Maplewood High School's Mission Statement
Maplewood High School is a specialized learning community providing a safe and nurturing environment for students with special needs. Our goal is to help each student develop their unique potential. Our students work towards an Ontario Certificate of Accomplishment and some also work towards an Employability Skills Achievement Certificate. Some graduates are able to enrol in college.
Focusing on personal and social responsibility in a supportive and caring environment, we work together with families and community agencies to prepare students for their adult lives. The employment and personal skills that students gain in their classes help them take a productive place in their families and jobs and be responsible citizens.
Graduate Certificates
The Certificate of Accomplishment is granted to recognize achievement of students who are graduating from high school without a diploma and who are heading to the workforce or specialized vocational programs.
The Employability Skills Achievement Certificate is granted to those students who complete four years of high school and thirty courses. These students must also participate in the school’s Employability and Independent Living Program that includes careers education, resume preparation, co-operative education, workplace safety, and training in the safe use of the TTC. With this, students can transition directly to the workplace.
More Information About Maplewood High School
We’re Not Just Reading, Writing and Arithmetic!
Our Academic Program includes subjects that you would take at other schools. Students have a wide-variety of options in Technical and Arts programs. Our self-contained classrooms offer students with higher needs courses in Numeracy, Language, Social and Personal Skills. Options include Art, Music, Exploring the World, Physical Activities, Horticulture.
Running our Servery
Our Food Services Program runs a professional kitchen and bakeshop. Up-to-date equipment is used every day by our students to make the food that we eat in our cafeteria. Students learn how to work in the hospitality industry by gaining skills that are needed in catering, food preparation and baking. Some of our senior students earn the Food Handler Certificate.
We Prepare Students for the Workplace
You can start your day working in a greenhouse and finish the day sewing or building a garden. Do you want to know how to get ready for Prom? Then you will want to take our Cosmetology classes. And how about skills needed to help in a small business? Take our Business courses and you will be on the right track!
We Help Build Your Leisure Future
Whether your interest is in large group games, individual fitness, dance, running or nature walks, we have the activities that will keep your heart pumping and your body limber. For the artistic side of your life, we have courses including visual arts, ceramics, music, drama and guitar that will help you to develop ways of expressing the creative you!
Additional Features
- Safe Student Attendance System
- Connections to Community Services
- Full-Day Guidance Department
- Lots of Clubs and Sports
- Lunch-hour Library for Reading
- Cultural Curriculum Integration
- Transition to Life Planning
- Individual Student Programming
Student Life - Where You Belong
GO TEAM
Special Events and Excursions - Enjoy many excursions throughout the year in your classes at Maplewood. Some of our trips go to the Ontario Science Centre and the Art Gallery of Ontario. We go hiking on the Seaton Trail and visit theatres. We celebrate special events such as Black History Month, Asian Heritage Month, Aboriginal Month, and many holidays.
Become a Leader - Get involved in your school and community. Contribute your ideas to Maplewood. Help support worthwhile causes such as adopting a foster child, the Terry Fox Run, the Autism Walk, Haiti Relief Efforts and the Hospital for Sick Children.
Clubs - Become involved in one of our many clubs. They include Student Council, Hip Hop, Belly Dancing, Drum Band, Choir, Sewing, Pottery, Guitar, Anime, and many, many more.
Sports - If you like sports, join one of our many teams including volleyball, basketball, badminton, soccer, cross-country running, dodge-ball, track & field, soft ball and floor hockey. Our fitness room is open at lunch.
WHAT SETS US APART
Parents and students love our school.
One parent commented, "I am extremely pleased about choosing Maplewood for our daughter's secondary education. The unique combination of literacy and numeracy training, wide variety of shop classes and a well-developed co-op program makes it an ideal choice to help a young person improve skills and make the transition to work. The exceptionally dedicated teaches and support staff recognize the individual needs of each student in social and practical skills development. And she had fun!!"
One parent commented, "I am extremely pleased about choosing Maplewood for our daughter's secondary education. The unique combination of literacy and numeracy training, wide variety of shop classes and a well-developed co-op program makes it an ideal choice to help a young person improve skills and make the transition to work. The exceptionally dedicated teaches and support staff recognize the individual needs of each student in social and practical skills development. And she had fun!!"
A Maplewood graduate remarked, "The staff really cares about you at Maplewood and I learned many skills that have helped me in my job and my life."
Our students enjoy their small class sizes and individual support. Our modified and alternative courses focus on life and vocational skills. We reinforce academic concepts by starting at the student’s level and progressing at the student’s pace.
We build skills, self-confidence and self-esteem.
PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Be a part of Maplewood’s vibrant parent community – join the Parent Engagement Council! Regular meetings are held in the evening in our Library. The Council organizes presentations that help our parents plan for their child’s special needs now and in the future.
Our professional staff work hand-in-hand with community agencies and parents to help you plan for your child’s future and manage some of their special needs. Some of the agencies that are “regulars” at Maplewood are: the Association for Community Living; Corbrook; Developmental Services Ontario; East Metro Youth Services; the Griffin Centre; Ontario Disability Support Program; the Shoniker Clinic; Surrey Place; Toronto Public Health; Trinity Theatre; West Hill Community Services; and Youthlink. We have curriculum connections with the Highland Creek Reforestation and Naturalization Program, Variety Village and the YMCA.