Career & Technology Foundations & Fine Arts Grade 9 2025 2026

Please see the tentative summaries of the possible complementary courses that may be offered in the 2024/2025 school year. Students will log on to PowerSchool to indicate their preferences.

Please note that course offerings are based on student interest and staffing availability - not all the courses may be offered next year and changes to some courses may take place in the fall.

Students are asked to select 6 courses. Of these 6, students will receive 4 for next year. ONLY French and Band are given priority. All other courses are randomly placed in a student’s schedule by our scheduling program.

NOTE: Band and French are full year courses and fill 2 spots each.

ART 9 - Course FEE $30 Students will explore and enhance skills and visual literacy through a diverse range of media. The major components of this course will include creating art using various mediums such as drawing/sketching, oil/chalk pastel, acrylic and watercolor painting, and sculpture. Throughout the course, students will gain a deep appreciation and understanding of the elements of art and principles of design. They will apply artistic processes and techniques to communicate meaning and intent in their original artworks. By engaging with different media, students will develop a comprehensive foundation in artistic expression and visual communication.

BAND (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 9 - Course FEE/Instrument Rental $130 Course Fee/Instrument Rental $130 Join us for another fun-filled year of Band and continue playing a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument with friends! We will continue where we left off in Grade 8 and learn more challenging music with more complex rhythms, harmonies, and melodies. We typically have two evening performances at the end of each semester, and students may have an opportunity to take part in an optional out-of-area trip with associated costs! You do not need to have taken band previously to join Band in grade 9.

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 9A Students will be designing, creating, and marketing the Yearbook! This course will allow students to follow their design from idea generation to completion. Students will learn about the elements of design, related careers (including design, photography and writing), will design pages and take photos for the yearbook. They will also learn about marketing techniques and use them when selling the yearbooks.

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 9 Discover and develop skills to use computers and other media to develop, refine, and relay a message in a variety of ways. Students will explore communication principals and elements of graphic design. Students will utilize appropriate technologies to effectively communicate a message for the purpose of connecting, informing, entertaining, or selling products. Students in CTF Communication Technology may also be involved in school messaging via various social media, and digital, and print communications for special events, weekly or monthly communication, and important advertisements for our school.

DRAMA 9 - Course FEE $10 This course is designed to expand and deepen acting skills and explore technical theatre and deepen knowledge in theatre studies. This course is for those interested and motivated in writing skits and scenes and performing on stage exploring staging, props, and costume design. Students will expand their knowledge of creating well-rounded characters using voice projection, physical traits, and character background. Memorizing and performing in front of others in monologues and scenes is an expectation for this course.

ENTERPRISE & INNOVATION 9 - Formerly known as Business This CTF course is a blend of the occupational areas of Enterprise & Innovation and Management & Marketing. Students will study the area of business that deals with the organization and management of a project, an undertaking, or an innovation. They will also learn the processes associated with promotion for the sale of their product or creative invention! This CTF course will encourage and allow students to explore their creative talents and awaken their entrepreneurial spirit.

ENTERPRISE & INNOVATION 9A - Formerly known as The Production Class This Enterprise and Innovation CTF class focuses on the design challenge of supporting Arbour Lake’s School Mainstage Production. This CTF class will delve into the various aspects of theater production, focusing on set design and backstage crew, advertising for the show, ticket sales, and being part of supporting our staff in running the production from rehearsals to matinees and evening performances. Whether you have a passion for the stage or aspire to help behind the scenes, this course offers a comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of theatrical productions. Students will learn design principles for set design through hands-on activities and projects, marketing techniques and persuasive messaging, as well as explore the principles of teamwork and human resources by supporting the cast and crew. No drama or theatre experience is required; this course is open to all!

ENVIRONMENTAL & OUTDOOR EDUCATION 9 - Course FEE $20 + Field Trips - Formerly known as Natural Resources The focus of this course is to motivate students into exploring wilderness-based careers and opportunities through units and activities that are centered around outdoor recreation, conservation, and sustainability. Students in grade 9 Outdoor Education will engage in a variety of units that may include Cross Country Skiing, Alpine Exploration and Travel, Wilderness First Aid, Back Country Cooking, Advanced Survival Shelters, Fly Fishing, and Archery. Each unit is weather dependent and students are expected to dress appropriately for the weather. Field trips are a part of this course and are meant to supplement the learning that takes place in the classroom. Possible field trips may include an overnight cross-country ski trip and/or a backcountry camping trip.

FASHION STUDIES 9 - Course FE $30 In this course, beginner, intermediate or advanced students can learn and enhance their skills. Students will create their own path and select projects such as a stuffed animal, pillowcase, a pillow, or use a pattern to sew clothes such as PJ pants/shorts, tops, skirts, dresses, or fleeces. For students who prefer to knit, crochet, or learn about other types of textiles they can explore various types of fabrics and ways to work with them.

FOODS 9 - Course FEE $30 Students will learn kitchen safety, etiquette, and develop basic culinary skills. After completing a kitchen safety orientation, students will begin to develop and refine their cooking abilities through-out the term. They will also complete a variety of projects, including an exploration of careers in the food industry as well as meal planning.

FRENCH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 9 Join us for a fun-filled year of French in which you will learn how to speak in conversational French, understand basic phrases and vocabulary, and write using correct grammar and syntax. This is a great opportunity to learn a valuable life-skill that can help your future employment prospects. In Grade 9, we look at the topics of Housing, Community, and Sports, along with studying and celebrating various Francophone holidays. À bientôt!

GUITAR 9 - Course FEE $20 Guitar extends the creative avenues available for students to learn how to express themselves musically and make meaning from listening to music. Guitar is focused on the development of instrumental guitar technique, musicianship, making meaning through music, and understanding of theory for individuals and small ensembles. This curriculum is delineated in levels rather than grades to support students having multiple entry points to the study of music regardless of their prior experience. In this way, a grade 9 student may begin at level 1, or a highly experienced grade 7 student might start at level 5. This curriculum is flexible enough to support student learning at every point in their journey.

LEADERSHIP / SERVICE 9 In this course, students will have the opportunity to explore the meaning of leadership within a school context and gain skills that will prepare them for future success. Students enrolled in this course will participate in, lead, support, and create numerous leadership opportunities and school community service projects. This course encourages students to be confident, supportive, and positive members of our school community.

MUSIC 9 - Course FEE $10 This is a great semester-based music course if you love music but are not sure that you want to take Band, or if you love music so much that you want to be in both! In this class, we explore the fundamentals of music including rhythm, melody, and harmony through playing djembes and ukulele. We analyze and explore different musical genres and explore the art of song writing through both acoustic and electronic platforms such as GarageBand. At the end of the semester, you will get to work independently or as a mini band to pursue your favourite area of music further.

PLACE HOLDER - TOURISM 9 - West Coast Sailing - Course FEE: Sailing Trip Cost TBA The CTF Sailing Tourism course is a second semester course that all students wishing to take part in the five-day grade 9 Sailing trip to Vancouver Island must choose as an option. However, this course is not exclusive to those who are attending the sailing trip - any are welcome to join to learn about tourism specific to Canada's West Coast. This course is meant to first prepare students for the sailing trip through a variety of in-class activities which includes learning about sailboats, tourism, wildlife and the ecology of the Salish Sea, and general trip preparation. Through these activities, and through the trip itself, there will be a focus on empowering values of leadership in the students. Upon the trip's completion, students will use their leadership skills to support the growth of a positive school culture through implementing a variety of school-wide experiences. While the course does not have an attached fee, the students attending the Sailing Trip should expect trip costs to be approximately $3000. Information for the Sailing Trip will come through school messenger before the end of this current school year. Accommodations will be made for students who are enrolled in Band or French and wish to also partake in the Sailing trip.

TOURISM 9 Do you dream of traveling the world? Are you looking at beginning a career in one of the world’s fastest growing industries? In this course students will explore tourism on a global level by investigating people, places, and events around the world. How do people live differently in different parts of our planet and our neighbors’, and what recreational and entertainment opportunities do they pursue? This course will focus on combining elements of business and travel/tourism. Students will gain a basic understanding of the tourism industry and the role of related career paths supporting it. Through various challenges and projects students will explore travel related interests by planning itineraries and researching the culture, cuisine, entertainment and history of various locations. This exploratory course will also support students in developing an appreciation for different cultures and utilize business elements, such as accounting, marketing, and management.

RECREATIONAL LEADERSHIP 9 - Course FEE $20 + Field Trips Recreational Leadership 9 is designed to advance students' understanding and knowledge of the fundamentals of sports injuries, first aid, and the various careers within the sports medicine and athletics field. Students will work on learning techniques to assess and treat sport specific injuries, and advanced rehabilitation techniques for sports injuries. Students will learn about sport psychology and how it affects performance, and techniques for mental conditioning. Additionally, the course will focus on developing leadership skills pertinent to athletics, leading younger students, and creating, planning and implementing a school wide athletic events. Through a combination of theoretical learning and practical applications, students will be prepared to take on leadership roles in athletic settings and understand the importance of sports medicine in maintaining athlete health and performance.