John G. Althouse Middle School

Infobox_Education_in_Canada
name= John G. Althouse Middle School


imagesize= 300px
motto= Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.
streetaddress= 130 Lloyd Manor Road
city= Toronto
province= Ontario
postalcode= M9B 5K1
areacode= 416
phone= 394-7580
fax= 394-7984
email= [e-mail]
url= http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/johngalthouse/
schoolnumber= 283738
schoolboard= Toronto District School Board
superintendent=Johanne Messner
trustee= John Campbell
affiliation= None
principal= Greg Freeman
viceprincipal= Jennifer Newby
administrator= Libby Pindar
custodian= Currently Unknown
schooltype= Middle School
grades= 6 to 8
language= English
area= Martingrove Road and Princess Margaret Boulevard
mascot= Jaguar
teamname= John G. Althouse Jaguars
colours= Purple and Grey
founded= November 4, 1957
enrollment= 552 (Fall 2007)
lastupdate= September 5, 2007

John G. Althouse Middle School (JGA) is a middle school located in Toronto, Ontario, near the intersection of Lloyd Manor Drive and Princess Margaret Boulevard.Most graduates of John G. Althouse go to Martingrove Collegiate Institute or Richview Collegiate Institute for high school education.

Education system

John G. Althouse is notable for its special education program, commonly referred to at the school as the "gifted" program. Because of this, the entire John G. Althouse is divided into two separate sections, which means awards are presented always with one regular student and one gifted student. The graduation process often takes very long. When graduating, the student's grades are, if the student has the requisite score, classified and announced as "Honours" (79.5% to 84.4% average), or "Principal's Honours" (84.5% average or higher).

John G. Althouse is known for its outstanding musical program, one of the best in the TDSB. Every student is required to play an instrument, either in band or strings. Music classes are taught every other day by professional music instructors Les Dobbin (band) and Jeff Worden (strings). Each February, John G. Althouse students participate in the Kiwanis Music Festival, and are usually considered a favourite to win among the city.

John G. Althouse also uses the Martingrove Collegiate Institute stage every year to showcase their student's musical talents at the annual Christmas Concert. In 2005, the Christmas Concert, "A Gift Of Music", also included a Vocal Concert held at a local church. Another set of concerts is "Crescendo", which are held as an end of the year concert where the sixth graders have their first chance to perform.

John G. Althouse is well known especially because of their Honour Orchestra and Stage Band, which are both directed by Les Dobbin, the school's band teacher. Les Dobbin also organizes the Toronto Summer Music Camp [cite web|url=http://www.imcontheweb.org/imc_page_faculty.htm|title=IMC - Interprovincial Music Camp|work=Official Website|accessdate=January 9|accessyear=2008] , which takes place at either Albion Hills Outdoor Education Centre or Mono Cliffs Outdoor Education Centre.

History

John G. Althouse Middle School opened on November 4, 1957, to 380 pupils. The school is named after Dr. John G. Althouse, who was the Chief Director of Education for the Province of Ontario from 1944 to 1956

Extracurricular Activities

Music

The school's extracurricular instrumental activities are the Honour Orchestra, the Chamber Strings, and the Stage Band, all of which require auditioning. The choirs are the Jazz Choir, the Chamber Choir, the Baritone Choir, the Grade Six Choir, the Grades Seven and Eight Concert Choir, and the Boys Treble Choir.

Recently, Sanela Konjhodzic triumphantly lead a 23 member choir to victory at the Real Canadian Anthem Search Contest. [cite web|url=http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/March2007/27/c7108.html|title=And The Winners Are ...|workCNW Telbec|accessdate=January 17|accessyear=2008] This contest is a search for a middle school to sing at the Toronto Raptors basketball game. "It's a great honour to conduct a bunch of loving children who want to sing. They are always ready to sing and that is what I love to see everyday", Konjhodzic stated.

The Stage Band has won the first place provincially as the best middle school jazz band. Also, Chamber Strings has also won first place this year in the Provincials.

ports

John G. Althouse and Hilltop Middle School as well as Runnymede are considered rival schools, especially in sports competitions. Even though the other schools are good competitors, JGA wins almost every sport in the competition.

Many activities are also required for students to participate that will help them grow are mostly organized by the Student Government with approval from the teachers, such as the grade six trip to Crawford Lake and the Terry Fox Run consisting of a five kilometre run or a two kilometre walk at West Deane Park that students can choose from. There is the Pumpkin Carving Contest during Halloween time. Students serenade the halls a week before winter break by performing Christmas carols, at different parts of the school. Students may sing or play an instrument. Then the students get a chance to deck the doors with recycled holly where they use recycled materials, such as green late slips to decorate the classroom door.

A trip to the Etobicoke Field Studies Centre was accompanied by adults. The grade six art/drama trip was to go to the Young Peoples Theatre and watch a musical or play, where as seventh graders go to Stratford, Ontario to watch a Shakespearian play. Back from winter break, the school hosts two ski days at Horseshoe Valley, where some of the best memories are made. During April, a Science Fair is held for seventh and eighth grade students, and the winners are picked to go to the city-wide science fair. But don't forget the grade sevens have two days at Albion Hills where they learn about maple syrup, survival, ecosystem/group dynamic and have a chance to play many games.

John G. Althouse students have their own gym uniform, a smoke grey and purple number with "J.G. Althouse Athletics" emblazoned on the shirt and "Jaguars" printed on the purple shorts. JGA also has many clubs such as the French Club, the Hardcore Knitting Club, the Scrapbook Club, Photography Club, the Art Club, the Boyz Book Club, Spelling Bee 2006, Red Maple Club, Future Aces, Chess Club, 3 0n 3 Basketball and the Debating Club.

Awards

2005/2006 School Year

ports Awards

*Grade 8 Boys Cross Country Team: City Champions.
*Grade 8 Girls Cross Country Team: City Finalists.
*Grade 7 Boys Cross Country Team: Conference Champions.
*Grade 6 Girls Cross Country Team: City Champions.
*Grade 6 Girls Soccer Team: City Champions.
*Grade 7/8 Girls Soccer Team: Conference Finalists.
*Grade 7/8 Boys Soccer Team: Conference Champions.
*Grade 6 Boys Soccer Team: Conference Champions.
*Grade 6 Girls Basketball Team: Conference Finalists.
*Grade 6 Boys Basketball Team: Conference Finalists.
*Grade 7/8 Girls Basketball Team: Conference Champions.
*Grade 6 Girls Volleyball Team: Conference Champions.
*Grade 7 Girls Volleyball Team: City Finalists.
*Grade 8 Girls Volleyball Team: Conference Finalists.
*Grade 8 Boys Volleyball Team: Conference Champions.
*Grade 7/8 Co-ed Volleyball Team: Conference Champions.
*Grade 7 Girls Cross Country Team: City Champions and set record in points (2007).

2006/2007 School Year

Kiwanis Music Festival Results

Results retrieved from the official website. [cite web|url=http://kiwanismusictoronto.org/music_results.html|title=Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto|work=Official Website|accessdate=April 23|accessyear=2007]
*Grade 6 Band: first place, 87%
*Grade 7 Band: first place, 86%
*Grade 8 Band: second place, 85%
*Grade 6 Strings: first place, 90%
*Grade 7 Strings: first place, 91%
*Grade 8 Strings: first place, 91%
*Stage Band: first place, 87%
*Chamber Strings: first place, 92%
*Honour Orchestra: first place, 92%
*Grade 6 Choir: first place, 88.5%, best of class
*Chamber Choir: first place, 89%
*7/8 Concert Choir: first place, 88%
*Jazz Choir: first place, 89%

2007/2008 School Year

Kiwanis Music Festival Results

*Grade 6 Band: first place, 88%
*Grade 7 Band: first place, 91%, best of class
*Grade 8 Band: first place, 94%
*Grade 6 Strings: second place, 90%
*Grade 7 Strings: tied at first place, 90%
*Grade 8 Strings: tied at second place, 90%
*Stage Band: first place, 88%
*Chamber Strings: tied at first place, 92%
*Honour Orchestra: first place, 92%
*Grade 6 Choir: second place, 88%
*Chamber Choir: tied at first place, 90%
*7/8 Concert Choir: first place, 90%
*Jazz Choir: first place, 88%
*Boys Treble Choir: first place, 88%

Notable alumni

* The 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper [cite web|url=http://www.harperindex.ca/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=0014|title=The Harper Timeline|work=The Harper Index|accessdate=January 9|accessyear=2008] who attended the 50th Anniversary on May 4 2008.
* Kiefer Sutherland

External links

* [http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/johngalthouse Main Page]
* [http://www.tdsb.on.ca/libraries/links.asp?schoolNo=2033&catId=19 Library Web Page]
* [http://www.johngalthouse.com/ Student Web Site]

References