Newmarket High School
Encyclopedia
Newmarket High School is an Ontario
secondary school
located at 505 Pickering Crescent, off Mulock Drive in Newmarket, Ontario
, Canada
. It is one of four high schools in Newmarket under the jurisdiction of the York Region District School Board
and currently educates approximately 1214 students from Grades 9 to 12. The phoenix and the Viking are the school's symbols and the school's colours are purple and gold.
However, by the 1870s, Newmarket's growth had rendered the original school inadequate to the task of educating the town's youth. So, in 1876, at a cost of $6,000, a new building was constructed at the corner of Pearson and Prospect Streets in Newmarket, where the school was located for most of its history.
On March 16, 1893, a temperamental wood-burning furnace put an end to this building and its additions when it set off a fire that burnt the school to the ground.
In 1894, a new building was built on the same site, incorporating the new innovation of electricity
. This building stood until March 31, 1928, when yet another fire, this one of mysterious origin, once again utterly reduced the school to ashes. The fires led to the adoption of the orange Phoenix
bird as the school's official symbol.
The same year, yet another new school was built on the Pearson Street site, this one hailed as “one of the most modernized educational institutions in the Dominion of Canada.” This building stood for decades and underwent many additions and renovations over the years, most notably a major addition consisting of a classroom block and an additional gym
nasium in the late 1950s, and a new school library in the 1960s.
Despite the additions, however, the 1960s saw an increasingly intolerable situation developing at Newmarket District High School, as it was then known. The school was overcrowded to the extent that not only did students have to share lockers, but the school day was also run in two shifts to accommodate everyone. The situation was addressed in 1962, when Huron Heights Secondary School
was opened, providing Newmarket with a second high school.
By the 1990s, however, it had become clear that the existing building could no longer cope with local population growth and its facilities were becoming increasingly outdated. Plans were made to move the school to yet another site. This move (to the school's current location) was completed in October 1996, with the previous building briefly housing Newmarket Public School before being torn down in 2000.
A significant portion of NHS's graduating classes goes on to pursue post-secondary education at universities across Canada (mostly in Ontario). The most popular destinations include McMaster University
, Wilfrid Laurier University
, Carleton University
, University of Western Ontario
, and Brock University
. A large portion of the enriched program's alumni attends prestigious programs at the University of Waterloo
, University of Toronto
, and Queen's University
.
Current academic programs offered at Newmarket High School include a gifted/enriched program, Advanced Placement courses, and most recently, a French immersion
program.
pillager whose current incarnation is not unlike that of the Minnesota Vikings
of the National Football League
).
The Raiders field teams in:
Newmarket High School boasts one of the finest arts and music programs in York Region as well as an excellent athletic program and an active and prominent student council. The school has long served as the home of the Newmarket-area gifted/enrichment program. York Region's French immersion
program moved to Newmarket High from Aurora High School in September 2007.
Social Justice, a YRDSB initiative to raise awareness of AIDS
in Africa
began in 2004. The Social Justice Committee began a fundraiser in which $1 400 was donated to the foundation by selling jewellery made by African children. In spring 2005, the committee did a penny drive, which raised another $500. Other clubs such as Youth Alive
, a Christian group that has been involved in programs spearheaded in large part thanks to the efforts of Mr. Pichora and Mr. Finkle , and has recently been student-led, encourage student participation in volunteer efforts and other causes. Fundraising drives for Hurricane Katrina
victims and the Kids Help Phone
are two examples of some of Youth Alive's contributions. However, youth alive has recently been focusing on more faith related topics where a leader of the group offered to answer questions about God, Faith and the like via anonymous text messaging or by coming to the group which meets mondays after school. The groups primary goals as of 2011, have been to a) discuss and encourage the conduct of a christian high school student, and b) to inform the school about what Jesus has done, and why it matters to them.
The Newmarket High School instrumental and jazz bands have been a key fixture of the Arts and Music program at the school for many years, and have competed in numerous regional and provincial competitions with a great deal of success. The band received Gold level ratings at the annual Canada's Wonderland spring Music Alive Festival in 2003 and 2004, and a Silver rating in 2005. NHS Music Night, held twice a year – normally in December during first semester and April or May in second semester – has also become a popular department tradition and received critical acclaim from local publications such as The Era Banner and York Region This Month.
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....
secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
located at 505 Pickering Crescent, off Mulock Drive in Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket, Ontario
Newmarket is a town in Southern Ontario located approximately 50 km north of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area and is connected to Toronto by freeway, and is served by three interchanges along Highway 404. It is also connected to Highway 400 via Highway 9...
, 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...
. It is one of four high schools in Newmarket under the jurisdiction of the York Region District School Board
York Region District School Board
The York Region District School Board, also known as YRDSB, is the English-language public school board for York Regional Municipality located in Ontario, Canada. The York Region District School Board is currently the province's third largest school board, with an enrollment of over 115,000 students...
and currently educates approximately 1214 students from Grades 9 to 12. The phoenix and the Viking are the school's symbols and the school's colours are purple and gold.
History
The school was originally founded in 1843 as a "grammar school", located on Raglan Street in Newmarket. As an institution, Newmarket High School is the second oldest high school in Ontario. This original school, which could accommodate 46 students, was built at a cost of $75.However, by the 1870s, Newmarket's growth had rendered the original school inadequate to the task of educating the town's youth. So, in 1876, at a cost of $6,000, a new building was constructed at the corner of Pearson and Prospect Streets in Newmarket, where the school was located for most of its history.
On March 16, 1893, a temperamental wood-burning furnace put an end to this building and its additions when it set off a fire that burnt the school to the ground.
In 1894, a new building was built on the same site, incorporating the new innovation of electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
. This building stood until March 31, 1928, when yet another fire, this one of mysterious origin, once again utterly reduced the school to ashes. The fires led to the adoption of the orange Phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
bird as the school's official symbol.
The same year, yet another new school was built on the Pearson Street site, this one hailed as “one of the most modernized educational institutions in the Dominion of Canada.” This building stood for decades and underwent many additions and renovations over the years, most notably a major addition consisting of a classroom block and an additional gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium in the late 1950s, and a new school library in the 1960s.
Despite the additions, however, the 1960s saw an increasingly intolerable situation developing at Newmarket District High School, as it was then known. The school was overcrowded to the extent that not only did students have to share lockers, but the school day was also run in two shifts to accommodate everyone. The situation was addressed in 1962, when Huron Heights Secondary School
Huron Heights Secondary School
This article is about the school in Newmarket. For the school in Kitchener, see Huron Heights Secondary School .Huron Heights Secondary School is a public high school in the York Region District School Board which opened in 1962. Additions were added in 1965 and 1969...
was opened, providing Newmarket with a second high school.
By the 1990s, however, it had become clear that the existing building could no longer cope with local population growth and its facilities were becoming increasingly outdated. Plans were made to move the school to yet another site. This move (to the school's current location) was completed in October 1996, with the previous building briefly housing Newmarket Public School before being torn down in 2000.
A significant portion of NHS's graduating classes goes on to pursue post-secondary education at universities across Canada (mostly in Ontario). The most popular destinations include McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
, Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, and Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
. A large portion of the enriched program's alumni attends prestigious programs at the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, and Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
.
French immersion
French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
program.
Sports and athletics
Newmarket High School sports teams are known as the NHS Raiders (logo is a ferocious looking VikingViking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
pillager whose current incarnation is not unlike that of the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
).
The Raiders field teams in:
- Canadian FootballCanadian footballCanadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
- Girls' Flag FootballFlag footballFlag football is a version of Canadian football or American football that is popular worldwide. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game , but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier to end...
- Varsity Field Hockey
- Boys'/Girls' VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- Track and fieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
- CurlingCurlingCurling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
- SwimmingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
- BadmintonBadmintonBadminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
- UltimateUltimate (sport)Ultimate is a sport played with a 175 gram flying disc. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to an end zone in American football or rugby...
- Coed Cheerleading
- Boys'/Girls' BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- Golf
- Hockey
Notable student groups
French immersion
French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
program moved to Newmarket High from Aurora High School in September 2007.
Social Justice, a YRDSB initiative to raise awareness of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
began in 2004. The Social Justice Committee began a fundraiser in which $1 400 was donated to the foundation by selling jewellery made by African children. In spring 2005, the committee did a penny drive, which raised another $500. Other clubs such as Youth Alive
Youth Alive
Youth Alive is a not-for-profit multi-denominational Christian organisation dedicated to reaching the youth of Australia with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is run on a state-based structure with offices in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia...
, a Christian group that has been involved in programs spearheaded in large part thanks to the efforts of Mr. Pichora and Mr. Finkle , and has recently been student-led, encourage student participation in volunteer efforts and other causes. Fundraising drives for Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
victims and the Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone , Is a Canadian anonymous phone and online counselling, referral and information service for children and youth. The service provides counselling to youth who seek it by calling a toll-free number or posting anonymously on their website.As a charity Kids Help Phone receives no core...
are two examples of some of Youth Alive's contributions. However, youth alive has recently been focusing on more faith related topics where a leader of the group offered to answer questions about God, Faith and the like via anonymous text messaging or by coming to the group which meets mondays after school. The groups primary goals as of 2011, have been to a) discuss and encourage the conduct of a christian high school student, and b) to inform the school about what Jesus has done, and why it matters to them.
The Newmarket High School instrumental and jazz bands have been a key fixture of the Arts and Music program at the school for many years, and have competed in numerous regional and provincial competitions with a great deal of success. The band received Gold level ratings at the annual Canada's Wonderland spring Music Alive Festival in 2003 and 2004, and a Silver rating in 2005. NHS Music Night, held twice a year – normally in December during first semester and April or May in second semester – has also become a popular department tradition and received critical acclaim from local publications such as The Era Banner and York Region This Month.
Famous alumni
- Steven Lee OlsenSteven Lee OlsenSteven Lee Olsen is a Canadian country music artist. He released his debut single "Now" in 2009 on RGK Records, taken from his 2009 debut album Introducing Steven Lee Olsen...
, country music artist - Hugo LopezHugo LopezHugo Lopez is a Canadian football defensive back for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted 14th overall in the 2011 CFL Draft by the Eskimos and signed with the team on May 25, 2011. He played CIS football with the Waterloo Warriors from 2007 to 2009 and with the...
, Defensive BackDefensive backIn American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for the Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
of the CFLCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football.... - Munro ChambersMunro ChambersMunro Chambers is a Canadian actor, best known for his role as Wilder on The Latest Buzz and his new role as Elijah "Eli" Goldsworthy on Degrassi. His identical twin brother named Thomas Chambers is also an actor.- Filmography :-External links:...
, actor from "The Latest Buzz" and "Degrassi: The Next Generation" - Brian ElliottBrian ElliottBrian Elliott is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the ninth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, 291st overall...
, goaltender for the St. Louis BluesSt. Louis BluesThe St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
of the NHL - Robin Mackin pitcher for Canada National Softball team, won silver at 2007 Pan American Games2007 Pan American GamesThe 2007 Pan American Games, officially known as the XV Pan American Games, were a major continental multi-sport event that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 13 to July 29, 2007. A total of 5,633 athletes from 42 National Olympic Committees competed in 332 events in 34 sports and in...
- Jamie MacounJamie MacounJamie Neil Macoun is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played parts of seventeen seasons in the National Hockey League....
, two time Stanley Cup Winner with The Calgary FlamesCalgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
and The Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, also played with The Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... - Pete OrrPete OrrPeterson Thomas "Pete" Orr is a Canadian professional baseball infielder who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organziation.-College:Orr attended Galveston Community College in Galveston, Texas...
, Canadian Olympic baseball player and Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
second-baseman - The SaladsThe SaladsThe Salads are a punk rock band from Ontario, Canada, with strong reggae tendencies. They are currently signed to their own label, Maui Wowie Records, after having been signed to Kindling Music, a sub-division of Warner Music Canada.- History :...
, punk rock band - Belinda StronachBelinda StronachBelinda Caroline Stronach, PC is a Canadian businessperson, philanthropist and former politician. She was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 2004 to 2008. Originally elected as a Conservative, she later crossed the floor to join the Liberals...
, Canadian politician, business magnate, and former MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the riding of Newmarket-Aurora - Tokyo Police ClubTokyo Police ClubTokyo Police Club is an indie rock band from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. It consists of vocalist and bassist David Monks , keyboardist Graham Wright, guitarist Josh Hook , and drummer Greg Alsop ....
, indie rockIndie rockIndie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band - Lindsay Seemann, Canadian Olympic Swimmer