Holy Heart of Mary High School

Infobox School
streetaddress = 55 Bonaventure Avenue
city = St. John's
province = NL
postalcode = A1C 3Z3
country = CAN
schoolboard = ESDNL
trustee = Derek Winsor
principal = Ted van Nostrand
viceprincipal = Sharron Brennan
type = Public
enrolment = 1040
grades = 10-12
language = English
founded = 1958
homepage = http://www.hhm.k12.nf.ca/

Holy Heart of Mary High School is a public high school located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Built in the 1950's by the Presentation sisters, it was originally an all-girl's school called "Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School for Girls". The first classes were held on November 17, 1958. It has a population of 1040 students in grades 10 to 12, making it the largest school in the province. Holy Heart offers several Advanced Placement courses, and is also the only school in Newfoundland that currently offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It is also one of the few schools in Newfoundland providing courses in English as a Second Language, for the benefit of students from other countries.

Many Highlanders traditionally excel in both academics as well as athletics. Holy Heart's students have had strong showings in regional and provincial high school sports leagues, with teams in soccer, hockey, basketball, rugby, and other sports. Recently, the school has been dominant, winning regional championships in rugby and hockey. Some students have also had success with national academic programs such as Shad Valley and the Canada Wide Science Fair, and at provincial competitions in drama, debating, and other activities. The school also promotes a rich feeling of a school community, having several "Spirit Days" each year and creating a friendly rivalry between the various "clans", whom are given a color and a name of a Scottish clan. In competitions between these clans, the 'Blue' clan has achieved a dynasty, winning most years.

The music program at the school is nationally- and internationally-renowned. The Holy Heart of Mary Chamber Choir, led by Susan Quinn, won a gold medal at the International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, Austria, in 1996, and has continued to win local and national awards since then. Several choir alumni perform in another highly-regarded amateur choir managed by Quinn, the Quintessential Vocal Ensemble.

The instrumental program, led by Grant Etchegary, a winner of the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence, enjoys a similar reputation throughout Canada.

The Holy Heart Auditorium, attached to the school, was refurbished in 2006 and has played host to a number of concerts from outside the school community.

External links

* [http://www.hhm.k12.nf.ca/ Official website]
* [http://www.hhm.k12.nf.ca/grassroots/alumni/ Alumni]