1. Aurora High School Welcome to the
Open House and Program Information Evening
for Grade 8 Students and Parents/Guardians

2. Quick Facts About Our School
Aurora High School was founded in 1972
Our student population is approximately 1150 and we will be welcoming 275 Grade 9 students in September 2013
We are a dual track school and our French Immersion students make up 30% of our school’s population
We have a senior Alternative Education Program comprising of approximately 30 students

3. Staff and Students of A.H.S.
Aurora High School is known not only for their quality academic program, but also for it’s numerous co-curricular activities which add to a student’s high school experience

4. Features of our school 2 semesters - 4 courses each day
school begins promptly at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 2:50 p.m.
classes are 75 minutes in length
frequent parent/guardian/teacher contacts
focus on the literate graduate, critical thinking, and problem solving
partnerships with community groups and post-secondary institutions
programs to support our “at risk” students

5. Diploma Requirements 18 Compulsory Credits+
Elective Credits
= Total Credits (110 hours each)
+ Successful Completion of the Ontario Secondary
School Literacy Test
Hours of Community Involvement Activities

6. 18 Compulsory Credits Diploma Requirements PLUS …..
4 credits in English (1 credit per Grade)
1 credit in French
3 credits in Mathematics (at least 1 in Grade 11 or 12)
2 credits in Science
1 credit in Canadian History (Grade 10)
1 credit in Canadian Geography (Grade 9)
1 credit in the Arts (Music, Visual Arts, Drama)
1 credit in Health and Physical Education
0.5 credit in Civics & 0.5 credit in Career Studies (Gr. 10)
PLUS …..

7. Compulsory Credits 1 Credit from Group 1 1 Credit from Group 2
a 5th English credit
an additional French credit
a Native Studies credit
a Social Science or Humanities credit
a Canada and World Studies credit
a Guidance and Career Education credit
a Co-operative Education credit*
1 Credit from Group 2
a 2nd Arts credit
a 2nd Physical Education credit
an additional French credit*
a Business Studies credit
a Co-operative Education credit*

8. Compulsory Credits 1 Credit from Group 3 a 3rd Science credit
an additional French credit*
a credit in Technological Education
a Co-operative Education credit*
a Computer Studies credit
*conditions apply with the French and Co-op credits

9. 12 Elective Credits
Elective credits allow students to build an educational program that suits their individual interests and meets work, college, apprenticeship or university requirements.

10. The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
administered in Spring of Grade 10
a test based on language and communication (reading and writing)
expectations of the curriculum up to
and including Grade 9

11. Community Involvement
Diploma requirement
Encourages civic responsibility, promotes community values and reinforces the importance of volunteering
Students are responsible for: having their activity pre-approved, tracking & submitting their completed form to Guidance
Guidelines and forms will be provided to help record involvement up to 40 hours
* New Guidelines in June 2012
Community Involvement may be started July 1

12. Types of Courses Grade 9 & 10
In Grades 9 & 10, students will choose courses from four types:
Applied Academic Open
Locally-Developed

13. Applied (P) - real-life hands on approach, with some theory
Grade 9 & 10 Course Types
Grade 9 courses focus on establishing solid knowledge and foundation skills
Applied (P) - real-life hands on approach, with some theory
Academic (D) - theoretical in approach, utilizes abstract thinking

14. Course Types Grade 9 & 10 Locally-Developed (L) – these
Open (O) – an opportunity to explore an area of interest for all students
Locally-Developed (L) – these
courses are intended for students whose
educational needs are not met by the
provincial courses in English, Math, Science
and History (teacher recommendation required)

15. Applied and Academic Courses
APPLIED COURSES
Applied courses focus on the essential concepts of the discipline. Applied courses develop students’ knowledge and skills by emphasizing practical, concrete applications of essential concepts of the course and incorporating theoretical applications as appropriate.
ACADEMIC COURSES
Academic courses focus on the essential concepts of the discipline and also explore related concepts. Academic courses develop students’ knowledge and skills by emphasizing theoretical, abstract applications of the essential concepts of the course and incorporating practical applications as appropriate.

16. Key Learning Strategies
Academic
Applied
emphasis on practical applications
more teacher directed activities
focus on essential skills by emphasizing practical, concrete applications
tasks are defined by teacher
curriculum delivered in smaller ‘chunks’ with work completed in class
emphasis on theoretical and abstract applications
more student initiated activities
some independent activities build on essential skills
tasks can be designed/created by students
curriculum delivered at a quicker pace requiring work outside of the class

17. Strengths of the Learner
Applied
Academic
reads for specific purpose
prefers to be taught learning in each context
benefits from more structure
likes to learn/master essential skills & knowledge
completes tasks in directed environment
reads & comprehends material
ability to transfer learning from one context to another
benefits from independence
likes to explore beyond related learning
completes tasks in both directed & independent environment

18. Strengths of the Learner Continued
Academic
Applied
processes knowledge in smaller packages
able to describe & make comparisons
enjoys learning by doing
prefers to complete daily review & homework in class
understands complex concepts & processes
able to make inferences & draw conclusions
enjoys learning by doing as well as theoretical work
recognizes need for daily homework and review

19. The Grade 9 Program Compulsory Courses Elective Courses Choose two:
English Mathematics Science Geography French Physical Education
Elective Courses
Choose two:
Information and Communication Tech Exploring Technologies
Visual Art Dramatic Arts
Individuals and Family Living
Music

20. French Immersion
French Immersion students take the following subjects in French at the Academic level:
Grade 9
French
Geography
Science
Business*
Grade 10
French
History
Science
Career/Civics (open)
French Immersion students must take at least 1 course below to complete their 10th FI course which completes the requirements for the FI program.
BTT1OF - Grade 9 Business or /and
CGG3OF - Grade 11 Geography – Travel and Tourism

21. How to choose courses? Consider the following:
your child’s ability based on his/her
Grade 8 marks
elementary teacher’s recommendation
EQAO results
your child’s work habits/learning skills and learning style
your child’s interests

22. Specialist High Skills Programs at Aurora High School
Business SHSM Introduced 2011
Construction SHSM Introduced 2012
New!
New SHSM for 2013
Arts & Culture
A SHSM is a ministry approved program that allows students to experience a range of customized learning opportunities in a specific economic sector that interests and engages them.
SHSM programs start in Grade 11

23. Benefits of SHSM
When applying to Post-Secondary Education (writing your P.S.E. red seal on OSSD)
Experience future possible careers through experiential learning
Obtain beneficial life skills for your future
(co-op education, Grade 11)
Open doors for summer jobs and/or future employment
Complete recognized certifications and training (C.P.R., counterfeit money detection)

24. Course Selection students take 8 credits in Grade 9
students who choose music as their
elective will take 8.5 credits
students may choose a combination of Academic, Locally-Developed,
Applied and Open courses

25. Making the Choice? start discussions with your
child and their elementary teachers
placement in the appropriate level is critical in a student’s success
encourage your son or daughter to review the information package
Please remember there are many pathways
to the destination of your child’s dreams!

26. Class Size in Secondary School
the number of classes created is based on students’ course selection
class sizes have firm maximums
maximums vary depending on course
level and type
there is little flexibility to move
between courses, once a timetable has
been built

27. LUNCH A Grade 9 Timetable Visual Arts Physical Education 5 Science
French 4
LUNCH 3
Business
Mathematics 2
Geography
English 1
Semester 2
Semester 1
Period
Your child’s schedule will also include the teacher’s name and room number.

28. Homework work done at home is an integral part of the curriculum
impacts a student’s success
Grade 9 students may have minutes of homework
each day to support in-class
instruction

29. Reporting Student Achievement
Standard Provincial Report Card Has:
Achievement in every subject in the
form of a percentage grade
Teachers’ comments indicating what a
student has learned, an area of strength, and
next steps in each subject
A separate reporting section for attendance
and evaluating the student’s learning skills
A Summary of Graduation requirements
including status of Grade 10 Literacy Test
and Community Involvement Activities

30. Student Activities Student Council Sports Teams
Clubs – Eco-Club, Art, Drama, Music,
Athletic Council, Investment Club,
Red & Gold Society, Tuesday
Painters & many more…

31. Access the Online Course Selection at www. yrdsb. edu. on. ca/guidance
Access the Online Course Selection at or the Aurora High School website under quick links

32. Click on

34. Next Steps Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Career Cruising Opens: Thursday, January for online course selection submissions
Completed green registration forms due:
Monday, February 4 to Grade 8 teachers
Course selection sheet with parent/guardian signature due: Tuesday, February 19 to Grade 8 teachers. Career Cruising locks down February 22.
School registration for all students in August
First day of class for Grade 9 students only:
Tuesday, September 3, 2013

35. Wrap-up
Registration for students who live in our boundary, but are not attending one of our elementary partner schools
Transferring to Aurora High School
Touring the school