School Courses

Specialist High Skills Major Programs

STEAM Program

At Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School, we offer a full range of academic programming, aimed at supporting student achievement.

Learn about some of the courses and programs available to our students:

• School Courses

• Specialist High Skills Major Programs

• STEAM Program

In order to earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), students must earn a total of 18 compulsory credits, 12 optional credits, 40 hours of community involvement, and the provincial literary requirements.

Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits to get their Ontario Secondary School Diploma:

• 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)

• 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)

• 3 credits for group 1, 2 and 3 courses (1 credit in each group)

• 2 credits in science

• 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)

• 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)

• 1 credit in the arts

• 1 credit in health and physical education

• 1 credit in French as a second language

• 0.5 credit in career studies

In addition to the above compulsory credits, students must earn 12 optional credits by successfully completing courses offered in their school’s program and course calendar.

Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service activities as part of the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, but community service is more than just a diploma requirement for our students. As a Catholic community, we are called to apply Catholic social teachings in all that we do, to be people who “transform the world through witness, faith, innovation, and action”. The purpose of the student community service requirement is to foster an awareness and understanding of social and civic responsibility and to grow in Christian calling to service and reflection.

Students can begin to accumulate volunteer hours during the summer break before they enter Grade 9. Once the student completes all or a significant part of the 40 hours, the completed community hours tracking form should be submitted to the Guidance office.

Students who are in their graduating year are strongly encouraged to finish their hours by May 1 of their graduating year, to ensure that this information is available to both the University and College Application Centres. Any hours completed after the end of June are too late to be sent to the application centres and conditional acceptances could be revoked.

Students can use the form below to submit their community involvement hours: