Saunders Secondary School

Infobox Education in Canada
name = Saunders Secondary School


streetaddress= 941 Viscount Road
city= London
province= Ontario
postalecode= N6K 1H5
areacode= 519
phone= [phone]type = Public
url= http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/saunders/
schoolboard= Thames Valley District School Board
established = 1972
superintendent= Ms. Marion Moynihan
principal = Ms. Diana Rajala
viceprincipal = Ms. Katrin Gauer, Mr. Dennis Lunau, Mr. Paul Sydor
campus = Urban
enrollment= 1950 [cite web |url=http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/schools/Secondary_October2007.pdf |title=Secondary School Student Enrolment |accessdate=2008-01-26 |date=2007-10-31 |publisher=Thames Valley District School Board]
enrollment_as_of=January 26th 2008
mascot = Sabre Tooth Tiger
colours = Gold and Red
url = http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/saunders/index.html

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.

History

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, Ontario 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, arsonists 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.

Tech Programs

Saunders has been recognized as having one of the most developed and diversified programs in London. Current tech programs include: Photography, Broadcasting, Electrical, Computer Engineering (offering CCNA & A+ certification), 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.

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.

The Saunders junior football team won the city championships in 2007 for the first time in ten years.

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. [ [http://www.universitysport.ca/e/story_detail.cfm?id=9903 Western's Nigel Wilson receives Gino Fracas Award] Canadian Interuniversity Sport, November 22, 2007]

Cancer Campaign

Saunders' annual Cancer Campaign has raised almost a quarter of a million dollars in the past five years, more than any other school in Canada. The total for the 2008 Cancer Campaign was in excess $60 000, more than $30 a student!

Notable alumni and staff

Notable alumni and staff include:
* George Dvorsky, co-founder and president of Toronto Transhumanist Association
* Jesse Davidson, fundraiser and poster boy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
* Sonja Gustafson, Opera Singer
* David Hughes, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity Canada
* Alternative band Kittie (all original founding members)
* Adam Kreek, Canadian athlete and Olympian
* Irene Mathyssen, federal Member of Parliament and former Ontario Cabinet Minister was an English teacher at Saunders
* Rick Nash, NHL Player
* Corey Perry, NHL Player, 2007 Stanley Cup Champion
* Adam Perry, OHL Player
* Patrick Kane, NHL Player
* Steve Mason, OHL PLayer and World Junior Gold medalist 2007-2008
* David Bolland, NHL/AHL Player
* Rick Green, NHL Player
* Rob Ramage, NHL Player
* Deighton Thomas, former CFL Player, actor, teaches at Saunders.
* Mason Williams Webcomic artist/writer
* Stuart Hughes, Stage and Screen Actor, husband of Megan Follows

References

External links

* [http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/saunders/index.html Saunders Secondary School]
* [http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/ Thames Valley District School Board]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/saundersreunion82/ Class of 1982 Reunion]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/saberswrestling/ Saunders Wrestling Team]