Our annual course selection process takes place in February. Course selection for Grades 9-12 in 24-25 must be completed online through PowerSchool from February 8 – 21, 2024. We kick-off the process with separate grade-specific parent and student meetings hosted by our Administration & Academic Counselling teams to outline and review the programs, pathways, and academic options available to students at each grade level.
Student Meetings:
Our Academic Counselling Team will be meeting at the end of January and beginning of February with all of our current Grade 8s, 9s, 10s, and 11s to review the course selection process. Follow-up Grade level meetings, as well as individual meetings, will also be done at this time. Students with specific questions related to a particular course or regarding their own individual education plan and/or goals are encouraged (after speaking with their parents) to review the 2024-2025 Course Programming Guide, speak directly with an Academic Counsellor, or consult their current teachers.
Parents and the Course Selection Process:
Parents obviously play a massive role in this process. We have encouraged our students to sit down with their family to discuss their course selections (as well as the individual education goals they will be setting for themselves) before submitting their final selections. All of the requisite materials and resources are available for parents and students to view and download using the links found on this page.
STMC will host three in person course selection parent meetings this year.
February 5, 2024 at 6:30pm – parents of current grade 10 students enrolling into grade 11. Parents of current grade 9 students are welcome to attend, but course selection for these students will not be specifically addressed.
February 7, 2024 at 6:30pm – parents of current grade 11 students enrolling into grade 12.
TBA – parents of new students enrolling into grade 8.
Grade level specific Course Selection Presentations, as well as a series of screen-casted videos that go over many of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) we receive from parents and students during our regular live and in-person sessions will be available below after the parent sessions.
Course Selection Presentations
Grade 11
Our Academic Counselling Team, as always, is available to answer any questions you might have.
*Please Note: The Course Selection module will be open via the Parent Portal of PowerSchool effective Thursday, February 8, 2024 @ 3pm. The deadline for the submission of 2024-2025 Course Selections is Wednesday, February 21, 2024 before Midnight. This deadline does not apply to incoming grade 8 students and any new students to STMC. For incoming grade 8 students, more information will be provided directly to families.
Course Programming Guide
Course Change & External Courses Policies
As we begin to approach the course selection process, we want to ensure that all families are aware of two policies that we have put in place to help STMC students stay on track for graduation as well as to help the school balance classes and course loads for students and staff.
COURSE CHANGE POLICY
For your information:
The course Course Change Policy puts into place clear timelines for students who want to change courses from their originally selected courses. The most significant change with this policy is that students will not be permitted to drop a course and enroll into a new course after the Thanksgiving day long weekend.
For your action:
Please watch the attached information slide show and linked video for more information so that you and your child can make appropriate decisions in regards to future academic plans.
Course Change Policy Video Walkthrough
EXTERNAL COURSE POLICY
For your information:
Our External Course Policy puts into place for the school year much clearer guidelines for students who want to take courses that are offered in the summer, outside of STMC, or online. The most significant change is that students will no longer be able to take courses that are required for graduation in British Columbia outside of STMC. STMC is committed to student success and excellence and we are also committed to students staying on track to graduate. While external courses can provide opportunities not offered at STMC, we have found that, in the context of our higher level and more specialized courses, they do not match the depth and breadth of what is offered.
For your action:
Please see the attached information slide show and linked video for more detailed information.
External Course Policy Video Walkthrough
Please take the time to become familiar with these two policies. Over the next few weeks we will be going over these policies in greater detail with your children. With the framework of these two policies, we are confident that we will continue to set up our STMC students for success for graduation and beyond.
The following Course Selection Presentations and the “Screen Cast” Support Videos from previous years are jam-packed with excellent information and still wonderful resources for our students and their families. We encourage students and families to continue to utilize these items until our 2024-2025 Presentation Materials are uploaded.
