Departments

Arts

Teaching Staff:

Mr.  A. Barber, Arts Department Head

Ms. K.Brunshaw

Mr. D. Billings

Ms. T. Manarin

Ms. N. Hart

Ms. M. Warner

Business and Computer Studies

The Importance of Business Studies in the Curriculum

Business activity affects the daily lives of all Canadians as they work, spend, save, invest, travel, and play. It influences jobs, incomes, and opportunities for personal enterprise. Business has a significant effect on the standard of living and quality of life of Canadians, and on the environment in which they live and which future generations will inherit. Eventually, all students will encounter the world of business, whether they work in urban or rural areas.They must be prepared to engage in business activity with confidence and competence.Young people need to understand how business functions, the role it plays in our society, the opportunities it generates,the skills it requires, and the impact it can have on their own lives and on society, today and in the future.

Teaching Staff:

Mr.  K. Kerr, Business Department Head

Ms. T. Dean

Ms. M. Burns

Mr. A. Ostropolec

Ms. S. Shoemaker

Ms. N. Sajo

Canadian and World Studies

The Importance of Canadian and World Studies in the Curriculum

In Canadian and world studies, students develop skills, knowledge and understanding, and attitudes that will serve them both inside and outside the classroom, including in the world of work and as responsible citizens in the various communities to which they belong. The focus of teaching and learning in the Canadian and world studies curriculum is the development of ways of thinking and of transferable skills that students need in order to acquire and apply knowledge and understanding. Students apply these concepts of thinking and skills in a variety of contexts to examine information critically; to assess the significance of events, developments, and processes; to develop an understanding of and respect for different points of view; to reach supportable conclusions; and to propose solutions to, and courses of actions to address, real problems.​

Teaching Staff:

Ms. C. Kalianteris, CWS Department Head

Mr. S. Guluzian

Mr. C. Kirchner

Ms. S. Petrie

Mr. J. Taylor

Ms. N. Drew-Nechvatal

Ms. A. Walker

Mr. J. Penney

Ms. C. Mark

Co-operative Education

The Importance of the Cooperative Education Curriculum 

Cooperative Education is an active learning process which integrates theory from classroom subjects with practical experience. There is a classroom component and a placement component. The placement component facilitates experiential learning where students actively reflect and monitor their own learning while outside the school in a work environment. This learning occurs in a placement closely related to the student’s career aspirations. The classroom and the placement experiences provide students with valuable skills gained for their future career destination.    

OYAP Application information:  

Accelerated OYAP programming occurs semester two every year for grade 12 students. Students may apply to the following programs offered by the DDSB in partnership with Durham College, Fleming College, Local 27 Carpentry, and the Durham Hairstylist Academy: AST, Cook. Electrician, Carpentry, Hairstylist, IMM, Plumber and Welder. Applications to the programs are available from our co-op department as early as February each year.  

Teaching Staff:  

Ms. E. Stone 

Mr. J. Kaspar 

Mr. R. Westcott 

Modern Languages

The Importance of the French as a Second Language Curriculum

The ability to speak and understand French allows students to communicate with French-speaking people in Canada and around the world, to understand and appreciate the history and evolution of their cultures, and to develop and benefit from a competitive advantage in the workforce.

​In addition to strengthening students’ ability to communicate, learning another language develops their awareness of how language and culture interconnect, helping them appreciate and respect the diversity of Canadian and global societies. When a student is exposed to another culture through its language, he or she begins to understand the role that language plays in making connections with others. Learning an additional language not only challenges a mind but also teaches understanding, encourages patience, and fosters open-mindedness.

Teaching Staff:

Mr. J. Beggs, Librarian & Modern Languages Dept. Head

Ms. D. Grootveld

Mr.  A. Kodra

Ms. R. Trépanier

Ms. A. Walker

English

The Importance of Literacy, Language, and the English Curriculum

Literacy is about more than reading or writing – it is about how we communicate in society. It is about social practices and relationships, about knowledge, language and culture. Those who use literacy take it for granted – but those who cannot use it are excluded from much communication in today’s world. Indeed, it is the excluded who can best appreciate the notion of “literacy as freedom”. 

UNESCO, Statement for the United Nations Literacy Decade, 2003–2012​

Teaching Staff:

Ms. N. Shah, English Department Head

Ms. R. Bureau

Ms. V. Dykes

Mr. K. Feheley

Mr. M. Johnson

Ms. L. Harkot

Ms. L. Irwin

Ms. A. Lough

Ms. J. Bernard

Ms. S. Dore

Guidance

Guidance Department Home Page

The Importance of the Guidance and Career Education Curriculum

The guidance and career education program plays a central role in secondary school by providing students with the too​​ls they need for success in school, in the workplace, and in their daily lives. In particular, the curriculum focuses on skill development that will help students better manage their time, resources, and dealings with other people to improve their opportunities for success both in school and in their future lives. Courses in guidance and career education actively involve students in research, inquiry, problem-solving, and decision-making processes related to planning for postsecondary education, training, or work. The guidance and career education program is designed to recognize the diverse abilities, strengths, and aspirations of all students, providing them with knowledge and skills that will be benefit them throughout their lives. The goals of the guidance and career education curriculum are to enable students to:

• understand concepts related to lifelong learning, interpersonal relationships, and career planning;
• develop learning skills, social skills, a sense of social responsibility, and the ability to formulate and pursue educational and career goals;
• apply this learning to their lives and work in the school and the community. 

Health and Physical Education

Bears Athletic Home Page (coming soon)

The Importance of the Health and Physical Education Curriculum

This curriculum helps students develop an understanding of what they need in order to make a commitment to lifelong healthy,active living and develop the capacity to live satisfying, productive lives. Healthy, active living benefits both individuals and society in many ways.  Research has shown a connection between increased levels of physical activity and better academic achievement, better concentration, better classroom behaviour, and more focused learning. Other benefits include improvements in psychological well-being, physical capacity,self-concept, and the ability to cope with stress. The expectations that make up this curriculum also provide the opportunity for students to develop social skills and emotional well-being. In health and physical education, students will learn the skills needed to be successful in life as active, healthy, and socially responsible citizens.

Teaching Staff: 

Mr. M. Parfitt, PHE Department Head

Ms. E. Batty

Ms. L. Brown

Mr. D. Brown

Mr. J. Kaspar

Mr. E. Markham

Mr. M. Snowden

Ms. C. Toll

Ms. B. Wright

Library

Mathematics

The Importance of the Mathematics Curriculum

The unprecedented changes that are taking place in today’s world will profoundly affect the future of today’s students. To meet the demands of the world in which they will live, students will need to adapt to changing conditions and to learn independently. They will require the ability to use technology effectively and the skills for processing large amounts of quantitative information. Today’s mathematics curriculum must prepare students for their future roles in society. It must equip them with essential mathematical knowledge and skills; with skills of reasoning, problem solving, and communication; and, most importantly, with the ability and the incentive to continue learning on their own. This curriculum provides a framework for accomplishing these goals.​​​​​

Teaching Staff:

Ms. R. Chronis, Mathematics Department Head

Ms. A. Brittain

Ms. S. Campbell

Ms. S. Shelswell

Ms. M. Sutherland

Mr. R. Westcott

Mr. D. Taylor

Mr. K. Beauchamp

Ms. C. Kaspar

Ms. A. Groen

Ms. M. Mulvihill

Science

The Place of Science in the Curriculum

During the twentieth century, science played an increasingly important role in the lives of all Canadians. It underpins much of what we now take for granted, from life-saving pharmaceuticals to clean water, the places we live and work in, computers and other information technologies, and how we communicate with others. The impact of science on our lives will continue to grow as the twenty-first century unfolds. Scientific literacy can be defined as possession of the scientific knowledge, skills, and habits of mind required to thrive in the science-based world of the twenty-first century.​​​

Teaching Staff:

Ms. S. Puiu, Science Department Head 

Ms. E. Cameron

Ms. S. Kroekenstoel

Ms. C. McClure

Ms. S. McCrum

Mr. M. St.Louis

Ms. N. Swain

Ms. M. Williams

Mr. L. Wilford

Social Sciences and Humanities

The Importance of the Social Sciences and Humanities Curriculum

The discipline of social sciences and humanities in the Ontario secondary school curriculum encompasses five subject areas: equity studies, family studies, general social sciences, philosophy, and world religions. Although these subject areas are very different from one another, they all systematically explore the ways in which individuals influence and are influenced by families, communities, cultures, institutions, and societies, and by ideas, norms, and values.​​

Teaching Staff:

Ms. V. Hodowanski, SSH Department Head

Ms. C. Dawson

Ms. D. Grootveld

Ms. J. Klir

Ms. C. Mapp

Special Education

The Importance of Inclusive Education

Students who have behavioural, communicational, intellectual, physical, or multiple exceptionalities may require special education programs and/or services to benefit fully from their school experience. Such students may be referred to an Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) set up by the school board. If identified as exceptional, they must be provided with appropriate special education programs and/or services designed to build on their strengths and meet their needs. In addition, the principal of the students’ school must ensure that an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is prepared and maintained for these students.​​

Updated Policies RE: Academic Resource Room - click HERE.

Teaching Staff:

Ms. C. Kaspar, Interim Inclusive Education Department Head

Ms. L. McCabe, Inclusive Education Resource Teacher

Ms. L. Briet

Mr. B. Chapman

Ms. S. Fendley

Mr. K. Schultz

Technological Education

The Importance of Technological Education in the Curriculum

Technological innovation influences all areas of life, from the daily lives of individuals to the work of business and government, to interactions on a global scale. It helps meet basic human needs and provides tools for improving people’s lives and exploring new frontiers. The policy outlined in this document is designed to ensure that technological education in Ontario enables students to meet the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century.​​​

Teaching Staff:

Mr. D. Mathieson, Technological Studies Department Head

Ms. S. Rule 

Ms. L. Keen

Mr. H. Raji

Mr. S. St. Juste

Mr. M. Williamson

Mr. K. Bent