Secondary

Participating in sports and physical activities promotes good health, teamwork and cooperation, social skills and self-esteem. Plus, it’s a lot of fun. Go, Grand Erie, go!

Secondary students can get active in Physical Education classes and intramural sports activities. We also participate in interschool sports competitions through the Athletic Association of Brant, Haldimand & Norfolk Counties. 

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) assessments measure how well individual students have met provincial expectations in the Ontario Curriculum.

We also look at aggregate results for Grand Erie’s students to better understand how to meet their educational needs. For more information on the EQAO and assessment practices, visit the EQAO website.

Students in Grades 1–8 receive three report cards during the school year: a progress report card in November, and provincial report cards in February and June.

Co-op Education combines classroom learning with practical, planned experience in a workplace environment.

Co-op students learn workplace, communication and time-management skills and build connections in career fields that interest them. For many students, it helps them make more informed career and education decisions while providing enhanced career opportunities.

At the secondary level, the Ontario Curriculum builds on acquired skills to help students reach for academic excellence now while preparing them for future success in the path they choose. 

The Ontario Curriculum outlines the knowledge and skills students need – what they should know and what they should be able to do after completing each secondary school course. The curriculum is also designed to foster personal development, ethical behaviour, creativity, resilience, and adaptability.

Earning two online credits is a requirement for graduating from secondary school, starting with students entering Grade 9 in the 2020–2021 school year. Parents (and new adult learners), however, may opt out of the requirement.

Grand Erie offers three French language programs at the secondary level: Core French, Extended French and French Immersion.

Learning a second language helps students develop cognitive abilities and communications skills, while opening up future opportunities. All of Grand Erie’s French language programs focus on building skills in oral communication (listening and speaking), reading and writing.

For students, the choice between French language programs at the secondary level is usually guided by the accumulated hours of instruction in French by the end of Grade 8. 

Students in Grade 12 can also take an exam for the Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF), an internationally recognized certification of proficiency in French. 

Welcome! Starting high school is a big step. It’s exciting, but it’s also a little intimidating. 

We can’t wait to welcome you to a Grand Erie secondary school – you belong here. 

In high school, you’ll have more choice about what you study and how you learn. But you don’t need to navigate on your own; we work with you to find programs and activities that are right for you. To learn more about our programs and extracurricular activities, students and parents can attend a high school open house. Check the school links below for more details.  

You can also explore our programs and services to learn more about what’s available in Grand Erie schools.

We cheer for all our students as they get closer to achieving their goals. Check here to see what you need to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

In selected schools, we provide programming and instruction to meet the needs of Low German Mennonite students who live in the area Grand Erie serves.

Grand Erie is dedicated to providing culturally responsive services and programs for students of Low German Mennonite heritage. We also partner with the Norfolk Community Help Centre, which provides services for Low German Mennonite families and shares space with Houghton Public School in Norfolk County.

The Grand Erie Math Achievement Action Plan (GEMAAP) supports math learning and math achievement for students in Grades 1–9.

From classroom teachers to senior staff and board trustees, we at Grand Erie are committed to supporting math learning. GEMAAP integrates high-impact instructional strategies – teaching methods that work – with the Ontario Math Curriculum, along with intensive professional development for educators and access to instructional coaches. As well, we’re focused on knowing how all aspects of math education can be relevant and responsive to each learner’s needs. 

We value all the languages that our students and their families speak. And we want multilingual language learners (MLLs) to have a positive, successful school experience.

Grand Erie is dedicated to providing culturally responsive services and programs for English language learning students. You can find out more about Ontario’s school system, Grand Erie programs and community services at your school’s Welcome Centre. The centres also assess new students and make recommendations for appropriate learning programs. 

For students interested in pursuing a career in the skilled trades, OYAP gives them the opportunity to earn co-op credits for work experience while in an apprenticeship program while completing the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

During the school year, Grand Erie school staff participate in several PA Days. 

These days provide learning opportunities for educators to develop skills to better support student success in our schools. On PA Days, students remain at home. 

In Grand Erie’s Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs, students gain specialized knowledge, skills and certifications by focusing on a specific economic sector.

SHSM programs allow students to customize and enhance their secondary school education to suit their own interests and talents, and get a head start on post-secondary education and career opportunities, especially in skilled trades and STEM-related fields.

SOAR – strength, opportunity, achievement and results – is a Grand Erie Specialist High Skills Major program for student athletes who train at top competitive levels, or who are working toward that goal. 

The program supports secondary school students who are passionate about sports, fitness and recreation with opportunities to gain sports-specific certifications, explore careers in sports and fitness, and develop leadership and teamwork skills. At the same time, the program helps students maintain a high level of academic achievement while balancing the many pressures student athletes face. 

Scholarships and bursaries unlock doors, allowing students to pursue their dreams.  

Many organizations in our community provide sponsorships and bursaries; they believe, as Grand Erie does, that education is worth supporting. We encourage students to explore the opportunities on our website and to look beyond—we can’t list every scholarship that you may qualify for. For more information on scholarships and bursaries, please speak to a Guidance Counsellor at your school.

When the shift from secondary school to college or an apprenticeship is tough, Grand Erie has programs that can help.

The School College Work Initiative (SCWI) helps students move ahead with two programs: School Within a College (SWAC) and Dual Credit courses. These programs support students who have the potential for success in college or apprenticeship and who face challenges completing the requirements for graduation.