Guidance

Appointment Requests may be made through the "Request an Appointment" link at the bottom of this tab, or students may come to the Guidance Office to book an appointment with a Counsellor.

Guidance appointments take place during school hours and students may choose to meet with any of our Guidance Counsellors if their appointment is for personal reasons. Otherwise, they will be scheduled with a Counsellor based on the purpose of their appointment as each Counsellor comes with a specific area of expertise (i.e. scholarships, skilled trades, student exchange programs, etc.).

A green slip will be given to the student by their Homeroom Teacher the morning of their appointment with the appointment time.  This process helps prevent forgotten appointments. If the student is absent or missed their appointment, an appointment will be rescheduled for them.

Request an Appointment

***SAVE THE DATE:  June 26, 2025***

 Commencement 2025 - June 26, 2025 1 pm at Scugog Arena

Grade 12 students who will have completed all diploma requirements will be invited to our Commencement ceremonies. 

Note:  Students who will not graduate by the end of the school year, should book an appointment with a Guidance Counsellor to develop a
plan. If the plan allows the student to have successfully completed their diploma requirements by August 31, 2025, they will be invited to the Commencement ceremonies in June.  They will be able to pick up their diploma in September once their diploma requirements have been met. Students who return to PPHS in the Fall of 2025 to complete diploma requirements will be invited to the Commencement ceremonies in the following year (June 2026).

Courses taken outside of PPHS:
If you are taking a course with a private institution outside of PPHS (ie) Blythe, OVS, VHS, etc. please see Ms. A. Schilling in Guidance for
information and directions.  The final mark for these courses needs to be sent directly to the PPHS’ Guidance Department by June 6th, 2025 at the latest.

Community Involvement Hours:
Community Involvement Hours should be completed and submitted by June 6th, 2025 at the latest.

Online Learning Graduation Requirement

If you have not completed the "Online Learning Graduation Requirement" and have not filled in the "Online Learning Graduation Requirement Opt-Out" form, you will not graduate.  Please pick up the opt-out form in Guidance or download it from the Guidance webpage of our PPHS website.

Commencement Awards, Bursaries and Scholarships
Students have been invited to a Commencement Awards, Bursaries and Scholarships 2025 Google Classroom.  Students will find valuable information and have an opportunity to apply for specific PPHS Commencement awards, bursaries and scholarships.  We will also be using this platform for nominating and voting for the 2025 Valedictorian.  

Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities as part of the diploma requirements. The purpose of this requirement is to encourage students to develop an awareness and understanding of civic responsibility and of the role they can play and the contributions they can make in supporting and strengthening their communities. Students will plan and select their community involvement activities in consultation with their parents and as part of the IPP (Individual Pathways Plan).

Although this diploma requirement applies to students in Grade 9 to 12, students in Grade 8 are able to start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer before they enter Grade 9. Students are encouraged to complete a minimum of 10 hours per year.

If students are unsure of whether the activity meets the requirements for eligibility, please see a Guidance Counsellor for clarification.

Students may check the bulletin board titled "Community Involvement Hours" outside of the Guidance Office or view the binder in the Guidance Office for further details.

These community involvement activities must be completed outside of scheduled class time, not be part of a credit course, be unpaid for a total minimum of 40 hours and must be completed by the end of Grade 12

Students may wish to consider virtual volunteering, such as connecting with seniors, organizing virtual fundraising events and facilitating discussions with newcomer youth. Outdoor volunteer opportunities could include, for example, picking up litter.  Volunteer opportunities, such as connecting young people to be technology mentors to seniors, can be found through agencies such as Volunteer Durham and Youth Opportunities Ontario.

Students who would like to volunteer in their community may register online at justserve.org to find virtual and in-person options. 

Eligible Activities and Examples:

 These guiding principles are intended to assist students and parents/guardians in determining if an activity is within an approved area:

• An event or activity designed to be of benefit to the community
• An event or activity to support a not-for-profit agency, institution or foundation that conforms to the ethical standards of the DDSB and Ministry
• Any structured program that promotes tutoring, mentoring, visiting or coaching, or whose purpose is to assist others who require the benefit of that assistance
• Participation in an event or activity that supports ethical work of a global nature
• Participation in an event or activity that promotes positive environmental awareness
• participation in an event or activity that contributes to the health and well-being of any ethical group that conforms to community morality and conduct, including school-based activities
• Participation in an event or activity affiliated with a club, religious organization, arts or cultural association, or political organization that seeks to make a positive and ethical contribution in the community

If an activity does not fall within the guidelines, school principals can approve or reject the activity or event.

Some Community Involvement Activity Examples:

Fundraising:  Includes canvassing, walk-a-thons for community benefit, celebrity games, gift wrapping, gala events, and sales for charitable purposes.
Sports and Recreation: Includes coaching, helping to organize Special Olympics, track meets, summer games, or volunteering as a leisure buddy or pool assistant.
Community Events:  Includes helping to organize winter carnivals, parades and summer fairs.
Community Projects:  Includes participating in organized food drives or support services for community groups, such as 4H Clubs or Welcome Wagon.
Environmental Projects: Includes participating in community clean up, flower/tree planting, recycling and general beautification projects and activities in the community.
Volunteer Work With Seniors: Includes assisting in a senior's residence, for example, serving snacks, helping with activities, or participating in visiting and reading programs.
Committee Work: Includes participation on advisory boards, neighbourhood associations and regional associations.
Religious Activities:  Includes volunteering in programs for children, child–minding, Sunday School Assistance, special events and clerical tasks.
Youth Programs: Includes volunteer assistance with the operation of youth programs such as 4H, Scouts Canada, Girl Guides, Drop-in Centre activities, breakfast programs, March break programs, Leaders in Training, summer playground activities, and camps (not for profit).
Office/Clerical Work for Non-Profit Organizations: Includes volunteer activity in reception, computer work and mailings for individuals or groups providing charitable or general community benefit.
Work with Animals:  Includes volunteer involvement with animal care, horseback riding programs, or volunteer assistance at a local zoo or petting farm.
Arts and Culture: Includes volunteer assistance at a gallery, performing arts production or program, or in a community library program.
Activities for Individuals: Includes any volunteering that helps people who require assistance with shopping, tutoring, light snow removal (no use of a snowblower), housekeeping, writing letters or transcribing. This can also involve hospital visitation, voluntary involvement with chronic care, or service as a volunteer reading buddy.
School Community Service: May include service within the school community that provides benefit to others that take place outside the regular school day.  These activities must be approved at a local level by the school principal or designate in advance of the commencement of the activity.

Submitting Your Community Involvement Hours:

Please drop your hours off or email (as an attachment) to denise.bell@ddsb.ca. Students are encouraged to take a copy of their hours before submitting.  

Students Graduating in the 2024-2025 School Year:

For students graduating in the 2024-2025 school year the deadline date to submit hours to the Guidance Office is June 6th, 2025.

Please drop hours off to the Guidance Office or email a scanned copy (as an attachment) to denise.bell@ddsb.ca.

Forms:

Community Involvement Hours Form

Guidance Office Hours:   8:00am - 2:30pm  

Phone:   905-985-7337 ext. 260020

Office Staff: 
Guidance Secretary:  Denise Bell
Department Head of Careers, Cooperative Education, Guidance and Student Success:  Annemarie Schilling
Guidance Counsellors:  Mark Duncan, Julie McCormick, Jake Smith, Tara Sneath

Students requiring course changes can find the request form and course schedule below. Students must be logged into their DDSB Google account to complete this request form.  Requests will only be processed using the course change request form, and with legal parent/guardian acknowledgement and consent.  Please do not book an appointment or email the guidance staff regarding course changes.

Course Change Requests for Semester 2 are no longer available.  

Diplomas are given to students at their graduation ceremony. Students who do not attend the graduation ceremony may pick up their diploma from the school; diplomas are not mailed to students. The Ministry of Education only issues one diploma per student so it is important to keep your diploma safe as it cannot be replaced if lost or damaged. If you lose your diploma and require proof of graduation, you may order a Transcript (see Transcript Requests below).

With the exception of new Grade 8 students coming from our family of schools: Cartwright Central, Prince Albert, R.H. Cornish, S.A. Cawker, McCaskill's Mills (French Immersion only), all new student registrations must be initiated online at https://www.ddsb.ca/en/our-schools/register-for-school.aspx. 

Online Learning Graduation Requirement Opt-Out Form

Beginning with the cohort of students who entered Grade 9 in the 2020-2021 school year, all students must earn a minimum of two online learning credits as part of the graduation requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma unless they have been opted-out or exempted. 

Families wishing to opt-out of the mandatory online courses required for graduation must complete the “Opt-Out Form.”

The Ontario Ministry of Education has introduced a new graduation requirement for secondary students to complete two online learning credits as part of the 30 credits required for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).  It applies to students who entered Grade 9 on or after September 1, 2020.  Although students working towards an Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) or Certificate of Accomplishment are not required to complete this new graduation requirement they may take eLearning courses.

The graduation requirement is intended to support students in developing familiarity and comfort with learning and working in a fully online environment, as well as developing digital literacy and other important transferable skills that they will need for success after secondary school, including in post-secondary education and the workplace.

To view our school policies, procedures and school structure, click the PPHS crest.       

Port Perry High School is currently using several Learning to 18 strategies to meet individual student’s needs.

1. Expanded Co-op: Port Perry High School has been working diligently to broaden opportunities for experiential learning and give more students a chance to start working and "test-drive" career options. Port Perry H.S. offers two-credit, and four-credit co-op options.
2. Grade 8 to 9 Transition Program: Interventions have been established to help students make a smooth transition from elementary to secondary school. A team meeting takes place in the spring of each year to identify students in need of extra support. Activities are planned such as the Grade 8 Information Night, the Grade 8 Road Show to our community schools, and the Grade 9 Orientation at the start of the school year. 
3. Student Success Team: Port Perry High School has a Student Success Team that is comprised of the administration, guidance and special education heads, and student success teachers. Together they will identify and support struggling students, provide more options for learning, monitor student progress, and develop procedures for all student success initiatives. As well, each Student Success Team will work with school staff, students, parents, and the community to ensure more students earn the credits necessary to graduate. 
4. Dual Credit Program: With the dual credit program, students can earn a number of credits by participating in apprenticeship training and/or post secondary courses that count towards both or either their high school diploma and their post secondary diploma, degree, or apprenticeship certification. 
5. Specialist High Skills Major: The SHSM allows students to focus on a career path that matches their individual skills and interests. Each major has a bundle of 6 to 12 courses in a selected field. Students who choose a major learn on the job with employers and at skills training centers, as well as in school. They can earn valuable industry certifications; including First Aid/CPR, WHMIS, and Basic Health and Safety qualifications. Students who complete a major can be confident that they leave high school prepared with the knowledge, skills, and industry-recognized qualifications desired by employers, and post-secondary education and training institutions.

For more information, please contact the Guidance office.

Please check Durham Continuing Education website www.dce.ca for information regarding summer school. 

Students are provided with one free transcript at graduation that is included inside their graduation envelope along with their diploma and other certificates. These are legal documents and should be safely stored.

If you have lost your transcript, or need an additional transcript, you may purchase additional copies through School Cash Online (purchase as a guest, do not set up an account) at a cost of $10.75 per transcript.

After purchasing your transcript(s), please forward your payment receipt by email to denise.bell@ddsb.ca and the following information:

• Full Name
• Mailing Address (transcript will be mailed to this address) 
• Last year you attended Port Perry HS
• Date of Birth
• Phone Number

You will be asked additional security questions prior to obtaining the transcript. Only the student (or legal guardian if student is under the age of 18 years) may request and receive his/her transcript. Port Perry High School will only have your transcript if this is the final high school you attended in Ontario. If you would like your transcript sent to a specific organization or institution, please provide the complete mailing address in your email.

Transcripts will be mailed through Canada Post and requests will not be fulfilled until proof of payment is received. We do not provide a courier service for transcripts, however, the requester may arrange and pay for their own courier pick-up and provide details to the Guidance Department. 

Are you a former student applying to a college or university in Ontario?

If you have already graduated and are requesting your transcript to apply to a public post-secondary institution in Ontario, your transcript request is made through the Ontario Colleges or OUAC websites. After creating an account, you will authorize Port Perry HS to send your transcript and complete the required information. Your transcript will then be transferred electronically by the Application Center to your requested colleges or universities. Applying out of province?  Please check with the post-secondary institution about how to send your transcript to their Admissions Office.