Innovations High School

Additional Resources & Learning Supports

Subscriptions

We have plenty of online subscriptions you can access to in order to find your subscription login information, go to your parent homepage in Encom and click on “Curriculum Resources”:

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Then scroll down to find the links and passwords to the subscription(s) you are interested in.

Learning Camps/Community Connections

You may sign up for our learning camp e-alerts here. By visiting the former website you may also find more info on our Learning Camps and Community Connections programs for the Grad Program.

Learning Commons

Be sure to visit our Learning Commons (library) and check out all the fabulous resources there. An excellent source of help is Pippa Davies who is our Learning Commons Librarian. She can help you with both physical and virtual resources to cover most, if not all, of your curricular needs.

Advanced Placement Courses

What are they?

The Advanced Placement (AP) program makes college and university level courses available for students to take while they’re still in secondary school. For students who are interested in extending their learning beyond the grade 12 level, while still in high school, these courses can be a great option. Students can earn additional credits at the high school level by completing these courses and may also be granted first year college or university credits, depending on the post-secondary institution, when the AP exam is taken. 

AP courses are overseen by the College Board which is recognized for advanced credit or placement in many Canadian and American universities and colleges. Schools are permitted to offer AP courses from a set list, and are responsible for ensuring that any courses they offer meet College Board standards. Students complete the course work and are then required to write a formal ‘AP’ exam administered by the College board to earn the additional AP credits. 

HCOS offers a select number of AP courses, based on the in-house expertise of our instructors and course developers. The list of AP courses offered each year can be found on the HCOS course description webpage and AP exams are written in May of each school year. 

How do they work? 

In general, if a student enrolls in an AP course and completes all the required components, they will earn 4 external credits for the high school level course. Generally, the additional AP material extends or expands on the concepts and content addressed in the grade 12 level course. In addition, if a student successfully completes the AP exam, university credit may also be granted (see section below)

What about the AP Exam?

AP Exams are administered at authorized schools and test centers each school year in the month of May. AP course work is arranged so students have ample time to complete the necessary AP work prior to writing the exam in May. This may mean students have some coursework remaining to complete after the AP exam is written, depending on how the course is laid out. 

HCOS staff will help students arrange for a proctored exam location with an email going out to students in the beginning of the year to gather interest and information to help set sessions up.

The exams are marked and scored on a scale of 1 to 5 by college and university professors and experienced AP teachers (not the HCOS AP course teacher). Many post secondary institutions offer credit for AP Exam scores of 3 or higher.

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Advanced Placement FAQs

1. Do I have to take 2 final exams (the school’s final exam and the Collegeboard’s AP exam in May)? 

Most AP courses require an online proctored final exam for you to receive your high school course credit. This exam must be written to receive this credit. 

If you want to attempt to receive university credit through the College Board that exam takes place in May. Please note that the AP and school exams are separate from each other. Some course teachers will accept the AP Exam in lieu of the final exam for the course. This is a teacher by teacher decision and once enrolled, you should discuss your options with your course teacher. 

2. Do I have to create an AP student account? 

If you plan to write the AP exam in May, you will need to create an AP student account. This will allow for our school to order and book your AP exam. By creating this account, it will also give you access to additional material that your teacher may require as a part of your course. 

3. What if I don’t live close to an AP exam location? 

We have two exam locations, one in Kelowna and the other in the Greater Vancouver area. If a student lives outside of one of these locations we will arrange for you to write at a facility near you. Please note that there will be additional fees associated with writing an exam outside of our school locations. 

4. Can I take the AP Exam at my own school (school of record)? 

Yes, you may write your AP Exam at your school of record if they offer AP exams.  You will need to connect with the AP Coordinator at your school as they will need to provide you with an exam only join code. You will also need to inform our offices so that we can adjust your registration with our school.

5. How much does it cost to take the AP Exam?

The cost to write each AP exam is $200. If you live outside of our exam writing locations there will be additional fees to accommodate a special setting.

6. How do I register for the AP Exam?

After creating an account on the College Board website you will want to login at myap.collegeboard.org.

Click the Join a Course or Exam button. Before you do this, make sure you have the six-Character join code from your teacher. You’ll need it to join a class section.   

Enter the join code your teacher gave you and click Submit.

Make sure the information that comes up is for the course you’re taking. If it is, click Yes

If you need to make any adjustments to your exam registration, such as in you no longer want to write the exam or yes you would like to write, please email Johanna Martz at:  johanna.martz@bconlineschool.ca 

7. What is the AP Exam registration deadline?

There are two AP Exam registration deadlines in a year. The first one is in the middle of November for students who enrolled in the course before this time. The second deadline is in the middle of March. Information will be sent by course teachers and our office informing of upcoming deadlines.

Booking for Gr. 10-12 Textbooks

Please note: This is for Individualized Patrons with Encom Passwords

Logging into the Search Portal:

Click on this link: https://hcs.insigniails.com/LibrarySAML/Home 
You will see the Search Portal menu below; click on the Login in the right hand upper corner. 

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You will log in with your Encom username and password. If you have forgotten your password, just choose the ‘forgot password?’ link and the site will send it to your email. To find out your username or password, email tech@onlineschool.ca.

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You may arrive at this page if coming from the Learning Commons website. If so, click on the SAML link and follow instructions above.

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Physical Resource Limits For Textbooks

Physical Resource Limits For Other Resources

Searching

We have curated the list of textbooks into Topic Lists which will make it easier to find and book them. Click on the icon that says “Topic Lists”.

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The next screen will show a list of topics by grade and by subject. Click on the High School icon:

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On the left hand side, scroll down to the Textbooks. When you click on it you will see a large scroll box that shows the titles. If you hover over the title, a balloon pops up with information about the title. You can scroll through this list, or use the smaller scroll bar at the bottom which shows more titles at once. Not all browsers load all of the pictures, (Chrome), so you may want to use Firefox or another browser.

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Click on a book cover, then click on the Title.

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You will be taken to the Title Details page where you can book the item by clicking on the Book Item icon.

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Booking items  

When you click on “Book Item”, a calendar will appear (see image below). The small, red numbers indicate how many copies are available on that requested day. On the left, you will see your unique shipping “Site”.

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In the screenshot above, we’ve selected HCOS5, which means this patron is 5 shipping days away from Kelowna. Be sure to choose a date that allows the number of shipping days before you want to receive your items.

The system will automatically change your date to allow for the correct shipping days.

Click on the date. In this example, Sept. 12th was chosen. Next, click Apply then click “Book Items”. 

 

The calendar below now shows the full period of the booking. Shipping days are highlighted in orange on the calendar, (weekends and holidays are not included as shipping days).

A pop up will confirm if your booking went through and you will receive a confirmation email.

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View your bookings

Hover over “My Account”, then “My Borrowing”, and then select “Booking”.

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View all of your bookings for the year

Enter the “From” and “To” dates (change to June of the school year to see entire year’s bookings). All of your bookings will display.

You will see:

  1. The booking loan period
  2. Shipping to and from days
  3. The Cancel button - click to cancel your booking
  4. Edit Booking button - click to change your date

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View due dates and renew options for items out

Hover over the “My Account” icon, then “My Borrowing”, then select “Loan”. You have the option to click on the renew button to renew items. They will not renew if needed for another patron’s booking. Items can be renewed for 4 weeks if no other bookings are placed on them. 

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Career Life Education & Career Life Connections Courses

This page is designed to outline the differences in the Career Life Education (CLE) and Career Life Connections (CLC) offerings at HCOS. 

Career Life Education should be taken before Career Life Connections. 

The Ministry of Education has outline the rationale and goals for the new K-12 Career Education offerings:

Rationale

Today’s graduates must be able to adapt to ongoing change in many aspects of their lives. For most people, career life planning will not be a matter of making one major decision and living with it for a lifetime. Instead, purposeful career-life development, where students learn how to set personally meaningful goals, recognize and cultivate relevant opportunities and supportive relationships, and continually re-evaluate and revise their plans, is a requirement for educated citizens in an ever-changing world.

Educated citizens are lifelong learners who continually build on their self-awareness about evolving interests and strengths, and who are able to use this personal knowledge to inform their career-life choices with flexibility as opportunities and challenges arise. Career Education fosters development of the confidence, knowledge, and competencies necessary to succeed in personal, educational, and workplace contexts throughout life.

From Kindergarten to graduation, the Career Education curriculum offers students many opportunities to explore and develop personal interests, strengths, and competencies while making connections with experiential learning, career life possibilities, and preferred post-graduation opportunities. Under the guidance of their teachers, students discover that career life development with intent is not simply figuring out what they want to be when they grow up, but a lifelong journey of being and becoming who they want to be in the world and how they can make meaningful contributions in their communities.

Career Education includes reflection on learning experiences both in school and out of school, and facilitates connections with communities and networks to support personal career-life interests and goals. The Career Education curriculum aligns with the First Peoples Principles of Learning, highlighting a holistic view of students placed at the centre of their learning, and recognizing the importance of experiential learning, guidance from mentors, and community involvement.

Goals

The Career Education curriculum contributes to students’ development as educated citizens through the achievement of the following goals. Students are expected to:

HCOS Grad Program Offerings

In Encom you will see Career Life Education and Career Life Connections offered at all three grade levels (10, 11 and 12). This is because we want to work flexibly with our students to have them complete the courses when it is best for them in their educational journey. 

Requirements:

HCOS offers both Career Life courses as online courses and individualized courses. Please connect with your Grad Advisor to plan the best time for you to take these as well as which course option is best for you! 

Comparative Civilizations Program (with Overseas Travel)

Planning for our 2020/2021 Comparative Civilizations Program is gearing up. For this, our 13th anniversary year, we would like to invite you to consider becoming an important part of the legacy. The CompCiv Team always marvels at how the Spirit of God year after year transforms the life of each student who participates in this adventure. 

If you plan to join us, prepare to have your perspectives on faith and life recalibrated, as you become part of a travelling community who through a wondrous exploration of history and culture will encounter the revitalizing truths of God¹s historical master plan. In short, this is more than a program featuring a cool trip overseas. It is an intensely spiritual and life-affirming experience.

Please note that you earn a minimum of 12 credits by choosing at least three courses from the following Comparative Civilizations Program course list:

Each study/travel course combo is designed to best fit your particular interests and transcript needs.

Tentative Dates: 12 days** in the last three weeks of March 2021.

Program Fee: $4000.00**

Application Process: To register for this program please follow these steps:

  1. Log into your ENCOM account
  2. Click Select Courses
  3. Select the courses with the CompCiv prefix in the Grade 12 course selection list (typing 'CompCiv' in the Course Search bar will list the relevant courses)

Eric Vanee or your Grad Advisor can assist you with course selection if needed. Lord willing, this year our trip will focus on major destinations in Israel, Greece, Rome, and Paris**. It will be a fast-paced adventure filled with wonder and excitement.

**In view of circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, trip length, price, and exact locations are approximate until such time as we can navigate uncertainty surrounding international travel.

For more information please contact: Eric Vanee 

 

 

Course Options

HCOS offers the flexibility to design a unique High School experience with a variety of different learning options. All courses provide credit towards the BC Dogwood Diploma.

Online Courses

HCOS’ online course catalogue provides engaging online learning and all the resources needed to cover course content, curricular competencies and help students to grow in the core competencies. All courses are supported by a passionate subject specialist and are hosted in our learning management system, Brightspace.

HCOS offers two flexible pacing options:

  1. Asynchronous: work at your own pace to complete the course within twelve months from activation date.
  2. Synchronous cohorts: work at the same pace as your peers, meeting regularly on Zoom with your online teacher.

Hybrid Courses

HCOS offers hybrid courses, where families choose the curriculum from a list of popular options. Our teachers will guide students through completing the course competencies by using the chosen curriculum and additional supplementary material as needed. Hybrid courses can be completed at any pace over twelve months with the support of a subject specialist teacher and are hosted through our learning management system, Brightspace.

Individualized Courses

HCOS is known for its flexibility and willingness to personalize student learning through individualized courses.

Individualized courses are offered at any pace, with up to one year to complete the course. The student and the family will work alongside a subject specialist to create a Student Learning Plan (SLP) where they can help design a course that is suited to the students strengths and interests while covering the course content, curricular and core competencies.  Individualized courses rely heavily on students being self disciplined and responsible to complete work independently, as outlined in the SLP. The teachers are available to suggest resources, identify expected work samples, give feedback and assess student performance. Regular, ongoing communication with the teacher is expected to allow for meaningful support of student learning.

Course Selection Instructions

New Students:

Once your application has been accepted by your Grad Advisor (GA), you or your parent can log into Encom and select your courses. 

Visit the Logging in to Brightspace page if you need assistance setting up your Brightspace username and password for the first time. 

Returning Students:

You must have re-enrolled first in order to choose your courses for the next year. 

  1. Log into Encom with your parent user name and password.
  2. Click on the Re-Enrollment icon and follow the prompts. 
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  3. Be sure you are in the correct school year by clicking the Calendar icon termbutton.JPG in the top right of the Encom page. You need to insure you are selecting courses for the correct school year. 
  4. Click on the Course Selection button.
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  5. Courses that are associated with the grade of the student will appear. For examples if your student is in Grade 11 in the chosen school year, Grade 11 courses will appear. You can use the Quick Search bar in the top left to search the courses, or scroll through the list. 
  6. If you'd like to select a course from a different grade level. Click the Advance Search button in the navigation bar. You can then navigate to a different grade level.
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  7. When you've found a course you'd like to add. Click on the icon. You will then be taken to a short description of the course, and some more information. Verify that you are selecting the correct course (online or individualized) and click the Add Course button.
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  8. You then need to select the pace at which you'd like to complete the course from the drop down menu provided:
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  9. Continue selecting additional courses.

  10. Important: Once you have completed all of your selections, you must Review and Save. If you are not confident in your selections or unfinished, do not click Review and Save. Once you click the option, you are locked out of course selections and will need to contact your Grad Advisor to make additional changes.
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  11. Once you have saved your selection, you will then be direct to a page for Resources. If texts are required for any of the online courses you've selected, they will be listed here. The price that appears is what you will be billed if the book is not returned to the office. Ordering them now, ensures they are mailed out to you in a timely fashion. Click on 'Submit' to place your resources order. 
  12. To view the courses for your student, click on the Course List button on the main Encom page. 
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Course Withdrawals or Changes

Students and parents can request course withdrawals or changes during the year, however there are some implications that need to be acknowledged when changes are made to courses that are in progress.

  1. If you withdraw from a course in which you were activated (in progress), you will need to wait one year from the time of withdrawal before you can enroll in the course again. This is a Ministry of Education regulation. The other alternative is for you to take a failing grade. If you have a failing grade, you can retake the course, starting anytime.
  2. Please note that if you are dropping an individualized or hybrid course, your student's resource allotments might be affected. Contact your Grad Advisor if you have any questions.

To proceed with a course withdrawal or change, please complete this form.

Dual Credits

The ministry of education has provided an option for students to be involved in dual credit programs where they enrol in and complete post-secondary courses or training and also earn secondary (high school) credits at the same time. These dual-credit programs are stand-alone agreements set up between a specific secondary school and a specific post-secondary institution, usually within the same school district. 


Heritage Christian Online School does not currently offer dual credit course offerings for our Grade 10-12 students. With grade 10-12 students in each of the 60 school districts across the province, we do not have the resources to create and maintain the ongoing unique agreements with each of the post secondary institutions or secondary schools in these districts that offer dual-credit enrolment. 


Students interested in dual credit courses are encouraged to explore options for cross-enrolment with their local secondary schools and your grad advisor is happy to help you create a schedule and plan for graduation that includes any information on local dual-credit options you bring to them. 


For more information on Dual Credits please visit the Ministry of Education website.


English Language Arts Options in Grades 10-12

This page outlines the available options as well as requirements for the English Language Arts (ELA) options in Grades 10 through 12.

English Language Arts under the new BC Curriculum provides students with more options to learn their English skills and materials in methods and manners that are more applicable to each unique student. As such, there is choice in what students may do to achieve the required credit.

Grade 10
Requirement Choice Example

Students must completed 4 credits of ELA 10.


Courses are 2 credits each - meaning students must select a minimum of 2 courses or a combined offering.


Any additional courses taken count towards elective credit for graduation.

2 Credit Options,

  • Composition 10 (Online/Individualized)
  • Creative Writing 10 (Individualized)
  • Literary Studies 10 (Online/Individualized) 
  • New Media 10 Individualized 
  • Spoken Language 10 Individualized 

4 Credit Options, 

  • Composition 10 and Literary Studies 10 Combined Online Course (4 credits)
  • Composition 10 and Literary Studies 10 Combined Online Synchronous Course (4 credits)

Sarah has strong writing skills and has aspirations to explore Journalism when she graduates. She would like to focus on courses that help her enhance her writing. Because she needs 4 credits to satisfy graduation requirements Sarah will take:

  • Composition 10 Individualized and
  • Creative Writing 10 Individualized


Jonas enjoys taking online courses and doesn't want to have to concern himself with taking two separate courses. He will enroll in the Composition 10 and Literary Studies 10 Combined Online courses which satisfies all 4 required credits.

Please see the below for more detailed information on the HCOS choices available for grade 10 Language Arts. 

Grade 11
Requirement Choice Example

Students must completed 4 credits of ELA 11.


Any additional courses taken count towards elective credit for graduation.

All options are 4 Credits


  • Composition 11 (Individualized)
  • Creative Writing 11 Individualized (4 credits)
  • Literary Studies 11 (Online/Individualized) 
  • New Media 11(Individualized) 
  • Spoken Language 11 (Individualized) 

Bailey likes the idea of presenting and using her skills as a drama student to share her learning. She likes to orally present her learning and will enroll in Spoken Language 11 Individualized. This course satisfies all credits required for her at the Grade 11 level.



Thomas likes to create and edit major video productions. This is a passion area of his and writing is not his strongest ability. Although there is a writing component to New Media 11, the content is focused around different media types, one of which is video. This course is the most appealing to Thomas' strengths and passions and satisfies all requirements for ELA 11.
Grade 12
Requirement Choice Example

All students must take English Studies 12 OR First Peoples English Studies 12 in order to graduate.


Any additional courses taken count towards elective credit for graduation.

All options are 4 credits

  • English Studies 12 (Online/Individualized) - required course
  • English First Peoples 12 (Online)
  • Composition 12 (Individualized)
  • Creative Writing 12 (Individualized)
  • Literary Studies 12 (Individualized)
  • New Media 12 (Individualized)
  • Spoken Language 12 (Individualized)

In order to graduate, all students must take English Studies 12 or First Peoples English Studies 12.


Any additional courses taken at the Grade 12 level count towards elective credit and the grade 12 required credit for graduation.

Students are required to take 4 credits of Indigenous Course Credits before graduation. English First People's courses count towards this requirement.

English Language Arts 10 Options

Students need two of the following 2 credit course options in order to receive the required four credits of English 10. 

COMPOSITION 10 (2 credits) is designed for students who would like to strengthen their skills in expository, opinion, persuasive, descriptive and/or narrative writing.  


This course provides students with the opportunity to:

  • explore and create coherent, purposeful compositions
  • read and study compositions by other writers and consider their value as models for the development of students' own writing
  • develop their craft through processes of drafting, reflecting, and revising.

Composition 10 is incorporated into many of our HCOS online, hybrid, and community connections options. 


Curriculum suggestions for a focus on Individualized Composition 10 are as follows:

LITERARY STUDIES 10 (2 credits) is designed for students who are interested in the literature of a particular era, geographical area, or theme, or in the study of literature in general. 


Giving students the choice of a range of literary topics allows them to follow their passion and at the same time:

  • increase literacy skills through close reading of appropriately challenging text
  • develop balance and broaden their understanding of themselves and the world
  • develop higher-level thinking and learning skills

Literary Studies 10 is incorporated into many of our HCOS online, hybrid, and community connections options.


Curriculum suggestions for a focus on Individualized Literary Studies 10 are as follows: 

CREATIVE WRITING 10 (2 credits) is designed for students who have an interest in creative expression through language. 


This course provides students with the opportunity to:

  • express themselves creatively
  • develop their skills through the writing and design processes. 

Creative Writing 10 can be approached as a hybrid course or as an individualized course. 


Curriculum suggestions for a focus on Individualized Creative Writing 10 are as follows: 

SPOKEN LANGUAGE 10 (2 credits) is designed for students with an interest in performance, storytelling, spoken word poetry, or public speaking. 


This course provides students with an opportunity to:

  • develop their spoken communication skills through processes of questioning, exploring, and sampling 
  • study, draft, and use language to create original pieces in a variety of modes. 

Spoken Language 10 can be approached as a hybrid course or as an individualized course. 


Curriculum suggestions for a focus on Individualized Spoken Language 10 are as follows:

Credit can also be assigned for participation and achievements in community theatre, storytelling, spoken word, Toastmasters, 4H or Cadets Effective Speaking programs.

NEW MEDIA 10 (2 credits) is designed for students with an interest in media, journalism, film, or digital communications.  


This course provides students with an opportunity to

  • develop a program of study centred on personal interests, needs, and abilities, 
  • allow for a range of local delivery methods
  • recognize that digital literacy is an essential characteristic of the educated citizen. 

New Media 10 can be approached as a hybrid course or as an individualized course. 


Curriculum suggestions for a focus on Individualized New Media 10 are as follows:

Grad FAQs

For more detailed information on the Grad program at HCOS, requirements for graduation, course selection and planning, please see our series of Orientation Week videos here. 

Do you have face-to-face opportunities for kids? 

Yes, we offer face-to-face opportunities in two different ways: CC+ and Online Synchronous courses. In a CC+ students will meet in a location and take courses together with a certified teacher; oftentimes a CC+ will include taking multiple courses together (such as English, Social Studies, and PE). We only offer CC+ in certain areas though such as Abbotsford and Chilliwack. In an Online Synchronous course students will meet virtually over Zoom once a week with a certified teacher and the rest of the students taking the same Online Synchronous course. These classes will occur from September to June for 1 hour Zoom sessions.

What formats are courses provided in at the Grad Program?

We have four different formats for many of our courses in the Grad program. It's important to note that not all courses are available in all formats... so it's good to check with your Grad Advisor as you are planning. 

1) Online Synchronous - this option uses the online courses that HCOS has written, and also has the added benefit of weekly zoom meetings with your course teacher. The student cohort in these classes work together at about the same pace, beginning in September and finishing in June. 

2) Online Asynchronous - this option also uses the same online course as the synchronous course, but students have the flexibility to work at their own pace, as well as start and end on dates that may fit their unique schedule. 

3) Hybrid - this course option is designed for students who need some guidance and structure in a course but are also looking for a bit more flexibility. This course format may provide resources, suggest assignments, give project ideas, etc. and allow for more freedom and student choice. By design, they also benefit from more parent oversight and support as students don't have daily lessons to complete. Instead, students learn material independently and then submit samples that demonstrate the culmination of their learning.

4) Individualized - this course option is designed for students who have a plan that doesn't 'fit' one of the above options. This could be because you have a particular curriculum you want to use, you are involved in a unique learning opportunity, or you just have a really great idea that is a bit out-of-the-box. This option requires the student to work with the course specialist teacher to outline the course expectations, select resources to use, identify what work samples will be submitted, and how assessment will be done. 

Can I use a combination of online courses and individualized courses?

Yes! One of our core values as a school is flexibility. Students enrolled in grades 10-12 have the freedom to blend their course planning to include online, hybrid and individualized courses to meet their specific needs and strengths. Most of our core course options can be taken in any format, and many of our electives are available in multiple formats as well, so students have lots of choice. 

Who do I go to if I have questions about the grad program or need help planning my grade 10-12 years?

In the grad program at HCOS, each student is assigned a grad advisor (GA) to provide guidance throughout their time in the grad program. This GA is your 'go-to' person for general questions, help with course planning, advice on post secondary preparations, accessing learning service supports, and any other type of support you may need as you work towards your graduation goals. If you have questions relating to a specific course, an assignments or teacher feedback then you need to connect with that course teacher for help or more information.

In the grad program, how do I know my Individualized course teachers’ email?

All of our HCOS teacher emails follow the same format: firstname.lastname@onlineschool.ca

If you aren't sure what your teachers name is (or how to spell it), there are a couple of ways to find your course teacher's email address.

    1. On your Encom home page, find the box called 'List of Courses'. This should list all the courses you are enrolled in and from there you can can click on your teacher's name to see their email address,  OR
    2. On your Encom home page click on the report card box. At the top all the courses you are enrolled should appear along with the teacher's name beside them. Click on the teacher's name to email them. 
How do I see teacher comments for my child’s assignments in Online Grad courses?

Parents have their own Moodle login capabilities (using their own Encom account information). Once a parent logs in to Moodle they can look over their children’s pacing guide to see if they’re on-pace or behind, they can see their current course grade, and can also check the marks on individual assignments which will include feedback and comments from teachers.

(Moodle is still there for the next year 2023 for students who are finishing old courses; otherwise, we have transitioned to Brightspace). 

My child is working on Math 11 but I don’t see this on the transcript; why not?

Unofficial transcripts (and official transcripts) only show completed courses. Any courses that are still in progress, or that your student is still working on will not appear on the transcript. Once a teacher enters a final grade for a course indicating a student has completed the course, our data department reports that final grade and it will appear on a student's transcript. Courses that a student withdraws from also do not appear on the transcript. 

Do I have to complete the grade 10 and 12 provincial assessments?

Yes, the ministry expectation is that all students in grade 10 will write the numeracy and literacy 10 assessments. this gives students the opportunity to re-write the assessments if they want to improve their scores before grade 12. These assessments are required to receive a Dogwood Diploma in BC. The literacy 12 assessment is also required for graduation and so must be completed by students in grade 12. 

It's important to note that officially, all students are working towards the Dogwood Diploma. Once a student turns 18, they may then declare their intent and move to the Adult Dogwood program. The Adult Dogwood program does not require assessments to be written at this time. However, some post-secondary institutions have indicated that they prefer to see those assessments have been completed when looking at adult student applications. 

Where do I go to complete Provincial Assessments? 

There are a few options for students when it comes to writing provincial assessments.

1) The simplest option is to sign up for an HCOS assessment site. We typically host an assessment location in Kelowna and the lower mainland in each assessment session, but often we have additional locations (based on student numbers) such as Nanaimo or Victoria.

2) The other option is to write your assessment at a local school. This option is totally dependent on each individual local school's plans and it's important to note that not all schools run assessment sessions in all 4 assessment windows. If a school is willing to host one of our students, we are happy to make those arrangements, but this option isn't always possible and is dependent on a number of factors outside of HCOS.

3) IE students who are eligible for a private location can write at a location set up by their case manager, with a private invigilator and other accommodations in place. This can only be arranged through a student's Case Manager. 

How many classes do I need to complete to graduate?

There's no easy answer for this as there isn't a set number of 'classes' a student needs to complete. Instead, graduation is based on the number of credits a student earns, and in specific content/course areas. Your Grad Advisor can give you more guidance on this, but in order to graduate in BC, you need a total of 80 credits, and some of those credits must be completed in certain courses or subject areas. 

The majority of courses that HCOS offers are 4-credit courses. Some exceptions to this are:

If the need arises, can my child integrate back into a campus school?

Yes, the credits students earn for completing courses through HCOS are reported to the Ministry. Students can continue to build their transcript at another educational institution of their choosing.

I re-enrolled into the Grad program yet I don’t see any curriculum funds. In K-9 I had $600 Where are the funds?

In the grad program, funds are allocated differently than they are for K-9 students. In the grad program you will be given access to $50 of curriculum funds for each individualized or hybrid non-core (elective) course. This would include courses such as a fine arts course, ADST, and active living 11/12.

Online and Core subjects courses do not receive any curriculum funds. Online courses have all the resources needed supplied through the online course shell, and our learning commons has textbooks available for students to borrow for a full school year when enrolled in hybrid or individualized core courses. 

That means if a student does not enroll in any elective Individualized or hybrid courses, there is no funding allocated to the student’s resource budget.

How much communication should I expect with my teachers?

Teachers will often communicate with parents when students enroll in their course. From there, teachers will send email communication throughout the school year for important info and dates such as report cards, etc. Additionally, teachers will connect with parents if they notice that students are behind or doing poorly, but may also send communication to parents when students do something spectacular. Feedback provided in Moodle is also a common method of communication and interaction with students. 

(Moodle is still there for the next year 2023 for students who are finishing old courses; otherwise, we have transitioned to Brightspace). 

Do you offer summer school?

Yes! Online courses are open through the summer session. 

I attend another school. Can I take one or two courses with you?

Yes, you can sign up for courses through our cross enrolled division, www.bconlineschool.ca. 

When is the last day of school?

Students have up to 1 year to complete their grad program courses. Typically students will complete their courses from September to mid-June. Anything submitted by mid June will be reported during June report cards, however if students have yet to complete their courses they are welcome to continue working during the summer term. 

Will I get to choose my teacher? 

We do our best to provide different options for courses and teachers across the grad program. Teachers are assigned their courses in the Spring for the following school year. For example, Teacher A will be teaching Online English 11, and Teacher B will be teaching Individualized English 11. 

How many hours per weekday should we be doing school at home?

Because student course loads vary in number, this will vary depending on the courses chosen in any given year.  A student can expect to work approximately 4-6 hours a week per course if they spread their course work over 10 months.




Grad Planner - For Families

As students enter the grad program at HCOS (Grade 10-12), they begin building their transcript and accumulate credits towards a Dogwood Diploma. The Grad Planner in Encom is used for planning and tracking student progress through the various graduation requirements in BC. 

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The Grad Planner seen in Encom reflects the graduation program a student is currently enrolled in. The examples below are all from the Dogwood diploma planner, but planners also exist for the Adult Dogwood and School Completion certificates. The planner format will automatically update with the appropriate planner and requirements when a Grad Advisor updates the Graduation program a student is enrolled in as required.

The Grad Planner gives an up-to-date summary of what courses have been completed, courses in progress or enrolled, and courses or credits still required for graduation. 

Courses completed at schools outside of HCOS need to be manually added to the Grad Planner. Please inform your Grad Advisor when these are completed. 

How do I see my student’s Grad Planner?

Please note, Grad Planners are only set up and available for students as they prepare to enter the grad program. Initial setup of the Grad Planner will take place as students meet with their Grad Advisor in the spring of Grade 9.

You can access your student’s grad planner by logging into Encom. For more information on how to access Encom please see here. Once logged in, click the See More Items for this Student link at the bottom of their overview. 

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Select 'Graduation Planner' to open up your student's grad planner.

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The next screen will take you to your student’s Grad Planner. If you see:

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Please contact your Grad Advisor and they will create a planner if needed.

What Am I Looking At?

There are two main components to the Grad Planner. 

Part 1: Overview

At the top is a summary that gives an overview of what courses a student has completed, is currently enrolled and/or active in, and what requirements still need to be completed.

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The ‘Credits’ column gives a quick snapshot of the categories where a student has completed the required number of credits, and which categories have not yet been fully addressed.

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The ‘Legend’ box explains the icons that are used below in the more detailed, second portion of the Grad Planner. 

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Part 2: Detailed Course Requirements

The overview is followed by a more detailed description of the student’s current overall standing. This includes information on completed courses, courses in progress, and courses the student may want to plan for in future semesters. 

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At the bottom of the Grad Planner, you will see a section named ‘other’ that summarizes important requirements for graduation. 

For example, the student below has three courses that meet the grade 12 required credits. They have completed Spanish 12, are enrolled and active in Entrepreneurship 12 and are enrolled in Anatomy and Physiology 12. This will satisfy 12 of the 16 required credits, however both English Studies 12 and Career-Life Connections still need to be completed before this section can be marked ‘complete’ as these are both required grade 12 level courses. 

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The student below is shown to have enrolled in 4 of the 8 credits required to earn an HCOS Graduation certificate  in addition to their Dogwood Diploma. This student’s planner shows two different 2-credit offerings, one completed and one in progress. These credits also count towards a student’s elective course requirements and can be concurrently applied towards the Dogwood Diploma.

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Additionally, there will be a summary of which of the required Graduation assessments a student has completed and which ones still need to be taken.

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Clicking on any of the Graduation Assessments found here will open a box that contains more information. This information will be updated by our Provincial Assessment coordinator following each assessment session as well as when scores are reported. 

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How do I get the Grad Planner updated? 

If you have questions about your grad planner or have something you think needs to be updated, please contact your Grad Advisor. 

The grad planner automatically updates when courses are completed with HCOS (a final grade has been entered on a student’s report card). 

If you have completed a course with another school, or have completed training that qualifies you for external credits, you will need to inform your Grad Advisor. They will then manually update your Grad Planner to reflect those achievements. 

Other questions? 

See our FAQ page here or reach out to your Grad Advisor. 

Grad Orientation Week Recordings 2024

Welcome to the Grad Program
What Math is Right for Me? (Math 101)
What Course Type to Choose?

Science 10 and Beyond!
Creating a Plan for a Successful Year
HCOS Grad Ceremonies
Are you Ready for Grade 10?
Brightspace/Encom What Students and Parents Need to Know
Student Panel
Combined Course Options
English 10
Numeracy and Literacy Assessments
Planning for the Future
Thinking Ahead
Flex Information Session
Student Success Centre
Breakfast Club
Student Council

Grad Planner - FAQ

What is the purpose of the Grad Planner? 

As students complete Grades 10-12 in British Columbia, they begin building their transcript and accumulating credits towards a diploma. The Grad Planner module in Encom is used for planning and tracking student progress through the various graduation requirements in BC. 

The Grad Planner seen in Encom reflects the graduation program a student is currently enrolled in, either Dogwood, Adult Graduation or School Completion Certificate. It is meant to be a simple tool used to understand graduation requirements and a student’s current standing at any point in time. 

Who sets up the Grad Planner? 

When a student first connects with their Grad Advisor (GA) and prepares to enter the grad program at HCOS, the GA will initiate the set-up of the Grad Planner. If you think your Grad Planner still needs to be set up, please contact your GA.

When a GA initially sets up a Grad Planner, they will:

As the GA continues to support a student through grades 10-12, further updates to the Grad Planner may include: 

Who can view the Grad Planner? 

The grad planner in a student’s Encom profile is viewable and printable by the student, the parents, course teachers, Grad Advisors, IE case managers, and administrators. 

Grad Advisors and Grad Program administrators are the only ones who have the ability to update, edit or alter the Grad Planner.

How is the Planner updated? 

Once created, the Grad Planner will automatically update when HCOS course information changes. This includes updates when:

Grad Advisors will manually update Grad Planners when: 

What if I change Graduation programs at some point? 

The Grad Planner module is designed to automatically update whenever a Grad Advisor or Grad Program administrator changes the graduation program that a student is enrolled in. 

For example, if a student decides at 18 to pursue an Adult Graduation Program, the GA would make that change in Encom and the Grad Planner module will automatically update to reflect the requirements for that program. It will also automatically pull any relevant course information from the previous version of the planner. 

What do the different icons within the planner mean?

There is a legend at the top of the Grad Planner that explains what each colour and symbol mean.

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Additionally, see the Grad Planner for Families page here for more detailed explanation of the most commonly seen icons and colours.  

Can I print a copy of my Grad Planner?

Yes! To generate a print or pdf copy of your Grad Planner, navigate to the top of your Grad Planner, where you will see a Download PDF button. Click on that button and it will save a PDF of the Grad Planner which you can print.

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Please note, your electronic grad planner will automatically update when courses are completed, so be sure you are working with the most recent version of your grad planner when planning future courses. 

Who do I contact if I have questions about the Grad Planner? 

Please contact your Grad Advisor if you have any questions.

Grad Program Funding

This page should answer questions regarding the funding at the Grad program level. If you have additional questions please contact the Director of Grad, Chelsea Bitgood, for more clarification. 

How does the funding work?

The Ministry of Education funds a Grad Program (GP) student per course they take, not as a ‘full program of studies’, which is the process for students in Grades K-9. This enables a GP student to take courses with a variety of schools (Distributed Learning, campus etc) and each school only applies for the funding that is associated with the courses the student is taking with them.

Example:  Sally signs up to takes Math, Planning and Science with Heritage Christian Online School. Once she is considered ACTIVE (completed 5% to 10% of the course as verified by her teacher), the teacher will post an ACTIVE DATE for that course in Encom. Once the student is active in a course, HCOS sends a request to the Ministry of Education for the funding they provide for those courses. Funding is not requested for a student until they are active. 

Sally also enrolls at a campus school for PHE and Drama. The campus school then requests funding for those two courses.

What sort of funding is provided to the parents for curriculum purchases?

Students have two options for course delivery when they are fully enrolled (taking the majority) of their courses with HCOS. Online and Individualized.

  1. Online Course Option: These courses have all their resources provided so there is $0 provided to the parent for curriculum purchases.
  2. Core Individualized/Hybrid Course Option: These courses require a Student Learning Plan (SLP) created in consultation with the course Support Teacher. Our Learning Commons is outfitted with the most commonly used resources for students to borrow and return based on recommendations by their Support Teacher. 
  3. Non-Core Individualized/Hybrid Course Option: These courses require a Student Learning Plan (SLP) created in consultation with a course Support Teacher. For these courses, parents are required to purchase the curriculum resources need for the student to earn credit. 

    HCOS makes $50 of curriculum funding available for students per non-core Individualized/Hybrid course.

Why does my funding amount say $0 for my Grad Program student?

This would be because you have not completed course selection for the student or all of the courses on their list are Online or Core Individualized/Hybrid (which offer $0 in funding as all resources are provided for your student). Remember, the $50 amount is per non-core Individualized course. If there are no non-core Individualized courses, there is no funding.

How can I check on my student's account to see the amount that they have?

Log into Encom with your parent access info. This information was originally sent in your welcome email. If you do not have record of it please contact tech support at tech@onlineschool.ca . 

Once in Encom, click on “Additional Resources” at the top of the page. That should open a window with an itemized list of orders or expenditures and a total amount remaining for your overall funding amount.additionalresources.PNG


My student is taking two individualized courses (Music 11 and Active Living 11) so I have $100 of curriculum funding available. Can I use it for a gym pass?

Yes, as your purchase is needed to support Active Living 11 outcomes. Note: All expenses must correlate with a course on the student's list and be listed on the course SLP. 

Is there a limit to how much I can use for consumables and third part vendors (lessons etc)?

Yes, if you have the funding available in your student's account, there is a government regulation cap of $600. 

Can I pool family curriculum amounts and pay for an invoice for one student?

Yes, as long as you keep in mind the $600 limit for consumable or third party vendors. If you have any questions about this, please contact the office at office@onlineschool.ca 

How do I spend my student's available funds?

Once the office has received all your student's required documentation, they will issue your student a Purchase Order Number (PO#). You can see your student's PO# in Encom, in their profile. You can then use this PO# to order from any of our resource vendors. Invoices for lessons are processed by the school and can be submitted after November 1st of the current school year. 

Note: The school can not reimburse parents directly so make sure all your purchases and invoices are processed by PO# or vendor invoices sent to the school office. 

All third party lesson providers must have a Criminal Record Check on file with the office in order for us to pay their invoice. 

How is my student's funding account affected if they withdraw from an Individualized course they decide not to take?

If, at any time during the year, an Individualized course (activated or not) is removed from your student's course list for the year, the resource funding for that course is also removed. This may mean that if you have already spent that funding, there could be an outstanding amount to be repaid to the HCOS office.

HCOS does their final request for funding at the end of April. What if my student does not get an active date for an Individualized course by then?

If your student does not get an active date in an Individualized course by the end of April, Encom will automatically withdraw the student from the course because we can no longer request funding for the school year. As a result, the $50 associated with that course will also be removed from the student's funding account. 

If you have any additional questions, please contact your Individualized Course Support teacher, Grad Advisor, or the Director of Grad. 

Grad Program Overview

Welcome to the Grad Program at Heritage Christian Online School! 

While this page will not answer all of your questions, we hope it is a good foundation to get you started. Once you have connected with the Registrar, you will receive a call from your regional Grad Advisor who will work with you and your student to plan your courses and everything necessary for graduation!

Before that call, take a few moments to read through the following information. 

Grad Program Website

You'll want to bookmark this page for updates about events, new scholarships, graduation, assessments - the works! Please visit often! 

Course Options

This page will walk you through the different types of programming we have in the Grad Program at HCOS. 

Grad Program Funding

Funding operates differently in the Grad Program compared to K-9. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the different options through this page of frequently asked questions.

Parent and Teacher Roles

This page outlines what you can expect from your student's teacher(s) and what is expected of you as the parent. 

Feel free at anytime to navigate back to the Information for Families book to check out other pages about the offerings and programs at HCOS. Just click the Information for Families link at the top left of the page!

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Grad Program - Physical Education Course Policy

Students are required to take Physical and Health Education 10 as part of their Dogwood Diploma program of study. 

Students may also opt to take additional physical education courses throughout their time in the grad program. Course options include: 

While students are encouraged to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, we do recognize that most students will only be able to realistically meet the activity requirements of one course at a time. It is our practice at HCOS to have students active in one Physical Education related course at a time, to help avoid duplicate reporting of activities between courses. 

Students may complete more than one physical education type course in a school year, but should plan to work on them consecutively, completing one course before activating a second. 

In scenarios where students are engaged in high performance sport or other activities where their weekly activity hours regularly exceed 20 hours, students may be permitted to activate multiple Physical Education type courses concurrently.

If a Grad Advisor indicates to a student that they are approved to activate two courses at the same time, it is the responsibility of the student to: 

Grad Advisors will: 


Course teachers have the freedom to:


Submission of the same activity reports, assignments, or other work in two different courses is in violation of our Academic Integrity Policy. In these cases, it is up to the course instructor’s professional discretion to respond to the violation in line with our school policies.

 

HCOS Graduation Certificate

This page outlines the requirements needed to receive an HCOS Graduation Certificate on top of a student's BC Dogwood Diploma. 

Students who complete the BC Graduation requirements receive a BC Dogwood Diploma. HCOS students who complete a minimum of 8 credits in Christian Studies programming also receive an HCOS Graduation Certificate. These 8 credits can be earned through:

These 8 credits also satisfy elective requirements for a student's BC Dogwood.

Why an HCOS Graduation Certificate?

Often we are asked what is the purpose to working towards this certificate? There are a few beneficial reasons we suggest to all students to take Christian Studies courses with us. 

  1. Faith Development - We are a Christian school and as such believe that our students should continue to be learning and growing in their personal faith journey. 
  2. Our Christian Studies courses help equip students for their future by ensuring they have a strong foundation and can clearly articulate their beliefs.
  3. Courses are designed to encourage personal development for students as articulated in the HCOS Learner Profile.  
  4. The certificate has been helpful to students applying to Post Secondary studies at Bible Colleges, YWAM programs and universities such as Trinity Western. Showing completion of some under graduate studies in the field they are pursuing can help with entrance requirements. 

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HCOS to BCOS Transfer Request: Why is this necessary?

Rationale

The Ministry of Education expects that when a student is enrolled in courses in more than one school, the school that holds the majority of courses is designated as the school of record (SOR).

Sometimes, full-time HCOS students decide to enroll with another school before all of their HCOS coursework has been completed. This leaves them with one or more active courses with HCOS but they are full-time students with another institution. 

When a student moves from HCOS to another school of record, they officially become a cross-enrolled student with HCOS. BC Online School (BCOS) is the division of our school that facilitates and oversees cross-enrolled students. 

There are a number of reasons for this separation, but the main one has to do with how final marks are reported. As a student’s School of Record, that institution is responsible for reporting student final grades and credits to the Ministry of Education. If HCOS is not the School of Record, we no longer can report on behalf of the student and must instead report those completed grades to the official School of Record. The School of Record then has the responsibility of reporting those marks to appear on student transcripts. 

Our systems within HCOS are not designed to identify these final course marks that need different methods of reporting, hence the need to move students into our BCOS division when they are no longer HCOS enrolled students. 


Moving your student from HCOS to BCOS ensures that any remaining courses that are completed are properly reported to the Ministry of Education to appear on your student transcript and are credited for graduation. 


Why BCOS?


What Happens If I Ignore The Transfer Request?

How Will This Change Affect Me?

How do I know if I need to transfer to BCOS?

You only need to take these steps if contacted by your Grad Advisor. Your Grad Advisor will ask that you complete the BCOS application form and send you a link to the online form.

Learning a Second Language

This page outlines the options available for students who are interested in learning a second language.

Online Courses 

​These courses begins at Grade 5 and continues through Grade 12 using Rosetta Stone. A student coming into Grade 10 with no background in learning a second language would not be ready for the course offerings in Grade 10. 

This course is highly recommended. The lessons are separated into shorter lessons (5-30mins max), each focusing on a different topic (Core Lesson, Grammar, Listening, Writing, Pronunciation, etc.). The lessons seem to include more instruction than other programs, and are very foundational. This course also includes live tutoring sessions with Rosetta Stone's native language tutors, games & activities for practice, 3 meetings per course with their online teacher for assessment and instruction, and a handful of cultural projects. Second Language courses in Grade 10 covers two units (and slightly fewer requirements), while Grade 11 and 12 course offerings cover four units.

Individualized 

This course works for any level of language ability. For this course, the teacher meets with the family over video chat to create an SLP and they typically turn in learning portfolios at each progress reporting interval. While students must meet content standards for the BC curriculum, families are allowed tremendous flexibility to use whichever curriculum or programs they prefer and there is more flexibility with cultural projects as well.

This course is ideal for:

If you have any questions, please contact one of the following people:

Math Course Options and Streams

This page provides information regarding the various courses and streams a student can take at HCOS for Math

Students in Grade 10 will have to make a decision regarding what Math courses to take

Things to consider when choosing a Math Stream:

If you’d like to find out the content that is covered in a particular course please view the Course Description Website

Ordering Curriculum

In the Grad Program, for every Individualized, Online or Hybrid course, your main point of contact is the Course Teacher. No longer is there one teacher overseeing your entire program, you are now working with course specialists! 

In order to purchase curriculum for your courses, you must first know who your teacher for the course is. To find the teacher associated with your course, visit your course list M1gcourselist.JPGin Encom.
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Upon enrolling in a course, or at the beginning of a new school year, you should receive first contact from your support teacher for each course. All teachers can be reached at firstname.lastname@onlineschool.ca if you would like to email!

When you have questions to do with course resources or your Student Learning Plan (SLP) for any of your courses, you can:

To order resources you will need your PO (Purchase Order) Number, which can be found in Encom on the main page once logging in. You can find it located on the left hand side, under your Grad Advisor's name. 

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Orientation Week - ScanHunt


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Provincial Assessments - Literacy and Numeracy

What is a Provincial Assessment?

There are three provincial assessments that Grad program students need to take.

Grade 10 Graduation Numeracy Assessment 

The Graduation Numeracy Assessment (GNA) is a provincial assessment written in Grade 10. It is a graduation requirement. The GNA is based on mathematical concepts learned across multiple subjects from kindergarten to Grade 10, with an emphasis on K–9. It requires students to solve problems by using the five numeracy processes (different ways of thinking and working): interpret, apply, solve, analyze and communicate.

Ministry Resources for Numeracy 10 Assessment

Grade 10 Graduation Literacy Assessment

The Grade 10 Graduation Literacy Assessment (GLA 10) assesses students' ability to use critical thinking and analysis to make meaning from a diverse array of texts. It also assesses the ability of students to communicate their ideas. GLA 10 is not based on a particular course but on learning across multiple subjects, from kindergarten to Grade 10.

Ministry Resources for Literacy 10 Assessment

Grade 12 Graduation Literacy Assessment

The Grade 12 Graduation Literacy Assessment (GLA 12) assesses students’ ability to use critical and reflective thinking and analysis to make meaning from a diverse array of texts. It also assesses the ability of students to communicate their ideas, or those found in the texts.The Grade 12 Literacy assessment is not based on a particular subject matter or course, but rather on learning across multiple subjects, from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Ministry Resources for Literacy 12 Assessment 

Who needs to take a Provincial Assessment?

Students Graduating with a Dogwood Diploma Adult Students Graduating with the Adult Dogwood Diploma

Students must complete:

  • Grade 10 Graduation Numeracy Assessment
  • Grade 10 Graduation Literacy Assessment
  • Grade 12 Graduation Literacy Assessment

Students graduating with an Adult Dogwood are not required to complete any of the provincial assessments.


They can however, choose to complete an assessment.

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Students on a School Completion path are not required to write any provincial assessments in the Grad program. 

Why do students need to take a Provincial Assessment? 

The three provincial assessments are a required part of the graduation program in BC. Students who wish to graduate with a BC Dogwood Diploma must write the provincial assessments. Students who are not yet declared Adult Graduation Program students (AGP) are also required to take the assessments. Once declared, the assessments are no longer required to earn an AGP however, they may be required by post-secondary institutions.  Students should verify the admission requirements for any post-secondary institution they plan on applying to.

For more information, or if you have any further questions, please contact your Grad Advisor. 

General Information

How do I find my score? 

*Provincial Assessment scores will be available about 8 weeks after completion*

  1. Head to Encom

  2. Scroll down to the "Graduation Planner" tab

  3. Scroll down to the "Required Graduation Program Assessments" section. 

  4. The assessments will be listed, if there is a checkmark inside the box that means you have completed the assessment and your score has been uploaded. 

  5. If you select the assessment, a box will appear with a score out of 4 or an RM (requirements met) mark when they successfully complete the assessment.

*You are also able to find your score on your transcript online. If you aren't sure how to view your transcript online, we have a Sophie Page with instructions here.

Synchronous Courses 10-12

This page provides information around Synchronous courses that are offered from grades 10-12

Description

Synchronous courses offer the same program of study as an online course, with the added benefit of weekly meetings with a teacher and working alongside a cohort of your peers on the same topics. Synchronous courses provide overall structure for students, with the expectation that they will work to keep up with the schedule set by the teacher for assignments and tests. The accountability of the weekly meeting is designed to help elaborate on challenging topics or concepts, encourage student interaction, and provide a natural place for students to ask questions and develop deeper understanding. This option is the one that is most similar to a face-to-face classroom experience in an online environment.

Benefits

Synchronous Courses provide regular, required touchpoints where students would meet with their teacher(s) and fellow classmates. Regularly scheduled times set by the instructor early in September allow students to connect with teachers to receive instruction, clarify assignments, and ask questions on a weekly basis. Synchronous Cohorts provide the chance for students to be known and also increase the level of accountability. Teachers may use the weekly meetings to pre-teach lessons, answer common questions, clarify assignments, or discuss complex topics or issues.

How Synchronous Courses Function

Students are held accountable to the course schedule, and synchronous courses will be completed in June. 

Click here to access this year's synchronous cohort schedule.

Student Responsibilities and Expectations

Teacher Responsibilities and Expectations

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Does it cost any more to enroll in a synchronous course compared to an asynchronous course? 
    • No, the cost to the student is the same for a synchronous course as it is for any other online course enrollment.
  2. What if I have to miss a meeting for a dentist appointment or other unforeseen conflict? 
    • This should be communicated to your teacher. Teachers may or may not record classes for students to review later. Students should arrange activities such as regular piano lessons or sports practices at a time that does not conflict with scheduled class meetings. 
  3. Can my student take just one synchronized cohort for an online course or do they have to take all across their grade level?
    • Absolutely they can take just one, or multiple synchronous options! Figure out what works best for your child’s learning style, level of independence and degree of desired flexibility?
  4. How does the course schedule work?
    • The meeting times for each synchronous cohort will be posted in SOPHIE. You can see the schedule live here! Your Grad Advisor can also let you know when specific classes are meeting. In addition, there will not be overlap between class time for the different subjects across the same grade level, this allows students to take all synchronous offerings if they so choose.
  5. How long are the synchronous courses?
    • Grades 10-12: 1 hour blocks, once a week. 
    • Note: Depending on the topics and assignments some meetings may be longer or shorter than scheduled. 
  6. What happens if my student falls behind?
    • Just like in any classroom environment, things happen.  Students are encouraged to keep attending the class and to work with their teacher to catch up. Teachers are prepared to support students when things don’t go as planned. 
  7. Are teachers available outside of the posted class times?  
    • Absolutely.  Teachers will have availability times posted in their course.  
  8. Are students required to have cameras and audio on?  
    • Teacher cameras will be on to facilitate relationship building with students. While we encourage students to turn their cameras on we recognize not all students or families may be comfortable on camera and as such do not require it for students. 
  9. Are the courses semester or linear pacing?
    • Courses are held over the school year in a linear fashion. Classes start in the 3rd or 4th week of September and are held until the end of May (or earlier if material is completed sooner). Final dates for work submissions is at the end of term 2.
  10. Is there an end date to classes?
    • Yes, classes will wrap up and students will be given final grades in June.
  11. Do I have to attend the live meetings?
    • Yes! This is the main part of a synchronous class. Of course, there are absences that you can’t avoid, like sickness or appointments - but your teacher will miss you!

Please note all synchronous courses will be given a final grade during the June reporting period. 

The Role of the Grad Advisor

In the grad program at HCOS, students are connected with a Grad Advisor based on the region where they live. These Grad Advisors work alongside students and families throughout their time in the grad program to help plan, support and guide students to successfully complete grade 12.

Grad Advisors are typically available during regular school hours to connect with students and families. They are willing and able to communicate in a variety of ways, including email, phone calls or Zoom chats. Below is a brief outline of what your Grad Advisor can help you with, and what things are outside of their responsibilities. 

HCOS Grad Advisors are Responsible for: 

Applications and intake

GA’s formally accept students into the HCOS grad program once they complete the application form. This process also includes orientation and helping students get set up upon entering HCOS in grades 10-12

Knowing Students

GA’s want to get to know students in order to understand a student's strengths and challenges. This helps them tailor a specific path to graduation for each student.

  • In some cases this may also include connecting students with supports through Learning Services or Inclusive Education departments when appropriate

Academic Advising and Course Selection

This is the the main job of our Grad Advisors and it includes: 

  • Monitoring overall student progress
  • Reporting of external credits
  • Changing and withdrawing courses throughout the year
  • Matching course selection with post secondary goals

Grad Planner

GA’s update and maintain the grad planner tool in Encom. This represents a student’s current plan and path to graduation. 

Share Relevant HCOS Community Information

GA’s will communicate general information as it is made available. Throughout the year this may include: 

  • Scholarship information communicated to HCOS
  • Graduation event information
  • Local HCOS community events by region

Student Record Transfers

Ga’s will facilitate the transfer of student records and information to new schools when students leave HCOS. 

  • This includes submitting requests to deactivate student accounts or instructing families on how to move to BCOS to finish courses in progress

HCOS Grad Advisors may also:

Give advice, share ideas, brainstorm options

GA’s may give advice on or suggest potential careers or areas of study that line up with student interests and abilities. This will vary among GA’s as each of them have different life experiences and areas of expertise. 

Discuss Provincial Assessment preparation

GA’s can provide guidance to help plan, register, and prepare for Provincial Assessments 

  • Session registration is completed through the Provincial Assessment Coordinator. 
  • GA’s are not involved in Provincial Assessments beyond discussing recommended sessions for students to write assessments in, alerting students to the registration windows,  and providing resources students can use to prepare for assessments. 

Write Reference Letters

With enough time and information provided, GA’s are willing to write reference letters for scholarships and post secondary applications. 

  • If you GA feels there is another individual better suited to write the reference letter, they may suggest you contact that person for a stronger reference. 

HCOS Grad Advisors do not:

Act on behalf of a course instructor or teacher

GA’s will not respond to or interpret course specific questions or instructions (interpret teacher emails etc). 

  • If you have questions about a specific course, they will direct you to contact the course teacher for more information.

Complete application forms for students

Post Secondary Applications 

  • Grad Advisors will work with families to help students plan for the appropriate course or program prerequisites IF families bring that information to their Grad Advisor. 
  • Grad Advisors do not research post secondary programs or institutions to determine entrance requirements, course prerequisites, application deadlines, etc for students. This is the responsibility of the student/family.

Scholarship Applications

  • Grad Advisors do not research scholarship information and/or apply for scholarships for students. This is the responsibility of the student/family.

Provide regular, daily support for students

GA’s do not monitor student work, activity, or engagement of students in their courses (or with teachers) on a daily basis to report to parents. It is the responsibility of the parent to maintain the ongoing, regular oversight of their student as they work through their grade 10-12 courses. 

  • Students may access the Student Success Centre at any time if they need extra help with specific assignments, planning, or time management.

Set up LS/IE Assessments or Services

This is the responsibility of the LS or IE departments and they will contact you directly once the referral process is completed. 

Transitioning from Grade 9

Welcome to the Grad Program!

This page is to help you understand some of the ins and outs and changes as you move from Grade 9 to Grade 10. At any time, if the information is confusing please feel free to reach out to your Grad Advisor (GA). They are your sidekick through your grad years! 

Student Support

There are lots of resources and people to support your student's learning journey:

Prerequisite Courses

Although the ministry does not mandate prerequisite courses - having taken a specific course before being able to take another - it is highly recommended that in core subject areas you have completed the prior grade level.

Core Courses: Mathematics, Sciences, English Language Arts and Social Studies

For example, to take Foundations and PreCalculus Math 10, it is expected that a student has successfully demonstrated completion of a Math 9 course. 

Course Types 

The grad program currently has three different types of course offerings, all with subject specialist teachers:

(Moodle will be for students who are finishing courses in 2023; otherwise, we have transitioned to Brightspace). 

  1. Individualized Courses
    These courses are designed using a Student Learning Plan template (SLP). The parent/student works together with the teacher to build and structure their learning goals, resources and materials. The modernized curriculum provides many opportunities for these courses to be unique, and tailored to a learner's passions and interests. Some individualized courses are hosted in Moodle where students can log in to submit assignments and work samples to their teachers as well as accessing additional resources for learning. These courses require parent participation to help facilitate the learning. 
  2. Online Courses
    These courses are hosted in Moodle, and all the of the learning activities and resources are provided for the students to complete. Curriculum is designed by the HCOS team, with biblical integration, in order to provide a robust learning experience for every student. Parent involvement is encouraged, though not required. 
  3. Hybrid Courses
    Hybrid courses are a mix between the two options. These courses use Moodle as a platform to structure the learning journey and are a teacher directed course. In some courses, students will choose their resource, and then based on their resource choice are given instructions on how to complete it. In others, teachers post material for students to follow along with in a more synchronized fashion. 

All courses follow the modernized curriculum and the content outcomes, curricular competencies, core competencies and big ideas. 

Please feel free to check out the ministry curriculum here. 

Hopefully during your Grade 9 year you were able to try an online course. We recommend that during middle school years, students try to take 1 or 2 online courses. When the content starts to get heavier as the grades progress, often families are not sure how to support some of the core subjects - this is where an online course is a fantastic option to continue your academic journey. 

While in middle school, students should participate in the planning of their SLP's. If they can attempt to help make suggestions and understand what is expected with their support teacher, the transition to those discussions with the grad program teachers will be smoother. 

Grad Assessments

The provincial government has mandated that all students must write two required exams before graduating, the Numeracy Assessment and the Literacy Assessment.

The Numeracy Assessment 10 can be written anytime after completing Grade 9 Math, and can be written up to three different times before graduation. Students should take their first attempt in their grade 10 year. 

The Literacy Assessment 10 and 12 are to be written in the corresponding grade years. Students have up to three attempts on each to improve their scores. 

For more tips and tricks about getting ready for the Grad Program, please click here. 

Viewing Graduation Assessment Results and Your Transcript

This page provides information for students that would like to view their unofficial transcript or see the results of a Graduation Assessment Results. 

Step 1: Create BCeID

To access your StudentTranscripts Services, you will need to sign up for a BCeID. If you already have a BCeID please go down to step 2. 

  1. Complete the registration form for a Basic BCeID on the Ministry of Education's website
    1. Register for a Basic BCeID by entering your personal information. Use a personal email account that you will have for a number of years. When done, click continue.
    2. The next page will ask you to Register for StudentTranscripts. You will need information used by your School of Record (ex. Personal Education Number).
  2.  You will receive a confirmation email indicating that you have registered for the BC Ministry of Education StudentTranscripts services. To complete the registration process you will need to activate your StudentTranscript Registration.

Be sure to keep your userID and password on file as you will need both for future use.

Step 2: Register for StudentTranscript Services

  1. Log in to StudentTranscript Services using your BCeID information (userID and password).
  2. Once logged in you will have access to:
    1. Transcripts & Certificates
    2. Account Information
    3. Marks & Scholarships 
    4. System Notice(s)

Video Tutorial for setting up BCeID and StudentTranscripts Services



Virtual Christian College Fair

Virtual College Fair.png

Day 1

Canadian Mennonite University
Prairie College
Trinity Western University
Capernwray Harbour
Heritage College & Seminary

Day 2

Tyndale University
Horizon College
The King's University
Alberta Bible College
Pacific Life Bible College
Millar College of the Bible

Day 3

Redeemer University
Ambrose University
Peace River Bible Insitute
Vangaurd College
Columbia Bible College