The activities of the guidance department include personal counselling, course selection (including independent, on-line, and summer school offerings), and student record and transcript management. The department's major focus, however, is in preparing students for a successful transition into post-secondary studies, upon graduation from SJK. The vast majority of our graduates move on to university in Canada, the U.S., and overseas. This is the culmination of a process that spans the student's secondary school career.

The Early Years
Students in grades 9 and 10 are prescribed a balanced program, including a few electives, that provides a solid foundation for senior level courses. At the end of grade 10 a typical student will have earned 18 of 30 credits required for graduation, including 12 of 18 compulsory credits. This includes the Career Studies half credit, which explores personal profiling, high school and post-secondary pathways, career options and skill-development.

Senior Years
Students select a slate of courses that favour their personal interests and skill sets, with a continual view toward keeping post-secondary options open. Students are counselled on an individual basis as they make these important decisions. Successful application to university or college requires that a student present both a sufficient average as well as the correct prerequisite courses. In grades 11 and 12, courses are chosen carefully to ensure students meet prerequisites for their post-secondary programs of interest. SJK's course offerings encompass virtually every prerequisite than a Canadian university program may require.

University Preparation
Spring of grade 11 marks the beginning of the year-long process that culminates with acceptance to a post-secondary institution. This process includes comprehensive tutorials, a university orientation visit, university and college representative visits to SJK, and individual support and counselling. It is a requirement that each graduating student meet one-on-one with the University Counselling Coordinator to discuss their program choices. SJK is an official test site for both PSAT and SAT (required for U.S. university admission), providing students an opportunity to complete these standardized tests within a familiar environment. Counselling for the TOEFL test, required by ESL students, is also provided.

Contact Mr. Ian Carswell, Guidance & University Counselling Coordinator
(519) 648-3602, ext. 46
icarswell@sjkschool.org

Interesting Facts:
Top three post-secondary destinations, 2008-2011: Western, Waterloo, Guelph

Class of 2011, Post-Secondary Program Areas:
Arts (humanities, languages, media studies, social sciences), 29%
Sciences (mathematics, physical, health, computers), 53%
Business (commerce, business administration, information systems), 26%
Fine & Performing Arts, 12%