Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School
Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary 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. In 2005, there were approximately 1350 students from Grades 9 to 12. However, the enrolled has drastically reduced to 663 students. As of the 2017–2018 school year, enrolment increased to approximately 750 students.[2]
| Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
| |
39 Dunning Avenue , , L4G 1A2 Canada | |
| Coordinates | 43°59′27″N 79°27′45″W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public |
| Motto | Mens sana in corpore sano (A sound mind in a sound body) |
| Founded | 1888 (as Aurora High School) |
| School board | York Region District School Board |
| Superintendent | Neil Gunathunge |
| Area trustee | Bob McRoberts |
| Principal | Melissa Schmidt |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 1100[1] (September 2019) |
| Language | English |
| Colour(s) | Double blue |
| Mascot | Wildcat |
| Team name | Williams Wildcats |
| Website | www |
| Last updated: March 2020 | |
History
The school started in 1888 as Aurora High School on the top floor of the Aurora Public School located at 22 Church Street. In 1892 they moved into a new purpose built building on Wells Street that would later become the Wells Street Public School after the High School moved to their current location on Dunning Avenue in 1952. Additions were placed on the Dunning Avenue school in 1956, 1967, and 1998. In 1961 the school was renamed The Dr. G. W. Williams Secondary School in honour of Dr. David Garnet Wolsley Williams, a local medical doctor and former trustee of the school board. The school's chief rival is Aurora High School. G.W. Williams is one of the YRDSB's International Baccalaureate candidate schools.[3]
Football
The school's football teams are known as the "Wildcats". The team was reformed in 1984 thanks to student and staff (led by Mr. Aitken) efforts. The final season played by the Senior team was in 2011 when they played with approximately a 24-man roster. They went on to win a third YRAA Tier Two Championship over Bill Carothers S.S. As of the 2012 season there is no Senior football team.
Replacement school
In 2018, the Ontario Ministry of Education approved funding to replace the current Dr. G.W. Williams school building, and to build the replacement on a site approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) northeast of the current school's location. The new school is planned to open in 2024.[4]
Notable alumni
- Brian Stemmle - Canadian Alpine Ski Team[5]
- Garth Gibson - Proposed the redundant array of independent disks (RAID) concept along with David Patterson and Randy Katz
See also
References
- "York Region District School Board - Monthly Enrolment Report" (PDF). York Region District School Board. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- "YRDSB Enrolment 2016-17" (PDF).
- "Pages: IB Program". www.yrdsb.ca. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- "Visioning for the New Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School" (PDF). York Region District School Board. November 7, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
- Canadian Ski Museum