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

2. Junior Boys Volleyball Team York Region Finalist 2017

3. Senior Boys Volleyball Team York Region Champions 2017

4. Girls Swim Team York Region Champions 2017

5. Snowboarding and Alpine Skiing Teams York Region and OFSAA Champions 2017

6. Cami Ormond 3-Time OFSAA Cross-Country Champion

7. Grade 10 Civics students investigating the 5 elements of peace at the "Making Peace International Photo Exhibit" at Aurora Town Park

8. Green Acres - Grade 9 Transition Day

9. About Us Aurora High School was founded in 1972
Our student population is approximately 1380 and we will welcome approx. 360 Grade 9 students in September 2018
We are a dual track school with our French Immersion students making up approx. 40% of our school’s population

10. Specialist High Skills Major
These programs allow students to customize their high school experience through a variety of new and enhanced learning options
Aurora High has the largest program in the YRDSB per capita
At AHS we offer four sectors in:
Arts and Culture
Business
Construction
Health and Wellness
Transportation (pending approval)
Students can enroll in a SHSM program during
Grades 11 & 12

11. SHSM Recognition If you have questions regarding the SHSM program:
Please see a member of the Guidance Department or
Co-operative Education Room 222

12. Staff and Students
Aurora High School is known not only for its quality educational programming, but also for its numerous clubs and teams, which adds to a student’s overall high school experience
Staff are available to support student learning and enhance the school experience through teams, clubs and co-curricular activities

13. Features of our School 2 semesters - 4 courses each day per semester
School begins promptly at 8:15 a.m. and ends at
2:50 p.m. (arrival by 8:05 is encouraged)
Classes are 75 minutes in length
Frequent parent/guardian/teacher communication
Focus on developing a literate graduate, critical thinker, problem solver and contributing member of society
Partnerships with community groups and
post-secondary institutions
Programs in place to support our at-risk students

14. Student Success Team Administration Student Success Teacher Guidance
Student Support Services
Cooperative Education
Personalized Alternative Education
Literacy Teacher
Classroom Teachers
Working together to support:
Student achievement
A smooth transition to secondary school
Success in secondary school
Successful transition to post-secondary
Introduce Ms. Patti Anglin

15. Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements
12 Optional Credits
Successful Completion of Ontario Literacy Requirement
18 Compulsory Credits
O.S.S.D
40 Hours of Community Involvement with a not-for-profit organization

16. 18 Compulsory Credits 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade) 3
credits in mathematics (1 credit in Grade 11 or 12) 2
credits in science 1
credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
credit in the arts (drama, music, visual arts)
credit in health and physical education
credit in French
0.5
credit in career studies (Grade 10)
credit in civics (Grade 10)
PLUS ……..

17. * Conditions apply with the French and cooperative education credits
Compulsory Credits
1 Credit from Group 1
5th English credit
French*
Canadian and world studies
Social sciences and the humanities
Guidance and career education
Cooperative education *
PLUS ……..
* Conditions apply with the French and cooperative education credits

18. cooperative education credits
Compulsory Credits
1 Credit from Group 2
2nd health and physical education credit
2nd arts credit
Business studies
French *
Cooperative education *
PLUS ……..
Conditions apply with the French and
cooperative education credits

19. cooperative education credits
Compulsory Credits
1 Credit from Group 3
Senior science credit
French*
Computer studies
Technological education
Cooperative education *
PLUS ……..
*Conditions apply with the French and
cooperative education credits

20. 12 Elective Credits
Elective credits allow students to build an educational program that suits their individual interests and skills in order to meet work, college, apprenticeship or university requirements.
PLUS ……..

21. Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
Administered to all students enrolled in an Ontario high school in the spring of Grade 10
A test based on language and communication (reading and writing)
Expectations of the curriculum up to and including Grade 9 are the basis for the skills being tested

22. 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 and submitting their completed form to Guidance
Guidelines and forms will be provided to help record involvement up to 40 hours
Community Involvement may commence at the start of summer after the Grade 8 year and must take place with a not-for-profit organization

23. L P D O Grade 9 & 10 Course Types
In Grade 9 & 10, students will choose courses from four types:
Applied
Academic
Open
Locally Developed
- Practical, real life approach
-More teacher directed activities
-Learn in smaller chunks
-Theoretical and abstract approach
-Both directed and independent tasks
-More student initiated work
-An opportunity to explore new subjects
-Available to all students
-Guided approach
-Intended for students whose educational needs are not met by the provincial courses in English, Math,
Science and History
-Teacher recommendation P D O L
Grade 9 courses focus on establishing solid knowledge and foundational skills

24. Grade 9 Program Compulsory Courses Elective Courses (Choose two):
English
Mathematics
Science
Canadian Geography
French
Physical Education
Elective Courses (Choose two):
Exploring Family Studies (HIF1O)
Exploring Technologies (TIJ1O)
Information and Comm. Tech in Business (BTT1O)
Dramatic Arts (ADA1O)
Music (AMU1O)
Visual Arts (AVI1O)

25. French Immersion Program
Ten French Immersion credits are required for the French Immersion certificate:
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
French Immersion
Science
French Immersion Recommended
Canadian History
Canadian Geography
Careers / Civics (Open)
French Immersion students must choose 2 additional F.I courses to complete their 9th & 10th certificate requirement Students have the choice of taking:
BTT1OF – Grade 9 Business SNC2DF – Grade 10 Academic Science
ADA1OF – Grade 9 Drama CGG3OF – Grade 11 Geography – Travel and Tourism
HSP3UF – Grade 11 Anthropology, Psychology & Sociology

26. Course Selection Students take 8 credits in Grade 9
Students who choose music as their elective will take a 9th credit before/after school called repertoire
Students may choose a combination of applied, academic, open, and locally-developed courses

27. Making Informed Choices
Consider the following:
Your child’s ability based on Grade 8 marks
Elementary teacher’s recommendation
Interests, learning styles, work habits
EQAO results
Placement in the appropriate course type is critical for a student’s success
Please remember there are many pathways
to the destination of your child’s dreams!

28. Class Size
The number of classes created is based on every student’s course selection
Maximums vary depending on the course type
Class sizes have firm maximums:
Academic: students
Applied: 22 students
Locally Developed: 16 students
Open: students
There is very little flexibility to move between courses once a timetable has been built

29. Possible Grade 9 Timetable
Semester 1
Semester 2
Period 1
English
Geography
Period 2
French
Elective
Period 3
Period 4
Physical Education
Period 5
Science
Math
Grade Nine Common Lunch
Your child’s schedule will also include the teacher’s name and room number.

30. Homework
School work completed at home is an integral part of the curriculum and impacts student success
Grade 9 students may have minutes of homework each day to support in-class instruction

31. Reporting Student Achievements
The Standard Provincial Report Card has:
Achievement in every subject in the form of a percentage grade
Teacher comments indicating what a student has learned, an area of strength, and next steps
A separate reporting section for attendance and evaluating the student’s learning skills
Summary of graduation requirements including the Grade 10 literacy test and community involvement

32. Student Activities
Student Councils - Art, Drama, Music, Athletic, Student Government
Sports Teams – e.g. Volleyball, Badminton, Rugby (many teams for boys & girls during all seasons)
Clubs – Computer Science Programming, Eco Club, Indigenous Studies Club, Red & Gold Society, Portfolio Artists & many more…

33. Individual Pathways Plan

34. Access the online course selection at www. yrdsb
Access the online course selection at and then click on IPP and Online Course Selection

38. Course Planner Page

39. Next Steps Completed yellow registration forms due to Grade 8 teachers
Jan 30
Course selection sheet with parent/guardian signature due to Grade 8 teachers by Feb. 23
Feb 23
First day of classes for Grade 9 students only
Tues, Sept 4
Career Cruising opens for online course selection submissions
Feb 12
Online school registration for all students (timetables available online)
Late Aug

40. www.yrdsb.ca Parent Page

41. Please contact School Bus City
Bussing Information
Please contact School Bus City

42. Aurora High School Boundaries
Students living in Section B have the option to attend Aurora H.S. or Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School

43. Thank You For Joining Us!
Department, clubs and teams Open House - see room list for specific locations
Registration appointments for families in our area not attending an elementary partner school – Guidance Department
Special Services Presentation - Library
French Immersion Presentation - Cafeteria