Welcome
to the
Aurora High School
Open House and Program
Information Evening
for Grade 8 Students and
Parents/Guardians
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
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
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
Diploma
Requirements
18
Compulsory Credits
+
12
= 30
Elective Credits
Total Credits (110 hours each)
+
Successful Completion of the Ontario Secondary
School Literacy Test
+
40 Hours of Community Involvement Activities
Diploma
Requirements
18 Compulsory Credits
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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 …..
Compulsory
Credits
1 Credit from Group 1
• 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*
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
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.
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
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
Types of Courses
Grade 9 & 10
In Grades 9 & 10, students will
choose courses from four types:
Applied
Academic
Locally-Developed
Open
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
Grade 9 & 10
Course Types
• 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)
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.
Key Learning Strategies
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
Academic
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
Strengths of the Learner
Applied
• 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
Academic
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
Strengths of the Learner Continued
Applied
Academic
• processes knowledge in
smaller packages
• able to describe & make
comparisons
• enjoys learning by doing
• 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
• prefers to complete daily
review & homework in
class
The Grade 9
Program
Compulsory
Courses
Elective Courses
Choose two:
English
Mathematics
Science
Geography
French
Physical Education
Information and Communication Tech
Exploring Technologies
Visual Art
Dramatic Arts
Individuals and Family Living
Music
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
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
Specialist High Skills Programs at
Aurora High School
Business SHSM Introduced 2011
Construction SHSM Introduced 2012
New SHSM for 2013
 Arts & Culture
New!
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
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)
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
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!
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

A Grade 9
Timetable
Period
1
Semester 1
English
Semester 2
Geography
2
Mathematics
Business
3
LUNCH
LUNCH
4
French
Science
5
Physical
Education
Visual Arts
Your child’s schedule will also include the teacher’s
name and room number.
Homework
• work done at home is an
integral part of the curriculum
impacts a student’s success
• Grade 9 students may have
60 - 90 minutes of homework
each day to support in-class
instruction
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
Student
Activities
Student Council
 Sports Teams
 Clubs – Eco-Club, Art, Drama, Music,
Athletic Council, Investment Club,
Red & Gold Society, Tuesday
Painters & many more…

Access the Online Course Selection at
www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/guidance.services
or the Aurora High School website under
quick links
Click on
Next Steps
• Career Cruising Opens: Thursday, January 17
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
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