Math

The Royal Bay Math Department strives to bring the best in mathematics education to our students. Our goal is two-fold: to expand students’ minds and perspectives through the lens of mathematics, and to prepare them for post-secondary programs or the workplace. Courses are carefully designed and constantly modified to meet the changing needs of our students.

In order for students to experience the greatest success, careful course selection is critical. Please see the math courses offered at Royal Bay, and recommended pre-requisites for each, below:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Graduation Requirements & Post‐Secondary Admissions

To graduate, all students MUST complete a Grade 10 Mathematics course as well as another math course at the Grade 11 level. You might need more than just Math 11 if you plan to attend a post‐secondary program. Depending on the school you attend, there could be many Mathematics options available to you, including upgrading if necessary.

Students and parents are encouraged to research the admission requirements for post‐secondary programs of study as they vary by institution and by year. For specific program requirements, you should contact the specific institution you are interested in.

Which Math course is best suited to my child?

While there is no “rule” about which Math course is right for each student, the decision can be made easier by thinking about your child’s current ability and interest in Math, and future education and career plans. The new courses have been designed to facilitate student success after high school. For example:

• If your child has struggled in Math 8 or 9, enjoys working on projects or hands‐on activities, or intends to pursue a trade or technical job after high school, then the Apprenticeship and Workplace pathway is recommended.
• If your child enjoys working on projects or hands‐on activities, or is planning further studies in the Social Sciences, Fine Arts or Humanities at the post‐secondary level, then the Foundations pathway will provide this option.
• If your child has been very successful in Math 9, enjoys the challenges of Math, and is thinking about future education or a career that involves Sciences or Engineering at a university, then starting the Pre‐Calculus pathway is recommended.

Your child’s education choices after high school depend, in part, on the courses they take in high school. To make an informed decision about which course is best suited for your child, you need to find out as much as you can about each pathway. Parents need to remember that grade 10 has two courses but there are three pathways in grade 11 to 12.

Students who choose Grade 10 Apprenticeship & Workplace are strongly recommended to take Foundations and Pre‐Calculus Math 10 before attempting to move to the Foundations stream.

My child wants to study University Sciences but their teacher has recommended the Foundations stream. What should they do?

While Pre‐Calculus 11 or 12 will be required for University Science and Engineering programs, it is important to understand the teacher’s recommendation. Foundations may have been recommended because your child found the Foundations and Pre‐Calculus 10 course overwhelming. It may also be that your child’s learning style is better suited to a less theory based course like the Foundations stream. A student can take Foundations Math 11 to improve their skills and understanding, and then take Pre‐Calculus 11 the following semester, while still receiving credit for both courses.

Can my child get into university or college without Pre‐Calculus 11 or 12?

Yes. There are many different combinations of courses and programs that will allow a student to go to college or university. The specific Math courses that are required by colleges and universities depend entirely on the program a student wants to enter. Some entrance requirements include calculus math courses (Pre‐Calculus pathway) and others do not require calculus courses (Foundations pathway). It is crucial that you check the university or college to find out which Math courses are needed for entry so that you choose the correct path.

What happens if we change our mind about the course decision that we have made?

Your child should choose the courses that best fit their current skill level, current math interest and post‐secondary hopes. If, after high school, your child changes career paths and realizes that they need Pre‐Calculus 11 or 12 instead of the Foundations courses taken, or Foundations courses instead of the Apprenticeship and Workplace courses taken, colleges and universities will offer these or equivalent courses for upgrading.

Useful Links

General Math Help, by topic

• Kahn Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/

Free Graphing Software (great for checking solutions)

• Desmos: https://www.desmos.com/
• Wolfram Alpha: https://www.wolframalpha.com/

Pre-calculus 11 lessons, by section in workbook

• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/   search Oikawa PC 11

Tutors

Some families have had success finding tutors through the UVic website: https://www.uvic.ca/ search math tutors to get the most updated list

Math Department Staff List: