Commencement is equity-based and not marks-based. At commencement, students of all levels of achievement will be able to cross the stage with their peers. For a variety of reasons, students may not have completed all the requirements for a move on from secondary school. With this change, these students will be able to join their peers and celebrate their achievements.

OCDSB continues to make every effort to ensure welcoming, inclusive communities in our schools and system. One of the areas of improvement for us is to include all levels of student achievement in the celebration of accomplishments during their secondary school journey - the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), the Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) and/or the Certificate of Achievement (COA).

At many schools, students are leaving with a range of accomplishments, and all are included in graduation ceremonies. The proposed changes to the policy would reflect these current practices.

This new commencement format may ensure the inclusion of all students who are celebrating their achievements when they are eligible to leave high school at the age of eighteen. For example, it could provide an opportunity to recognize students who have not been in the Ontario education system long enough to meet OSSD requirements; students with Specialized Education needs who are not working toward an OSSD; students who require more time to complete their OSSD requirements due to extenuating circumstances; and/or students who will complete their graduation requirements over the summer. We recognize that students in these situations may want to participate in their commencement with peers from their cohort.

In addition to the OSSD, the Province of Ontario offers two other types of certificates to students who are leaving secondary school:

• The Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) will be granted, on request, to students who are leaving secondary school upon reaching the age of eighteen without having met the requirements for the OSSD. To be granted an OSSC, a student must have earned a minimum of 14 credits.
• Students who are leaving secondary school upon reaching the age of eighteen without having met the requirements for the OSSD or OSSC may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment. The Certificate of Accomplishment may be a useful means of recognizing achievement for students who plan to take certain kinds of further training, or who plan to find employment directly after leaving school. The Certificate of Accomplishment is to be accompanied by the student’s Ontario Student Transcript. For students who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a copy of the IEP may be included.
  

For more information, please see the Ministry of Education’s Policy and Program Requirements document for Kindergarten-Grade 12 schools (page 68).

Commencement ceremonies will take the place of graduation ceremonies.

Students who have completed all of the requirements in place by the Ministry of Education to obtain an OSSD will still graduate as per normal. The OCDSB will continue to report graduation metrics to the Ministry. The only change is that students who are leaving high school with different levels of achievement (e.g., an OSSC or Certificate of Accomplishment) will now officially be included in the commencement ceremony. It continues to include students who meet the graduation requirements for an OSSD.

Awards will be reflective of the OCDSB’s commitment to learning, equity, engagement and innovation. Awards will be inclusive of all pathways, cover a wide array of achievements (not strictly academic), celebrate a wide variety of aspects of student experiences and talents, and not be gender-based.

Due to the length of their ceremonies, for the past number of years, some of our larger high schools have been holding an awards presentation ceremony separate from the graduation ceremony. Most of the awards are presented, together with the related medals, plaques and trophies, at the awards ceremony, although a few may still be presented at the graduation ceremony (for example, the valedictorian award).

The manner of presenting awards has been at the principal's discretion for years. Under the new policy, it will still be at the principal's discretion as to which awards will be handed out at the commencement, and which will be given at a separate ceremony, and there may also be a greater variety of awards given out. The revised policy does not exclude the distribution of medals, plaques and/or trophies – for many of these awards, what is given depends, at least in part, on the donor.

Yes. The national anthem will still be played. OCDSB and/or community representatives will also share the land acknowledgement.

Commencement ceremony dates will be selected and communicated to guests with as much advance notice as possible. The organizers will take significant faith days, holidays and other school events into account when selecting a date. We understand that finding a date that works for up to hundreds of attendees may be a challenge. While the commencement ceremony will proceed on the scheduled date(s), students who are unable to attend are encouraged to pick up their paperwork/awards/diploma, etc. in the school office after the day of the event.