Aurora High School (Ontario)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2007) |
| Aurora High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
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155 Wellington Street West , , Canada | |
| Coordinates | 43°59′49″N 79°28′47″W / 43.99694°N 79.47972°W |
| Information | |
| School type | High school |
| Motto | Nothing But Our Best |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Secular |
| Founded | 1972 |
| School board | York Region District School Board |
| Superintendent | Becky Green |
| Area trustee | Peter Adams-Luchowski |
| School number | 892998 |
| Principal | George Voumvakis |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 1445[1] (October 2018) |
| Language | English and French immersion |
| Colour(s) | Red and gold |
| Mascot | Golden Eagle |
| Website | www |
| Last updated: June 2015 | |
Aurora High School is one of five high schools in Aurora, Ontario, and is one of two under the jurisdiction of the York Region District School Board.[citation needed] It serves students from Grades 9 to 12.[citation needed] Aurora High School has a strong French immersion program, and used to serve as the feeder school for many local French immersion public schools, however as of the 2019-2020 school year, the only french immersion school is Lester B Pearson PS in Aurora.[citation needed] This includes Aurora, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Oak Ridges, and King City[2]
History
The original Aurora High School was built in 1888 on Wells Street.[citation needed] This building was rebuilt in 1923.[citation needed] Parts of this school building are incorporated into the Wells Street Lofts residential complex.[citation needed] The high school student population eventually outgrew the Wells Street building and a new high school was built on Dunning Avenue.[citation needed] This high school, which opened in 1961 and is still in operation in 2018, is called the Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School.[citation needed] From 1961-1972 Dr. G. W. Williams Secondary School was the only high school in Aurora, Ontario.[citation needed] In 1972, the new Aurora High School opened at 155 Wellington Street West.[citation needed] It can accommodate a student population of approximately 1500 students.[citation needed] As of the 2017/2018 school year Aurora High School has required 4 portable classrooms to accommodate the influx of new students.[3]
School colours and mascot
The school colours are red and gold, and the mascot is an eagle.[citation needed] The original mascot of the school was the Golden Gopher but the gopher was buried in the back field and replaced by the eagle in June 1985.[citation needed]
Interesting facts
Former prime minister Paul Martin visited the school on November 9, 2005,[citation needed] to talk about various topics, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and politics.[citation needed] Singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk visited Aurora High in January 2000.[citation needed] She sang the song "Leaving on a Jet Plane" with Aurora band the Amazing Circus Midgets and spoke about her career.[citation needed] John-Michael Scapin, winner of CBC's Triple Sensation,[citation needed] attended this school.[citation needed] Christine Horne attended this school.[citation needed]
In 2005, The Senior Boys Cross Country Team won the gold medal in the OFSAA Championships.[citation needed] This capped an impressive career for the squad which included winning the YRAA gold medals three years running (2003–2005),[citation needed] the most decorated and successful single team in any sport in the recent history of the school.[citation needed]
In 2007, Kaitlyn Oliver won an OFSAA gold medal in cross country.[citation needed] In 2008, she also won an OFSAA gold medal in the 3000m and an OFSAA silver medal in cross country.[citation needed] Rob Denault won OFSAA gold medals in the 1500m in 2009, 2010, and 2011.[citation needed] Collectively, they both won numerous YRAA gold medals in both cross country and track throughout their four years at the school.[citation needed] In Fall 2015, Cameron Ormond was the OFSAA cross country Female Champion at the Midget level.[citation needed]
In 2009, 2010, and 2011, the Varsity Women's Ice Hockey team qualified for OFSAA.[citation needed]
Since 2007, the Varsity Alpine Ski and Snowboard Team has secured numerous York Region Championships and seven OFSAA Gold Team Championships.[citation needed] In 2008, the Varsity Boys Snowboard Team won Gold at OFSAA and in both the 2010 and 2011 season,[citation needed] the Varsity Boys Level One Alpine Ski Team won Gold at OFSAA.[citation needed] In 2010, the Varsity Girls and Boys Snowboard Team took Bronze at OFSAA,[citation needed] and in 2012 the Varsity Boys Snowboard Team took Silver.[citation needed] In 2015, the Varsity Alpine Boy's Snowboard Team and Varsity Alpine Girl's Ski Team garnered Silver at OFSAA,[citation needed] and the Varsity Girls' Snowboard Team were OFSAA Champions.[citation needed] Prior to this stellar history, the last time that the Alpine Team won at OFSSA was in 2000,[citation needed] when the Level One Boys Alpine Ski Team took Gold at OFSAA.[citation needed] And, since 2016, another four OFSAA Golds have been won by the Girls Ski Team and the Girls Snowboard Team.[citation needed]
In 2012, the Robotics club won second place in the 2012 Robofest World championship in the Senior Exhibition division.[4]
Student council
Aurora High School's student council is generally elected every year.[citation needed] The process for selecting a new council consists of two elections.[citation needed] The first election determines the members of the new council,[citation needed] and is decided by the general student body.[citation needed] The second election, voted on by members of the old and new councils,[citation needed] determines the positions of each member of the council.[citation needed]
Music department
The school has a very strong arts program, though most of the focus is on its music program.[5][failed verification] The music department has several ensembles.[6][failed verification] These include:
- Student-led A Cappella[citation needed]
- Grade Nine Concert Band[citation needed]
- Grade Nine Jazz Band[citation needed]
- Grade Ten Symphonic Band[citation needed]
- Grade Ten Jazz Band[citation needed]
- Grade Eleven Wind Ensemble[citation needed]
- Grade Twelve Wind Symphony[citation needed]
- Senior Winds[citation needed]
- Senior Jazz Band[citation needed]
- Sound and Stage Crew[citation needed]
In addition to these ensembles, the music department also has a Music Council,[7] in which students and teachers plan for music-related events that the department has to offer, such as:
- Halloween Social
- Santa Under the Stars Parade
- Winter Concerts
- Movie/Game Night
- Tie-Dye Night
- Coffee House
- Spring Concerts
- Banquet
Along with competitions, the music department travels with their students around the world to places like Washington, Cleveland, New York City, Rome, Florence, Venice, Salzburg, and Vienna[8]
See also
References
- ^ "York Region District School Board - Monthly Enrolment Report" (PDF). York Region District School Board. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ "YRDSB Boundaries" (PDF).
- ^ "Aurora High School". Aurora High School. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
- ^ "Robofest 2012 winner sheet" (PDF).
- ^ "Pages - MUSIC DEPARTMENT". www.yrdsb.ca. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
- ^ "Pages - Teaching Staff". www.yrdsb.ca. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
- ^ "Music Council Executive". Aurora High Music. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
- ^ "Pages - MUSIC DEPARTMENT". www.yrdsb.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-13.