Saunders Secondary School
Encyclopedia
Saunders Secondary School is located at 941 Viscount Road in the Westmount suburb
of London
, Ontario
, Canada
. It is named after William Saunders
and his family. William Saunders was a Canadian pioneer and an authority on all matters pertaining to agriculture
and horticulture
. Grades offered are 9–12. Saunders' school colours are red and gold and its mascot is a sabre-tooth tiger. Saunders Secondary School is the largest high school
in the Thames Valley District School Board
with over 2000 students and 120 teachers. As of 2008, Saunders is also the site of new credit summer school for the TVDSB.
had been promised, upon amalgamation with the city of London, Ontario
, a secondary school in their area so that their children would not have to be bused to the Westmount area. The chosen site for the multi-million dollar school - right in the heart of the Westmount area, across the street from the Westmount Mall - greatly angered the Byron Area Secondary School Association. In spite of this, in January 1969, the London Board of Education approved the Westmount location for the school.
On April 18, 1994, arson
ists set fire to Saunders forcing the evacuation and temporary closure of the school http://www.fire.london.ca/history.htm, as well as an extensive rebuilding of the rear part of the building. London Police subsequently charged three students with setting the blaze.
Saunders recently underwent an exterior renovation, the first new construction at the school in over three decades. A new entryway was added on the North-East corner of the building along with the fire escape stairs at the South and on the North-West corner of the school, contrasting modern with brutalist architecture
.
, broadcasting
, electrical, computer engineering (offering CCNA & A+ certifications), woodworking
, automotive, autobody, drafting
graphic design
, machine shop
, welding
and a newly added art welding course.
Notably, Saunders offers co-operative education in the above courses as well as: science, physical education
, family studies, business and administration, computer programming
, and others.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The Saunders junior football team won the city championships in 2007 for the first time in ten years, led by captain Kane McEwen, and Brett Weir. Weir eventually committed to the University of Arkansas, becoming the first player in the London area to enroll in the SEC conference.
Nigel Wilson who teaches at Saunders is also a volunteer coach at the University of Western Ontario. In 2007 he received the Gino Fracas Award for Most Outstanding Volunteer Assistant Coach in Canadian University Football.
The campaign is run by teacher Jamie Clark and runs throughout April into roughly mid-May. Almost every year, Brian Finch donates a car to be raffled, and this is typically one of the highlights of the campaign. Classrooms in the school may "challenge" each other to see which homeroom can raise the most money. 2009 Cancer Campaign events included a Relay for Life, a dunk tank for some of the teachers, several barbecues, a food fair, bake sales, a talent show and a dance show. The total raised for 2009 was $62, 515. 45, a record breaking total.
Westmount, London, Ontario
Westmount is a neighborhood in London, Ontario, Canada. The most recent estimated population of Westmount is 16, 225 . The top five ethnic origins are English, Scottish, Canadian, Irish, and German . The average income for the neighborhood is $79,833, one of the highest in the city , however...
of London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, 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 is named after William Saunders
William Saunders (scientist)
William Saunders was a Canadian pharmacist, scientist, civil servant, and author.Born in Crediton, England, the son of James Saunders and Jane Wollacott, Saunders emigrated to Upper Canada in 1848 settling in London. He apprenticed to a local druggist and opened his own pharmacy in 1855...
and his family. William Saunders was a Canadian pioneer and an authority on all matters pertaining to agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
. Grades offered are 9–12. Saunders' school colours are red and gold and its mascot is a sabre-tooth tiger. Saunders Secondary School is the largest high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in the Thames Valley District School Board
Thames Valley District School Board
The Thames Valley District School Board is a public school board in southwestern Ontario. It was created on January 1, 1998 by the amalgamation of the Elgin County Board of Education, The Board of Education for the City of London, Middlesex County Board of Education, and Oxford County Board of...
with over 2000 students and 120 teachers. As of 2008, Saunders is also the site of new credit summer school for the TVDSB.
History
Classes for Saunders began in portables at Westminster S.S. in 1970. Construction of Saunders was completed in 1972. The school cost more than $8 million to build. The location caused many heated debates. The people of Byron, OntarioByron, Ontario
Byron is a neighbourhood in the City of London, Ontario, Canada.Located downriver from London on the outer fringes of the city, Byron was originally called Westminster, then renamed Hall's Mill, and then finally Byron. The Byron area was settled in 1800 and first became a village in 1804...
had been promised, upon amalgamation with the city of London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, a secondary school in their area so that their children would not have to be bused to the Westmount area. The chosen site for the multi-million dollar school - right in the heart of the Westmount area, across the street from the Westmount Mall - greatly angered the Byron Area Secondary School Association. In spite of this, in January 1969, the London Board of Education approved the Westmount location for the school.
On April 18, 1994, arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
ists set fire to Saunders forcing the evacuation and temporary closure of the school http://www.fire.london.ca/history.htm, as well as an extensive rebuilding of the rear part of the building. London Police subsequently charged three students with setting the blaze.
Saunders recently underwent an exterior renovation, the first new construction at the school in over three decades. A new entryway was added on the North-East corner of the building along with the fire escape stairs at the South and on the North-West corner of the school, contrasting modern with brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
.
Tech Programs
Saunders has been recognized as having one of the most developed and diversified programs in London. Current tech programs include: photographyPhotography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
, electrical, computer engineering (offering CCNA & A+ certifications), woodworking
Woodworking
Woodworking is the process of building, making or carving something using wood.-History:Along with stone, mud, and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood...
, automotive, autobody, drafting
Engineering drawing
An engineering drawing, a type of technical drawing, is used to fully and clearly define requirements for engineered items.Engineering drawing produces engineering drawings . More than just the drawing of pictures, it is also a language—a graphical language that communicates ideas and information...
graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
, machine shop
Machining
Conventional machining is a form of subtractive manufacturing, in which a collection of material-working processes utilizing power-driven machine tools, such as saws, lathes, milling machines, and drill presses, are used with a sharp cutting tool to physical remove material to achieve a desired...
, welding
Welding
Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. This is often done by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material that cools to become a strong joint, with pressure sometimes...
and a newly added art welding course.
Notably, Saunders offers co-operative education in the above courses as well as: science, physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
, family studies, business and administration, computer programming
Computer programming
Computer programming is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in one or more programming languages. The purpose of programming is to create a program that performs specific operations or exhibits a...
, and others.
Musical Theatre
Saunders is one of the only schools in the TVDSB that offers the Musical Theatre performance course, another being H.B. Beal. One difference between the two schools' programs is the rotation. While Beal takes a 2 show-break schedule, Saunders does a big show on the main stage, and then a smaller show in the Drama studio, alternating each year. The shows that have been performed are:- Little Shop of Horrors (musical)Little Shop of Horrors (musical)Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman...
- GodspellGodspellGodspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
- Snow White
- Chicago (musical)Chicago (musical)Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
- Groovy
- Bye Bye Birdie
- The Wedding Singer (musical)The Wedding Singer (musical)The Wedding Singer is a musical with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy. It is based on the 1998 film The Wedding Singer.-Synopsis:Act 1...
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Sports
The senior boys' volleyball team won both TVRAA and OFSAA in AAAA for the fourth straight year in 2007, the only team in Ontario history to accomplish this feat. Saunders is considered one of the best volleyball high schools in Canada, having many of the provinces' elite young players.The Saunders junior football team won the city championships in 2007 for the first time in ten years, led by captain Kane McEwen, and Brett Weir. Weir eventually committed to the University of Arkansas, becoming the first player in the London area to enroll in the SEC conference.
Nigel Wilson who teaches at Saunders is also a volunteer coach at the University of Western Ontario. In 2007 he received the Gino Fracas Award for Most Outstanding Volunteer Assistant Coach in Canadian University Football.
Cancer Campaign
Saunders' annual Cancer Campaign has raised an outstanding amount of money for cancer research: almost a quarter of a million dollars in the past five years. The total for the 2008 Cancer Campaign was in excess of $60 000 which is more than $30 per student. This is one of the most successful high school fundraisers in Canada.The campaign is run by teacher Jamie Clark and runs throughout April into roughly mid-May. Almost every year, Brian Finch donates a car to be raffled, and this is typically one of the highlights of the campaign. Classrooms in the school may "challenge" each other to see which homeroom can raise the most money. 2009 Cancer Campaign events included a Relay for Life, a dunk tank for some of the teachers, several barbecues, a food fair, bake sales, a talent show and a dance show. The total raised for 2009 was $62, 515. 45, a record breaking total.
Notable alumni and staff
Notable alumni and staff include:- Kelley ArmstrongKelley ArmstrongKelley Armstrong is a Canadian author, primarily of fantasy works.She has published sixteen fantasy novels , set in the world of the Women of the Otherworld and the Darkest Powers series, also two crime novels in 2007 and 2009...
, best-selling fantasy author - Miranda AyimMiranda AyimMiranda Ayim is a Canadian female basketball player, who most recently played for the Tulsa Shock of the Women's National Basketball Association.-WNBA:...
, basketball player, Canadian Women's Team, WNBA (2011- ) - David BollandDavid BollandDavid Bolland is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League. Nicknamed The Rat, Bolland was drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft...
, NHL player, Chicago Blackhawks - George DvorskyGeorge DvorskyGeorge P. Dvorsky is a transhumanist futurist, and author of the Sentient Developments blog. Dvorsky is a co-founder and president of the Toronto Transhumanist Association, and currently serves on the board of directors for Humanity+ and the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies...
, co-founder and president of Toronto Transhumanist Association - Rick GreenRick Green (ice hockey)Richard Douglas Green is a former ice hockey defenceman.Green was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft, First Overall. He was also drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft, First Round, Tenth Overall...
, NHL Player - David Hughes, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity Canada
- Sam GagnerSam GagnerSam William Gagner is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing with the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Oilers in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft....
, NHL player, Edmonton Oilers - Brandon PrustBrandon PrustBrandon Prust is a professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the New York Rangers in the NHL.-Playing career:*London Knights hockey team in London, Ontario, which were the OHL and Memorial Cup Champions, 2005....
, NHL Player, New York Rangers - Stuart HughesStuart HughesStuart Hughes is a Canadian actor known for his leading roles on the stages of Shaw Festival, Stratford Festival, Soulpepper Theatre Company , and many other Canadian theatre companies.He has received three Dora Awards for the roles of Billy in The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, The Man in On the...
, Stage and Screen Actor, husband of Megan FollowsMegan FollowsMegan Elizabeth Laura Diana Follows is a Canadian/American actress. She is most known to international audiences for her role as Anne Shirley in the acclaimed 1985 Canadian television miniseries Anne of Green Gables and its two sequels.-Biography:Follows was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as the... - Alternative band KittieKittieKittie is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in London, Ontario in 1996. A quartet of women, the group rose to success in 1999 when the track "Brackish" from their debut album Spit became a hit single...
(all original founding members) - Adam KreekAdam KreekAdam Kreek is a Canadian rower. Born in London, Ontario, he was a student at the University of Victoria where he met his wife Rebecca. He won the gold medal at both the 2003 and 2002 world championships for Canada's men's eight team in Milan, Italy and Seville, Spain respectively...
, Canadian athlete and Olympian - Irene MathyssenIrene MathyssenIrene R. Mathyssen is a Canadian politician and a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons...
, federal Member of ParliamentMember 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,...
and former Ontario Cabinet MinisterExecutive Council of OntarioThe Executive Council of Ontario plays an important role in theGovernment of Ontario, in accordance with the Westminster system....
was an English teacher at Saunders - Marc MethotMarc MethotMarc Methot is a Canadian ice-hockey player currently with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, NHL Player, Columbus Blue Jackets - Rick NashRick NashRick Nash is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger and captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League ....
, NHL Player, Columbus Blue Jackets - John Tavares, NHL Player, New York Islanders
- Corey PerryCorey PerryCorey Perry is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . Drafted out of the Ontario Hockey League , he captured a Memorial Cup with the London Knights and a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships during...
, NHL Player, Anaheim Ducks - Patrick KanePatrick KanePatrick Timothy Kane, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . The Blackhawks selected him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Minor and junior:Kane attended the St...
, NHL Player, Chicago Blackhawks - Steve MasonSteve Mason (ice hockey)Steve Mason is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League . He was selected 69th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Blue Jackets. Playing major junior in the Ontario Hockey League , he spent three seasons...
, NHL PLayer, Columbus Blue Jackets - Dennis WidemanDennis WidemanDennis Earl Wideman is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
, NHL Player, Florida Panthers - Kyle QuinceyKyle QuinceyKyle Quincey is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, NHL Player, Colorado Avalanche - Rob SchrempRob SchrempRobert Schremp is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing for Modo Hockey of the Elitserien . He was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and has spent time with the New York Islanders and Atlanta Thrashers organizations more...
, NHL Player, New York Islanders - Rob RamageRob RamageGeorge Robert Ramage is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers...
, NHL Player - Jude St. JohnJude St. JohnJude St. John is a Canadian Football League guard who is currently retired.-External links:**...
, former CFL Player, teaches at Saunders. - Tim TindaleTim TindaleTimothy Scott Tindale is a former American football running back for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He played CIS football in Canada at the University of Western Ontario.-Western Mustangs:...
, NFL Player - Mason WilliamsMason Williams (webcomics)Mason Williams is a Canadian cartoonist and the creator of the webcomics 1/0 and Leftover Soup. As of 2006, he is involved in the tailsteak.com project. He is married to fellow cartoonist Amber Panyko....
Webcomic artist/writer - Tyler HemmingTyler HemmingTyler Hemming is an Canadian soccer player currently playing for Forest City London in the USL Premier Development League.-College and amateur:...
, professional soccer player