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Valley Heights

Secondary School

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Valley-Logo-trans2023.pngValley Heights Secondary School
School Profile 2024-25

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

What is a Specialist High Skills Major?

SHSMLogo_2023.jpgA Specialized High Skills Major (SHSM) allows students to customize their secondary school experience to fit career interests.

Offered in Grade 11 and 12, an SHSM allows students to receive a specialized secondary school diploma that is recognized in various economic sectors in all four pathways.

What does a SHSM look like? 

A SHSM is a bundle of 8 to 10 Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits that include two experiential learning (co-op) credits.

What do you get by taking an SHSM?

  • Sector-recognized certifications and training
  • Real workplace experience
  • Learning experiences connected with post-secondary opportunities
  • Skills and work habits required for employment success
     

Specialist High Skills Major courses offered:

The Transportation SHSM Program – Automotive Service Focus

The Transportation Specialist High School Major at VHSS provides students with a strong foundation for a wide automotive.jpgvariety of careers in the transportation sector, from those focusing on the service, repair, and modification of vehicles and vehicle systems to those related to the organization and management of transportation services and mass-transit systems.

Benefits of our Transportation Program

  • Customize students’ secondary school education to suit their interests and talents
  • Develop specialized knowledge and skills
  • Earn credits that post-secondary educational institutions and the sector recognize
  • Gain sector-recognized certification and career-relevant training
  • Develop essential skills and work habits

The Manufacturing SHSM Program – Welding and Fabrication Focus

The Manufacturing Specialist High Skills Major at VHSS is a bundle of credits of Manufacturing sidebar-vhss-square-600px-12.jpgTechnology Grade 11 and 12 courses. It covers mechanical, electrical and civil drafting using AutoCAD, precision machining, sheet metal fabrication and various types of welding and cutting for metal. The program also uses a CNC plasma cutter for numerous projects.

Benefits of our Manufacturing Program:

  • High concentration of sector related skills and knowledge
  • Free certifications in CPR, First Aid, WHMIS, Basic Health & Safety and more
  • Free bus trips to trade shows, colleges and related industries
  • Co-op placement in the related sector for further development of knowledge and skills
  • Students complete two co-op credits for placements in their desired area of interest

Of special note, Students can receive a CWB (Canadian Welding Bureau) certification in our CWB certified welding shop.

The Agriculture SHSM Program

The Agriculture Specialist High School Major at VHSS enables students to build a foundation of agriculture2.jpgsector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. This SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on agricultural equipment or animal and crop science. This focus is achieved through the selection of the four major credits in the bundle.

Benefits of our Agriculture Program:

  • Advanced training in a technology land and forest survey skills
  • Equipment Operation safety
  • Fundamentals in the combine-level 1
  • Large animal handling
  • Sector-specific vehicle operation and safety
  • Weed and pesticide identification and management
  • Co-op placement in the related sector to further develop knowledge and skills

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