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Welcome Welcome to Central Toronto Academy, a school of choice for many exciting and innovative programs. As you walk through the front doors of CTA you can feel the intimate atmosphere where wonderful relationships develop across all grade levels and amongst all members of our community. Our walls reflect the creativity, values and diversity of our students. We invite you to be inspired by a visit in person, and begin what we believe to be the best possible high school experience you can have. Iwona Kurman, Principal, CTA

Programs The CTA Experience Pre Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) Advanced Placement (AP) Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) at CTA R.E.A.C.H. Basketball Program Bike Program & Cooperative Education International Students & ELL Programming Extracurricular Activities

The CTA Experience 21st century learning. Our small size, caring staff and semestered format foster a climate that provides our students with a high school experience optimized for their personal growth and development. At CTA we are: Digital Innovators We ensure our students remain current with the rapidly changing digital spectrum by offering classes fully online & blended (online support for face-to-face classes). We fuse Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math learning together through our STEM program, complemented by a mandatory computer programming course, a complete Wi-Fi environment and Chromebooks for our grade nine students. Compassionate Leaders Our inclusive community provides students with a safe environment to take risks, explore ideas and challenge themselves. We encourage students to nurture and develop their skills as leaders through our leadership courses, student council and numerous extra-curricular clubs and activities. Experiential Learners Driven by our strong Specialist High Skills Majors, bike and cooperative education programs, CTA has brought experiential learning to the forefront of all classes by partnering with numerous industry professionals and organizations. By putting theory into practice, students are deeply engaged in the material they are studying and gain a lasting academic experience.

Pre-Advanced Placement Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) programming provides advanced instruction and curricula in lower grades that challenges students to develop their understanding and skills acquisition as early as possible. Why Pre-Advanced Placement? Pre-AP courses provide scaffolding for Advanced Placement courses in grade 12. Students who have completed Pre-AP courses leading up to AP will have developed the necessary skills for success in AP level courses. However, at CTA we also believe that Pre-AP courses also provide a unique opportunity for early skill acquisition and an enriched learning experience overall. Pre-Advanced Placement at Central Toronto Academy Pre-AP courses at CTA introduce advanced concepts at an earlier stage and provide a wider range of concept and skill development opportunities throughout all grades. Pre-AP courses at CTA develop reflective and critical learning skills that provide the foundation upon which enriched learning is based. The Pre-AP learning environment encourages an open and flexible learning environment that supports: Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

group work exploration communication technological innovation reflective and recursive design opportunities challenging and rewarding subject matter intercurricular and extracurricular learning experiences

Pre-AP enrichment does not simply offer advanced knowledge and skill acquisition. Rather, advanced knowledge and skill acquisition is a direct by-product of an enriched learning environment.

Advanced Placement Advanced Placement (AP) programming provides university level courses, curricula and examinations in secondary school. AP exams are created by university educators and expert panels and are accredited by the Advanced Placement College Board.

Why Advanced Placement? AP accreditation is recognized internationally and many universities grant course credit and advanced standing for students who score well in AP exams. Over 90% of North American universities and over 60 countries outside of North America provide course credit for successful AP results. Advanced Placement at Central Toronto Academy AP courses in Mathematics, English, Sciences, and Social Sciences dovetail with Pre-Advanced Placement courses and provide an enriched learning experience. Students develop the tools, experiences, and habits that will support high achievement in post secondary studies. AP Calculus at Central Toronto Academy AP Calculus at Central Toronto Academy develops rigour and application for which a thorough understanding of Calculus is critical. Advanced principles, techniques, applications and enriched programming ensure that students taking AP Calculus enjoy a distinct advantage upon entry into university study.

Specialist High Skills Major Program Overview: A Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a specialized program approved by the Ministry Of Education that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements to graduate from secondary school. In grades eleven and twelve, SHSM students complete a package of sector focused credit courses, industry certifications and a cooperative education placement. Program recognition: Students who complete all the program requirements will receive recognition of program completion on their Ontario Transcript, a SHSM record card documenting their certifications and industry experiences and a special diploma that displays a red seal and the specialized focus area. SHSM specializations allow students to: Ÿ Build their secondary education around their interests and

preferences Ÿ Gain sector-specific certifications, industry training,

knowledge and skills Ÿ Thoroughly explore career pathways within an area of

specialization

SHSM at CTA At CTA we have two SHSM specializations: Ÿ Arts and Culture Ÿ Health and Wellness

These two specializations represent very popular segments of CTA student life and are interwoven throughout the CTA school culture and curriculum. Both SHSM programs deal extensively with sector specific professionals and have numerous community based partnerships. Industry professionals work extensively with our SHSM students to develop real-life sector skills. Entry into the program begins as early as grade nine when students can choose to be involved in reach-ahead SHSM activities. The reach-ahead option helps students make informed decisions to enter the program officially in grade eleven. Once they are part of the SHSM program, students take “major” courses in grades eleven and twelve that focus on their specialization and also have sector related projects integrated in their other courses. Below is a sample of SHSM industry partners: Arts and Culture: Shakespeare in Action, Walnut Studios, Cinderbloc Studios,Global Warming Tees, AGO, Peach Berserk, Spud Bomb Crew, Manifesto, Stacy Mackenzie, Kensington Art Academy, David Brown, Exhibit Change, Niky Johnson, Lockpicker Productions, and many independent Graffiti, DJ, Film, Theatre, Musical and Visual Artists. Health and Wellness: Canadian Basketball Academy, Flirty Girl Fitness, Toronto Public Health, Scadding Court Community Centre, Camp Muskoka Woods, George Brown, York University, Seneca College, St John’s Ambulance, TDSB Equity, Bigger than Basketball (DeenUp), Safe Talk, SAGE vital signs, Abrigo Centre, and the National Coaching Certification Program.

R.E.A.C.H. Basketball Revitalizing Education, Athletics, Commerce and Health is a unique program created collaboratively between Central Toronto Academy and the Canadian Basketball Academy, focused on developing success for student athletes. The aim of R.E.A.C.H. is to provide continuity between extracurricular and in-school athletic development as well as to reinforce shared expectations for high academic achievement. All R.E.A.C.H. students have their own guidance counsellor who is also the athletic director for the R.E.A.C.H. program. The guidance counsellor communicates regularly with the coaching staff as well as with parents in regards to their academic progress. Athletically, R.E.A.C.H. participants have the opportunity to benefit from the highest level of coaching, delivered by the Canadian Basketball Academy’s professional coaching staff. Strong community partnerships provide students in the REACH program with a variety of experiential learning opportunities with industry professionals, as well the opportunity for early involvement with the Specialized High Skills Major program.

Bike Program CTA's Bike Program is an innovative course that allows students to earn a credit while learning bike mechanics and road safety. This innovative program is unique to CTA and is a partnership between the Toronto District School Board and the Cabbagetown Youth Centre. Mechanic Instructors from the Cabbagetown Youth Centre ensure that students master the fundamentals of bicycle mechanics and road safety in a fun, hands-on learning environment. At the end of the course when students have passed the mechanical and road safety aspects of the curriculum, they get to keep the bicycle they have worked on all semester. It's a great bonus for an already rewarding experience. In addition, CTA has a fleet of bicycles that are used as transportation for field trips within the community.

Cooperative Education Co-operative Education is a great opportunity for students to integrate academic study with hands-on experience in business and industry. Students may choose to earn either 2 or 4 Co-op credits per semester, while developing skills as they transition from school to their chosen career. Placements vary from semester to semester and are tailored to student interests and career paths. In the past students have enjoyed placements at hospitals, community centres, banks, law firms, account offices, and the military.

International Students & English Language Learners The newcomers at CTA are a mix of refugees, recent immigrants, and international visa students who learn about the world from each other’s unique experiences in their home countries. CTA offers all course levels from ESL A to ESL E, and our beginner students are offered companion courses such as English for Presentation and Speaking Skills to increase their language instruction during their first years in Canada. CTA also has special ELL sections in math, science, geography, history, business, and civics and careers, where teachers accommodate the language and vocabulary needs of the students related to the subject material. As newcomers, the teachers of ESL and the companion courses plan trips in the area so that students can become more familiar with their new community. All newcomers have opportunities to meet and make friends with our Canadian born students. Newcomers arriving in the summer attend a special orientation session in the last week of August, and all newcomers are quickly matched up with peer mentors for language, academic and social support. At CTA, our newcomers are encouraged to become involved in school activities, and with the help of staff and mentors they can learn about social groups such as sports teams, bike club, student council, QSA and study hall.

Extracurricular Activities At Central Toronto Academy our goal is to develop wellrounded students who have the confidence to explore new activities and who enjoy all aspects of their education. We offer a broad range of curricular and cocurricular opportunities for learning and growth, and students are encouraged to take full advantage of every opportunity. This rich and diverse selection of clubs is often initiated and run by students. Club offerings include: Bike Club, Book Club, Boys to Men, Business Club, Chess Club, Choir, Dance, DJ Club, Drama Club, QSA, Eco-Club, Film Club, Historians Club, Multicultural Club, Student Council, Steelpan, and Stage Crew. At CTA, we offer a comprehensive selection of sports teams. Some of the offerings throughout the year include: Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Track and Field, and Volleyball.

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Central Toronto Academy Contact Information: Address: 570 Shaw St, Toronto, ON, M6G 3L5 Telephone: (416) 393-0030 Fax: (416) 393-0049 E-mail: [email protected] Website: schools.tdsb.on.ca/centraltorontoacademy Please visit the Prospective Students section of our website for program application information.

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