Sacred Heart High School, Yorkton

Infobox Secondary school
name = Sacred Heart High School|
established = 1917
headmaster = Chad Holinaty
city = Yorkton
province = Saskatchewan
country = Canada
campus =
type = High School
faculty =
founder =
students = 400 and over
grades = 9 - 12
mascot = Two Saint Bernards named "Berkley" and "Barkley"
colors = Green & Gold
websites = [http://www.saskschools.ca/~yshhs/index.html www.saskschools.ca/~yshhs/index.html]
brother school =
sister school =

Sacred Heart High School is a high school located in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.

History

Sacred Heart High School was founded by the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, and the school celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1991. Sacred Heart High School has a long tradition of providing strong academic and spiritual education to its students. On January 11, 1917, the school opened, and was originally established as the Sacred Heart Institute, under the leadership of Sister Ambrosia Lenkewich, the Canadian Provincial Superior at the time.

In 1945, the name changed to Sacred Heart Academy and it became a boarding school for girls from grade nine to twelve. The first volleyball team was established in 1959, and the first Musical was held in 1961. In 1967, the first male teachers were hired. From 1967 to 1973, boys and girls from Sacred Heart Academy and St. Joe's Academy, the boys' school, exchanged classes.

In 1973, boys were allowed to enroll at Sacred Heart Academy, making it co-ed for the first time. The name was then changed to Sacred Heart High School. Grade eight was added to the school in 1989.

In April 1998 Sacred Heart was completely handed over to the Yorkton Catholic Schools.

In the fall of 2000, the Yorkton Roman Catholic School Division was granted approval to construct a new high school and the new facility opened in February 2002.With this new facility came more opportunities for students to join different types of clubs. There had already been a Drama Club but the new facility had a 1,000,000 Theatre. They had a brand new gymnasium which allowed more and more types of sports to be played.

The School Crest

The Sacred Heart Crest is a symbol of the spirit and goals of Sacred Heart High School. Sacred Heart is a community united in faith, searching for knowledge, and striving for wholeness in unity and love. The three colours which make up the crest are significant in what they represent. Green is the symbol of faith. We need faith to endure the ups and downs of school life; faith to grow so that we can give the world our truth, forgiveness, and love, as Jesus did. Gold is the symbol of knowledge. We are here to develop our talents through study and participation in various school organizations and activities. White symbolizes unity. Faith, knowledge, and unity merge into one to portray the aim and spirit of Sacred Heart High School.

Christian Ethics

The following reflects the schools view on Christian Ethics:

quote|The responsibility of making Sacred Heart a Catholic school falls on the shoulders of the entire school community. Every staff member attempts to provide leadership and example in expressing our faith.

Our faith is encouraged and nourished in a variety of spiritual exercises. They include daily prayer at the start of the day, prayer to start Christian Ethics courses, service projects, social justice work, Liturgical Celebrations, celebration of Reconciliation and school retreats.

The study of our Faith is nurtured at each grade level under the direction of the Religion Co-ordinators and Christian Ethics teachers. The grade nine course focuses on the Beatitudes and how we can practice our Christian Faith. Grade ten studies the life and teachings of Jesus. Grade eleven explores the area of Christian morality and grade twelve studies what it means to live a Christian lifestyle.

Students of all religious faiths are welcome to join the Sacred Heart Family provided they accept the fact that we are concerned with Christian formation. Our students must view the Christian Ethics courses, Liturgical Celebrations, and retreat experiences as an integral part of their program and pursue them with the same diligence as any other course.

Saint of the Month

Every month two students from Sacred Heart High school (male & female) are chosen as Saint of the Month which is a program designed to acknowledge students that are hard working and are involved with extra curricular activities. These students are nominated by a committee that meets at the end of each month. Votes are cast by who they think is most deserving.

tudent Activities

Choir

The Sacred Heart High School Choir presents an opportunity for music lovers to perform vocally.

Dances

Sacred Heart High School holds several dances during the school year. Dances may include a Welcome Dance in the fall, a Halloween Dance, a Christmas Dance, a Valentines' Dance, a Spring Dance and an End of the Year Dance.

School dances are a privilege and staff supervision is on a voluntary basis. Any misuse of this privilege may result in cancellation of dances for the year.

For most dances, students are permitted a limited number of invitations which they may use to invite friends not attending Sacred Heart High School.

Alcohol and drugs are not permitted at school dances. Students under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be refused entrance to the dance, and their parents will be contacted to come to the school and pick them up. Further consequences will follow upon the student's return to school Monday. Students are responsible for the behavior of their invitations. If problems arise, the student is given the opportunity to reason with the invite. An invite may be asked to leave by supervising staff, and may be refused entrance to future school dances.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and close at 8:30 p.m. Dances end at 11:30 Students are not admitted after 8:30 p.m., unless a late pass has been purchased. If a student leaves the dance, he/she will not be readmitted.

When students leave the school after a dance, they are no longer the responsibility of the school.

Parents and former graduates who wish to attend dances are most welcome.

Students who have unauthorized absences or who engage in inappropriate behaviour at school or school sponsored activities may be refused entrance to dances.
*Currently at this time Dances are Cancelled Until Further notice

Drama

The Sacred Heart High School Drama Club produces a play to enter in Regional and Provincial Festival competitions. In 1999, Sacred Heart were the provincial winners for their production of “The New Canadian Kid”. Since 2002, SHHS has placed first and second respectively at the Region IV Drama Festival. In 2004, “The Wild Flowering of Chastity” won the Provincial Drama Festival crown. "Baby", Gregory Digout's 2008 Saskatchewan Drama Festival play, placed Best Overall on both the Regional level and the Provincial level. Sacred Heart's second play, Directed by Lindsay Halushka, placed third overall at Regional. Many acting awards were given to actors and actresses in both plays, and awards were given out as well to students who mastered the technical roles behind the scenes.

Intramurals

Intramurals at Sacred Heart High School play an important part in the lives of students. Intramurals provide students with friendly competition, an opportunity to meet new friends, and a cheerful environment to have fun and keep fit. Sacred Heart High School intramurals are organized by students and teachers who choose activities that encourage fun and participation. Upon entering Sacred Heart High School, students are placed on one of four intramural houses. A wide range of intramural activities are offered daily at noon hour in the gymnasium, with houses competing for the much coveted Athletic Shield and Aggregate Shield.

Musical

Sacred Heart High School regularly stages a Broadway musical. Participating students have the opportunity to explore talents in singing, acting, stage design, make-up, music, and more. Over fifty students participate each year. Past musicals have included: West Side Story (1997), Annie (1998), Anything Goes (1999), The Sound of Music (2002), Once Upon a Mattress(2003), Little Shop of Horrors (2004), Oliver! (2005), Anne of Green Gables (2006), High School Musical (2007). Auditions are held in September. Performances are in late November or early December.

Congratulations to all who auditioned for "Beauty and the Beast". The Cast list will be posted soon.

Drama Website [http://www.shhs-drama.com]

Outdoor Education

In 2002, Sacred Heart High School began an Outdoor Education program. Students from Grades 9 –12 may apply to participate in the program. Students are required to participate in regular training and testing sessions through the school year. The program culminates in a week-long outdoor education excursion. The participation fee for the Outdoor Education Club is $150.00 for 2006-07. Special Credit may be assessed for participants.

ADD

At Sacred Heart, the Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) group has a number of school based activities which promote responsible attitudes toward drinking. Anyone may be a member of SADD and may join at any time.

chool Newspaper

The Sacred Heart Beat newspaper provides a forum for an exchange of ideas, as well as a creative outlet for literary and artistic students and an opportunity to develop organizational and public relations skills. Students gain experience in the practical application of computers and photography. The Beat is published several times during the school year. From 1999 through 2006, The Beat received an award of merit for the Best Overall High School Newspaper in Saskatchewan.

ports

Sacred Heart High School fields teams in golf, cross country running, soccer, football, pole vault, volleyball, basketball, mdma, indoor track & field, curling, badminton, and outdoor track and field.

Cheer / Stunt Team

The Cheer / Stunt team had an interesting year. Injuries and illness forced the Grade 9 members to take a very important role. The squad cheered at several home football games, attended the University of Regina Cheer Clinic, and competed in Saskatoon’s Mustang Mania and Balgonie Griffin’s Invitational.

tudent Representative Council

The SRC is composed of student representatives from grades nine to twelve who are elected by their class or by a total student body election. Elections are held in June each year with the newly elected Executive being announced at the year end dance.

Channel 22

Channel 22 is the school's rockband. It is an extracurricular program in which students explore their abilities and talents in music. Auditions are held every year in which the two organizers of the program narrow down over 40 auditions into 15 or more students.
This year the 2008 Channel 22 members are:
*Sheridan Polinski
*Ryan van den Heuval
*Gage Wagner
*Brian Reed
*Zac Morgan
*Hannah Thrun
*Lisa Milo
*Andrew Cavanaugh
*Troy Waggoner
*Michael Pietrese
*Renee Digout
*Janelle Rondeau
*Alex Lohnes
*Kayleigh Pearce
*Hillarie Pacholko
*Brittany Osicki
*Chris Puchala
*Mitchell Michalcewich

Current staff

Principal

Mr. Chad Holinaty

Vice-Principal

Mr. Trent Senger

ocial worker

Mrs. Kerrie Shearer

Pastors

*Fr. Basil Chomos, St. Gerard's Parish
*Fr. Jiminy Uper, St.Kazif Church

External links

* [http://www.saskschools.ca/~yshhs/index.html Sacred Heart High School Website]
* [http://www.shhs-drama.com/ SHHS DRAMA]

References

*cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story.html?id=6d588958-2f3b-4e43-84d2-e80f8f83823a |work=Regina Leader-Post|title=Police dog video has its day
author=Daniels, Calvin
date=Monday, March 17, 2008
accessdate=2008-03-24 Students in the school's Communication Production Technology (CPT) class worked with a police officer to create a video about police dogs.