General Guidance Information
Attendance: Regular attendance at school and on-line is critical for a student's learning and achievement of course expectations. The rapid pace and demands of the schedule in Adult and Continuing Education are such that (near) perfect attendance is necessary and expected.
Where, in the principal's judgement, a student's frequent/numerous absences are jeopardizing his/her successful completion of a course, the student will be informed of potential consequences including failure to gain credits.
If absent from a class, students will be expected to get the missed work from a class member or follow the agenda posted by the teacher from the previous day.
Registration: New students - please see the Registration Information located under the Day School tab above. Students currently attending programs in subsequent terms watch for announcements in your Brightspace courses for Advanced Registration information. Ensure your place next term by registering early.
New students from outside the Thames Valley Board will need to obtain a copy of their transcript in order to register.
Course offerings are subject to change. Course lists at registration provide the most current course schedule. Courses run only if there is sufficient enrollment and close when capacity is reached.
Adult Route to a Diploma (OSSD)
Chances are you don't need to earn all 30 of the credits required to graduate as an adult. Credits may be granted to recognize that various experiences in the adult world can produce skills, understanding, and competence in ways that could be equivalent to those gained in formal study.
Equivalent credits are granted for:
- Equivalent secondary education in other provinces or countries
- Training taken equivalent to secondary courses/Canadian Armed Forces
- Life and work experience (parenting/bill payments/home ownership)
- Apprenticeship (training certificate required)
- Prior credits earned in an Ontario high school (older course codes)
To graduate with an Ontario diploma a student must:
- Earn the last 4 credits (minimum) as a mature student. These must be taken at the Senior level - Grade 11 or 12.
- Have a grade 12 English credit - This could be one of ENG4C, ENG4E, ENG4U or OLC4O
- Depending on diploma type: proof of passing the literacy test or OLC4O course.
Students are screened at registration and we do our best to identify any student who is eligible to complete a prior learning assessment (PLAR). You can expect to receive an email to your personal email address when classes have started that contains an electronic PLAR form. Based on the information you provide on this form, supplemental forms may be required. You may also be asked to send copies of Records of Employment, course certificates, rental agreements, old utility bills, etc. to demonstrate the life experiences you have had outside of school.
Be sure to regularly check your personal email you provide us with for updates from your guidance counsellor. If you feel you might be eligible for a PLA or PLAR and were not contacted, you can always request an appointment by emailing adultstudentservices@tvdsb.ca.
Graduation
Potential graduates must complete all course requirements and apply for a diploma to graduate. As you earn your final credit, it is essential that you complete a "Diploma Request". Graduation does not happen automatically nor are diplomas created automatically. You must apply. If you have credits earned from other institutions and do not have an OSSD, you must see a counsellor to get all of your information put together and/or get your PLAR/PLA done before we can graduate you.
| PLAR Information and Procedures |
PLAR - Prior Learning Assessment and RecognitionWhat is PLAR? Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) for mature students provides a quicker way for adults to acquire credits toward a high school diploma. The PLAR assessment process looks at your life and work experiences and can award you credits for that experience, as well as grant equivalent credits for successful completion of assessments.
Who is a Mature Student? A mature student is a student who is:
Who Participates in PLAR? Students who are new to the Ontario secondary school system as of February 1, 2004 and Ontario high school students who were enrolled in an Ontario school in 1999-2000 or later and who are working towards a diploma.
What About Maturity Credits? Students who were enrolled in the Ontario secondary school system prior to 1999 and who continue to work towards their OSSD under OS:IS or HS1 diploma requirement do not have to participate in the PLAR process. These students could be granted credits under the PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) maturity credit process.
Grade 9 and 10 Individual Assessment / Equivalency Process What is it? An individual student assessment / equivalency process for the purpose of granting up to 16 Grade 9 and 10 credits through (a) transcripts, or (b) transcripts and completion of individual assessments, or (C) completion of individual assessments. Students without appropriate transcripts for all or part of the first two years of secondary school will be required to complete an individual assessment in some or all of Grade 9 and 10 English, Mathematics, Science and Canadian Geography/History. Does this program earn a certificate? The principal may grant the OSSC (Ontario Secondary School Certificate) to a mature student following successful completion of the individual assessments. Unlike adolescents, mature students are eligible to receive this certificate and continue to pursue and earn an OSSD in the future.
Grade 11 and 12 Equivalency Process What is it? The process for obtaining credits that involves an evaluation of a mature student's education and/or training credentials and/or other appropriate documentation of learning gained from other programs, courses or work experiences. This is a very individual process and is unique to each student. What is the process?
Points to Remember
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| Post Secondary Information |
Post-Secondary Information for Current Adult Education StudentsCongratulations!! You are moving closer to attending a post-secondary institution.
First Steps Research all post secondary institutions so you are clear on the required courses for your program of interest. You do not need to be done all required courses before you apply. However, you should plan out your schedule to insure you will be able to complete all requirements in time, including any extra requirements (ie. CASPer test, IELTS, portfolios, etc.). Pay attention to deadlines specific to your program and school of interest. Current students can see the information below for further instance with applications. We update this information each Fall to provide the most up-to-date information we have access to. Obtaining Transcripts If the last secondary school or adult learning centre you attended was in another part of the Province of Ontario or in another country, you must contact that school or school board directly. The Thames Valley District School Board does not have access to those records. Former students can obtain a transcript from the Thames Valley District School Board (formerly Middlesex County, Elgin County, Oxford County and City of London school boards)by contacting our Records Department at https://www.tvdsb.ca/en/parents/record-requests.aspx.
Applying to University - See Details Here: ****New Application Process Coming for 2023-24**** Once you have paid and applied, complete the correct online form (101 or 105) to notify your guidance counsellor. Current Students Only
Applying to College - See Details Here: Once you have applied and paid, complete the online form to notify your guidance counsellor. Current Students Only
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to submit out of board transcripts to OCAS, that have been emailed to us from a student. Please order out of board transcripts directly on OCAS. |
| Award & Bursary Information |
Awards for Adult & Continuing EducationThis year the following school awards (only available to Adult Education students) will be available:
Albert & Hazel Dolbear Award - must have taken a family studies course; demonstrate a desire for social change ($250)
Mary Gee Award - supportive of classmates & a promoter of Adult Education ($200)
Roy Sharpe Optimist Award - demonstrates leadership skills & citizenship qualities; promoter of Adult Ed. ($200)
Ralph Mainprize Optimist Award -demonstrates leadership skills & citizenship qualities; promoter of Adult Ed. ($200)
Stephenson Bursary-full time student this year; academic achievement; financial need ($500)
Thames Valley Education Award- graduating student; contributes to school or community positively ($500)
All of these eligible awards are listed at the link below on the Board website under: G.A. Wheable.
There is more description/criterion for each award to expand on what is listed above. You need to consider the criteria to determine if you are a strong candidate to apply for the award, as you will need to explain this on your application.
Each award requires a separate application.
Due Date: May 26, 2023 - Noon
For these awards, please use our specific electronic form: https://forms.office.com/r/NuiUB4V4Mt - Award Application
Please note that you may be contacted regarding other awards, that are available by nomination or grade/course.
For questions regarding awards, please contact Marla Kosterski (m.kosterski@tvdsb.ca) or Leanne MacGregor (l.macgregor@tvdsb.ca).
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