Welcome to KDHS Student Services
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Student Services Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where do King David graduates go to Post-Secondary School?
Our Graduates in 2008 were all accepted to the university of their choice. Our graduates enroll in a variety of programs at universities across Canada, the United States and abroad. Some popular Canadian choices through the past two years have been to apply to UBC, UVic, SFU, McGill University, Queens University, Western Ontario University, The University of Toronto and University of Calgary.2. What are the new Graduation Requirements?
The following requirements apply to all students graduating in 2008 and beyond. All students must write Provincial Exams in English 10, Social Studies 11, Mathematics 10, Science 10 and English 12. All Provincial Exams at the 10 and 11 level are worth 20% of the final mark. All Provincial Exams at the 12 level are worth 40% of the final mark. Students are not required to write additional Provincial Exams at the 12 level for admission to university and may choose to write additional exams to meet scholarship requirements. Students accumulate these credits in grades 10, 11 and 12 (BC Dogwood Diploma).Foundation Studies: 48 Credits Minimum (Required Courses)
Subject |
Credit Value |
| English 10 |
4 |
| English 11 |
4 |
| English 12 |
4 |
| Social Studies 10 |
4 |
| Social Studies 11 |
4 |
| Science 10 |
4 |
| Science 11/12 |
4 |
| Mathematics 10 |
4 |
| Mathematics 11/12 |
4 |
| Fine Arts or Applied Skills 10/11/12 |
4 |
| Planning 10 |
4 |
| Physical Education 10 |
4 |
| Total |
48 Credits |
Graduation Transitions 12: 4 Credits
The British Columbia Ministry of Education has replaced the Graduation Portfolio requirement with the Graduation Transitions requirement. All students in B.C. must complete this prior to graduation. There are three parts to the Graduation Transitions requirement.Personal Health:
• Physical Activity – 150 minutes per week of documented physical activity completed after P.E. 10
• Personal Health Plan – approved by parents/guardian, student and teacher
Community Connections:
• Volunteer/Work Experience – 30 hours documentation of work and/or volunteer experience plus relevant assignment
Career and Life:
• Present to Future – Relating current academic courses and activities to future plans
• Financial Plan
• Resume
• Presentation of Graduation Transitions to Parent/Guardian – Parent signature and comments
~ Students will begin working on documentation and assignments for their Graduation Transition credit in Planning 10.
• Physical Activity – 150 minutes per week of documented physical activity completed after P.E. 10
• Personal Health Plan – approved by parents/guardian, student and teacher
Community Connections:
• Volunteer/Work Experience – 30 hours documentation of work and/or volunteer experience plus relevant assignment
Career and Life:
• Present to Future – Relating current academic courses and activities to future plans
• Financial Plan
• Resume
• Presentation of Graduation Transitions to Parent/Guardian – Parent signature and comments
~ Students will begin working on documentation and assignments for their Graduation Transition credit in Planning 10.
Elective Courses: 28 Credits Minimum - (7 courses at 4 credits per course)
In addition to the Required Courses & Graduation Transitions 12, students must earn a minimum of 28 additional credits from elective courses taken in grades 10, 11 and 12
Minimum credits needed for graduation: 80
3. How does a student contact the counsellor?
Ms. Bagnall can be found in her office on the main floor of the school near the office. She is available throughout the school day to meet with students and parents. Students are encouraged to make appointments directly with Ms. Bagnall or can leave a note on the white board outside her office door. Students and parents can also email the counsellor for an appointment. The counsellor is available to meet students on a regular basis or on an "as needed basis”. In emergency situations, the counsellor may be seen immediately. Often students are referred to the counsellor by faculty members, parents or peers.4. What role does the counsellor have?
The delivery of Student Services at King David is multi-functional. Counselling is provided to the students in the areas of personal, social, behavioural, emotional and academic counselling, IEP coordination and implementation, learning assistance and career and post-secondary education. Parent support is also provided. Counselling enables students to work through personal issues, develop their own coping strategies and plan for their future. In many cases, the counsellor works closely with the Teachers, Advisors, and School Psychologist, outside professionals, post-secondary liaison officers and parents to enhance the overall experience of King David students. Discussions with the counsellor are confidential except in circumstances that involve high risk to the student or others.Services:
• academic counselling and planning, university and other post-secondary
• decision making
• social and emotional counselling
• information, applications and scholarships
• crisis counselling
• bullying and behaviour
• family support/counselling
• adolescent issues (depression, drug and alcohol awareness, anxiety issues, eating disorders, peer relations)
• relaxation techniques and time management
• liaison with teachers, advisors and parents
• study skills
5. What could a student do who is unsure of attending university and also unsure of a career choice?
The student need not worry! It is unrealistic for high school students to know exactly what they wish to pursue at university or as a career. First, students are encouraged to make an appointment with the counsellor for academic and career counselling. The counsellor and student can meet weekly, bimonthly or as the student wishes. Second, there are some tools that can help direct a student and bring about awareness regarding personal interests and talents. The counsellor can provide the student with various testing instruments (such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator or Individual Style Survey) to help indicate the student’s personality type to gain insight about themselves. The counsellor can also provide some links for fun and interesting Career Tests to complete on the internet. Students are encouraged to explore, to become more aware and to follow their interests discovering-in time-their best options in helping to devise a plan.6. What are university requirements?
The Admission Process:
For competitive programs, universities try to fill positions they have available with the best applicants. Many use a rolling application system whereby they constantly review applications as they come in through their on-line system. If the admissions department is confident that you will be among the top applicants once all applicants have been reviewed, they will award you admission earlier in the year. They “skim off” the top students as they apply until the application deadline passes. After the deadline, schools can then finish making offers to the strongest applicants for as many spaces as they have left open. It is important to recognize that the admission offers assume that you stay among the top applicants. If your grades fall so much that you are no longer among the top applicants, they can and do revoke admission offers! This is why students are heavily encouraged by the counsellor to have a back up plan.
Entrance Requirements:
Each program at university has its own entrance requirements, thorough research must be conducted to be sure that you have the appropriate courses to satisfy the requirements for all of the options you are considering. The counsellor is more than happy to help students with the research and the application process. Some programs admit students based only on their marks, while others look for other preferred requirements as well. For those programs that are based only on marks, only academic class scores are used. Generally 4 of your academic grade 12 provincial courses are used although some universities require 5 courses. For some faculties e.g. science specific Grade 11 course/s are required. The marks needed to enter competitive programs at colleges and universities change every year, even though they can be similar. Do not count on an admission average staying the same as the year before, even if it has not changed for a few years. The best advice is to do as well as you can in all of your courses right from the beginning of the school year.
To find out the past year’s admission cut-off’s, please see the counsellor for the most recent available averages.
Other Requirements:
Some programs admit students based on more than just their marks. Examples of this are universities in the UK and US, the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Business/Commerce at Canadian universities. Many programs in visual arts, photography and design require a portfolio of your work which is the primary means of admission. For the performing arts, auditions are often required and become their primary means. Other faculties in some institutions are also beginning to recognize that marks do not necessarily make the person successful in the program. UBC’s and UVic’s Commerce are using a “broad-based” admission system using a required supplemental application form which looks at students’ involvement in arts, athletics, leadership and service in addition to their marks. UBC Science is using a “broad based” admission system as well for students who are close to the admission average cut-off. If a student is well above the Science cut-off, the supplemental application is not necessary but it can help those students who are only a few percentage points above or below. When in doubt, fill in the supplemental application or visit the counsellor.
For competitive programs, universities try to fill positions they have available with the best applicants. Many use a rolling application system whereby they constantly review applications as they come in through their on-line system. If the admissions department is confident that you will be among the top applicants once all applicants have been reviewed, they will award you admission earlier in the year. They “skim off” the top students as they apply until the application deadline passes. After the deadline, schools can then finish making offers to the strongest applicants for as many spaces as they have left open. It is important to recognize that the admission offers assume that you stay among the top applicants. If your grades fall so much that you are no longer among the top applicants, they can and do revoke admission offers! This is why students are heavily encouraged by the counsellor to have a back up plan.
Entrance Requirements:
Each program at university has its own entrance requirements, thorough research must be conducted to be sure that you have the appropriate courses to satisfy the requirements for all of the options you are considering. The counsellor is more than happy to help students with the research and the application process. Some programs admit students based only on their marks, while others look for other preferred requirements as well. For those programs that are based only on marks, only academic class scores are used. Generally 4 of your academic grade 12 provincial courses are used although some universities require 5 courses. For some faculties e.g. science specific Grade 11 course/s are required. The marks needed to enter competitive programs at colleges and universities change every year, even though they can be similar. Do not count on an admission average staying the same as the year before, even if it has not changed for a few years. The best advice is to do as well as you can in all of your courses right from the beginning of the school year.
To find out the past year’s admission cut-off’s, please see the counsellor for the most recent available averages.
Other Requirements:
Some programs admit students based on more than just their marks. Examples of this are universities in the UK and US, the Faculty of Fine Arts and the Faculty of Business/Commerce at Canadian universities. Many programs in visual arts, photography and design require a portfolio of your work which is the primary means of admission. For the performing arts, auditions are often required and become their primary means. Other faculties in some institutions are also beginning to recognize that marks do not necessarily make the person successful in the program. UBC’s and UVic’s Commerce are using a “broad-based” admission system using a required supplemental application form which looks at students’ involvement in arts, athletics, leadership and service in addition to their marks. UBC Science is using a “broad based” admission system as well for students who are close to the admission average cut-off. If a student is well above the Science cut-off, the supplemental application is not necessary but it can help those students who are only a few percentage points above or below. When in doubt, fill in the supplemental application or visit the counsellor.
7. How do I apply for scholarships and bursaries
Applying for scholarship and /or bursary assistance is a process separate from university applications.• For scholarships, your counsellors will have the information and recent application forms for all available scholarships. Posters advertising scholarships will also be displayed in the counseling area.
• For bursaries, visit www.studentawards.ca and after browsing through the many available bursaries , complete the application forms for those you have selected.
Most universities will offer accepted applicants tuition rewards of $500 to $2500 based on their Grade Point Average. These tuition rewards are awarded by the university and do not require application. For further information, please contact the counsellor cbagnall@kdhs.org
8. Does King David High School have a Special Education Department supporting those students with learning challenges?
“Teach each child to their own way”
King David High School does indeed have a Special Education Department. The team consists of a Special Education Teacher who is also our Special Needs Support Teacher, the School Psychologist and the School Counsellor. We offer Resource Room support, an I.E.P. Program and Learning Assistance. The Department provides effective assessment and support services so that students with learning disabilities or individual learning styles which need attention and some support can fulfill their potential. The support may occur in class or individually. I.E.P. Program:
The I.E.P. (Individual Education Plan) is the working document for all support for students who have a valid psycho-educational assessment indicating a learning disability. These are drafted in consultation with educational psychologists, specialists, teachers, parents and the students themselves. Students receive appropriate accommodations to meet their specific needs. IEP’s are formally discussed and signed by parents and the Special Education Teacher and counsellor. They are reviewed throughout the year to ensure that student needs are being serviced.
Resource Room:
The goal of the Special Education Teacher is to provide assistance to students identified requiring support in reading, written work, and other school subjects. Students work with the Skills Teacher in one-to-one and small group settings. Often, there will also be King David Peer Tutors in the Resource Room to offer further support to the students. Classroom teachers may refer students to the Resource Room in order to write tests or assignments. For information, please speak to the teacher or the counsellor.