Earl Haig Secondary School
| Earl Haig Secondary School | |
|---|---|
| File:EarlHaigSecondarySchoolLogo.gif | |
| Address | |
 | |
100 Princess Ave , , M2N 3R7 | |
| Information | |
| School type | Public High school |
| Motto | Carpe Diem (Seize the day) |
| Founded | 1929 |
| School board | Toronto District School Board |
| Superintendent | Elizabeth Bewley Thomson |
| Area trustee | Mari Rutka |
| School number | 906450 |
| Administrator | Linda MacMullin Heather Lee Debbie Johnson |
| Principal | Beverley Ohashi |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 2,200 |
| Language | English |
| Area | Toronto |
| Colour(s) | Blue and White |
| Mascot | Carp |
| Website | http://www.tdsb.on.ca/scripts/Schoolasp.asp?schno=3430 School Website: Earl Haig |
| Last updated: March 28 2006 | |
Earl Haig Secondary School serves a diverse population of about 2,200 students in Willowdale, Toronto, Canada and is recognized for its academic focus, enthusiasm for learning, lively school spirit, and commitment to the arts. The dignity and safety of every student is a priority. The school's large size and professional staff ensures a very wide variety of curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for the students. All students have opportunities to develop leadership skills through outstanding athletic, academic, and arts co-curricular activities.
The school motto is "Carpe Diem", which is Latin for "Seize the day".
Schools (Grade 9 - Grade 12)
Earl Haig is one of the largest public high schools in Canada, and as such, is home to a diverse range of student-run clubs and groups. The school is also well known for the Claude Watson Arts Program, a selective program for artistically talented students. It is divided into the following five areas of art: Dance, Drama, Music, Screen Arts and Visual Art.
Collegiate and Claude Watson Arts Program
Earl Haig has two related but distinct programs. The Collegiate Program offers high-quality academic programming for students living in the Earl Haig Community. Students choose from a variety of academic, arts and technical courses. All able students are encouraged to take advantages of the enrichment program and to participate in various co-curricular activities and leadership opportunities.
The Claude Watson Arts Program offers a gifted art education for students with a demonstrated talent in Dance, Drama, Music, Screen Arts and Visual Arts. The students divide their day between regular academic classes and the Arts. Arts program students access a full range of artistic and creative opportunities from skilled arts specialists while receiving academic instruction at the highest level. Collegiate students enjoy equal access to the specialized Arts facuilities and programs. This program is a continuation of the Claude Watson School for the Arts Spring Garden Campus a few blocks away. The combination produces a unique range of education opportunities for all students.
Extracurricular activities
Earl Haig earned the Maclean's Magazine, August 2004, Canada's Best Schools designation for best school in Canada for its clubs, teams and extracurricular activities.
Academic achievements
The majority of Earl Haig's students are admitted into top-tier universities in Canada such as University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, Queens University, McGill University and University of British Columbia, as well as other post-secondary schools located in Toronto. A few exceptional students every year are admitted into elite American universities such as Harvard University, MIT and Yale University with full scholarships or finanical aids.
Provincial Assessment
In 2004-2005,
- 16% of Earl Haig students scored level 4 (equivalent to 80% or above)in EQAO Math Assessment (only 6% of all students in Ontario achieved this standard).
- 83% of Earl Haig students scored level 3 or above (equivalent to 70-79%) in EQAO Math Assessment (only 68% of Ontario students achieved it)
- 90% of Earl Haig students passed the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, which is one of the requirements for achieving the high school diploma, compared at 76% of students from the Toronto District School Board.
International Olympiads
Between 1990-1999, Seven Earl Haig students represented Canada to participate in the International Olympiads in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, the fourth highest in Ontario.
Enrollment Control
Because of its high academic standards, broad range of extracurricular activities, and already large student population, special restrictions have been placed to control enrollment.
- Students in grades 9 to 12 who move into newly constructed residential units within this area, occupied after December 13, 2000, will be designated to schools other than Earl Haig. Students in grade 9 will be designated to Woodbine JHS and students in grades 10 to 12 will be designated to Georges Vanier SS.
- Students who move into existing residential units within this area and wish to apply for admission to grade 9 can register at Earl Haig on the condition that they do so before February 28. Students who apply for admission to grade 9 after February 28 will be designated to Woodbine JHS. These students will be placed on a waiting list for admission to the school if space becomes available.
- Students who move into existing residential units within this area and wish to apply for admission to grades 10 to 12 will be designated to Georges Vanier SS. The February 28 registration deadline does not apply to students in grades 10 to 12 — regardless of the date that they move into the area, all students in grades 10 to 12 will be designated to Georges Vanier SS. These students will be placed on a waiting list for admission to Earl Haig SS if space becomes available.
History
The school is named after Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, who was the commander of the British Expeditionary force during the majority of the First World War. The school was established in 1928.
The original school building's construction started in November 1929. The building officially opened in 1930 as Earl Haig Collegiate Institute. Construction of the building continued through the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
In 1961, the school changed its name from Earl Haig Collegiate Institute to Earl Haig Secondary School.
In 1996, the original building was demolished in sections to make way for a newly constructed building. This new building was designed around the original auditorium, Cringan Hall. Carruthers Shaw and Partners Limited architected the new building and Bondfield Construction were contracted to build the school. The new building was officially opened in September 1997. This building is 310,000 sq ft and cost CAD$30,800,000.
School song
- Earl Haig! Alma Mater!
- We raise your banners far and wide
- Earl Haig! Every son and daughter
- Sings your praise and hails your
- Name with pride
- Carpe Diem! We're going to seize the day today
- Carpe Diem! We're aiming high! High! High!
- Earl Haig! School of happy memories
- Blue and White we'll proudly fly
- Carpe! Carpe! Carpe! Diem! Diem! Diem!
Notable alumni
- Keanu Reeves
- David Alpay
- Stefan Brogren
- Neve Campbell
- Deborah Cox
- Jake Epstein
- Joey Croxford
- Richard Pummell
- Ephraim Ellis
- Danielle Hampton [1]
- Sarah Polley
- Scott Speedman
- Melanie Leishman
- Andy Chambers [2]