General Email: dr.g.w.williams.ss@yrdsb.ca Attendance Email: drgwwilliamsss.attendance@yrdsb.ca
Bell Times: 8:20 AM – 3:00 PM Office Hours: 7:45 AM – 3:45 PM
- Andrew Gazaneo Principal
- Erin Gray Vice Principal (Student Alpha : A–Le)
- Hatty Moon Vice Principal (Student Alpha : Li-Z)
Hello Williams Families,
As we begin the school year, I ask all families to help keep students safe during arrival and dismissal. Before and after school especially busy times onsite; I have also observed some vehicles travelling too quickly. Please drive slowly, remain alert for students crossing, follow posted parking and stopping restrictions, and allow extra time for congestion. During morning arrival, the school driveway operates in one direction, from north to south, to support the safe movement of students, buses, and vehicles.
To help reduce traffic around the building, families may also wish to identify a safe location nearby where students can be dropped off and walk the remaining distance to school. We have asked Aurora Bylaw officers to visit the area, monitor traffic concerns, and speak with drivers who are parked incorrectly or driving unsafely. We also ask families to avoid blocking nearby driveways even for a brief drop off or pick up.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work together to keep the area around our school safe for students, staff, families, and our neighbours. A few extra minutes and a little added care can make a meaningful difference in keeping
everyone safe.
Andrew Gazaneo
Principal
After-School Literacy
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is a requirement for students to achieve an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Our Grade 10 students will be writing the OSSLT on Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6, 2026.
At Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School, we are taking a number of steps to support our students as they prepare for the OSSLT. We are pleased to offer your child an opportunity to participate in an after-school Literacy Support Program this semester. We believe this additional support will help build your child’s confidence and skills in reading and writing as they prepare for the test.
The program will run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00–4:30 p.m., beginning Tuesday, September 29 and continuing through Thursday, October 29. The program will take place in Room 154.
The program is offered free of charge to most students (there is a fee for international students).
If you would like your child to participate, please review and complete the attached Student Registration Form. Students should return the completed form to the Main Office by Monday, September 28.
If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact our Vice-Principal, Ms. Gray, at erin.gray@yrdsb.ca.
Guidance
Guidance Counsellor ALPHA Change
Guidance has updated our alpha and your child’s counsellor may have changed. Please see below:
- Mrs. Morelli (Last Names A - G) susanna.morelli@yrdsb.ca
- Ms. Murad (Last Names H - K) zahra.murad@yrdsb.ca
- Ms. Chow (Last names L - R) simone.chow@yrdsb.ca
- Mrs. Durbacz (Last Names S - Z) sue.durbacz@yrdsb.ca
Guidance Appointment Booking Instructions
Guidance appointments will now be available beginning September 24, 2026. Students must log into their Teach Assist account https://ta.yrdsb.ca/yrdsb
- Under the sub-heading, select “Appointment Bookings”.
- Choose your counsellor (based on your last name).
- Click on the day and time you want to have your appointment.
- If you need to cancel your appointment for any reason, click “Cancel”. If you have any trouble
making your appointment, please let the Guidance Department know. - It is the responsibility of students to remember to attend appointments.
Important Dates and Information
- Post-Secondary Fairs - Using a YRDSB GAPPS account, see this list of local post-secondary fairs.
- Post-Secondary Assembly for Students - Friday, October 16, 2026 during Period 1.
- MOBYSS (Mobile Youth Walk-In Clinic) - October 22, 2026, 10:00am - 2:00pm.
- SHSM Student Launch - October 2, 2026 during Periods 2/3/4 in the School Library.
- Financing Your Education Workshop - October 21, 2026 during Periods 2,3 & 4 in the School Library. Learn about applying for scholarships, bursaries, grants, and awards!
- Take Our Kids to Work Day (Grade 9 only) - November 4, 2026
- Semester One - Fall 2026 Remote Night School - Classes run September 22, 2026 to January 21, 2027 and is every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30pm - 9:45pm.
- Understanding and Navigating the Education System - Families of YRDSB Black Students Monthly Virtual Information Session on Monday, September 28, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Student Drop-Off Areas
Just a reminder to all families that the yellow zones in our parking lot are designated as No Drop-Off zones. These areas must remain clear at all times to support safe traffic flow and emergency vehicle access. Please use the designated drop-off areas when arriving at or leaving the school. Thank you for helping us keep our parking lot safe for everyone.
Student Parking
Parking and stopping in the area surrounding the school is regulated by Town of Aurora bylaws, which are enforced during school arrival and departure times. Please refer to The School Zone Traffic Map for parking/stopping restrictions.
Lockers
The locker request form is now closed. Students who completed the form will be provided with their locker number and combination within the next couple of weeks.
If your student missed the opportunity to request a locker, there will be another opportunity to do so once all current requests have been processed.
Please note: Returning Grade 10–12 students will continue to use the same locker and combination they had last year.
TeachAssist for Parents and Students
TeachAssist is a platform for students and parents to access the student record information. Students can see their courses and progress on TeachAssist.
Parents can access TeachAssist through the use of the parent portal. Please click this link for instructions.
Access Report Cards in the Family Dashboard
For families who do not yet have a Family Dashboard account, you can sign up for an account at any time at family.yrdsb.ca. You can find information on how to create an account on the Board website or in this instructional video.
The Family Dashboard gives parents/guardians secure one-stop access to information and applications related to your child’s education. It is designed to make it easier for families to engage with their child’s education.
We also want to remind families that it’s important that the school has updated contact information for students and parents/guardians, including home address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contacts. This will ensure that the school can contact families in case of emergency, and also that you continue to receive important communications and updates from the school. Please contact the school directly with any changes.
YRDSB Calendar 2026-2027
The YRDSB 2026-2027 school year calendars have been approved by the Ministry. These calendars may accessed on the YRDSB website at: https://www2.yrdsb.ca/school-year-calendar
Public Health & Medical Updates: Visit York Region Public Health for resources and support. Medical management plans (Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetes, Epilepsy) must be updated with the main office. If your child has a serious or life-threatening allergy or prevalent medical condition, such as Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetes or Epilepsy/Seizure plan of care please complete the appropriate health care plans, and deliver them to the main office.
