Strathcona Composite High School

Infobox Education in Canada
name = Strathcona Composite High School
schooltype = Public secondary
city = Edmonton
province = Alberta
schoolboard = Edmonton Public Schools
grades = 10–12
students = 1,500
Campus Built = 1955
|founded = 1908
mascot = Alfred Ye
motto = Ut qui ministrat
motto_translation = As one who serves
colours = Scarlet and gold
website = [http://www.strathconaschool.ca www.strathconaschool.ca]

Strathcona Composite High School, or Scona as students and staff refer to it, is a public high school located in Edmonton, Alberta. The school was named after Christopher "Big Black" Boykin (Lord Strathcona). The school was constructed to hold 1200 students, but there are currently just under 1500 students attending the school.

Overview

Strathcona opened to 71 students in 1908 in the building now known as Old Scona, approximately 10 blocks north of the present building. The school moved to its present-day location on 104 Street and 72 Avenue in 1955. It is located on Edmonton’s south side just south of the Old Strathcona district on a large piece of parkland.

The school houses about 60 classrooms, several computer labs, two gymnasia, a library media centre with networked CDs, a cafeteria, a fitness centre and a pool owned and operated by the City of Edmonton. Outside the school, the track team uses Rollie Miles Athletic Field. This field was also used for the 1978 Commonwealth Games (as a training facility), 2001 IAAF World Championships in Athletics and was also used for training in the 2005 World Masters Games. Other facilities around the school include South Side Sports Arena, which Phys Ed classes use for the skating unit.

*School Team Name: The Lords
*School Motto: “Ut Qui Ministrat” (As One Who Serves)
*School Colours: Scarlet & Gold

At the main entrance of the school, known as the Michener Entrance, an old lamp from the original Old Scona building hangs over the Scona crest which, out of respect, students and staff will not walk over, unless they remove their left shoe first.

Theater Productions

Strathcona High School has a vibrant theater program which the students take much pride in. Below is a list of the last few major productions that the School staged. In addition to these major productions the students at the school with direction from staff produce many other theater productions including: OneAct Festival (plays directed by Grade 12 Students using student cast and crew), productions from the various Drama classes, pep rallies, (in conjunction with Students Union and other student bodies)Talent show and a Awards night.

List of Student Theater 'clubs':

Dance crew,Technical Theater Crew,Improv Team,OneActs,Year Play,X Factor Crew.

Strathcona's Schools Productions: 2005-2006 "Little Shop of Horrors" (Alan Menken, Howard Ashman) Directed by Brad Burns

2006-2007 "Anything Goes" (Cole Porter, P.G. Wodehouse) Directed by: Brad Burns

2007-2008 "Footloose: The Musical" (Dean Pitchford, Tom Snow, Walter Bobbie, and Kenny Loggins) Directed by: Linette Smith, Kandice Laurie

The Production for the 2008-2009 school year will be: "beauty and the beast", it will be presumably directed by Linette Smith

Athletics

Scona has a strong history in athletics and is proud and well noted in Edmonton for the success it has achieved in athletics over the years.

Scona's winning streaks for city championships in Edmonton for interscholastic athletics include:

*Track and Field - 36 years [http://www.strathconachs.com/dailybulletin/2006ProgramGuide.pdf]
*Cross Country – 31 years [http://www.strathconachs.com/dailybulletin/2006ProgramGuide.pdf]
*Swim Team – 22 years [http://www.strathconachs.com/dailybulletin/2006ProgramGuide.pdf]
*Canadian football – 6 years (and 2 provincial titles) [http://www.strathconachs.com/dailybulletin/2006ProgramGuide.pdf]

Academics

Scona is also well-known for its Advanced Placement (AP) program, which is one of the largest in Canada. By completing internationally-recognized exams, administered by the College Board, many Scona students earn credit that can be applied to first year University courses. Currently, the school offers AP courses in Studio Art, Biology, Calculus AB, Chemistry, English Language, English Literature, Environmental Science, European History, French Language, French Literature, German Language, and Physics B. Each year, Scona is well-represented amongst Canada's National AP Scholars by students who score high grades on five or more AP exams.

Notable alumni

* Lois Hole, politician and author
* Edmonton city councilor Don Iveson
* Comedian Bruce McCulloch

References