Ontario Virtual School ACADEMICS & EXTRACURRICULARS
Curriculum
Curriculum approach at Ontario Virtual School: Traditional
Ontario Virtual School has a Traditional approach to Curriculum (as opposed to Liberal Arts, Progressive, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf approach).
What Ontario Virtual School says about their overall curriculum and approach:
All of our lessons are interactive and professionally animated, including voice narration and video multimedia to enhance the learning environment. Course instruction and study are done both online and offline, so students can spend more time on a lesson requiring extra attention and move more quickly through a concept that is more easily grasped. Our Learning Management System brings the school to you and allows access to course material 24 hours a day. If you ever need any assistance, our qualified teachers and staff are an email, phone call or Skype/Facechat away!
Approach
Focus |
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Academic |
Pedagogies and subject courses:
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Mathematics
Mathematics approach at Ontario Virtual School: Equal Balance
Ontario Virtual School has an Equal Balance approach to Mathematics (as opposed to Traditional Math, Discovery Math approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]What Ontario Virtual School says:
The following Math courses are offered
MHF4U- Grade 12 Advanced Functions
MCV4U- Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors
MDM4U- Grade 12 Data Management
MAP4C- Grade 12 Foundations of College Mathematics
MDM4U- Grade 12 Mathematics For College Technology
MCR3U- Grade 11 Functions
MCF3M- Grade 11 Functions and Applications
MPM2D- Grade 10 Math
MPM1D- Grade 9 Math
Textbooks and supplementary materials:
This information is not currently available.
Calculator policy:
This information is not currently available.
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Science
Science approach at Ontario Virtual School: Equal Balance
Ontario Virtual School has an Equal Balance approach to Science (as opposed to Expository, Inquiry approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]Teaching approach:
OVS offers the following Science Courses:
SCH4U- Grade 12 Chemistry
SCH4C- Grade 12 College Chemistry
SPH4U- Grade 12 Physics
SPH4C- Grade 12 College Physics
SBI4U- Grade 12 Biology
SCH3U- Grade 11 Chemistry
SPH3U- Grade 11 Physics
SBI3U- Grade 11 Biology
SBI3C- Grade 11 College Biology
SNC2D- Grade 10 Science
SNC1D- Grade 9 Science
SNC1P- Grade 9 Applied Science
Treatment of evolution:
Subject Offered Evolution as consensus theory Evolution as one of many equally viable theories Evolution is not taught Topics covered in curriculum:
Subject Offered Biology Chemistry Ecology Geology Meteorology Physics Physiology Zoology Literature
Literature approach at Ontario Virtual School: Equal Balance
Ontario Virtual School has an Equal Balance approach to Literature (as opposed to Traditional, Social Justice approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]What Ontario Virtual School says:
OVS offers the following Science Courses:
ENG4U- Grade 12 English
SBI4C- Grade 12 College English
EBT4O- Grade 12 Business and Technology English
EWC4U- Grade 12 Writer's Craft
OLC4O- Grade 12 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course
ENG3U- Grade 11 English
ENG3C- Grade 11 College English
ENG3E- Grade 11 Workplace English
ENG2D- Grade 10 English
ENG1D- Grade 9 EnglishProgram covers:
Subject Offered Canadian lit American lit European (continental) lit World (non-Western) lit English lit Ancient lit Humanities and Social Sciences
Humanities and Social Sciences approach at Ontario Virtual School: Equal Balance
Ontario Virtual School has an Equal Balance approach to Humanities and Social Sciences (as opposed to Perennialism, Pragmatism approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]What Ontario Virtual School says:
OVS offers the following Science Courses:
CGR4M- Grade 12 Environment and Resource Management
CGW4U- Grade 12 World Issues: A Geographic Analysis
CIA4U- Grade 12 Analyzing Current Economic Issues
CHY4U- Grade 12 World History since the Fifteenth Century
CLN4U- Grade 12 Canadian and International Law
HHS4U- Grade 12 Families in Canada
HSB4U- Grade 12 Challenge and Change in Society
HZT4U- Grade 12 Philosophy
CHW3M- Grade 11 World History to the End of the Fifteenth Century
HRT3M- Grade 11 World Religion
HSP3U- Grade 11 Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology/a>
CHC2D- Grade 10 Canadian History
HIF2O- Grade 10 Individual and Family Living
CGC1D- Grade 9 Issues in Canadian Geography
Foreign Languages
Foreign Languages approach at Ontario Virtual School: Equal Balance
Ontario Virtual School has an Equal Balance approach to Foreign Languages (as opposed to Audio-Lingual, Communicative approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]What Ontario Virtual School says:
OVS offers the following Science Courses:
FSF4U- Grade 12 French
FSF2D- Grade 10 Core French
FSF1D- Grade 9 Core French
FSF1P- Grade 9 Applied Core French
Language instruction offered in:
Subject Offered Chinese-Cantonese Chinese-Mandarin French German Greek Italian Japanese Hebrew Latin Russian Spanish ESL Fine Arts
Fine Arts approach at Ontario Virtual School: Equal Balance
Ontario Virtual School has an Equal Balance approach to Fine Arts (as opposed to Receptive, Creative approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]Program offers:
Subject Offered Acting Dance Drama/Theatre Graphic Design Music Visual Arts Visual studio philosophy:
Expressive Disciplined What Ontario Virtual School says:
OVS offers the following Science Courses:
AWQ4M- Grade 12 Photography
AVI2O- Grade 10 Visual Arts
Computers and Technology
Computers and Technology approach at Ontario Virtual School: Heavy integration
Ontario Virtual School has a Heavy integration approach to Computers and Technology (as opposed to Light integration, Medium integration approach).
[Show: About Heavy integration?]What Ontario Virtual School says:
BAT4M- Grade 12 Financial Accounting Principles
BBB4M- Grade 12 International Business
ICS4U- Grade 12 Computer Science
BAF3M- Grade 11 Financial Accounting Fundamentals
GWL3O- Grade 11 Designing Your Future
BTT2O- Grade 10 Information and Communication Technology
GLC2O- Grade 10 Career Studies
BTT1O- Grade 9 Information and Communication Technology
Program covers:
Subject Offered Computer science Robotics Web design Physical Education
What Ontario Virtual School says:
Advanced Placement courses
This information is not currently available.Sex and health education
Sex and health education approach at Ontario Virtual School: Ontario curriculum
Ontario Virtual School has an Ontario curriculum approach to Sex and health education (as opposed to Does not follow prrovincialcurriculum approach).
[Show: About Ontario curriculum?]What Ontario Virtual School says:
This information is not currently available.
Language
Learn about Ontario Virtual School's languages of instruction and enrolment.
Ontario Virtual School is a bilingual / dual-immersion school with English, French as the primary language of instruction
English - 70% | French - 30% |
Language of enrolment include: English, French
Language immersion include: French immersion
Online Learning
Ontario Virtual School's online learning approach and offerings. Learn about this school's online programs and courses offered, its course formats, and its teaching and learning approaches.
Ontario Virtual School operates as an online school.
Course format
Type | Offered |
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Distance | |
Asynchronous | |
Synchronous |
Academic support and services
Type | Offered |
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Dedicated teacher per course | |
Exam proctoring | |
Student progress tracker | |
Regular office hours | |
Additional support | |
Study groups | |
Special needs support |
Curriculum Pace
Curriculum Pace approach at Ontario Virtual School: Student-paced
Ontario Virtual School has a Student-paced approach to Curriculum Pace (as opposed to Standard-enriched, Accelerated approach).
What Ontario Virtual School says about their curriculum pace:
Students can register for courses at any time of the year. In addition, students can complete courses as quickly as four weeks, allowing learners to set their own due dates and customize their schedule and pace.
Flexible pacing style
Type | Offered |
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Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
Differentiated assessment |
What Ontario Virtual School says about their flexible pacing:
Our non-standardized pace is responsive to the pacing of each student. There is no such thing as "behind schedule", if they need extra time to master a module, we're ready to help support them.
Academic Culture
Academic Culture approach at Ontario Virtual School: Supportive
Ontario Virtual School has a Supportive approach to Academic Culture (as opposed to Rigorous approach).
What Ontario Virtual School says about their academic culture:
The vision of Ontario Virtual School is to empower all learners through the use of technology to experience scholastic success. We strive to promote students to achieve their highest academic potential at a pace that best supports their personal learning style.
Developmental priorities
Primary Developmental Priority: Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
Secondary Developmental Priority: Intellectual
The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."
What Ontario Virtual School says about their developmental priorities:
At OVS, we enable learners to gain confidence, develop self-awareness and personal motivation. With teacher support, our students learn to persevere through an independent and self-regulatory learning model.
Special needs support
Ontario Virtual School offers Resource Assistance
Students remain in a regular classroom for the whole day, and periodically receive break-out support (individually or in small groups) within the classroom from a qualified special education teacher.
What Ontario Virtual School says about their special need support:
OVS recognizes the tremendous demands and stress that students can experience throughout their high school lives. Making course selection choices, looking at a host of post secondary options, as well as personal & socio-emotional problems are all barriers that obstruct students from achieving to their academic potential.
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Learning disabilitiesDyslexia (Language-Based Learning Disability)This is a learning disability that can limit a child's ability to read and learn. It can have a variety of traits. A few of the main ones are impaired phonological awareness and decoding, problems with orthographic coding, and auditory short-term memory impairment.Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)This is a sound differentiation disorder involving problems with reading, comprehension, and language.DyscalculiaThis is a kind of specific learning disability in math. Kids with this math disorder have problems with calculation. They may also have problems with math-related concepts such as time and money.DysgraphiaThis is a kind of specific learning disability in writing. It involves problems with handwriting, spelling, and organizing ideas.Language Processing DisorderThis is characterized by having extreme difficulty understanding what is heard and expressing what one wants to say. These disorders affect the area of the brain that controls language processing.Nonverbal Learning Disorders (NLD)These involve difficulties interpreting non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language. They're usually characterized by a significant discrepancy between higher verbal skills and weaker motor, visual-spatial, and social skills.Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor DeficitA characteristic seen in people with learning disabilities such as Dysgraphia or Non-verbal LD. It can result in missing subtle differences in shapes or printed letters, losing place frequently, struggles with cutting, holding pencil too tightly, or poor eye/hand coordination.
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DevelopmentalAutismRefers to a range of conditions that involve challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and speech and nonverbal communication. They also involve unique strengths and differences. For instance, there are persons with both low- and high-functioning autism (some claim the latter is identical to Asperger's syndrome).Asperger's SyndromeOn the autism spectrum, Asperger's is considered quite mild in terms of symptoms. While traits can vary widely, many kids with Asperger's struggle with social skills. They also sometimes fixate on certain subjects and engage in repetitive behaviour.Down syndromehis is associated with impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth, and a particular set of facial characteristics.Intellectual disabilityThis is a condition characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning (e.g., reasoning, learning, and problem solving). Intellectual disabilities are also known as general learning disabilities (and used to be referred to as a kind of mental retardation).Williams syndromeThis is a rare genetic disorder present at birth. It is characterized by intellectual disabilities or learning problems, unique facial features, and cardiovascular problems.Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother consumed alcohol during pregnancy. These may include growth deficits, facial anomalies, and damage to the central nervous system, which can lead to cognitive, behavioural, and other problems.
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Behavioral and EmotionalTroubled behaviour / troubled teensroubled teens tend to have problems that are intense, persistent, and can lead to quite unpredictable behaviour. This can lead to behavioural and emotional issues, such as drug and alcohol abuse, criminal behaviour, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.Clinical DepressionThis is a mental health disorder also called "major depression." It involves persistent feelings of sadness, loss, and anger. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms are usually severe enough to cause noticeable problems in relationships with others or in daily activities, such as school, work, or one's social life.Clinical anxietyThis is a mood disorder involving intense, relentless feelings of distress and fear. They can also have excessive and persistent worry about everyday situations, and repeated episodes of intense anxiety or terror.Suicidal thoughtsThis involves persistent thoughts about ending one's life.Drug and alcohol abuseThis involves the excessive use of drug and/or alcohol, which interferes with daily functioning.Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)This is a disruptive behavioural disorder which normally involves angry outbursts, often directed at people of authority. This behaviour must last continuously for six months or more and significantly interfere with daily functioning.
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PhysicalMultiple sclerosisThis is a condition of the central nervous system. It affects the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. Symptoms can include fatigue, loss of motor control, memory loss, depression, and cognitive difficulties.Cerebral palsyhis refers to a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood. CP is caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture.Muscular dystrophyMuscular dystrophy is a neuromuscular disorder which weakens the body's muscles. Causes, symptoms, age of onset, and prognosis vary between individuals.Spina BifidaThis is a condition present at birth due to the incomplete formation of the spine and spinal cord. It can lead to a number of physical challenges, including paralysis or weakness in the legs, bowel and bladder incontinence, hydrocephalus (too much fluid in the brain), and deformities of the spine.Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)This is a Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). Also known as "sensory integration disorder," it affects fine and/or gross motor coordination in children and adults. It may also affect speech.BlindnessVisual impairment is a decreased ability or inability to see that can't be fixed in usual ways, such as with glasses. Some people are completely blind, while others have what's called "legal blindness."DeafnessHearing impairment, also known as "hearing loss," is a partial or total inability to hear. The degree of hearing impairment varies between people. It can range from complete hearing loss (or deafness) to partial hearing loss (meaning the ears can pick up some sounds).Cystic FibrosisCystic Fibrosis (CF) is an inherited genetic condition, which affects the body's respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. It affects young children and adults.Multiple physicalAccommodating a wide range of physical conditions and disabilities.
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Academic support
Type | Offered |
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Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Mild but clinically diagnosed learning disabilities
Type | Offered |
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Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
What Ontario Virtual School says:
“Awesome school, courses are clear and precise! They teach all five styles of learning, therefore, it easy to complete a course and get good grades. My son has an L.D. and has now got a 90+ average in grade 11 Academic courses. He was told in public school to go applied his grade average was 70%. Let kids learn the way they want to and they will succeed.” S. Clarkson, Parent
Additional support
Type | Offered |
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Social skills programs | |
Occupational therapy | |
Psychotherapy | |
Speech-language therapy |
Gifted learner support
Curriculum Delivery: Acceleration and enrichment
There is an equal emphasis on acceleration and enrichment.
Class structure
Program | Offered |
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Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school) | |
Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class) |
In-class adaptations
Program | Offered |
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Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
What Ontario Virtual School says about their gifted learner support:
You can progress quickly through the interactive lessons and practice quizzes. When you are ready you can complete the unit evaluations and submit them into the dropbox for your teacher to evaluate and provide feedback. You can type out your answers, do them on paper and scan them or take a picture of your handwritten work as submission for each of the evaluations.
Homework Policy
Nightly homework
In grade Gr. 12, Ontario Virtual School students perform an average of 30 mins of homework per night.
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
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Ontario Virtual School | 0 mins | 0 mins | 15 mins | 15 mins | 30 mins | 30 mins |
Site Average | 54 mins | 59 mins | 76 mins | 88 mins | 104 mins | 112 mins |
What Ontario Virtual School says about their flipped classroom policy:
This information is not currently available.
Report Card Policy
How assessments are delivered across the grades
Type | Grades |
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Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 8 to Gr. 12 |
Prose (narrative)-based feedback | Gr. 8 to Gr. 12 |
Academic achievement reporting | Gr. 8 to Gr. 12 |
Habits and behaviour reporting | Gr. 8 to Gr. 12 |
Parent-teacher meetings | Gr. 8 to Gr. 12 |
Extracurricular Activities
While academics remain the priority for most private schools, many also place a strong focus on a well-rounded education and encourage participation in extracurricular activities such as sports, music, arts, or clubs. Involvement in extracurriculars helps stimulate students in their studies, makes them more motivated to learn, and can make school more enjoyable and fulfilling. Extracurricular activities can also provide students with a much-needed break from the stresses of academics, while helping them to develop skills and allowing them to take part in valuable social situations.
Sports offered
Ontario Virtual School offers 0 competitive sports and 0 recreational sports.
Clubs offered
Ontario Virtual School does not offer any clubs or extracurricular programs.
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: Ontario Virtual School
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