Course Selection

Choosing your high school courses is an exciting part of planning your future! Your course selections should reflect your interests, strengths and goals. Not sure what to take? That’s okay — there’s support to help you decide.

December 5, 2025

We hope that over the holiday break you will have an opportunity to log into MyBlueprint with your student to review their course selections for next year. We are meeting with students from December 10,11 and -15 to go over how to use the tool and how to research different post-secondary programs (Apprenticeships, College and University).  There is also a section on myBlueprint that allows students to research different occupations, including informative videos. 

On Monday, January 12th we will open MyBlueprint for course submission to have students submit their final course selections for 2026-2027.  As part of the submission process, students must send a parent an approval form.  Please remind your student to do this.  If you have concerns about the submission, please do not reject the submission.  Contact Mrs. Grinton (grintonL@hdsb.ca) to discuss any issues or concerns.

Summer school courses cannot be chosen at this time.  Registration for summer school begins in April.  If your student will definitely be taking a summer school course, please ensure that they do not include that course in their plan.  When submitting, they can provide a comment explaining why the course was omitted from their plan.

Once they have been submitted, they cannot be changed on myBlueprint.  Students will need to make an appointment with Guidance for any changes after February.   

The information that students submit will be used to build the timetable for next year.  Changing course choices, after the timetable has been built, can be more difficult.  

Please be aware that as part of the process of creating the timetable, issues such as course conflicts may arise (students with two courses that both occur in the same time slot).  We will be working through those conflicts with students later in the semester.

New Courses at Nelson for 2026-2027

We are so excited for the *NEW* opportunities for students arriving in the 2026-2027 school year at Nelson. On top of our holistic AP Prep and AP Courses, we are introducing:

Grade 11 & Grade 12 Yearbook - This is a University/College pathway course, so it is open to any student interested in print and digital media.  The grade 12 course can be used for students applying to University as one of their top six.

Grade 11 & Grade 12 Dance - This course is open to all pathways, so it is open to any student interested in pursuing the art of dancing.  The grade 12 course can be used for students applying to University as one of their top six.

Grade 11 Fashion - This course is a college pathway course, so open to any student interested in the art of fashion, including interior and home design.

Grade 12 Sports Marketing - This is a University pathways course, so it can be used for students applying to University as part of their top six.  This interdisciplinary course focuses on the business of sports, including marketing and management.

Grade 12 Coaching - This is a University pathway course, so it can be used for students applying to University as part of their top six.  This interdisciplinary course hope to meet the expressed interests of our students.  Students completing the Coaching course will have lots of opportunities to earn their NCCP Coaching certifications throughout the semester.

Grade 9 - 12 Rink Sports - These courses are open to any student interested in exploring all sports that occur in the rink.  Sports that will be explored may include: Hockey, Ringette, Broom Ball, and Box Lacrosse (semester two).  Students of all skating levels and experience are encouraged to choose this course.  Depending on the number of interested students, we will aim to organize by skill level to create fun, safe and inclusive learning environments.

Grade 10 - 12 Wilderness and the Outdoors - This course is open to any student in Grade 10, 11 and 12, and will focus on outdoor activities and skills with a focus on fishing. Students will have the opportunity to learn and practice a variety of fishing techniques, learn how to use marine charts and topographical maps, learn about different shelter building and back country tips, as well as work towards a wilderness first aid certificate.

How to Choose Your Courses

You’ll pick your courses online using myBlueprint. But before you do, make sure to:

• Talk to your teachers about your options.
• Read the course descriptions.
• Chat with your Guidance Counsellor.
• Ask other students about their experiences in the courses you’re considering.

Need Help?

We’ve got tools to guide you:

• Check out our Course Selection Presentations below.
• Explore course options by program area - view our 2026-2027 Course Offerings Flowchart
• Email your Guidance Counsellor to set up a meeting and talk it through.

These downloadable sheets provide a complete list of course options available to students. Use them to plan and organize your selections before submitting them.

Explore the courses offered in each subject area. Click through to learn what each course covers and find the right fit based on your interests, goals and future plans.

Explore the Course Offerings Flowchart for more information on course selection planning. 

Thinking About a Course Change?

Once you’ve chosen your courses, you’re expected to stay in them — but we understand things can change. If you’re having challenges or need to talk about switching a course, reach out to your Guidance Counsellor to discuss your options.