Sydenham_High_School_Back_To_School

Feature Article August 21

Feature Article August 21, 2002

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Sydenham High School - A Back to School ProfileBy David Brison Principle Wes Garrod was busy preparing for the opening of school in September when I interviewed him. This summer has been easier than the last few: he has 98% of his staff back from last year (last year 25% of the staff was new); the issue of staff work load has been resolved by the government; and teachers are again participating fully in extra-curricular activities.

Sydenham High School, which this year has approximately 1150 students and 60 teachers, is entering its 130th year. This year will be auspicious for another reason this will be the last year for what used to be called Grade 13 and is now the OAC year. This means that students entering college or university next year will experience a double cohort, that is, they will enter not only with students from their own class but also with students who will be graduating from Grade 12 this year. As a result, Wes thinks that there will be more emphasis on university and college applications. Student services, directed by Janet Sanderson, will have to deal with many more applications. In addition, students will have to carefully choose institutions in order to ensure they get admitted to a program that is appropriate for them.

It should be a busy year for the student services department.

There are some special activities planned in celebration of the 130th year, but in general the emphasis will be on looking ahead to continuing the quality education that has always been a hallmark of education at Sydenham High School.

The emphasis is on learning. Future success outside of school depends on what happens in school. Kids need to be challenged and encouraged within a framework of high expectations, says Wes Garrod. Sydenham also has a rich tradition of extra-curricular sports activities. Last year, the girls field hockey team and girls hockey teams went to the all-Ontario finals and several members of the track team also qualified for the Ontario finals in track and field. In addition, there were solid teams in other sports.

A feature perhaps unique to Sydenham is the number of coaches in some of the sports the girls field hockey team had five coaches and there were six coaches on the football team.

Extra-curricular activities are not limited to athletics there is a math club, a band, and an art Council among others.Mr. Garrod notes that co-presidents of Students Council, Janette Leroux and Ashley VanLuven, and Sabina Wimmer and Pat Tye of Athletics Council will be providing excellent leadership. Sydenham has taken the lead in offering on-line courses to students in other schools. The program started last year with a Rural Visions grant from Agriculture Canada. The intent was to provide courses for students in rural schools who because of limited course offerings in their school, or time table problems, did not have access to some courses. Ten students from Sharbot Lake and the North Addington Education Centre took courses last year. This year the Limestone Board has picked up the program called The Limestone Virtual School. Grade 11 courses will be offered in math, English, physical geography, world history, and robotics. Preference will again be given to students from rural schools but students from other schools who have timetable difficulties and cant schedule a course will also be eligible. Teachers Dick Hopkins and Brian Rombough are planning to teach a total of three sections in the program.

A production of a play is planned for the 130th year. That little shop of horrors will be produced by Dick Hopkins. Allan Stott, a member of the community, will direct the production. Principal Garrod wishes to remind parents that the first meeting of the School Council will be Wednesday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Editors note. There are three high schools in our readership area: Sharbot Lake, Sydenham, and the North Addington Education Centre. Sydenham was chosen for this profile because we have recently expanded our coverage to Sydenham. Activities in Sharbot Lake and North Addington have been featured in the last two years we will extend this coverage to Sydenham High School with this as our first story.