DRAMA 9, OPEN (ADA1O)

This course provides opportunities for students to explore dramatic forms and techniques, using material from a wide range of sources and cultures. Students will use the elements of drama to examine situations and issues that are relevant to their lives. Students will create, perform, discuss, and analyse drama, and then reflect on the experiences to develop an understanding of themselves, the art form, and the world around them. (Prerequisite: None)

VISUAL ARTS 9, OPEN (AVI1O)

This course is exploratory in nature, offering an overview of visual arts as a foundation for further study. Students will become familiar with the elements and principles of design and the expressive qualities of various materials by using a range of media, processes, techniques, and styles. Students will use the creative and critical analysis processes and will interpret art within a personal, contemporary, and historical context. (Prerequisite: None)

EXPLORING CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY 9, DE-STREAMED (CGC1W)

This course builds on learning in Grades 7 and 8 in geography. Students will explore relationships within and between Canada’s natural and human systems and how they interconnect with other parts of the world. Students will also examine environmental and economic issues, and their impact related to topics such as natural resources and industries, careers, land use and responsible development, and sustainability. In addition, students will understand the connections that diverse communities and individuals have with the physical environment and each other throughout Canada, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives. Students will apply geographic thinking, use the geographic inquiry process, and use geospatial technologies throughout their investigations.

ENGLISH 9, DE-STREAMED (ENL1W)

This course enables students to continue to develop and consolidate the foundational knowledge and skills that they need for reading, writing, and oral and visual communication. Throughout the course, students will continue to enhance their media literacy and critical literacy skills, and to develop and apply transferable skills, including digital literacy. Students will also make connections to their lived experiences and to society and increase their understanding of the importance of language and literacy across the curriculum.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, LEVEL 1, OPEN (ESLAO)

This course builds on students’ previous education and language knowledge to introduce them to the English language and help them adjust to the diversity in their new environment. Students will use beginning English language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing for everyday and essential academic purposes. They will engage in short conversations using basic English language structures and simple sentence patterns; read short adapted texts; and write phrases and short sentences. The course also provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to begin to adapt to their new lives in Canada. (Prerequisite: None)

MATHEMATICS 9, DE-STREAMED (MTH1W)

This course enables students to consolidate, and continue to develop, an understanding of mathematical concepts related to number sense and operations, algebra, measurement, geometry, data, probability, and financial literacy. Students will use mathematical processes, mathematical modelling, and coding to make sense of the mathematics they are learning and to apply their understanding to culturally responsive and relevant real-world situations. Students will continue to enhance their mathematical reasoning skills, including proportional reasoning, spatial reasoning, and algebraic reasoning, as they solve problems and communicate their thinking.

CORE FRENCH 9, ACADEMIC (FSF1D)

This course provides opportunities for students to communicate and interact in French with increasing independence, with a focus on familiar topics related to their daily lives. Students will continue to develop language knowledge and skills by using language-learning strategies introduced in the elementary Core French program, and will apply creative and critical thinking skills in various ways. They will also enhance their understanding and appreciation of diverse French-speaking communities, and will develop the skills necessary to become life-long language learners. (Prerequisite: Minimum of 600 hours of Elementary Core French instruction, or equivalent)

SPANISH LEVEL 1, ACADEMIC (LWSBD)

This course provides opportunities for students to begin to develop and apply skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the language of study. Students will communicate and interact in structured activities, with a focus on matters of personal interest and familiar topics, and will read and write simple texts in the language. Throughout the course, students will acquire an understanding and appreciation of diverse communities in regions of the world where the language is spoken. They will also develop skills necessary for lifelong language learning. (Prerequisite: None)

HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIVING EDUCATION 9, OPEN (PPL1O)

This course equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy choices now and lead healthy, active lives in the future. Through participation in a wide range of physical activities, students develop knowledge and skills related to movement competence and personal fitness that provide a foundation for active living. Students also acquire an understanding of the factors and skills that contribute to healthy development and learn how their own well-being is affected by, and affects, the world around them. Students build their sense of self, learn to interact positively with others, and develop their ability to think critically and creatively. The health component has four major units: Healthy Eating, Personal Safety and Injury Prevention, Substance Use, Addiction and Related Behaviours and Human Development and Sexual Health. (Prerequisite: None)

SCIENCE 9, DE-STREAMED (SNC1W)

This course enables students to develop their understanding of concepts related to biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth and space science, and to relate science to technology, society, and the environment. Throughout the course, students will develop and refine their STEM skills as they use scientific research, scientific experimentation, and engineering design processes to investigate concepts and apply their knowledge in situations that are relevant to their lives and communities. Students will continue to develop transferable skills as they become scientifically literate global citizens.

BUILDING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET 9 (BEM1O)

This course introduces students to entrepreneurial thinking and its critical role in today’s dynamic business environment. Students will explore key entrepreneurial traits such as initiative, creativity, adaptability, and resilience, and begin developing the mindset required to navigate uncertainty, identify opportunities, and solve real-world problems.

Through hands-on activities, business simulations, and collaborative projects, students will learn how entrepreneurship can drive positive change—economically, socially, and environmentally. They will develop practical skills in business communication, project management, and financial literacy while using current business software and applications to plan, refine, and present their own entrepreneurial ideas to targeted audiences.

Students will also strengthen essential workplace competencies, including goal setting, time management, and networking. By the end of the course, students will have gained a foundational understanding of entrepreneurship as both a mindset and a pathway for personal growth, innovation, and leadership.

INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY 9, OPEN (IDC3O)

This course introduces students to the rapidly growing field of biotechnology and its impact on healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Students explore DNA structure, gene manipulation, and the ethical considerations of genetic engineering. Through hands-on projects and simulations, they gain foundational skills in molecular biology and biotechnology. The GENIUS program at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy is a four year interdisciplinary extension to the Ontario science and biology courses that prepare students for university education and professional careers in genetics sciences with a focus on biotechnology, medicine, and agricultural connections. Through a more hands-on approach with experiments in the laboratory, inquiry-based learning, discussions on ethics, and collaborative innovation; the GENIUS students develop a deep understanding of the progressive field of genetic research.

LEARNING STRATEGIES 1: SKILLS FOR SUCCESS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL, OPEN (GLS1O)

This course focuses on learning strategies to help you become a better, more independent learner. You will learn how to develop and apply literacy and numeracy skills, personal management skills, and interpersonal and teamwork skills to improve your learning and achievement in school, the workplace, and the community. The course helps you build confidence and motivation to pursue opportunities for success in secondary school and beyond.