School Profile 2024-25
Student Supports
Guidance is an educational process designed to help students better understand themselves, relate effectively with others, develop appropriate educational plans, and design personal career paths. To meet these goals, we offer the following services:
- Student and parent consultations
- Individual and group counselling
- Timetable planning, changes, and special placements
- Referrals to school board and community support services
- College and university application information
- Scholarship, bursary, OSAP applications and information
- Maintaining Ontario Student Records
Additional Resources
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Students can make an appointment in the Guidance office, or by themselves using the QR code, to see the following:
- Addiction Counsellor
- S.T.A.R. Counsellor (Start Talking About Relationships)
- School Nurse
We also have a Child & Youth Worker and Social Worker that support students through a referral process to our Student Success Team. This referral can provide students with access to our Child & Youth Worker, or our Social Worker. These resources support students through one-on-one counselling, or breakout sessions that are determined by student need.
Student Responsibilities
Valley Heights Secondary School is a community that promotes responsibility, respect, civility and academic excellence in a safe learning and teaching environment. All students, parents, teachers, and staff have the right to be safe, and feel safe, in their school community. Everyone has the right to be respected and the responsibility to respect others.
Destination Planning
Once students earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma from Valley Heights, they are ready for many different challenges and opportunities.
University and College Bound students can access current information about programs, as well as attend presentations with representatives from the various post-secondary institutions. There are tutorials for students applying to school, and current information about bursaries and scholarships is available.
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Some students are interested in apprenticeships. Apprenticeships combine on-the-job training and classroom learning. Co-op students who are accepted into the OYAP program can count their Co-op placement hours towards their required number of apprenticeship hours should they complete an apprenticeship after high school. OYAP participants can also gain access to certifications, such as Working at Heights and First Aid/CPR, that better prepare them for future employment opportunities.
Students who demonstrate a serious interest in their co-op career may be registered as a young apprentice if the Co-op supervisor is agreeable. The OYAP program ends at the end of the student’s co-op placement.
Some students will be interested in joining the work force after secondary school. The Guidance Department can help with resumes and job searches. Many students entering the workforce after high school will complete a co-op placement in their final year. This allows them to explore career possibilities without the risk factor. Many co-op students are offered positions in the company following the end of their placement.
Another feature for all students at VHSS is the Virtual Guidance classroom where students can log into their Brightspace, and have easy access to information and resources, including everything from announcements, volunteer opportunities, news in the community, and post-secondary resources.
Student Success Team & Learning Resource (The Workshop)
VHSS has a Student Success Team which includes administration, guidance counsellor, learning resource teacher, and student success teachers. They meet at least once each month to discuss any student concerns that have been referred to us by staff and/or parents. We work collaboratively to develop a plan to support these students who may need extra help or services. The Workshop is an alternate space where students can work quietly if the classroom teacher feels it appropriate and the learning resource teacher or student success teacher is available.