Zion Heights Junior High School
Encyclopedia
Zion Heights Junior High School is an intermediate school (Junior High School) for students in Grade 7 to Grade 9 in the north end of Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It was opened in 1967 by the North York Board of Education
, and is currently owned and operated by its successor, the Toronto District School Board
.
format, popular in the late 1960s. This meant that large spaces in the downstairs and upstairs area had no formal classrooms. In the late 1970s, walls were built because the educational theory changed and the formal classroom setting became more popular.
, and Persian
. The school has students from all over the world, ranging from places such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Moldova
.
As of spring 2011, 80% of the school is composed of East Asian descent. They have the largest ESL student body in comparison to other schools in Toronto.
for specially identified students. These gifted classes are the most densely populated classes, with 29 students in the Grade 8 Gifted class, and similar numbers with other gifted classes. Another special academic feature is the "Spirit of Mathematics" program, a unique approach to math that has enabled the school to be a winner of many distinguished math awards, both nationally and internationally.
In the 2005 – 2006, Grade 9 Academic courses EQAO
(provincial testing) mathematics test results, 91% of students enrolled in Grade 9 Academic math at the school scored at or above the provincial standard (Level 3); only 65% of students taking the test in the Toronto District School Board
achieved this. Three grade nine students obtained perfect scores on the University of Waterloo
's 2008 Pascal Contest, contributing to a perfect team score. In 2008, 4 students achieved a perfect score on the Grade 7 Gauss Contest and 5 students achieved a perfect score on the Grade 8 Gauss Contest.
Zion has maintained an extensive and recognized arts program. Students involved in the string orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands, and choir at Zion participate in many musical events and competitions around the city. The orchestra has participated and won first place in the Kiwanis
music festival several times in the past few years. In 2009, Zion's senior stage band won gold at MusicFest Canada and was invited to play in the national Competition in May. Annual school events to celebrate and demonstrate Zion's arts program include concerts, art shows, and dramatic productions.
. Gifted students may also choose to attend Don Mills Collegiate Institute
.
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...
. It was opened in 1967 by the North York Board of Education
North York Board of Education
The North York Board of Education was the public school board for the former city of North York in Ontario, Canada.In 1998, the provincial Government of Ontario passed legislation which amalgamated North York into the City of Toronto. As part of the amalgamation process, the NYBE ceased to exist...
, and is currently owned and operated by its successor, 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...
.
History
Zion Heights was built in 1967. The building originally featured an open conceptOpenconcept
Openconcept is a term generally used to describe a type of architecture which provides a lot of flexible space. There are a few general spaces that are defined using open-concept, see restroom, stairway and changeroom....
format, popular in the late 1960s. This meant that large spaces in the downstairs and upstairs area had no formal classrooms. In the late 1970s, walls were built because the educational theory changed and the formal classroom setting became more popular.
Student body
In the spring of 2008, Zion Heights had a student population of 542 students; 80% of Zion students speak a primary language other than English. Many of the students are recent immigrants and 30% of students have lived in Canada for five years or less. Predominant non-English language groups include Cantonese, Mandarin, KoreanKorean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
, and Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
. The school has students from all over the world, ranging from places such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
.
As of spring 2011, 80% of the school is composed of East Asian descent. They have the largest ESL student body in comparison to other schools in Toronto.
Academic programs
Zion Heights is home to a gifted programGifted education
Gifted education is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented...
for specially identified students. These gifted classes are the most densely populated classes, with 29 students in the Grade 8 Gifted class, and similar numbers with other gifted classes. Another special academic feature is the "Spirit of Mathematics" program, a unique approach to math that has enabled the school to be a winner of many distinguished math awards, both nationally and internationally.
In the 2005 – 2006, Grade 9 Academic courses EQAO
Education Quality and Accountability Office
The Education Quality and Accountability Office is an arm’s-length Crown agency of the Government of Ontario, Canada, legislated into creation in 1996 in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Learning in February 1995....
(provincial testing) mathematics test results, 91% of students enrolled in Grade 9 Academic math at the school scored at or above the provincial standard (Level 3); only 65% of students taking the test 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...
achieved this. Three grade nine students obtained perfect scores on 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...
's 2008 Pascal Contest, contributing to a perfect team score. In 2008, 4 students achieved a perfect score on the Grade 7 Gauss Contest and 5 students achieved a perfect score on the Grade 8 Gauss Contest.
Zion has maintained an extensive and recognized arts program. Students involved in the string orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands, and choir at Zion participate in many musical events and competitions around the city. The orchestra has participated and won first place in the Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
music festival several times in the past few years. In 2009, Zion's senior stage band won gold at MusicFest Canada and was invited to play in the national Competition in May. Annual school events to celebrate and demonstrate Zion's arts program include concerts, art shows, and dramatic productions.
Athletics
Zion Heights has several athletic teams, such as a basketball, soccer, cross-country and volleyball team for both girls and boys. The teams are split by gender and grade, junior (Grade 7 and 8) and senior (Grade 9). Zion also has many indoor house leagues, including for volleyball, soccer, and floor hockey.Related schools
Students from Cresthaven, Seneca Hill, Pineway, Hillmount, and Steelesview public schools may attend Zion Heights. It is a feeder school for A. Y. Jackson Secondary SchoolA. Y. Jackson Secondary School (Toronto)
A. Y. Jackson Secondary School is a secondary school for grades 10 to 12 located in North York, a suburb north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the North York community of Metropolitan Toronto. It was opened in 1970 by the North York Board of Education, and is now operated by its...
. Gifted students may also choose to attend Don Mills Collegiate Institute
Don Mills Collegiate Institute
Don Mills Collegiate Institute is a high school in the community of Don Mills in Toronto. It serves an ethnically diverse student population of approximately 1000. As of 2006, 66% of students speak a first language other than English...
.