Newsletter

International Certificate Program to be piloted in six OCDSB high schools this year

"The International Certificate is a great opportunity for students to use their knowledge and creativity to learn from international engagement"

- Geoff Best, OCENET Executive Director

 The front cover of the OCDSB International Certificate Program with an emphasis on the theme of “Discover Yourself.”

A new and exciting program is being piloted in six OCDSB secondary schools this fall with the expressed purpose “to recognize and honour students who demonstrate a commitment to being motivated, engaged and active global citizens.”

This program is unique in Ontario. It is a collaborative effort by the OCDSB and OCENET and was developed last year by a committee that included secondary teachers and others who have considerable experience with international education.

The result of their consultations is a program that will interest and challenge students. There are several components to the program:

• Component 1: Students must obtain at least one credit in an international language bedsides French or English and complete an intercultural communication workshop;

• Component 2: Students must successfully complete 4 credits from a select list of courses that focus on international topics, and work on “internationalized” summative tasks in two other courses throughout their high school years;

• Component 3: Students have numerous options by which to become involved in an international experience, anything from an international student exchange to being actively involved in a school club with an international or cultural focus.

The final step involves the creation of an International Certificate Portfolio which provides a student with “an opportunity to demonstrate, showcase and reflect” on being a global citizen through completing a series of summative activities.

The schools that will be piloting the International Certificate in the 202-13 academic year are A.Y. Jackson SS, Bell HS, Gloucester HS, Hillcrest HS, Lisgar CI, and Ridgemont HS. In each of these schools an International Certificate Advisor will assist students who register for the program to complete the OCDSB International Certificate, which will be awarded to students who successfully complete the program at June commencement ceremonies.

For more details, view the program brochure available online at the school board website.