Guidance Department
Services and Programs
The Guidance Department is an important partner in the administration of Forest Heights Collegiate Institute in its support of students. The Guidance Department has two major functions: to guide and direct students with appropriate information about courses, credits, the world of work, colleges, universities, etc. and to help students develop academically, socially and emotionally.
The Guidance Department accomplishes its role within the school by providing students with the following services:
Guidance Publication
The Guidance Department each year publishes online the Course Calendar. The Course Calendar provides information outlining the Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirements, FHCI's course change policy, and which courses are being offered with accompanying course descriptions for each. Please also make sure to consult the Prerequisite Charts in the Common Course Calendar outlining what preliminary courses need to be taken before you can take other more advanced courses.
Online Course Selections
The Secondary Online Course Request System (SOCR) is made available by the Waterloo Region District School Board to students to make their course requests online. All students must request their courses online for the following academic year. Course request deadlines can be viewed on the Guidance Calendar.
Click here to visit the online course request site (SOCR).
Individual Counselling
Students who struggle academically or personally have available to them a counsellor with whom they may discuss issues and concerns. Students may be assured that all discussions are held in strict confidence. A typical counselling appointment may address the following:
- Yearly academic program planning
- Apprenticeship, college, and university requirements
- Career counselling
- Alternative programs, in-school interventions, re-start programs
- Individual and family issues—crisis, care and treatment program information
Group Counselling
Guidance counsellors in conjunction with their post-secondary partners and with other community resource personnel will co-facilitate a variety of small groups, sessions and workshops:
- Liaise with feeder schools regarding program selection
- English as Second Language parent information sessions
- Grade nine orientation
- On-line course selection tutorials
- Meetings with college and university liaisons
- College and university application tutorials
- Scholarship information meetings
- Guest speakers in Careers courses
- Peer leadership course
- Social and guidance issues
Career and Educational Information
The Guidance Department maintains its own library with a variety of print, DVD and video, web, pamphlet, poster and text materials that are available to students:
- Career and Education information
- Overseas Educational Exchange materials
- Enrichment program opportunities
- University and college calendars, print and web materials
- SAT information
- Scholarships
- Career Cruising
- JVIS (Career Interest Survey)
- Study Skills information
- Poster displays
- Pamphlet resources on various community agencies
- Volunteer Board
- Job Board
Special Services
In addition to the Guidance Counselling staff, FHCI provides access to additional educational and community resource personnel to further promote student success:
- Student Success teacher—options in e-learning, e-co-op, credit recovery, unit recovery, independent credits for alternative programming (ICAP)
- Special Education Resource Teacher—IEPs, IPRCs, psycho-educational assessments
- Referrals to social worker, child and youth worker, settlement worker, public health nurse
Peer Ambassador Program/Academic Tutoring
FHCI's Peer Ambassador Program is sponsored by the Guidance Department. Peer Ambassadors are students in their senior academic years having been selected by teacher recommendation or by interview. These students, who are already skilled, will spend additional time learning communication, mentorship and leadership skills.
The Peer Ambassadors will primarily help in providing a supportive environment for their junior peers: easing the transition and adjustment of ninth graders into high school and acting as mediators and confidantes for young students still learning the survival skills required for high school. Additionally, they will provide academic tutoring to struggling students in the junior grades.
FHCI Course Information Week
The Guidance Department will host its 2nd Annual Course Information Week in late November. FHCI faculty departments will profile and promote their program offerings for viewing by students just ahead of course selection time. FHCI counselling and faculty will be on hand to answer student questions about everything from selecting electives to choosing the appropriate academic pathway for successful completion of their diploma.
Guidance Department Faculty and Staff List
Guidance Department
| Ms J. Cait* (Head) B.A., B. Ed., M.A. | Students - C, D, J, L, V |
| Mrs. J. Brock B.A., M. Ed. | Students - F, G, U, W, Y, Z |
| Mrs. M. Church B. A. Sc., B. Ed. Student Success teacher | Students - E, O, Q, R, X |
| Ms P. Gawlik B.A., B. Ed. | Students - I, M, T |
| Mr. B. Smith B. A., B. Ed. | Students - K, P, S |
| Ms C. Vander Schaaf B.A., Prof. Ed. U.S.A., M.A. | Students - A, B, H, N |
Office Staff
| Mrs. L. Reidel | Guidance Secretary |
| Ms. S. Jenkins | Counselling Administrative Assistant |
Hours of Operation
School hours: 8:20 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Counselling office hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Counselling Links
2008-2009 Course Calendar
Complete online FHCI course calendar/course change policy/diploma requirements.
Post-Secondary Web Resources
http://www.ouac.on.ca
Ontario Universties' Application Centre—located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, is a central bureau whose key function is the processing of applications for admission to the province's universities.
http://www.electronicinfo.ca
Comprehensive online guide to Ontario universities for seconday school students—Find your university: find programs, prerequisites,grade requirements and scholarship information.
http://www.utours.ca/parents
UTours presents "What Parents Need to Know—A must see video survival guide about post-secondary education. When your kids come to you for advice, let UTOURS.CA help you prepare.
http://www.ontariocolleges.ca
The Ontario College Reference Guide—a complete online reference for secondary school students: Plan, Find, Apply, Confirm.
Scholarships, Bursaries, Awards & Financial Aid for College and Univeristy
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Community Web Resources
http://www.adprima.com/studyout.htm
Effective Study Skills.
http://webwisekids.org
For community, For parents, for Teens to make wise online choices.
http://www.psychologyfoundation.org
The Psychology Foundation of Canada: supporting parents and strengthening families.
http://www.apsgo.ca
Help for Parents of Acting-out Youth: APSGO is an action-oriented self-help organization which enables parents to develop strategies and practical techniques in dealing with the behaviour of their children. To locate the group nearest you or for more information visit their website.
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/healthyconnections
Healthy Connections: A newsletter for Secondary Schools in Waterloo.
Community Involvement
Students must complete 40 hours of community involvement activities:
- During the lunch hour
- In the evening
- During the summer
- On weekends
- During school holidays
- On a completely voluntary basis (not for pay)
Click here for further details or visit http://www.wrdsb.on.ca/community_involvement_manual.pdf:
Working Towards Your Secondary School Graduation Diploma.
- How to get started
- Roles and responsibilities of students/parents/guardians/community sponsors
- List of activities that are eligible/ineligible
- Tracking and documentation
Completed Tracking Forms may be submitted to the office secretary in the Main Administrative office.
Please check the following regularly:
- Community Involvement postings on the Volunteer board in the Counselling Services office waiting area
- Listen for morning announcements as new opportunities arrive
- FHTV for viewing new postings
- Volunteer Action Centre's website also helps students find volunteer opportunities in their community http://www.volunteerkw.ca/
- http://www.volunteer.ca Volunteering Works! A parent's guide to youth volunteering.
