High School

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,

Welcome to the Wise Owl Secondary School for the 2022-2023 school year. Wise Owl is a multicultural school with bright and creative students, skilled and talented teachers, a welcoming and ambitious community. Together, we make Wise Owl a special place for everyone to learn and a place to work.

As the new school year approaches, it is important for everyone to take the time to familiarize themselves with the Highschool handbook, which outlines our expectations for the Wise Owl community. It includes all the policies, student services offered, academic, student life and so much more. Respect for oneself, for others and property are all crucial to maintaining the positive culture established at our school. We all share the responsibility in maintaining these high standards and adhering to protocols to keep our school community, a safe and healthy environment for everyone to learn, teach and grow.

One of the most pivotal times in a student’s life as they grow up is their transition from middle school to high school. As a high school student, you will undergo many more changes throughout your years at Wise Owl. You will make new friends, meet new teachers, gain new knowledge and being given a variety of opportunities. Get involved! This is YOUR SCHOOL. Wise Owl offers many exciting academic and extra-curricular opportunities for our students. We encourage you to take advantage of all Wise Owl has to offer and face all the challenges you encounter with courage and confidence.

To our families, we are delighted to create a partnership with you to ensure students reach their full potential or even beyond. My door is always open, and I welcome your input, feedback! I look forward to a successful school year with Wise Owl students and their families

Sincerely,
Natalia Galinskaya

Vision Statement

“Wise Owl is dedicated to providing an educational, safe and enrichening that fosters the uniqueness of each student, gives them an opportunity to channel their inner creativity & personality and guide, motivate them to become resilient, emotionally support, responsible, respectful global citizens.”

Mission Statement

Wise Owl challenges students to achieve academic excellence and prepares them to be critical, curious, passionate thinkers, global citizens so they can thrive in academics, arts, and athletics.

Student’s Learner Profile

Academics

The High School curriculum is designed to ensure students exceed and meet the Ministry of Education expectations in the following subjects: English, French, Math, Science, Business, Social Studies, Global studies, Physical Education, and the Arts, while providing students opportunities to channel their inner creativity, personality, and guide, motivate them to become balanced, resilient, inclusive, emotionally supportive, responsible, passionate, and respectful global citizens.

Grade 9:

ESLBO (English as Second Language)

This course is designed to extend student’s listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English for academic and everyday purposes. Students will have the opportunity to participate in structured situational conversations on various topics, read a variety of texts designed for English language learners, build on their knowledge on English grammatical structures and sentence patterns.

MTH1W (Mathematics, De-streamed)

This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to further develop their understanding of mathematical concepts related to number sense & operation, Algebra, measurement, geometry, data, probability, and financial literacy. In addition, by the end of this course, students will be able to apply their knowledge of these concepts to real-world situations.

SNC1W (Science, de-streamed)

This course allows students to further their understanding of concepts related to biology, chemistry, physics, and earth & space science and to connect science to technology, society, and the environment. Students will also develop and refine their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills through conducting scientific research, experimentation, and engineering design processes to investigate concepts and apply their knowledge to the real-world

CGC1D (Issues in Canadian Geography)

This course is designed in a way where students will examine interrelationships within and between Canada’s natural and human systems & how these systems interconnect with those in other parts of the world. Students will explore environmental economic and social geographic issues relating to specific topics (i.e., transportation options, energy choices and urban development). Students will investigate various geographic issues and develop possible approaches for making Canada a more sustainable place to live through applying their geographic thinking and inquiry process.

FSF1D (Core French)

This course provides opportunities for students to communicate and interact with increasing confidence in French, with a focus on familiar topics related to their everyday lives. Students will acquire a strong oral foundation in French language and will be able to communicate in French fluently. Moreover, they will learn to appreciate and acknowledge the diversity of Canadian and global studies. Lastly, students will develop a high degree of problem-solving skills, a greater awareness of global issues and become active and engaged citizens in today’s bilingual and multicultural Canadian society and global community.

PPL1O (Physical Education) 

This course is designed to prepare students with the skills and knowledge of making healthy choices in their lives now and in the future. Through participation, students will learn movement, skills and principles, ways of improving personal fitness and physical competence and safety and injury prevention. They will investigate the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. 

ALC1O (Visual Art) 

This course gives students the opportunity to develop their skills in producing and presenting art through artistic exploration and experimentation. Throughout this course, students expand their creativity through applying various design elements and principles they’ve learned in class and learn to critically reflect on and interpret art from a personal, contemporary, and historical context. 

Grade 10:

ESLBO (English as Second Language)

This course is designed to extend student’s listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English for academic and everyday purposes. Students will have the opportunity to participate in structured situational conversations on various topics, read a variety of texts designed for English language learners, build on their knowledge on English grammatical structures and sentence patterns.

MPM2D (Mathematics, Grade 10) 

This course gives students the opportunity to broaden their understanding of quadratic relations and their applications, linear systems, analytic geometry, and trigonometry of right and acute triangles. Students will demonstrate critical mathematical thinking through solving multi-step problems.

SNC2D (Science, Grade 10) 

This course allows students to enhance their understanding of concepts in biology, chemistry, earth and space science, physics and the relations between science, technology, society, and the environment. In addition, students can further develop their scientific investigation skills. They will plan and conduct investigations and develop understanding of scientific theories related to the plant and animal cell systems, chemical reactions (focused on acid-base reactions), forces affecting climate and climate change, and light vs. matter.

CHC2D (Canadian History since World War I) 

This course is designed in a way where students will explore the impact social, economic, and political development and events have on the lives of different groups in Canada since 1914. Students also could examine the role of conflict and cooperation in Canadian society, the country’s evolving role within the global community and the impact of various individuals, organizations and events on Canadian identity, citizenship, and heritage. Lastly, students will develop historical thinking and inquiry processes as they investigate key issues and events in Canadian history since 1914. 

GLC2O (Career Studies) 

This course provides students with the opportunity to hone their skills, knowledge, and habits, supporting themselves in their education and career/life planning. Students will learn about global work trends and expand and strengthen their transferable skills through seeking opportunities within the school and their community. Students will also learn how to adapt to the changing world of work. They will make connections between their skills, interests and values and their post-secondary options (i.e., apprenticeship training, college, community living, university, or workplace) based on exploration, reflective practice and decision-making processes. Students will learn to set their personal goals and create a plan for their first post-secondary year. In preparation for their future, they will learn about personal financial management (i.e., variety of saving and borrowing tools available and how to use them to their advantage) and develop a budget for their first year of post-secondary. 

CHV2O (Civics and Citizenship) 

This course provides students with the opportunity to explore the rights and responsibilities associated with being an active citizen in a democratic society. Students will explore issues related to civic importance such as healthy schools, community planning, environmental responsibility, and the influence of social media, and develop an understanding of the role civic engagement and political processes play in the local, national and global community. Students will apply the concepts of political thinking and the political inquiry process to investigate, and express informed opinions about, a range of political issues and developments that are both of significance in today’s world and of personal interest to them.

PPL2O (Physical Education) 

This course is designed to prepare students with the skills and knowledge of making healthy choices in their lives now and in the future. Through participation, students will learn movement, skills and principles, ways of improving personal fitness and physical competence and safety and injury prevention. They will investigate the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. 

Grade 11:

MCRU – Functions (University)

• This course introduces the mathematical concept of the function by extending students’ experiences with linear and quadratic relations. Students will investigate properties of discrete and continuous functions, including trigonometric and exponential functions; represent functions numerically, algebraically, and graphically; solve problems involving applications of functions; investigate inverse functions; and develop facility in determining equivalent algebraic expressions. Students will reason mathematically and communicate their thinking as thy solve multi-step problems.
• Pre-requisite: Principles of Mathematics, Grade 10, Academic.

SCH3U – Chemistry (University)

• This course enables students to deepen their understanding of chemistry through the study of the properties of chemicals and chemical bond; chemical reactions and quantitative relationships in those reactions; solutions and solubility; and atmospheric chemistry and the behaviour of gases. Students will further develop their analytical skills and investigate the qualitative and quantitative properties of matter, as well as the impact of some common chemical reactions on society and the environment.
• Pre-requisite: Science, Grade 10, Academic.

CHW3M – World History (University/College Preparation)

• This course explores the history of various societies and civilizations around the world, from earliest times to around 1500 C. Students will investigate a range of factors that contributed to the rise, success, and decline of various ancient and pre-modern societies throughout the world and will examine life in and the cultural and political legacy of these societies. Students will extend their ability to apply the concepts of historical thinking and the historical inquiry process, including the interpretation and analysis of evidence when investigating social, political, and economic structures and historical forces at work in various societies and in different historical eras.
• Pre-requisite: Canadian History since World War I, Grade 10, Academic or Applied.

ESLCO – ESL (Level 3 English as a second language – Open)

• This course extends students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English for everyday and academic purposes. Students will participate in conversations in structured situations on a variety of familiar and new topics; read a variety of texts designed or adapted for English language learners; expand their knowledge of English grammatical structures and sentence patterns; and link English sentences to compose paragraphs. The course also supports students’ continuing adaptation to the Ontario school system by expanding their knowledge of diversity in their new province and country.
• No-prerequisite required.

Grade 12:

MHF4U – Advanced Functions (University)

• This course extends students’ experience with functions. Students will investigate the properties of polynomial, rational, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions; develop techniques for combining functions; broaden their understanding of rates of change; and develop facility in applying these concepts and skills. Students will also refine their use of the mathematical processes necessary for success in senior mathematics. This MHF4U course is intended both for students taking the Calculus and Vectors course as a prerequisite for a university program and for those wishing to consolidate their understanding of mathematics before proceeding to any one of a variety of university programs.
• Pre-requisite: Functions, Grade 11, University Preparation or Mathematics for College Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation.

SCH4U – Chemistry (University Preparation)

• This course enables students to deepen their understanding of chemistry through the study of organic chemistry, the structure and properties of matter, energy changes and rates of reaction, equilibrium in chemical systems, and electrochemistry. Students will further develop their problem-solving and investigation skills as they investigate chemical processes and will refine their ability to communicate scientific information. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of chemistry in everyday life and on evaluating the impact of chemical technology on the environment.
• Pre-requisite: Chemistry, Grade 11, University Preparation.

Wise Owl Private School believes that it is imperative to have a healthy body, healthy mind. Physical Education is an important part of the Wise Owl Secondary School curriculum, classes are offered to all students through Grade 11. Through the classes, students can develop their abilities and skills to live an active and healthy life knowledgeably, responsibility and vigorously.

Along with other core subjects, the arts are an important part of the Wise Owl Private School curriculum and experience through fostering confidence and creativity of our students. In high school, students are provided with an opportunity to express themselves through various art forms, to hone their artistic skills and acquire all the developmental benefits that the quality arts program offers at Wise Owl Private School.

Performing Arts

Wise Owl Private School students will continue their music journey with a more in depth look at various compositions by various composers and explore the forms, styles, and functions of music from a wide range of historical and socio-cultural backgrounds. Students will have the opportunity to create, participate in and reflect upon music through their own musical background and those of others. Lastly, students will expand their creativity through applying various design elements and principles they’ve learned in class.

Visual Arts

All students at Wise Owl Private school participates in visual arts. At every level, our students are provided with the opportunity to create individual art pieces while developing divergent thinking and analytical thinking skills. They will explore the elements of arts and the principles of design, understand how the characteristics of various art works, basic colour terminology, and various artistic techniques. Lastly, they will be able to create portraits, graphic art, printmaking, painting, and so much more for self-expression and show an appreciation for the expressive and aesthetic diversity in the world around them.