Welcome Prospective Hornets!

Here is the Grade 8 Open House slidedeck from November 26, 2025.

Below are the clubs and councils running at B.H.S.S. as of November 2025.  This list changes as the interests of students and staff evolve.

Below are the sports teams running at B.H.S.S. by season.   This list changes as the interests of students and staff evolve.

Fall

• Girls Basketball
• Rugby 7s
• Cricket
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Boys Soccer
• Tennis
• Boys Volleyball
• Girls Field Hockey
   

Winter

• Badminton
• Boys Basketball
• Curling
• Girls Volleyball
• Ice Hockey (Boys and Girls)
• Rock Climbing
   

Spring

• Boys Baseball
• Girls Flag Football
• Girls Soccer
• Girls Slo-Pitch
• Track and Field
• Ultimate Frisbee

Grade 9 students must complete six-seven compulsory courses.  These courses are outlined below.

French Immersion courses are for students who are pursuing a secondary French Immersion certificate.  Eligible students are those who are currently studying in a Grade 8 French immersion program.

French Core courses are for students who are learning French but are not part of the secondary French Immersion program.  French Core courses are available for each grade and are another medium for students to develop their proficiency in French.

Locally-developed compulsory courses are developed to meet the educational needs of students whose skills fall significantly below grade level.  It is a guided approach to learning using practical examples and concrete objects.  Students are generally recommended for these courses by their grade 8 teacher(s).
 

When selecting courses, grade 9 students choose two elective options and two alternative options.  Alternative selections are important as it ensures students receive courses they are willing to take should there be conflicts in placing them in their first two choices.

All elective courses are open courses, meaning they are open to all students regardless of experience and skill.  Students have their grade 9 and 10 years to select a variety of elective courses to explore their interests.  If a student does not take a particular elective course in grade 9, they can take the grade 10 version of the course the following year without prior experience. 

Ten (10) French Immersion credits are required for the French Immersion Certificate.  Only students already enrolled in a grade 8 French Immersion program may enroll in French Immersion courses in Grade 9.

Four out of ten French Immersion credits will be attained through the “French Immersion” course completed at each grade level.  The chart below outlines the course selections for students enrolled in the French Immersion program.  Leadership and Peer Support is a highly recommended French Immersion credit for students to select in Grade 9.  If recommendations are followed, students need to complete a minimum of two additional French Immersion credits by the end of Grade 12 to achieve their French Immersion Certificate.
 

What is the schedule like at B.H.S.S.?

B.H.S.S. is a two-semestered school.  Semester One spans from September to the end of January, and Semester Two spans from February to the end of June.  Students are enrolled in four courses in each semester.  Each class is 75 minutes in length; there are five minutes between classes for students to access their lockers and the bathroom.  Students attend the same classes every day in each semester.

How is attendance tracked and monitored at B.H.S.S.?

Attendance is taken for each period.  Parents will be notified when students have an unexcused absence.   Parents/guardians are asked to contact the school in advance of an anticipated absence.  If a student must leave during the school day they report to the attendance office so a parent/guardian can be contacted to sign them out.  A student is responsible for all missed work during an absence and teachers, as always, are there to support.  

What is the dress code like at B.H.S.S.?

The dress code is likely very similar to that of most elementary schools.  Student attire should be neat, appropriate, and inoffensive.  More details regarding dress code and the student code of conduct will be shared in the Grade 9 handbook in September.  

How do lockers work?

Good news - there is no need to purchase locks!  B.H.S.S. provides lockers and locks for all students.  Remember that lockers are the property of the YRDSB and can be checked at any time.  Security of valuables is the responsibility of the student.  

What is lunch like at B.H.S.S.?

While most students access our cafeteria and Learning Commons during lunch, students are free to leave the school for their lunch period.  In the cafeteria, students can purchase lunch and snack items from the servery, warm-up food from home in the microwaves, and eat in the cafeteria and outdoor patio.  Understanding the needs of our large student population, students are permitted to eat in other seating areas in and around the school.

The Learning Commons is located on the second floor and is a space for students to complete school work, quietly connect with friends, and engage in leisurely independent time.

What Does the Start of Grade 9 Look Like?

At the end of August, our new grade 9 students and their parents/guardians will receive an email sharing the student schedule for the upcoming school year and access codes for joining the Guidance Google Classroom.

An email will also be shared regarding school fees (e.g. student activity fee, physical education clothing), process for locker distribution, school photo procedures, and any other materials needed for the first day of school - Grade 9 Day.

For Grade 9 Day, only grade 9 students are in the building.  Grade 9 Day allows our new Hornets to navigate the building, meet their new teachers, and meet each other.  For half the day grade 9 students attend each of their four classes, and for the other half they engage in team building games and friendly competitions, led by student ambassadors in grade 11 and 12.  By the end of Grade 9 Day, grade 9 students are familiar with the building, fostered relationships with each other and caring adults in the building, and have had fun!

Typically, during the first two weeks of September, students have their pictures taken and receive their student card.  This same picture will be available for families to purchase and will be used in the Yearbook.

How are marks determined for students?

Students are assessed using the Ministry of Education’s Achievement Chart and the Overall Expectations in a course.  This chart assesses a student’s Knowledge and Understanding, Thinking and Inquiry, Communication, and Application skills.  70% of a student’s mark is determined through term work, work that is completed as students learn new concepts.  30% of a student’s mark is determined through culminating events completed towards the end of a course. Culminating events can be projects and/or exams that cover concepts taught throughout an entire course.

When do students write exams, and how does that work?

Students can expect to write a final exam in the majority of their core courses at the end of each semester (e.g. English, Math, Science).  There is in-class time dedicated to reviewing course concepts prior to the exam.  For courses that do not conduct a final exam, a culminating event is assigned for students to demonstrate proficiency in concepts and/or skills learned throughout the course.
 

For grade 8 students currently attending Black Walnut P.S., Cornell Village P.S., Little Rouge P.S., Rouge Park P.S., Sam Chapman P.S., and Silver Lakes P.S., and French Immersion grade 8 students attending Franklin P.S. and Milliken Mills P.S.

• Sit back and relax!  No action items are required except completing your course selections online in the middle of February using My Pathway Planner.

• B.H.S.S. Guidance is visiting the above schools in January.  We will discuss life in high school, go over course selection details, and answer any questions.  Materials will be provided for families to review and our presentation will be posted on this website.

For students currently attending a YRDSB elementary school but do not live within the B.H.S.S. school boundary, a transfer request process must be followed.

Bill Hogarth SS is closed to new transfer requests for the 2026/2027 school year aside from students in a French Immersion program.   Only those students living within the Bill Hogarth S.S. boundary will be considered for registration for the 2026/2027 school year.

Determining whether a school is open or closed to transfers is reviewed annually; the possibility of transferring into B.H.S.S. for future school years will depend on this process.

For students who live within the B.H.S.S. school boundary and currently attend a Catholic school, private school, or are home-schooled. 

1. Contact the school (phone: 905-910-0009; email: petroula.finn@yrdsb.ca) to receive a Registration Form, or download a digital Registration Form here. 

2. Review B.H.S.S.'s course offerings and complete a tentative course selection for the student using this Course Selection Form. 

3. Email your completed Registration Form and Course Selection Form to petroula.finn@yrdsb.ca. 

4. Our Guidance Secretary, Ms. Finn, will contact you to book a registration appointment.  Registration appointments will begin at the end of January and will continue through to June as we receive registration requests. 

   • Both the student and a parent/guardian must attend

   • The appointment will discuss high school life at B.H.S.S. and finalize the student's course selections for grade 9. 

Note: families must bring the following documents to their registration appointment:

1. Proof of Student's Name and Date of Birth:

• Student's Birth Certificate/Statement of Live Birth
• Passport

2. Immigration Documents:

• Required documents where applicable

3. Proof of Residency:

• Proof of your child’s address - Three Documents Required:
• One (1) from Category A, and Two (2) from Category B
• All documents must show home address for student living with the parent(s)/guardians(s)
• All documents must contain at least one parent or guardian’s name
• All Category A documents must be original.  Copies will not be accepted

Category A

• Property tax Bill/MPAC notice of tax assessment (must be current - within past year)
• Purchase and sale agreement, including proof of purchase and closing date, provided before the student attends the school (must be current - within past year)
• Bank Statement/Financial letter: must be stamped by Financial Institution – financial details can be obscured (must be current – within two months)
• Any CRA document (must be current – within past year)
• For example: Notice of Assessment, Canada Child Benefit, Goods and Services tax/Harmonized sales tax (GST/HST credit), Housing Benefits, etc.

Category B

• Utility Bill/e-Bill (must be current – within two months)
• For example: hydro, gas, water, residential phone/cable/internet Bill, insurance policy – home, tenant or auto
• Any CRA document, IF NOT USED FOR CATEGORY A. (must be current – within past year)
• For example: Notice of Assessment, Canada Child Benefit, Goods and Services tax/Harmonized sales tax (GST/HST credit), Housing Benefits, etc.
• Other official Provincial or Federal government documents that includes parent(s) or guardian(s) names and address (must be current – within past year).

Documents not acceptable in Category A or B:

• Driver’s License;
• Health Card;
• Lease or Rental Agreements
• Credit Card Statement; or
• Cell Phone Bill/e-Bill

Bill Hogarth SS is closed to new transfer requests for the 2026/2027 school year aside from students in a French Immersion program.   Transfer requests will not be accepted for students in the regular English track; only those students living within the Bill Hogarth S.S. boundary will be considered for registration for the 2026/2027 school year.

Grade 8 students in York Region who live outside the B.H.S.S. school boundaries and currently attend a Catholic school, private school, or are home-schooled should contact their home secondary school for registration information.  Families can confirm a student's "home" high school by entering their address information into the YRDSB School Locator.

The B.H.S.S. Guidance Department will visit the grade 8 classes of​ our partner YRDSB elementary schools to discuss secondary school registration and course selection in the middle of January. 

Course selections will be completed by students and their parents/guardians online using My Pathway Planner in the middle of February.  Exact dates, as well as instructions for completing course selections, will be shared with students at the January presentation.

A full listing of Bill Hogarth S.S. course offerings can be found here​.

If you are registering for Grade 9 from outside of our partner YRDSB elementary schools (e.g. moving into the area, coming to us from another school board), please call our Guidance office to make a registration appointment.  We recommend families register for the next school year by the end of February to best ensure their child/ward receive the grade 9 courses they prefer.  

Grade 8 students and their families will receive a course verification email at the end of March.  This is the time for students to verify that the courses they selected were recorded accurately in our school system, and to make any final course selection changes.  There is no penalty for making course changes.  After this time, the Bill Hogarth S.S. timetable for the next school year will be created based on student course selections.

At the end of August, our new grade 9 students and their parents/guardians will receive an email sharing the student schedule for the upcoming school year and access codes for joining the Guidance Google Classroom.

An email will also be shared regarding school fees (e.g. student activity fee, physical education clothing), process for locker distribution, school photo procedures, and any other materials needed for the first day of school - Grade 9 Day.

The first day of school for Grade 9 students is Grade 9 Day, a day where only grade 9 students are in the building.

Grade 9 Day allows our new Hornets to navigate the building, meet their new teachers, and meet each other.  For half the day grade 9 students attend each of their four classes, and for the other half they engage in team building games and friendly competitions, led by student ambassadors in grade 11 and 12.

By the end of Grade 9 Day, grade 9 students are familiar with the building, fostered relationships with each other and caring adults in the building, and have had fun!