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.
Open House
Check the dates of our open house in the fall.
Missed the open house? Explore our website to learn more about the school and visit Preparing for the Transition to High School on the Board website to learn more about what to expect in Grade 8 and how you can start preparing now.
A Tradition of Excellence
For over 50 years, we have been serving students and families in Aurora.
The school has a tradition of academic and athletic excellence, and a strong culture of care and connection to the community.
You can expect a vibrant, inclusive environment where staff get to know every student to support their growth, learning and success.
We offer a range of courses, programs and extracurricular activities that let students explore their interests, build skills that will benefit them now and in the future and gain valuable experience.
We invite you to explore our website and get to know more about Aurora H.S. We look forward to welcoming you.
Soar into secondary school with us.
What Can You Expect at Aurora HS?
A Supportive Start for 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
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.
- Then, 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.
Courses and Programs
Explore our departments to learn more about some of the courses we offer.
Learn more about some of the many programs we offer, including:
- French Immersion
- Dual Credit
- High Performance Athlete
- Ontario Youth Apprentice Program (OYAP) and Accelerated OYAP
- Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
Life at AHS
Experience Wellness
We have a Student Success Team to support individual student needs. This team includes:
- Administration
- Guidance
- Student Services
- Student Success
- Programs
- Morning breakfast
- Peer tutors
- food/toiletry pantry
- Daily snacks
- MOBYSS (physical and mental health supports)
Get Involved
We offer about 40 clubs, councils and committees and many sports teams in different seasons. Participating in student clubs and teams gives you a chance to demonstrate and build your leadership skills, meet other students, explore interests, develop your skills, gain experience and help build a sense of community in the school. There are so many options.
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.
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.
Tips for Students
These tips will help you establish strong learning skills for success:
- Get organized. Use an agenda, day planner or phone to keep track of homework and upcoming tests/assignments. Bring all of your books/supplies to class every day.
- Create a study space. Ensure you have a quiet environment at home with limited distractions, ample space, good lighting and a comfortable chair so you can study and do homework.
- Ask questions. If you don’t understand something, ask your teacher for clarification right away. Often it can be explained in another way; this means that you won’t get behind.
- Set aside a regular time to do homework and assignments. Don’t leave classwork to the last minute - if you’re missing something or don’t understand it might be too late to ask.
- Get plenty of rest, eat well, stay hydrated and exercise. You can think more clearly when your physical needs are met.
- Attend and be on time for your classes. Communicate with the school about being late or absent.
- Build connections. Strengthen your existing friendships and make new ones by getting involved in extracurricular activities.
- Stay updated about your academic progress. Check your mark updates, chat with your teacher and keep up with your emails and classroom work.
Planning for Secondary School
Access resources and checklists to help you start planning for secondary school, and information about opportunities and what to expect.
