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Earning Credits

Grade 8 and 9 students do not earn “credits” for their courses, but must successfully complete the following courses:  English 8/9, Social Studies 8/9, Science 8/9, Math 8/9, and PHE 8/9 as well as the Career Education 8/9 curriculum.  Grade 8 and 9s are also required to learn in the areas of the Arts and Applied Skills.  All of this learning is in preparation for the Graduation Program, which starts in Grade 10.

Grade 10, 11 and 12 students earn credits in the Graduation Program.

To graduate with a Graduation Certificate, students must complete the following requirements and earn at least 80 credits at the grade 10, 11 and 12 level:


Dogwood Diploma - at a glance:

The B.C. Certificate of Graduation or "Dogwood Diploma" is awarded to students who successfully complete the provincial graduation requirements.

Students require a minimum of 80 credits to graduate.

Of these 80 credits:

  • At least 16 credits must be at the Grade 12 level, including a required Language Arts 12

  • At least 28 credits must be elective course credits 

  • 52 credits are required from the following: 

    • Career-Life Education (4 credits), and Career-Life Connections (4 credits) 

    • Physical and Health Education 10 (4 credits)

    • Science 10 (4 credits), and a Science 11 or 12 (4 credits)

    • Social Studies 10 (4 credits), and a Social Studies 11 or 12 (4 credits)

    • A Math 10 (4 credits), and a Math 11 or 12 (4 credits)

    • A Language Arts 10, 11 and a required 12 (12 credits total)

    • An Arts Education 10, 11, or 12 and/or an Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies 10, 11, or 12 (4 credits total) 

    • An Indigenous Focused Course (4 credits)

In addition, students must also complete three new graduation assessments:

  • The Grade 10 Graduation Numeracy Assessment 

  • The Grade 10 Graduation Literacy Assessment 

  • The Grade 12 Graduation Literacy Assessment

** This information is from the Ministry website:  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/support/graduation


Our counsellors are your best resource for planning a different pathway.  This page outlines some ways you can learn outside a classroom and earn credits.

EXTERNAL CREDENTIALS

Credit at the Grade 10, 11 or 12 levels may be granted to students who have attained a high level of competency in a course of study or area of expertise outside the public school system. Credits are granted to those who fulfill requirements in athletics, languages, music, cadets, 4-H, driver education, first aid, lifesaving, computer certification, dance, drama, and speech. 

Students who believe they may qualify for external credits must collect documentation and submit it to the school counselor. 

http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation/ext_credentials/

INDEPENDENT DIRECTED STUDIES

Students who wish to pursue a passion on a deep learning level are encouraged to see one of the counsellors about developing an IDS proposal.  This course is designed by the student based on fewer learning outcomes from an existing Ministry of Education course.  This allows a student to delve deeply into a topic that they find fascinating.  Students must write a proposal, which starts with an interesting question, find a sponsor teacher with expertise in the subject area, and have it authorized by the principal - before the new semester begins. 

SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS

We encourage students and their families to consider our specialized programs as part of their pathway through school. There is much to be learned by taking a slightly different path for at least part of your time in school. 

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