Westdale Secondary School: Difference between revisions
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Westdale does many charity events every year and contribute a fairly large amount every year. Westdale annually hosts the [[Haiti Run]], a charity event that raises money to build schools and nurseries in Haiti, as well as annual contributions to the [[Stephen Lewis Foundation]]. In 2005, Westdale students were part of the effort to keep the [[Victoria Cross]] of [[Frederick George Topham]] in Canada due to the auctioning of it by his family. Westdale also runs an annual food drive for the food banks in Hamilton. It is estimated that Westdale students contribute close to 40% of the canned items and goods the food bank hands out at Christmas. |
Westdale does many charity events every year and contribute a fairly large amount every year. Westdale annually hosts the [[Haiti Run]], a charity event that raises money to build schools and nurseries in Haiti, as well as annual contributions to the [[Stephen Lewis Foundation]]. In 2005, Westdale students were part of the effort to keep the [[Victoria Cross]] of [[Frederick George Topham]] in Canada due to the auctioning of it by his family. Westdale also runs an annual food drive for the food banks in Hamilton. It is estimated that Westdale students contribute close to 40% of the canned items and goods the food bank hands out at Christmas. |
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===War Child=== |
===War Child=== |
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For the past three years (2003-2006), Westdale has been raising money for War Child Canada through an event called "Keep the Beat". In the last three years, Westdale has raised $34,000 for War Child Canada. As a show of their appreciation, [[War Child (charity)|War Child]] got [[Sum 41]] members [[Jason McCaslin|Cone]] and [[Dave Baksh|Dave]] to visit Westdale |
For the past three years (2003-2006), Westdale has been raising money for War Child Canada through an event called "Keep the Beat". In the last three years, Westdale has raised $34,000 for War Child Canada. As a show of their appreciation, [[War Child (charity)|War Child]] got [[Sum 41]] members [[Jason McCaslin|Cone]] and [[Dave Baksh|Dave]] to visit Westdale to kick off the '06 Keep the Beat, at the Coffee House event. As a direct result of Westdale's effort, a school in the village of Makobola, [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], is being rebuilt after being destroyed in war.<ref>http://www.warchild.ca/news_article.asp?ID=144</ref> |
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==Extracurricular activities== |
==Extracurricular activities== |
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Revision as of 19:47, 15 June 2006
| Westdale Secondary School | |
|---|---|
| File:Westdale Crest.gif | |
| Address | |
 | |
700 Main Street West , , L8S 1A5 | |
| Information | |
| School type | High school high school |
| Motto | Alius Alia Via Ad Astra Ascendit (Each Reach For The Stars In Their Own Way) |
| Founded | 1931 |
| Principal | Stella Green-Gibson |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 1470 |
| Mascot | The Westdale Warrior |
| Website | http://www.hwdsb.on.ca/westdale/index.html |
| Last updated: March 28, 2006 | |
Westdale Secondary School is a high school founded in 1931 in Hamilton, Ontario. It is the oldest school in the the city of Hamilton and is located in Westdale Village, a middle class suburb in the west-end of the city. It is administered by the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. Westdale offers the most university-bound courses in the city including Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Media Arts, Economics, GIS, Philosphy, Latin, German, and many, many more. It also has many special programs for students including French Immersion, Hockey Focus, Court Sports, Strings (music), and Writer's Craft. Westdale celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year (2006) and a reunion, along with many other festivities ran from May 17 to May 20.
History
Westdale was founded as a collegiate school, housing three collegiates under one roof, and was, at the time, the largest school in the British Commonwealth. The original building was referred to as "Westdale Composite School", or "Westdale Tripartite School", due to the fact that it housed three separate schools. Each was located on one of the three floors and were known as the collegiate, technical and commercial schools. The building was designed by architects Prack and Prack with the "school gothic" architectural style of arched doorways and pseudo-buttresses. It was constructed by J.M. Piggott Construction Company at an initial cost of $1,306,521.00(including land, 4.7 hectares). The school has undergone three major renovations, which occurred in 1959, 1974/75 respectively, and just recently had new doors, lockers and windows installed.
Charity Activities
Westdale does many charity events every year and contribute a fairly large amount every year. Westdale annually hosts the Haiti Run, a charity event that raises money to build schools and nurseries in Haiti, as well as annual contributions to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. In 2005, Westdale students were part of the effort to keep the Victoria Cross of Frederick George Topham in Canada due to the auctioning of it by his family. Westdale also runs an annual food drive for the food banks in Hamilton. It is estimated that Westdale students contribute close to 40% of the canned items and goods the food bank hands out at Christmas.
War Child
For the past three years (2003-2006), Westdale has been raising money for War Child Canada through an event called "Keep the Beat". In the last three years, Westdale has raised $34,000 for War Child Canada. As a show of their appreciation, War Child got Sum 41 members Cone and Dave to visit Westdale to kick off the '06 Keep the Beat, at the Coffee House event. As a direct result of Westdale's effort, a school in the village of Makobola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is being rebuilt after being destroyed in war.[1]
Extracurricular activities
Music
Westdale is renowned throughout Hamilton (along with Westmount) as one of the premier schools for music students. Students come from all over the city for the wind and string classes, as well as the myriad of extra-cirricular ensembles including the Jr. Band, Sr. Band, Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Jr. Jazz, Sr. Jazz, and Women's Choir. Other ensembles that have existed at one point in time includes the Brass Choir, the Sax Ensemble, a Grease pit band, and many solo/small group acts. The Orchestra, Sr. Band and Choir compete abroad every year. In 2003 they went to Montreal, 2004 Boston, 2005 to the Heritage Festival in New York, and in 2006 to Montreal again. The current destination for 2007 is set as Chicago.
Sports
The Westdale Warriors have a plethora of sports teams. Westdale has won at least one OFSAA championship in every sport. Recent grad Shona Thorburn is now the all-time assist leader at the University of Utah for women's basketball and was drafted 7th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2006 WNBA draft. As of 2006, Westdale has strong Track & Field, Cross-country, Badminton and Soccer teams. The Westdale Rowing Team is a consistent powerhouse within the city and one of the top teams in the region. This season (2005-2006), the Westdale Warriors hockey team finished second in the city, losing a hard fought final to the Westmount Wildcats.
Drama & Theatre
Westdale has had numerous strong showings at the Sears Drama Festival in the past few years. In addition to the drama festival plays, Westdale's drama department has made a habit of performing a yearly musical, such as West Side Story (2004-2005) and Grease (2005-2006).Drama students performed the Greek tragedy Antigone at the Sears Festival in 2006 and won much critical acclaim, as well as several awards.
Mathematics
Westdale has always been one of the foremost schools in the city for mathematics contests. Westdale, for the past few years, was consistently ranked first in the region for the mathematics contests held by the University of Waterloo. In 2006, Westdale ranked 25th nationally [2] and 13th provincially in the Fermat Math Contest. In the Hypatia written contest, Westdale had two students scoring a Gold standing, as well as 2 Silver finishes and 3 Bronze finishes.
Notable alumni
- Shona Thorburn
- Eugene Levy
- Martin Short
- Lincoln Alexander
- John Munro
- Brian Williams
- Jim Young
- Russ Jackson
- Harry Howell
- Gord Lewis, member of the band Teenage Head
- Steve Staios, member of the Edmonton Oilers