Our Academic System
Diponte Academy offers high school credit courses and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Routine inspections confirm that our courses meet the high standard that is required by Ontario’s Ministry of Education.
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) Curriculum
At the heart of our educational approach is the OSSD – the Ontario Secondary School Diploma curriculum. This standardized program is mandated for all public and private secondary schools in Ontario. Renowned as one of the world’s most distinguished and comprehensive non-examination-oriented secondary education systems, the OSSD stands tall in its global recognition for its exceptional quality and stringent teaching standards.
Private secondary schools in Ontario, including ours, undergo rigorous inspections every one to two years. This ensures that our courses consistently meet and even surpass the high standards set by Ontario’s Ministry of Education.
Assessment and Evaluation
Our assessment system is multifaceted, comprising three distinct evaluations: Assessment as Learning, Assessment of Learning, and Assessment for Learning. We firmly believe that assessments should primarily serve to enhance student learning rather than just rank or label them. Our philosophy transcends mere academic grading; we prioritize the holistic development of our students, focusing on learning skills and work habits as much as we do on academic achievements.
The core learning skills and work habits we emphasize are:
Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, Self-regulation
Balanced Curriculum Evaluation
Ontario’s curriculum is designed to help all students develop the knowledge and skills they need to become informed, productive, and responsible citizens in today’s rapidly changing world. We recognize that students’ needs are diverse, and it is important to ensure that the curriculum is meaningful to them. Ontario supports students through practical, experiential learning to become discerning individuals who are equally literate in language skills, the social sciences as well as mathematics and science.
We recognize the importance of supporting students’ well-being and ability to learn. Our educators are aware of, and respond to, students’ cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development and design lessons accordingly. Students need time and information to decide on their career goals. Accordingly, the first two years of high school foster students’ aspirations and goals for their future.
Our lesson plans are based on Provincial Guidelines that provide specific expectations for each course. These are translated into learning goals and teachers also present the performance standards in the form of success criteria. Higher order thinking skills are integrated throughout the course. Achievement charts provide the teachers and the students with a balanced categories of learning that focus on the following four areas:
Assessments and evaluations are integrated throughout the course and provide students with multiple opportunities to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways. Student learning is assessed and evaluated according to the clear standards outlined in the curriculum expectations provided in the Ministry documents. Students receive frequent descriptive feedback to assist them with their learning.
Graduation Requirements
To graduate with a high school diploma in Ontario, students must:
• Earn 18 compulsory credits
• Secure 12 optional credits, providing them with the flexibility to pursue subjects aligned with their individual interests
• Fulfill the literacy requirement
• Successfully complete a minimum of two online learning credits
• Engage in at least 40 hours of community involvement activities
Community Involvement
Community involvement holds significant value in our educational approach. We believe in the principle of giving back and encourage our students to immerse themselves in community service. This not only aids personal growth but also instills a sense of responsibility towards society. A student must complete the requisite community involvement hours to be eligible for graduation.
