Inglenook Community High School
Encyclopedia
Inglenook Community High School is an alternative high school which offers only senior (grades 11 and 12) courses. It is housed in an historical building designed by William George Storm
in Corktown
, in downtown Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. The school has, on average, one hundred students and six teachers. It is located in the oldest continually-operated school building in the Toronto District School Board
.
In 1994, Inglenook Community High School was named an exemplary school by the Canadian Education Association
. The school features a family-like atmosphere and a focus on the community: teachers, students, and parents are all involved in school decisions.
An inglenook is a a corner or nook beside an open fireplace.
. Between 1834 and 1890 this site was the home of Lucie and Thornton Blackburn
, refugee former slaves from Kentucky who started Toronto’s first taxicab company.
Twin plaques have been erected at this site and one in Louisville, KY , the only such binational commemoration of its kind.
Inglenook is located in the oldest continually-operated school building in the Toronto District School Board. Originally Sackville Street School, it was designed by William G. Storm. The first principal of Sackville Street School (which replaced Palace Street School at the corner of Front and Cherry Streets) was Georgina Stanley Riches, who served from 1887 to 1912. At one time the school enrolled 269 students. In 1974, Sackville Street School closed and the building became home to both Inglenook Community High School and an aboriginal learning centre, which soon moved out. The school is said to be haunted.
Inglenook gives more power to the student body than the average Toronto school. The Committee on Evaluations, Academic Standards and Admissions (CEASA) is the school's disciplinary body. If corrective measures are required, two students and teachers meet with the pupils involved and attempt to rectify the situation. There are no detentions and no letters home. Students are responsible for attendance and schoolwork, which are mandatory.
After the first semester, students can also perform an equivalent of Outreach, known as Inreach. This is still affiliated with a specific course, and a tie-in project is still completed, but instead of performing volunteer work the student can pursue an interest such as learning to paint, acquiring a new language, or writing a play.
Inglenook features an open-access kitchen, which is cleaned (along with dishes from the classrooms and student lounge) by two hoppers after classes each day. Hoppers are two students who are chosen for duty on any particular day, and as it's rotational, each student will only have to clean once per semester.
The school features a public art space named the "Inglenook Gallery". There is also a student lounge with ample furniture and books, and most of the classrooms contain couches.
William George Storm
William George Storm was a Canadian architect who designed a number of prominent monuments in Toronto.He was born in England and immigrated to Canada while still a child and was raised in Cobourg, Ontario. His father was a contractor and introduced him to the building trade. He apprenticed first...
in Corktown
Corktown, Toronto
Corktown is a residential neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is just south of Regent Park and north of the Gardiner Expressway, between Berkeley Street to the west and the Don River to the east, Shuter Street to Lake Shore Boulevard East, this area also includes the Distillery...
, in downtown Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The school has, on average, one hundred students and six teachers. It is located in the oldest continually-operated school building in the Toronto District School Board
Toronto District School Board
Toronto District School Board, also known by the acronym TDSB, is the English-language public school board for Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
.
In 1994, Inglenook Community High School was named an exemplary school by the Canadian Education Association
Canadian Education Association
The Canadian Education Association , established in 1891, is Canada's oldest national education association. It is a bilingual, federally incorporated non-profit organization with charitable tax status that fosters dialogue on education policy...
. The school features a family-like atmosphere and a focus on the community: teachers, students, and parents are all involved in school decisions.
An inglenook is a a corner or nook beside an open fireplace.
History
In 1985 archaeologists digging on the school grounds uncovered fascinating clues regarding Toronto’s history as a terminus of the Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. Between 1834 and 1890 this site was the home of Lucie and Thornton Blackburn
Thornton Blackburn
Thornton Blackburn and his wife Lucie were escaped slaves from Louisville, Kentucky. They had been settled in Detroit, Michigan, for two years when, in 1833, Kentucky slave hunters located, re-captured, and arrested the couple...
, refugee former slaves from Kentucky who started Toronto’s first taxicab company.
Twin plaques have been erected at this site and one in Louisville, KY , the only such binational commemoration of its kind.
Inglenook is located in the oldest continually-operated school building in the Toronto District School Board. Originally Sackville Street School, it was designed by William G. Storm. The first principal of Sackville Street School (which replaced Palace Street School at the corner of Front and Cherry Streets) was Georgina Stanley Riches, who served from 1887 to 1912. At one time the school enrolled 269 students. In 1974, Sackville Street School closed and the building became home to both Inglenook Community High School and an aboriginal learning centre, which soon moved out. The school is said to be haunted.
Mission and Framework
Inglenook prides itself on creating an environment ready to adapt to the specific needs of individual students enrolled each year.Inglenook gives more power to the student body than the average Toronto school. The Committee on Evaluations, Academic Standards and Admissions (CEASA) is the school's disciplinary body. If corrective measures are required, two students and teachers meet with the pupils involved and attempt to rectify the situation. There are no detentions and no letters home. Students are responsible for attendance and schoolwork, which are mandatory.
Overview
Inglenook offers a program called Outreach, which is completed on Wednesdays in lieu of traditional courses. The other four schooldays each have a double period to make up for Wednesday's lost time. In Outreach, the student is expected to volunteer in the community for three hours a week. They then relate this experience to one of their academic courses by doing a tie-in project which receives a mark included in the final course grade.After the first semester, students can also perform an equivalent of Outreach, known as Inreach. This is still affiliated with a specific course, and a tie-in project is still completed, but instead of performing volunteer work the student can pursue an interest such as learning to paint, acquiring a new language, or writing a play.
Inglenook features an open-access kitchen, which is cleaned (along with dishes from the classrooms and student lounge) by two hoppers after classes each day. Hoppers are two students who are chosen for duty on any particular day, and as it's rotational, each student will only have to clean once per semester.
The school features a public art space named the "Inglenook Gallery". There is also a student lounge with ample furniture and books, and most of the classrooms contain couches.
Notable alumni
- Kevin HearnKevin HearnKevin Neil Hearn is a Canadian musician who is currently the keyboardist of Barenaked Ladies and his own group, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle. He is also a former member of Rheostatics.-Early life:...
, former member of the band Look People, keyboardist for the Barenaked LadiesBarenaked LadiesBarenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
. Currently has his own band, Kevin Hearn and Thin BuckleKevin Hearn and Thin BuckleKevin Hearn and Thin Buckle are a Canadian band consisting of Barenaked Ladies multi-instrumentalist Kevin Hearn as the front man , bassist Chris Gartner and drummer Great Bob Scott. The three had previously collaborated as members of the Canadian alternative rock band The Look People...
. - Jaymz BeeJaymz BeeJaymz Bee is a Canadian musician, writer and radio personality.-Personal life:Jaymz was born and raised in North Bay, Ontario. He is a graduate of Inglenook Community High School.-Early career:...
, former member of the band Look People, entertainer. - Clay Tyson, former member of the band Look People, son of Ian and SylviaIan and SylviaIan & Sylvia were a Canadian folk and country music duo which consisted of Ian and Sylvia Tyson, née Fricker. They began performing together in 1959, married in 1964, and divorced and stopped performing together in 1975.-Early lives:...
, currently a musician and recording artist. - Josh MatlowJosh MatlowJosh Matlow is a community activist, journalist, broadcaster and Toronto City Councillor for Ward 22, St. Paul's. He served as a school trustee representing the midtown Toronto riding of St. Paul's between 2003-2010 at the Toronto District School Board...
, community activist, journalist and Toronto City CouncilToronto City CouncilThe Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
lor for Ward 22, St. Paul's. - Patrick "Pat" Gillett, vocals and guitar for rap rock band Down with WebsterDown with WebsterDown with Webster, or DWW, is a 7-man Canadian rap rock band from The Beaches area of Toronto, Ontario who signed with Universal Motown in April 2009. During live shows the band occasionally uses a 3-piece horn section....
. - Josh Raskin, director of the animated movie I Met the WalrusI Met the WalrusI Met the Walrus is an animated film directed by Josh Raskin and produced by Jerry Levitan. The film stars Levitan and John Lennon. The film's pen illustration is by James Braithwaite and computer illustration is by Alex Kurina.The film is based on an interview of John Lennon by Jerry Levitan in...
, nominated for an Oscar. - James Braithwaite, , pen illustrator of I Met the WalrusI Met the WalrusI Met the Walrus is an animated film directed by Josh Raskin and produced by Jerry Levitan. The film stars Levitan and John Lennon. The film's pen illustration is by James Braithwaite and computer illustration is by Alex Kurina.The film is based on an interview of John Lennon by Jerry Levitan in...
. - Brandt Gordon, winner of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or MovieEmmy AwardAn Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for his work as Art Director for the film Grey Gardens. - Josh McIntyre of the band Little GirlsLittle Girls (band)Little Girls is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2008 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The band emerged from Toronto's post-punk scene as a solo recording project of multi-instrumentalist Josh McIntyre. In the wake of a series of high-profile blog mentions, Little Girls released their debut...
.