Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) in the LDSB
SHSM Sectors in LDSB: Arts and Culture, Construction, Energy, Forestry, Health and Wellness, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Transportation
The SHSM defined
Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs are ministry-approved, specialized, career-focused programs that allow students to acquire technical knowledge and skills in specific economic sectors while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Boards and schools may offer only the Specialist High Skills Major programs for which they have been granted ministry approval.
A school approved to offer an SHSM program will offer the program in all four pathways: apprenticeship training, college, university, and the workplace.
The components of the SHSM as defined in the document [Link]Specialist High Skills Majors: Policy and Implementation are as follows;
- a defined bundle of credits consisting of 8 to 10 Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits, including 2 cooperative education credits;
- certification and training recognized within the sector;
- experiential learning and career exploration activities related to the sector;
- reach-ahead experiences connected to the student’s postsecondary plans;
- Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector and recorded in the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP).
Students who complete the requirements for the OSSD and for an SHSM will receive an OSSD embossed with a red “Specialist High Skills Major” seal. Credits earned towards an SHSM are indicated on the Provincial Report Card, and completion of an SHSM program is recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript. In addition, students receive an SHSM Record card outlining their achievement with respect to the five required components, and a copy of that record is filed in the student’s Ontario Student Record (OSR)
Students who do not complete all the requirements for an SHSM or who transfer to another school before completing the SHSM program should receive a copy of their SHSM Record with the notation “Partially Completed”. A copy will also be filed in the student’s OSR. Specialist High Skills Major programs must be developed and implemented in accordance with the requirements outlined in Specialist High Skills Majors: Policy and Implementation Document.
Students earning the SHSM will be able to make more informed career decisions and ultimately be better prepared for their post secondary destination of choice. Students who have earned the SHSM can provide evidence of their achievement of sector-recognized certifications and training programs to prospective employers and postsecondary educational or training institutions. [Link]See SHSM Fact Sheet.
Limestone Schools and programs approved to offer the Specialist High Skills Major in 2012-2013
Arts and Culture |
Bayridge and the Arts |
Bayridge Secondary School |
Ernestown and the Arts |
Ernestown Secondary School |
Frontenac and the Arts |
Frontenac Secondary School |
KCVI and the Arts |
Kingston Collegiate & Vocational Institute |
Loyalist and the Arts |
Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute |
LaSalle and the Arts |
LaSalle Secondary School |
Napanee and the Arts |
Napanee District Secondary School |
QECVI and the Arts |
Queen Elizabeth Collegiate & Vocational Institute |
Construction |
Addington Highlands Construction Program |
North Addington Education Centre |
Building Construction Intern Program |
Queen Elizabeth Collegiate & Vocational Institute |
Loyalist Renovation Plus Program |
Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute |
Napanee Construction Intern Program |
Napanee District Secondary School |
Energy |
Energy Wise Program |
Ernestown Secondary School |
Health and Wellness |
Black Knights SHSM Health and Wellness |
LaSalle Secondary School |
Fitness for Success |
Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute |
Sydenham Health and Wellness |
Sydenham High School |
Hospitality and Tourism |
Baking and Business Cook Program |
Bayridge Secondary School |
Cook’s Intern Program |
Loyalist Collegiate & Vocational Institute |
The County Cook Program |
Sydenham High School |
Forestry |
The Northern Forester |
Sharbot Lake High School |
Manufacturing |
Mechanical Millwright Intern Program |
LaSalle Secondary School |
Napanee Manufacturing and Fabrication |
Napanee District Secondary School |
Sydenham Manufacturing and Fabrication |
Sydenham High School |
Transportation |
Performance Power Technology |
Sydenham High School |
Contextualized learning activities (CLAs)
For the “other required credits” in the bundle of credits, students in a Specialist High Skills Major program must complete learning activities that are contextualized to the knowledge and skills relevant to the economic sector of the SHSM. Contextualized learning activities (CLAs) address curriculum expectations in these courses. Typically CLAs will take a minimum of 6 hours to complete.
The CLA's are available to teachers on the e-Community site. Instructions on how to find the CLAs on the SHSM e-Community site are available by clicking here. If you require a login for the e-Community site please contact the Technology Consultant.
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