Inglenook Community High School
| Inglenook Community High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
 | |
19 Sackville Street , , Canada | |
| Information | |
| School type | High school |
| Motto | "Subvert the dominant paradigm" |
| School board | Toronto District School Board |
| Superintendent | Georgina Balascas |
| Area trustee | Sheila Ward |
| Principal | Gabriela Kurzydlowski |
| Grades | 11-12 |
| Enrollment | ~100 |
| Language | English |
| Team name | Inglenook Socialists |
| Curriculum Leader | Robert Rennick |
| Website | schools.tdsb.on.ca/inglenook |
Inglenook Community High School is a Toronto public high school which offers grade 11 and 12 level courses. It is housed in an historical building designed by William George Storm in Corktown, in downtown Toronto, Ontario. The school has, on average, one hundred students and six teachers. It is located in the oldest continually-operated school building of the Toronto District School Board.[1]
In 1994, Inglenook Community High School was named an exemplary school by the Canadian Education Association.[2][3][4] The school features a family-like atmosphere and a focus on the community: teachers, students, and parents are all involved in school decisions.
History
In 1985 archaeologists digging on the school grounds uncovered fascinating clues regarding Toronto’s history as a terminus of the Underground Railroad. 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[5][6] and one in Louisville, KY.[7]
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.[8] 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.[9] At one time the school enrolled 269 students.[1] 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.[10]
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.[11][12] 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 Hearn, former member of the band Look People, keyboardist for the Barenaked Ladies. Currently has his own band, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle.[13]
- Jaymz Bee, former member of the band Look People, entertainer.[14]
- Clay Tyson, former member of the band Look People,[14] son of Ian and Sylvia, currently a musician and recording artist.[15]
- Josh Matlow, community activist, journalist and Toronto City Councillor for Ward 22, St. Paul's.[citation needed]
- Patrick "Pat" Gillett, vocals and guitar for rap rock band Down with Webster.[citation needed]
- Josh Raskin,[16] director of the animated movie I Met the Walrus, nominated for an Oscar.[17]
- James Braithwaite,[16] pen illustrator of I Met the Walrus .[17]
- Brandt Gordon,[16] winner of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie for his work as Art Director for the film Grey Gardens.[18]
- Josh McIntyre of the band Little Girls.
- DJ Bear Witness of the group A Tribe Called Red[19]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Toronto's Historical Plaques: Sackville Street Public School". Alan L Brown, TorontoHistory.org. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
- ^ "TDSB : Inglenook Community School". Toronto District School Board. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ Canadian Education Association. Secondary Schools in Canada: The National Report of the Exemplary Schools Project. Toronto: Canadian Education Association, 1995.
- ^ Canadian Education Association. The National Report and the 21 Case Studies of CEA's Exemplary Schools Project. CEA product catalogue. Toronto: Canadian Education Association, 1995.
- ^ "Toronto's Historical Plaques --Thornton and Lucie Blackburn 1 Historical Plaque". Alan L Brown, TorontoHistory.org. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ "Toronto's Historical Plaques --Thornton and Lucie Blackburn 2 Historical Plaque". Alan L Brown, TorontoHistory.org. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ "Kentucky Fugitives to Canada - Kentucky Historical Markers on Waymarking.com". Groundspeak, Inc. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online -- STORM, WILLIAM GEORGE". University of Toronto. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online : REID (Reed, Read), GEORGINA STANLEY (Riches)". University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
- ^ "Inglenook Community High School / The (Former) City of Toronto Public Buildings". Ontario Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
- ^ "Resistance is futile, or is it? By Robert A. Pritchard". Canadian Woman Studies / Les Cahiers de la Femme. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ "Bill 212 -- Progressive Discipline and School Safety" (PDF). Toronto District School Board. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
- ^ "Remarkable Teachers -- Professionally Speaking -- December 2001". Ontario College of Teachers. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ a b "Jaymzbee.com: Music: LOOK PEOPLE (1985-1994)". East End Designs Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ "Clay Tyson". Living Legends Music. 2006–2008. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- ^ a b c "New Admissions" (PDF). Inglenook Community High School. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ a b "IMDb : I Met The Walrus". IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ "IMDb: Grey Gardens (2009) (TV) - Awards". IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
- ^ http://atribecalledred.com