Grade 11 course descriptions

Note: The following course descriptions represent the 2008-2009 academic year and are subject to change for the 2009-2010 year

Grade 11 Academic Program - Environmental Leadership Course (ELC)

The term "environment" is often used to refer to wilderness and the outdoors, those places where animals and plants live. Yet both live in built and natural environments and these are very much intertwined. The "environment" is around us all of the time; there is nothing separate for humans.

The integrated program ELC, examines environmental science-geography, ecology, economics, ethics and leadership not only as parts, but also and importantly, as each relates to the whole. Discussion of future health of the planet cannot focus on one influencing factor, this why the aforementioned subjects area integrated in this course.

Over the course of the year students have opportunities to practice critical thinking skills when evaluating solutions that can help bring about a sustainable future. Building awareness and developing decision making skills are the first steps in the leadership component of ELC. The second step is taking responsibility and acting on behalf of the planet.

Recurring Themes

• Biosphere: geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.
• Everything is connected.
• Awareness and knowledge enable one to make informed decisions.
• Take a stand and defend your position.
• You get what you give -"How can you make a difference?".

"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." Gaylord Nelson, former governor of Wisconsin, founder of Earth Day

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." Mohandas K. Gandhi quoted in EF Schumacher, Small is Beautiful.

Core requirements

• English
• Geography
• Leadership
• Economics
• Personal Social Education
• Career Choice Education
• French FSL
• Math choose one (1) either Math 514 or Math 536 (required for students wishing to study sciences or engineering)

Options, you MUST choose two (2) of the following

• Chemistry
• Physics
• History
• Art
• Sociology (subject to scheduling availability)
• Law (subject to scheduling availability)