Guidance

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Guidance is an area where students can receive assistance with educational planning, career goals, personal counselling, or referrals to outside agencies.  Guidance counsellors are teachers with additional expertise in the area of Guidance and Career Education and are trained to help students make informed decisions about their future.

 

About Guidance
The Guidance Department has counsellors assigned to each grade level. These counsellors follow a cohort of students from Grade 9 through to graduation. Guidance counsellors provide programming specific to the needs of each grade. Counsellors are teachers with additional training who work with students individually and in groups providing educational planning, career planning, academic counselling and personal counselling. Students will have many opportunities to meet counsellors in group and individual sessions.

Course Selection and Changes

It is very important that students select their subjects and course streams wisely during the option selection process in February. Guidance Counsellors are available to assist students in making sound educational decisions. Opportunities to make timetable changes once the school year begins will be limited and will occur during the first week. Students requesting a course change must have parental permission and complete a “Course Change Request Form” and return this form to the guidance office with a parent/guardian signature. Guidelines and specific dates for timetable changes are available on the Donald A Wilson website, and in the Guidance Office.

Academic and Career Counselling

Guidance counsellors are available to assist students with career explorations and course selection. Counsellors work one-on-one with students and offer numerous academic and career programs including college and university application seminars, college and university fairs, scholarship assemblies, and tutoring information. Students access these programs through voluntary sign-up, classroom presentations and grade level assemblies. In addition, information about learn-at-home courses, summer school, night school, tutoring and extra help programs is available in the Guidance Office.

Personal Counselling

Counsellors are available to meet with students who are dealing with personal issues. Counsellors will recommend whether the student should be referred to a DDSB social worker or psychologist (parental permission is required for students who are under 18 years of age). Counsellors will inform students about community agencies who could also assist them with their personal problems.
 Guidance Team

Guidance Secretary - Christine Papageorgiou


Grade 9 - Jennifer Matthews


Grade 10 - Kelly Stewart  


Grade 11 - Nicole Chinnick (Head of Guidance)


Grade 12 - Stephanie Jackson
Contact Us
Phone
905-665-7615
Email
donaldawilsonss@ddsb.ca
Guidance Interview - Booking an Appointment 
 Please see PDF instructions for how to book and appointment with Guidance
 My Blueprint - Course Calendar
(courses and availability are subject to change)

app.myblueprint.ca/public/courses/ddsb/donaldawilson
 Forms

Click here for the Community Involvement Hours Form

Click here for the eLearning Graduation Requirements Form

Click here for the Co-operative Education Application

Click here for the Peer Tutoring Application

Click here for the SHSM Environment Application

Click here for the SHSM Sport Application

Click here for the SHSM Comm Tech Application
 Summer School 

Summer school registration is closed at this time.

Find more information at Durham Continuing Education.    www.dce.ca
 Grade 8 Information

  The Choosing My Success Guide from DDSB can also be accessed for additional information.

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  • Community Hours Record Card: Click here for a copy of the Community Involvement Record Card. This document outlines what community service activities qualify and what ones do not. It also provides students with a chart to help them record their hours.
 Grade 9

 Grade 9 Course Selection 2024
 Grade 10

Grade 10 Course Selection 2024

Refining My Pathway - Student Transition Guide: Planning for Grade 11 and 12 
 Grade 11

Grade 11 Course Selection 2024

Refining My Pathway - Student Transition Guide: Planning for Grade 11 and 12

 
 Grade 12

 

Designing My Future: Student Transition Guide: Planning for your initial post-graduation destination

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Grade 12 Post-Secondary Information

Please refer to these links for Ontario colleges and universities. It is also recommended that students look directly at the FAQ's of their post-secondary institutions for answers regarding admissions. If students have applied to post-secondary schools outside of Ontario, they are advised to check the individual school websites of these schools.

Ontario undergraduate admissions - College

https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/

Ontario undergraduate admission - University

https://www.ouac.on.ca/

https://www.ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca/

Ontario College Application Deadline - February 1, 2025

Ontario University Application Deadline - January 15, 2025


 2024 Post-Secondary Information

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Graduation Requirements

  • Completion of 40 Community Service Hours 

  • Successful completion of OSSLT 

  • Accumulation of 30 Credits

  • 2 Online Learning Credits OR Completion of the Opt-Out Form found in and submitted to Guidance
 How to Register

PRE-ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

If you are a student who is currently attending another school board, Please complete the Durham District School Board Online Student Registration Form.

For all students looking to register with our school, you will need to provide the following supporting documents to our Guidance department prior to having a scheduled meeting with a school administrator and guidance counsellor. Please note, the scheduling of an interview does not guarantee acceptance to Donald A. Wilson Secondary School. 

THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION:

  • Student birth certificate OR Passport

  • Permanent Resident Status

  • Official Transcript (Required for students attending high school outside Durham)

  • Status Sheet and/or credit counselling summary

  • Attendance Record

  • Most recent Report Card

  • Proof of Residency (Must be one of the following: Purchase Agreement for new home, Property Bill, Tax Assessment, Lease/Rental Agreement, Utility Bill (water, gas and hydro only)

  • Immunization Record

  • Proof of Custody if child does not reside with both parents

  • Student Visa/Study Permit (International students must contact Melanie Haight @ the board office prior to registration for an approval letter) 905-666-5500 x. 5497

  • Students outside of Ontario must make an appointment with "The Credential Centre" to have their out of province/country educational documents evaluated before a registration appointment can be completed (details will be given to you once all documents have been received for registration)

 Students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
 eLearning

Durham District School Board (DDSB) recognizes the needs of 21st century learners, and is offering a variety of online resources and

eLearning supports to students, teachers and parents. eLearning provides a flexible way to support student success.

 eLearning provides

  • a dynamic way to teach and learn

  • access to a wide variety of high-quality online courses including videos, activities, maps and interactive multimedia

  • learning tailored to individual student needs

  • easy and ready access to online resources and courses

  • more credit choices for graduation

  • more options for small and isolated schools

  • opportunities for parents to engage in their children's

  • education at home

  • enhance knowledge and comfort with online tools and technology

Summer School eLearning Opportunities

(Continuing Education)

Durham Continuing Education

www.dce.ca

eLearning Summer School Secondary Credit

eLearning is available through Durham Continuing Education in July and August for a variety of Grade 10-12 courses. Courses in the program are recommended for secondary students who wish to gain up to one credit in a subject they have not previously studied or wish to upgrade a mark in a course that they have successfully completed. Please note: Civics (CHV2O1) and Career Studies (GLC2O1) require separate registrations.

This program is ideal for students who cannot attend the full 18 day in-class Summer School regular day schedule. Up to one credit will be granted upon successful completion of the course.

eLearning Secondary Courses

The Durham District School Board (DDSB) is excited to announce they will be offering a number of courses in an online eLearning platform.

eLearning provides students with a flexible alternative to the face-to-face classroom. This online setting can support a student’s educational plan when courses are not available to them at the home school, when a flexible alternative learning environment is required or when matching student preferred learning styles to programming needs.

All of our secondary schools are participating in our eLearning program.

Interested DDSB students in Grades 11 and 12 have an opportunity to enroll in two online courses per year (one per semester). If you are interested in enrolling in one of these courses, please speak to a member of your school’s Guidance Department. 

Adult learners or students who have already graduated from secondary school should contact Durham Continuing Education​.
Transcripts

If you are a current Donald A Wilson S.S. student, please come to Guidance to request a copy of your transcript, if needed.  If you are a former Donald A Wilson S.S. student, you are now able to order your transcript online. Please see the steps below.

You will have to create a School Cash On Line user account. Please go to https://ddsb.schoolcashonline.com/. Once you have created your account you can order your transcript and it will be available for pickup at the school in 3 to 5 business days. Click here for instructions on how to create an account.

Please click this link https://ddsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Index/ to process your payment.

Please contact the guidance office at 905-665-7615 or through the Donald A. Wilson email (donaldawilsonss@ddsb.ca) to let us know where to send the transcripts.
Choosing My Success
 Mature PLAR 
 PLAR
 FULL DISCLOSURE DATE AND POLICY
 

All students taking Grade 11 and 12 courses will be subject to a Full Disclosure policy. If a student is in a course after five school days following the midterm-reporting period, the course mark will appear on the transcript, even if it is dropped subsequent to that time. Colleges and universities may use this information for making admission and scholarship decisions

Full Disclosure Dates 2024 - 2025

Semester 1: November 21, 2024

Semester 2: April 30, 2025