Welcome to Aurora HS. We are here to support your transition to secondary school. Learn more about what to expect in secondary school at AHS.
Supporting Grade 9s
Our Grade 8-9 transition activities include:
- November Grade 8 visits
- Take our kids to high school day
- Grade 9 only day
- Peer Mentor support
Bring your own device program
Students participate in our Bring Your Own Device program. the one-to-one device program will increase students' ability to collaborate, be independent, be technologically competent and use higher order thinking skills. Students are expected to bring their own device with them to school. In the spring, we will survey incoming students to ensure we have enough laptops to support any student who needs to borrow a computer from the main office.
What does the first day of school look like?
Typically the first day of school is for grade 9 students only. Students begin their day with a pep rally in the gym, after which they are divided into smaller groups led by senior students who are peer mentors. Students continue their day with fun activities which allow them to meet other students and to help them find their way around the school. In the afternoon, students follow a modified timetable to meet their teachers and classmates. A welcome email will be sent by the school to all AHS families in late August to share details regarding the first day of school.
Experience Secondary School
Frequently Asked Questions about Grade 9 at Aurora H.S.
There are 7 compulsory courses in French Immersion:
- Grade 9 French
- Grade 10 French
- Grade 11 French
- Grade 12 French
- Grade 9 Geography
- Grade 10 History
- Grade 10 Civics and Careers
plus 3 elective options (from a list of 5)
- Grade 9 Business
- Grade 9 Visual Arts
- Grade 9 Science
- Grade 10 Science (must complete Grade 9 science in French Immersion)
- Grade 11 Travel & Tourism
No. In Grade 9, we have three French Immersion elective options (Business, Science and Visual Arts). There are 10 English elective options (Business, Drama, Learning Strategies, Music, Repertoire, Technology and the Skilled Trades, 3 Physical Education options, and Visual Arts ).
Please note: All French Immersion course codes end with an ‘F’. All other courses are taught in English.
A Physical Education credit is required for graduation. AHS offers three Grade 9 Physical Education options:
- non-competitive co-ed gym (PAI1O1),
- competitive female (PPL1O8) gym, or
- competitive male (PPL1O9) gym.
You are correct. Completing RCM Grade 8 Theory and Practice exams will translate into a high school elective credit on your transcript.
Please note that this credit does not qualify for the required Arts credit in high school. Students who complete a RCM credit must still complete an Arts credit in order to graduate.
Yes. You can take Music (AMU1O1) or Repertoire (AMR1O1) or both. The Music course covers the theory; the Repertoire course focuses on playing. The courses support one another, but students may choose to take one or both.
They are separate courses; Repertoire is considered a 9th course in your selection. If you choose to take Music and Repertoire you will have to choose one other elective. Repertoire must be selected last once all other classes are picked in your Course Planner.
Students can request "reach ahead" courses in all grades. However, enrolment in all courses is based on availability and students in the appropriate grade secure seats first. For example, all grade 11 students are scheduled into the course before grade 10 students are considered. This ensures all in-grade students are given priority for the courses in their grade.
Aurora High School only offers French courses (Core French or French Immersion). However, you are able to sign up for International Language courses in the evening/on the weekend. Registration occurs in early September.
Outside the Physical Education Department office (Room 229) there is an Athletics Board, and across from the Guidance office (Room 226) there is a Clubs Board. Information related to clubs and teams will be shared through these bulletin boards, morning announcements and social media posts.
You can also look at the extra-curriculars page on our website.
There are 3 possible levels of support for students in high school:
- Regular Classroom with Withdrawal Assistance - this is for students who are registered in a Learning Strategies course. The Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT) provides direct instruction & program consultation. The SERT teaches the Learning Strategies course, and their students will see them every day in the semester that they have Learning Strategies.
- Regular Classroom with Resource Assistance - this is for students who are not registered in a Learning Strategies course. The SERT provides resource support & program consultation, and will meet with the student as needed.
- Indirect Services - this is where the SERT provides program consultation to the classroom teacher to provide curriculum support, and will meet with students as requested.
Possibly. For the 2025-2026 school year the YRDSB will release a list of schools open and closed to transfers on the YRDSB Transfer webpage on November 20, 2024.
Community involvement forms are available on the YRDSB website. Be sure to have your principal or AHS Guidance complete the pre-approval before you complete your hours. Once you have completed the hours for the activity, please have a supervisor sign the form for authorization. Once school begins in September, please bring the signed form to Guidance.
Typically the first day of school is for grade 9 students only. Students begin their day with a pep rally in the gym, after which they are divided into smaller groups led by senior students who are peer mentors. Students continue their day with fun activities which allow them to meet other students and to help them find their way around the school. In the afternoon, students follow a modified timetable to meet their teachers and classmates. A welcome email will be sent by the school to all AHS families in late August to share details regarding the first day of school.