1. :
AM
TE R A
VE ALL
SMA DE NG
SH ND TE E RLE NAN TTA
LY ET N E EE ZE
YV RE T K PEZ
KA OLE RA
VI ND
SA
2. WHAT IS A SPECIALIST HIGH SKILLS MAJOR?
•It is a ministry-
approved specialized
program that allows
students to focus their
learning on a specific
economic sector, while
meeting the
requirements to
graduate from
secondary school.
3. KEY BENEFITS OF SHSM
• Customize their
secondary school
education to suit their
interests
• Gain sector-
recognized certification
and career-relevant
training
4. KEY BENEFITS OF AN SHSM
• Develop Essential
Skills and work habits
• Remain flexible, with
the option to shift
between pathways
• Network with
potential employers
5. 18 SPECIALIST HIGH SKILLS MAJOR SECTORS
Agriculture Arts & Culture Aviation & Aerospace
Business Construction Energy
Environment Forestry Health & Wellness
Horticulture & Hospitality & Tourism Information &
Landscaping Communication Technology
Justice, Community Manufacturing Mining
Safety & Emergency
Services
Non-profit (new) Sports (new) Transportation
6. HOW IS SHSM RECOGNIZED?
Students who successfully
complete the SHSM program
receive:
• an Ontario Secondary
School Diploma with an
embossed red seal
• a SHSM Record
documenting his/her
achievement
• formal recognition on
his/her Ontario Student
Transcript
7. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
1. A bundle of nine Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits…
• Four health and wellness “major” credits (two from grade 11 and two
from grade 12)
• Three other supporting credits in English, Math, and Science,
Religion, or Social Sciences & Humanities need to complete a
CLA (contextualized learning activity) component for each of
these credits (one unit/6 hours of work)
• **Two cooperative education credits tied to the health sector**
• Can be completed during summer school (after grade 10 or 11)
or during the grade 11 or 12 school year
10. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
2. Seven sector recognized certifications and/or training
Four compulsory and three electives required!!
Four Compulsory Certifications
1. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Level C
2. Standard First Aid
3. Infection Control
4. WHMIS
11. Three Elective Certifications/Training
1. Ambulation, lifting, and transfers
2. Automated external defibrillation (AED)
3. Babysitting
4. Behaviour Management
5. Coach/personal trainer
6. Communication Skills
7. Conflict Resolution
8. Customer Service
9. Ethical Considerations
10. Feeding assistance
11. Fitness
12. Group Dynamics
13. Lab practices
14. Leadership – group activities
15. Marine & Wilderness First Aid
16. Medical Terminology
17. Non-violent crisis intervention
18. Personality inventory
19. Safe body mechanics
20. Safe food handling – basic
21. Sign Language
22. Specialized care (e.g., diabetes, dementia)
23. Sterile techniques
24. Suicide prevention
25. Waste management
12. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
3. Experiential learning and
career exploration
• One-on-one observation
of a co-op student at a
placement in a health and
wellness sector ( “job
twinning”)
• A day-long observation of
a health and wellness
sector employer or
employee (“job
shadowing”)
13. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
•A one- or two- week work
experience with a member
of an industry association or
a professional in the sector
(“work experience”)
•A volunteer experience in a
long-term care facility
14. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
4. Reach ahead experiences
• Interview an employee in
the field of work the SHSM
student is considering
• Interviewing a college or
university student enrolled
in a health-related
program of interest
15. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
• Attending a number of
college or university classes
in the student’s area of
interest
• Attending a conference or
workshop held by the
sector
16. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED COMPONENTS?
5. Development of Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector,
and documentation of them using the OSP
• Students will develop Essential Skills and work habits required in the sector
and document them using the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP)
17. THE ONTARIO SKILLS PASSPORT
Essential Skills Work Habits
Reading Text Working safely
Writing Teamwork
Document Use Reliability
Computer Use Organization
Oral Communication Working Independently
Numeracy* Initiative
Thinking skills* Self-advocacy
Customer service
Entrepreneurship
18. TRACKING STUDENT PROGRESS
• This will be the combined efforts of the SHSM students and the SHSM
team.
• Students will need to sign up at www.myblueprint.ca/tcdsb to help track
their progress. It will also allow the SHSM team to access their information
and update it accordingly.