English Department
The English curriculum will improve reading, writing, listening, speaking, and thinking skills for students of all abilities. Throughout the year, students are introduced to a variety of literature such as novels, short stories, plays, poems, and non-fiction.
Students are expected to write both creative and analytical essays. Each year every student must complete a significant research paper incorporating a variety of sources and adhering to the format of the school's approved research guide which is based upon the Modern Language Association guidelines.
Students can monitor their own progress through the year as all assignments remain on file in the classroom for the duration of the year. Class discussions and cooperative learning are important components of English classes--all students are expected to participate fully. Elective courses are offered for those students who wish to go beyond the standard departmental requirements or who are interested in exploring specific areas of literature or writing.
English (secondary III)
Throughout the year students will practice their English competencies: using language to communicate and learn, representing literacy in media, writing a variety of genres and reading and listening to written, spoken and media texts. Students will be guided in developing essays and responses. Literature selections will include short stories, novels, plays and poetry. Current news items will also be discussed.
English (secondary IV)
This course extends the range of analytical thought, reading writing, oral communication and thinking skills that students will use for success in senior English class and in other senior high school courses. Students will study and interpret challenging texts from contemporary and historical periods, paying particular attention to Canadian literature and American Drama; including novels, poems, scripts, drama and opinion pieces. Students will explore through reading and writing the theme of identity on an individual, national and global basis.
English (secondary V)
This course encourages students to use language effectively in formulating their ideas, understanding the ideas of others and communicating them for a variety of purposes and audiences. Thus, this course provides opportunities for personal reflection and peer interaction in order to generate ideas, expand upon them, and clarify meaning. As a result of this process, students engage in perfecting narrative, expository and descriptive writing with special attention given to essay and creative writing tasks, often culminating in oral presentations.
Film Studies (secondary V)
Film studies focuses on the main aspects of cinema as an art form. Students will explore the development and history of cinema through lectures, readings, projects and screenings (from the earliest silent films to contemporary ones). Students also learn how to analyze film on thematic and critical levels by writing responses, essays and reviews. Finally, students synthesize the knowledge gleaned from the first part of the class (history, analysis and criticism) in the form of scripts and film production. The latter part of the course will culminate in a major film project.
Introduction to Journalism (secondary V)
The main focus of this course is on producing a school newspaper. Students will develop interviewing, writing, editing and photography skills. Research will be an integral part of this course. Layout will involve using either Adobe or another similar program. Deadlines are extremely important! Students will write a wide variety of articles from hard news to editorials. Artists are welcome to develop cartoons and graphics.
| Literature Studies (secondary V) |
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| This is a course for students who want to further explore studies in English. The class will focus on literature written in English and how it has developed over time. We will explore a variety of genres: poetry, novel, short stories and non-fiction which will be studied in detail. Ideally, this class will be run like a seminar (we read the material, we discuss it in class, and students will produce a piece of writing or project). Introduction to literature offers the opportunity to hone your analytical and critical thinking skills in an environment with other like-minded students. This class is recommended for students who are considering further studies in English at the post-secondary level. |
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Media Studies (secondary IV, V)
Media Studies 514 takes a critical look at various forms of media found in the everyday world. After analyzing and deconstructing these sociological trends and ideologies, students will be able to re-construct their own mediums with the same strategies that mass media target teens with everyday. Students will be able to understand and interpret the millions of messages that they are bombarded with everyday so that they can make critical and informed decisions on their own.
Yearbook (secondary V)
In this course, students learn a variety of skills while engaged in an interesting “hands-on” project: producing the school’s yearbook. Emphasis will be placed on the following areas: computer page layout, typography, computer graphics, journalism, photography, and publishing. Classroom activity will be closely related to the “real world” challenge of meeting deadlines, producing a viable product, and marketing that product.
French Department
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The study of language, history, and the cultural heritage of society helps to develop an appreciation and understanding of others. In addition, the study of foreign literature deepens the aesthetic values of students and enhances the level of their own cultural development.
Prerequisite for all first-year language students:
- Reading and French ability must be up to grade level
- Previous grades in Reading/French must be at least 60%
French- Second language |
Structured as a college preparation course for the French language this class is directed toward involving the students in more extensive vocabulary, more experience with parts of grammar, some basic conversation, and a more extensive overview of the major traditions and celebrations of the Francophone populations of Canada and abroad. Class work will also include story telling, reading, writing, cultural experiences, and music in the French language. Students are expected to be serious about their studies and do the work assigned in order to make progress in the language.
Course Descriptions
| French (secondary III) |
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| The French 314 course this year is composed of thematic units called Survivor, Personal Expression, Extreme Careers, Media and Urban Legends. Reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as key language components (verb tenses, conjugations, grammar, parts of speech, vocabulary, etc.) are targeted in each unit. Students will deal with such topics as travel, food and problem solving, and will learn important language related to emergencies and technology. They will also discover some interesting differences between styles of language and slang in Canada and in France. Students will explore unique and interesting careers and learn about the many contributions of immigrants to Canada. Using authentic documents on both video and in print taken from Francophone newscasts, newspapers and radio broadcasts, students discover the many different facets of the media in Canadian society and its impact on its viewers and listeners. Students will also participate in a variety of reading activities such as individual silent reading, shared reading and guided reading. |
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| French (secondary IV) |
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| Throughout the ear, students will be using a variety of learning strategies and will develop skills to facilitate and enhance their language learning. In order to develop better skills and communicate in an efficient manner, the students will work toward achieving the following objectives: Written objectives (the emphasis will be put on the description, the narration, to express his/her feelings); Grammar and verbs objectives (we will review the already studied tenses of verbs as well as past tenses, future, conditional and some subjunctive. We will also learn how to express feelings and emotions and to describe things and persons with specific words and/or expressions); and Oral objectives (5 themes will be studied: my interests, my personal experiences, my relationships with people and my school) |
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| French (secondary V) |
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| Le programme de français en cinquième secondaire vise à développer, chez l'élève, une compétence de communication qui lui permettra de s'exprimer avec une certaine aisance en français et ainsi de réaliser diverses interactions dans des situations de communication variées. L'élève serait capable de discuter et d'argumenter de différents problèmes d'ordre -social, de justifier son attitude et de proposer une solution.(ORAL)Aussi serait-il capable de reconnaitre, d'inférer et de regrouper les informations contenues dans des chroniques régulières, des textes de lecture ou dans des messages d'écoute (LECTURE-ECOUTE). En ÉCRITURE,l'élève serait capable de rédiger un texte (soit d'opinion, expressif, informatif ou d'affaires)portant sur des sujets relies a son environnement socioculturel et professionnel tout en se rendant compte du contenu orthographique et grammatical nécessaire a l'atteinte des objectifs visés. |
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