Introduction
This curriculum guide contains all of the courses currently available at Gavin Academy in the disciplines
of: Theatre and Music, Visual Arts, English (Language), Mathematics, Languages, Science, Business and
Home Management, Geography, History, and Computer Studies.
The purpose of this document is to assist students, with the help of their parents and guidance
counsellors, in selecting the courses that will put them on the right path to their postsecondary
destination. The course descriptions are standard, one-paragraph descriptions that summarize what
students will learn in each course. The descriptions are gathered here in a separate section for each
discipline, and equivalent course codes based on those used in Ontario public schools are included at
the end to assist students who are transferring out of the public system.
The policy regarding prerequisites is stated as follows in Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12:
Program and Diploma Requirements, 1999 (section 5.3.3):
Courses in Grades 11 and 12 may have prerequisites as a requirement for enrolment.
All prerequisite courses will be identified in ministry curriculum policy documents, and no
courses apart from these may be identified as prerequisites. Schools must provide parents and
students with clear and accurate information on prerequisites.
If a parent or an adult student requests that a prerequisite be waived, the principal will
determine whether or not the prerequisite should be waived. A principal may also initiate
consideration of whether a prerequisite should be waived. The principal will make his or her
decision in consultation with the parent or adult student and appropriate school staff. In cases
where the parent or adult student disagrees with the decision of the principal, the parent or
adult student may ask the appropriate supervisory officer to review the matter.
This document will be updated in subsequent years to reflect changes in courses and course codes
resulting from the cyclical review of the Ontario curriculum. The present document accurately reflects
the Ontario curriculum as of December 2010, and indicates the year of release of the curriculum for
each discipline at the start of every section.
Course and textbook fees are updated on a yearly basis in order to provide the highest level of
education to our students at the best possible value. For current pricing please see the "Tuition and
Textbook Guide".
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