Remember:

Jobs will exist for those with post-secondary (post-high school) training.

Many of those with lower income will be those with no post-secondary training.

Many post-secondary programs require more than simple graduation requirements

• You need a 30-level math or science to enter the University of Regina Faculty of Arts.
  
• Science/math/computer science at the University of Regina require Math C30 and at least one 30-level science.
  
• Don't assume requirements at one institution match requirements at other institutions offering the same program.

While many students state they do not "need" courses, the reality is that a large number of students change majors at university or move into new careers later in life. Whether one takes a business course at 17 or 30 years of age, one still requires Math B30. Students should take classes now to avoid future disappointment.

• Grade 10 students cannot have spares.
  
• Grade 11 students may have a maximum of one spare a semester (two per year).
  
• Check all prerequisites.
  
• Students entering Michael A. Riffel from public schools take Christian Ethics at the current grade level and are not required to take earlier Ethics classes.
  
• Students and parents should discuss course selection carefully.
  
• If not enough students register in a course, it cannot be offered.
  
• Students may not take ELA or Ethics at grade levels above their own.
• Only Grade 12's may take Native Studies 30 or Social Studies 30.

• Five (5) English Language Arts
  
  • ELA A10, ELA B10
    
  • ELA 20
    
  • ELA A30, ELA B30

• Three (3) social sciences:
  
  • One of History 10 or Native Studies 10
    
  • One of Social Studies 30 or Native Studies 30
    
  • One additional social science at the 20 or 30 level

• Two (2) sciences
  
  • Science 10
    
  • One science at the 20 or 30 level (this includes computer science)

• Two (2) mathematics
  
  • Mathematics 10 (or Extended Mathematics 10)
    
  • Mathematics 20 (or Extended Mathematics 20)

• Two (2) practical and applied arts or arts education courses.
  
  • Two Christian Ethics classes meet this requirement

• One (1) physical education
  
  • One of Wellness 10, Physical Education 20, or Physical Education 30

• Six (6) additional classes at levels 20/30 NOT used above

• Five (5) 30-level subjects (these five may also be used to meet above criteria; for example, ELA A30 and ELA B30 both count toward these five)

As well, to graduate from M.A. Riffel, students must complete Christian Ethics 30.

All new students must bring transcripts from previous schools when registering.

• Nurturing Gospel Ethos: The distinctiveness of living gospel values permeates school activities.
• Safe and Orderly Environment: There is an orderly, purposeful, atmosphere conducive to teaching and learning.
• Climate of High Expectations for Success: Staff believe and demonstrate that students can attain relative mastery of the essential skills. A plan for renewal and continual improvement is evident.
• Instructional Leadership: Staff are instructional leaders, applying the characteristics of instructional effectiveness, as outlined by Core Curriculum, in the management of the instructional program.
• Clear and Focused Mission: Our school mission is clear, and stakeholders share an understanding of and a commitment to instructional goals, assessment procedures, and accountability.
• Opportunity to Learn and Student Time On Task: Staff allocate a significant amount of classroom time to instruction.
• Frequent Monitoring of Student Progress: Student progress is measured frequently through a variety of assessment procedures applying principles of quality student evaluation as outlined in Core Curriculum. Results of assessments are used to improve student performance and program delivery.
• Quality Relations: Parents support our schools aare given the opportunity to play an important role as outlined in the "Parental Involvement in Regina Catholic Schools: A Framework for Our Beliefs and Practices" document. Quality partnerships are evident with the parish and local community.

• Classes run every day from 8:30 am to 3:10 pm. You get a 15- minute break in the morning and over an hour for lunch. You may decide to eat lunch at school. If so, bring your own lunch or buy lunch from the canteen at reasonable prices. We have a large Commons Area with plenty of seating.
• We have an incredibly active Home and School Association, with many opportunities for parental involvement in supporting our activities. Parents are invited to visit!
  We want you to explore our many extra-curricular activities. Talk to students in Grade 12. Many tell us they wish they had begun to get involved earlier. It makes school much more fun!
• You have five classes a semester. Each is one hour a day. You have the same five classes each day in a semester. You may also take Band and/or Choral. These run at noon twice a week.
• We have a final assessment in all subjects. Students who meet specific criteria may earn options to assist them in improving or maintaining their pre-final marks in two out of five courses each semester. Generally two-thirds of our students achieve these Earned Options.

Compulsory Courses

In Grade 9, you take compulsory subjects. These use 9 of your 10 class periods:

One Elective

In Grade 9 you fill one "free" period by taking one elective.

• French 9
• Practical and Applied Arts Survey 9 Applied Technology
• Practical and Applied Arts Survey 9 Design Technology

Select your elective carefully. We set elective classes based on your requests.
If you change your mind later, the class you desire may be full.

Additional Courses (offered during noon hours)

Choral 9
Band 9

These courses are an excellent way to meet other students and have fun.

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Arts Education 9
Divided into three sections, the class includes:
Art
Explores the fundamentals of art and art appreciation. Class projects are directed toward developing the students' shift toward right-mode thinking. Students work on 2-dimensional pieces, primarily in pencil.

Music
Intended to introduce the students to the basics of sound and the elements of music. Students study and experiment with sound by focusing on the environment and the sounds around them. They learn basic elements of music theory and apply that to sound by composing their own pieces. The course culminates with hands-on activities.

Drama
Introduces the basic elements of drama. Students learn skills in the areas of improvisation, speech and rudimentary acting. Imagination and the development of self-esteem and confidence are emphasized.

Christian Ethics 9
Christian Ethics 9 is based on Part 3 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church -"Life in Christ." It is designed to assist adolescents in understanding both the joy and the demands of following the way of Christ and living the faith that our community professes in the Creed. Using the Beatitudes as a touchstone, young people are invited to examine the virtues, attitudes and actions that characterize the Christian life.

English Language Arts 9 (2 semesters)
English Language Arts is taken in both semesters. It provides students with the opportunity to study literature and develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills with emphasis on the themes of Justice, Imaging the Future, Love and Loyalty, and Risk. Literature is combined with specially designed tasks to allow students to use language as a means of discovery, communication, and learning.

English Language Arts Learning Resource 9 (2 semesters)
This course follows the regular English Language Arts 9 curriculum but has much of the enrichment and extra activities removed. Instead, time is spent on key concepts and skills with which students often may struggle. Students can request this option through their Grade 8 teachers and MUST indicate this choice on the subject selection sheet. This course also has a component which focuses on topics such as time management, organization, effective homework strategies, study skills, decision-making, self- awareness and career awareness.

Health/Physical Education 9
The health program provides students with knowledge in a variety of areas so they may make informed decisions. Topics include decision-making, chronic illness, ways to decrease or prevent illness, dating, and tragic death and suicide. The physical education program emphasizes student activity and participation though fitness development, motor skills improvement and recreational enjoyment. Examples of activities are outdoor sports (softball, football, soccer), gym activities (volleyball, basketball, badminton, team handball, indoor soccer, recreational games) as well as weight room training/circuits.

Mathematics 9 (2 semesters)
The Mathematics 9 program allows students to expand skills in dealing with integers, rational numbers, square roots, powers, ratios, proportions and problem-solving strategies. Once these skills are mastered, students are introduced to basic algebra skills involving solving equations, using exponents and polynomial operations.

Science 9
The major aim of the Science 9 program is to develop scientific literacy in students and to encourage the growth of these young people in science careers. The achievement of these goals is done via a hands-on approach through the following topics: chemistry-solutions, heat fluids and pressures, electricity, and diversity of life.

Social Studies 9
Major units of study in the course are Time, Change, Causality, and Culture. This course fosters understanding of the origins of customs and beliefs existing within Canadian society, how these customs and beliefs have become engrained within cultures, and how customs and beliefs influence our behavioral patterns. This course examines cultural "roots" from the ancient Middle East and Europe, as well as from North America.

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Practical and Applied Arts 9

Applied Technology [Industrial Arts (49 hrs), Foods (25 hrs),
Design Technology (25 hrs.)]

This course is divided into three sections: Industrial Arts will include design and structure problems where students build and test various metals. It will also include metal fabrication, woodworking and drafting. Foods will cover basic food preparation and nutrition. The Design Technologies component will cover an introduction to computer design technology including word processing and graphics programs.

Design Technology [Foods (49 hrs), Industrial Arts (25 hrs), Design Technology (25 hrs)]

This course will be divided into three sections. Foods will cover basic food preparation and nutrition. Industrial Arts will include design and structure problems where students build and test various metals. It will also include metal fabrication, woodworking and drafting. The Design Technologies component will include an introduction to computer design technology with an emphasis on design software.

Band 9
The preparation and performance of a variety of different styles of music will allow each student to learn several musical concepts and develop technical skills on his or her instrument. In addition to full band rehearsals, students will develop solo and ensemble skills and study the theory of music. All students are involved in several performances including school functions and activities, public concerts and festivals.

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