DEPARTMENT COURSE OFFERINGS

1. English Curriculum & Stream Pathways

• Grades 9 & 10 (Foundational Literacy): Focuses on core reading comprehension, analytical writing, media literacy, and oral communication.
• Grade 11 Contemporary Indigenous Voices (NBE): Fulfills the compulsory Grade 11 English requirement across University (NBE3U) and College (NBE3C) streams, engaging students with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit authors and creators.
• Grade 12 Senior Pathways:
  • University Stream (ENG4U): Advanced literary analysis, academic essay structures, and formal research methodologies for university degree programs.
  • College Stream (ENG4C): Practical communications, business reporting, and applied critical reading for college diploma programs.
  • Workplace Stream (ENG4E): Practical literacy, workplace communication, and technical writing skil

2. English as a Second Language (ESL) & STEP Framework

Designed for English Language Learners (ELLs) to build social and academic English proficiency using the Steps to English Proficiency (STEP) framework:

• Levels 1 & 2 (ESLAO / ESLBO): Foundational conversational skills, basic sentence structures, and everyday vocabulary acquisition.
• Levels 3 & 4 (ESLCO / ESLDO): Academic vocabulary expansion, paragraph development, essay writing, and oral presentation skills.
• Level 5 (ESLEO): Advanced literary study and research skills preparing students for mainstream academic English courses.

3. Modern Languages 

• French (Grades 9–12): Develops listening, speaking, reading, and writing competencies while fostering cultural appreciation and bilingual opportunities in post-secondary education and global careers.See the following Course Flowchart to see what courses we offer:
• Spanish (Grades 9–12): Develops listening, speaking, reading, and writing competencies while fostering cultural appreciation and bilingual opportunities in post-secondary education and global careers.See the following Course Flowchart to see what courses we offer:

Course Flowcharts

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EXTRA-CURRICULAR LITERACY SUPPORTS

Our school offers targeted, structured literacy programming outside regular school hours through the Literacy Support Program.

Program Overview & Objectives

• Designed for Grades 9–10 students who are at risk of not meeting curriculum expectations (Grade 11 students may also be included).
•  Active remedial instruction in reading and writing competencies, as well as focused preparation for the Grade 10 OSSLT, Grade 9 EQAO, and Grade 10 Financial Literacy Test.
• Classes are dedicated active remedial sessions rather than drop-in homework help or general tutoring. Sessions are offered virtually or in-person before school, during lunchtime, after school, or on weekends.

Class & Schedule Details

• Session Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays (October 6 – November 12)
• Literacy Program Teachers: Mrs. Haughton & Mrs. Joseph
• Literacy Support Google Classroom Code: 5ezmjroi
• OSSLT Preparation Google Classroom Code: zfkiqysb

PROVINCIAL ASSESSMENT PREPARATION (OSSLT & EQAO) 

Successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a mandatory Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirement (minimum scale score of 300 out of 400 points).

• Key Skills Reinforced Across Subjects:
  • Explicit Comprehension: Finding literal facts, figures, and dates directly in text selections.
  • Implicit Inferences: Drawing local and global cause-and-effect conclusions from text clues.
  • Short Open-Responses: Writing focused ~100-word answers directly backed by accurate text evidence.
  • Opinion Essays: Developing 500-word structured essays supported by specific details and logical progression.
• Practice Platform & Tools: Students practice using official EQAO digital formats (multiple-choice, drop-down menus, drag-and-drop, and open text fields).

STUDENT RESOURCES & ACADEMIC ACCESSIBILITY

1. Writing & Research Lab
One-on-one teacher feedback on essay organization, research citations, and draft revisions.

2. English Language Learner (ELL) Support Hub

Multilingual glossaries, translation tools, and individual STEP language tracking.

3. Assistive Technology & Accommodations

Text-to-speech software, extra time, and quiet space accommodations for eligible students during evaluations and standardized tests.

Additional Support

•  Wednesday "Ketchup" Catch-Up Days: Late-start Wednesdays are designated catch-up days where no new coursework is assigned, allowing students time to consolidate learning and seek teacher support.
• In-Class Accommodations & Resource Support: Full support for Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and wellness accommodations, including extra time, chunked evaluations, and assistive technology tools.
• Student Success & Credit Rescue: Regular collaboration with the Student Success Team (SST/IST), Guidance counselors, and small-group tutoring sessions with caring educators.
• School Nutrition Program : Daily morning nutrition access starting in late September

CONTACT INFORMATION & DIRECTORY

Meet Our Team 

Teacher Name	Course / Role	Email Contact
Sheleah Haughton	ENG / ESL / Moderns ACL	sheleah.haughton@tdsb.on.ca
Maddie MacArthur	ESL (A & B)	Madsion.MacArthur@tdsb.on.ca
David Cundari	NBE 3CU	david.cundari@tdsb.on.ca
Kristin Joseph	ENG 4C1	kristin.joseph@tdsb.on.ca
Effie Konandreas	ENG 2D1 & ESL (Level E)	effie.konandreas@tdsb.on.ca
Jonah Muskat-Brown	ENG 2D1 & ENG 1W1	jonah.muskat-brown@tdsb.on.ca
Tricia Sukhdeo	ESL (C & D) / Special Ed.	tricia.sukhdeo@tdsb.on.ca