Students learn in a variety ofenvironments in their homes, Website linksforfurtherinformation schools and communities. Parents, teachers and community are provided throughoutthe members form a partnership to assist this learning. handbook. When parents know what children are studying at school, they can provide betterhome support for their children's learning. The Curriculum Handbooksfor Parents are designed to assist parents in participating in their child's educationby fostering an understanding ofwhat students learn at each grade level. Finding Information Parents can find information about the curriculum and learning resources in a number ofways: • Contact teachers or school administrators. http://www.education.qov.ab.ca/k 12/ Curriculum Handbooks contain selected outcomes foreach curriculum/parent.asp subject area from the Alberta programs of study. They provide a more detailed picture ofeach year. This Curriculum Handbook is one of a set from Kindergarten to senior high school produced in general and Catholic versions and in French. They are available on the Alberta Education Web site or for purchase from the LRC. http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k 12/ Curriculum Summaries for each grade level provide a brief curriculum/parent.asp overview ofeach year. The summaries are available on the Alberta Education Web site. http://www.education.qov.ab.ca/k 12/ In Alberta, the provincial curriculum is organized into curriculum/bySubiect/ Programs of Study. They contain learning outcomes for each subject area from Kindergarten to Grade 12. They are legal documents that outline why the educational program is offered, what students are expected to learn and thebasic principles about how students are to achieve the required knowledge, skills and attitudes. School authorities use the Programs of Study to ensure that students meet provincial standards ofachievement. However, they have flexibility to ©AlbertaEducation,2007 CatholicCurriculumHandbookforParents: SeniorHighSchool decide how to teach the curriculum and the order in which it is taught. They are available on the Alberta Education Web site or for purchase from the LRC. http://www.education.qov.ab.ca/lrdb The Authorized Resources Database on the Alberta Education Web site lists Alberta authorized student and teacher resources, most of which are available forpurchase from the LRC. http://www.education.qov.ab.ca The Alberta Education Web site contains information on learning from the early years to adulthood. Helping Your Child at Home Here are some important pointers for you tohelp yourchild learn. • Be positive and encouraging in your approach to learning. It will help yourchild feel confident and enthusiastic about success. • Talk to yourchild about schoolwork and help with homework when you can. • Help yourchild set realistic goals and discuss progress in an encouraging way. • Connect your child's schoolwork with everyday life and use these opportunities for problem solving ineveryday situations. • Keep in touch with teachers about yourchild's progress, including successes and achievements, notjustconcerns. The following resources may help you. Checkyourchild's school foravailability. This resource isavailable for purchase Make School Workfor You: A ResourceforJuniorand SeniorHigh — from the Learning Resources Centre Students Who Want to BeMore Successful Learners Information (LRC). Order onlineat on knowing yourself, getting organized, making every class http://www.lrc.education.qov.ab.ca count, test taking, presenting learning, getting along with others and staying motivated. http://www.education.qov.ab.ca/parents/ Working Together in Mathematics Education- -Ways parents can mathprbk.pdf support student learning in mathematics. — http://www.learnalberta.ca LearnAlberta.ca Web site Online multimedia learning resources that directly relate to the Alberta programs ofstudy. — http://www.2learn.ca/ TELUS ILearn Web site Aneducation/business partnership that provides Internet in-service, support and information for Alberta teachers, students and parents.