Getting Ready for High School – Information Video
We are excited to share this year’s information session, to help families in Grade 7 and 8 to get ready for secondary school! The session helps you learn more about what a secondary school experience can look like in an HWDSB school.
Students and families can learn about what to expect in Grade 9, including information about course selection processes and timelines, Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirements, system programs at HWDSB, and more.
Take your time to plan, with your family, so that you can work toward the pathway that will be best for you. At HWDSB, we believe in you, and in the ability of our staff to support you.
You can watch the information session below!
Frequently Asked Questions for Getting Ready for Grade 9
Thank you for all of your questions. If you have specific questions about your home Secondary School, please attend their specific information night in November.
HWDSB Secondary Schools Grade 7 & 8 Information Nights
Here are all the dates and times for the HWDSB School information nights
General Information
Do I have to register for Grade 9 and high school?
Current Student Attending an HWDSB School-
If you are currently attending a Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) school, you do not need to register with your catchment high school. You will notify your Grade 8 teacher of which high school you plan to attend. When you select your courses in MyBluePrint the high school’s courses will be available to select from.
Current Students Attending an HWDSB School Applying to a Program of Choice-
If you are planning to attend a program of choice (Glendale’s Performing Arts Program or Westmount’s Self Paced/Self Directed Program) you will need to apply to the program and wait to hear back from the school. Once accepted to the program, the school will coordinate at the system level for MyBluePrint to populate with the appropriate courses.
Students not currently attending an HWDSB School-
If you are not currently attending a Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) school and wish to attend an HWDSB high school. You will need to register with the school board. The registration process opens in February 2026. A link will be posted here at this time.
My child has an Individual Education Plan. What will happen as they move to High School?
For students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP), the best place to start is a discussion with the current Elementary Learning Resource Teacher. If your child transfers from an HWDSB elementary school to a HWDSB secondary school, their IEP will automatically be transferred. Please be assured that continuity of care and resource support will continue at the secondary level. Connecting with your homeschool learning resource teacher is a great place to start. For more information https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/secondary/supports/special-ed/#tabs-111
My child is currently in a grade 8 remote learning classroom. How do they apply for Secondary School?
All elementary remote learning classes are part of current elementary schools. Each school will ensure that the proper communication and transition occurs with the relevant HWDSB secondary schools.
Transportation
Will transportation be provided to my high school?
For information on transportation please contact Hamilton Wentworth Student Transportation Services
https://www.hamiltonschoolbus.ca/
Here you will be able to find answers to some commonly asked transportation questions.
Transportation is provided for Secondary students if their catchment school is further than 3.2km.
More Information:
Out of Catchment Process and Application
Where do I find out if a Secondary School is eligible for an Out of Catchment application?
You can find out if a secondary school is eligible for an Out-of-Catchment application by checking whether the school is open to Out-of-Catchment requests for that year.
Here’s how it works:
- Secondary schools review Out-of-Catchment applications only if the school is open to accepting them.
- Each year, the board identifies which schools are open or closed to Out-of-Catchment applications.
Please visit the board’s website in January/Early February, when Out-of-Catchment application dates and eligibility information will be posted. That’s where you can confirm which secondary schools are open to applications for the upcoming school year. The Out of Catchment application and timelines will also be posted there.
HWDSB How to Register for Out-of-Catchment
French Immersion
If my child is in French immersion, will their home secondary school automatically be the closest FI school, or do we have to enroll specifically at that school to continue in FI?
The Find a School feature has an option to select French Immersion. Students will attend the catchment school related to French Immersion based on their home address. Information about the FI program and course options is shared between Elementary and Secondary Schools.
French Immersion | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Special Programs
Our HWDSB special programs have separate application processes. Please see below
How do I apply for Westmount?
How do I apply for Glendale Performing Arts Program?
Important Information
Course Selection and myBlueprint
Students will have support in their Grade 8 classrooms on how to select courses in MyBluePrint. The window for selecting courses for High school in MyBluePrint is open from Feb 2-13, 2026. Families will have an opportunity to view and approve their student’s courses in parent portal at a later date in March.
Volunteer and Community Hours
Community Involvement Hours | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Where can we complete volunteer hours?
The following guiding principles are intended to assist students, parents/guardians to determine whether a planned activity is within an approved area. These activities may take place in the community or be school-based.
- An event or activity designed to benefit the community in general.
- An event or activity to support a not-for-profit agency, institution or foundation that meets ethical standards of the Board and the Ministry of Education.
- Any program that promotes tutoring, mentoring, visiting or coaching, or assists others in need.
- Participation in an event or activity that supports ethical work of a global nature or that promotes positive environmental awareness.
- Participation in an event or activity that contributes to the health and well-being of others.
- That is affiliated with a club, religious or political organization, arts or cultural association that seeks to make a positive and ethical contribution in the community.
When can you start the 40 community hours?
Students can start completing their community service as early as July 1 after the Grade 8 year. Students are encouraged to complete their hours earlier in high school. Once students have started their community service hours, they should keep a log using this form and submit it to your high school’s guidance office:
Community Service Log Sheet
For additional information please see the fact sheet:
Helpful Links from the Presentation
In the presentation many links were referenced. Here are a list of all links that are mentioned in the video that you might find useful and helpful when exploring High School at HWDSB. Many have been repeated above.
Planning My Way
School Finder
Graduation Requirements
STEM related Courses
HWDSB OSSD
Opt-Out Process for Online Learning Requirement(HWDSB)
Graduation Requirement Link
Audition Based Arts Program (Glendale)
Self-Paced/Self-Directed Programming (Westmount)
International Baccalaureate
Specialized Programs
Dual-Credit
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship (OYAP)
Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
Co-op Education
Intervention and Support Programs
myBlueprint | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
MyBluePrint By School
HWDSB Family SIte
Parent | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Grade 7 & 8 Information Nights | Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
Updated on Monday, November 03, 2025.