Specialist High Skills Major

A Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is a ministry-approved specialized program that allows students to focus their knowledge and skills and to obtain certifications recognized in specific sectors, as they work towards meeting the requirements for their high school diploma.

  • An SHSM allows a student to experience a range of customized, career-focused learning opportunities. It enables a student to take courses in an area of interest related to a particular sector while working towards a high school diploma.

  • The focused learning experiences of an SHSM program give students the opportunity to explore, identify, and refine career goals and make informed decisions related to postsecondary education, training, and next steps towards a career.

  • The experiential learning opportunities provided in an SHSM enable students to refine their skills and improve their work habits, gain confidence in their ability to succeed, and see the connections between their studies, the real world, and their future careers. Students are also able to begin to establish relationships and networks in their chosen fields.

  • Students who graduate with a SHSM can look forward to improved prospects after secondary school because of the recognition of and support of the SHSM framework in the postsecondary destination of their choice, whether it be apprenticeship training, a college or university program or the workplace.

The Wellington Catholic DSB currently offers nineteen SHSM sectors:

Arts and Culture

Available at:

  • Our Lady of Lourdes CHS
  • St. James CHS
Business

Available at:

  • Bishop Macdonell CHS
Construction

Available at:

  • Bishop Macdonell CHS
Environment

Available at:

  • Our Lady of Lourdes CHS
  • St. James CHS
Health and Wellness

Available at:

  • Our Lady of Lourdes CHS
  • St. James CHS
Hospitality and Tourism

Available at:

  • Our Lady of Lourdes CHS
  • St. James CHS
Information and Communication Technology

Available at:

  • Bishop Macdonell CHS
  • St. James CHS
Manufacturing

Available at:

  • Our Lady of Lourdes CHS
Not for Profit

Available at:

  • Bishop Macdonell CHS
  • St. James CHS
Sports

Available at:

  • St. James CHS
Transportation

Available at:

  • Our Lady of Lourdes CHS
  • St. James CHS

If you are interested in signing up for a Specialist High Skills Major program, please click the following link to fill out this Google Form.