SPECIALIST HIGH SKILLS MAJOR

The Specialists High Skills Major (SHSM) is a specialized program that allows high school students to focus on a potential career sector.

Each SHSM is a bundle of classroom courses (8-10 bundled Grade 11 and 12 credits), workplace experiences (co-operative education) and sector certifications including First Aid and CPR qualifications. Students who complete an SHSM receive a special designation on their high school diploma. It also allows students to graduate from high school with a unique education enabling them to transition more easily from school to the world of work.

WHY take a SHSM? The benefits to students:

• Customizes a student’s secondary school education to suit their interests and talent
• Allows students to develop specialized knowledge and skills
• Students earn credits recognized by the sector and post-secondary educational institutions
• Students gain sector-recognized certifications and career-relevant training
• Students develop Essential Skills and work habits documented through the Ontario Skills Passport
• Helps students to identify, explore and refine career goals that help them make informed decisions about their future pathway

WHERE are SHSMs offered in NIAGARA?

AGRICULTURE– South Lincoln High School (Regional program hosted by South Lincoln)

ARTS AND CULTURE– Denis Morris Catholic Secondary School, Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, Laura Secord Secondary School, Port Colborne High School (Regional program hosted by Port High), St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, Welland Centennial High School (Regional program hosted by Centennial)

BUSINESS– A.N. Myer Secondary School, E.L. Crossley Secondary School

CONSTRUCTION– Beamsville District Secondary School, Denis Morris Catholic Secondary School , Eden High School, Grimsby Secondary School, Kernahan Park Secondary School (Regional program hosted by Kernahan Park), Lakeshore Catholic Secondary School, Saint Paul Catholic Secondary School, South Lincoln High School, Welland Centennial High School

ENERGY– E.L. Crossley Secondary School, Lakeshore Catholic Secondary School, Saint Michael Catholic Secondary School, Westlane Secondary School

ENVIRONMENT– Lakeshore Catholic Secondary School, Notre Dame College School

HEALTH & WELLNESS– Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School, Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School

HORTICULTURE– Kernahan Park Secondary School (Regional program hosted by Kernahan Park), Saint Michael Catholic Secondary School

HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM– Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School, Denis Morris Catholic Secondary School, Eastdale Secondary School, Fort Erie Secondary School, Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, Kernahan Park Secondary School, Lakeshore Catholic Secondary School, Notre Dame College School, St. Catharines Collegiate, Saint Michael Catholic Secondary School, Stamford Collegiate Secondary School and Welland Centennial Secondary School

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY– Governor Simcoe Secondary School, Ridgeway-Crystal Beach High School, St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, Saint Michael Catholic Secondary School, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, Stamford Collegiate Secondary School and West Park Secondary School

MANUFACTURING– Beamsville District Secondary School, Denis Morris Catholic Secondary School, Eastdale Secondary School, Fort Erie Secondary School, Governor Simcoe Secondary School, Grimsby Secondary School, Port Colborne High School, South Lincoln High School, and Thorold Secondary School

TRANSPORTATION– Denis Morris Catholic Secondary School, Eastdale Secondary School, Kernahan Park Secondary School, Notre Dame College School, Port Colborne High School, and Saint Michael Catholic Secondary School