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NCDSB Logo  Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School  •  460 Linwell Road, St. Catharines, ON L2M 2P9   •  905-937-6446

Student Services

The Guidance and Career Education Program

a vital and integral part of the secondary school program

The Guidance and Career Education program is a vital and integral part of the secondary school program. Through the program, students will acquire the knowledge and skills that they need in order to learn effectively, to live and to work co-operatively and productively with a wide range of people, to set and pursue education and career goals, and to carry out their social responsibilities. The program will be delivered through various means, including classroom instruction, orientation and exit programs, completion of the annual education plan, career exploration activities, and individual assistance and short-term counseling.

It is important for you to become familiar with the role of your guidance counselor. Guidance Counselors provide:

  • Academic Counselling - course selection and planning, post-secondary program planning and requirements
  • Career Counselling - information on the career development process, career search and course planning
  • Personal Counselling - personal counselling referrals are made to Student Services Staff or outside agencies when appropriate
  • Attendance Counselling - referrals from teachers, parents and school administration

The Ontario Curriculum Grades 9 and 10: Guidance and Career Education, 2006 - Download PDF The Ontario Curriculum

Orientation And Exit Programs

As part of the school’s guidance and career education program, all schools provide orientation programs for students entering or re-entering secondary school and exit programs for students who leave school upon or before graduation. The purpose of these programs is to help students to make smooth transitions.

Individual Pathways Plan

As you move through school and in life, you will make many choices about your education and career plans. Beginning in Grade 7, you will create an Individual Pathways Plan (IPP) and start recording:

  • What you have learned about yourself
  • Opportunities available to you
  • Your goals
  • Plans to achieve your goals

 The IPP is based on four questions to help you plan your initial post-secondary destination.