London South Secondary School

Infobox Education in Canada
name = London South Secondary School


image_size = 180pxestablished = 1922
schooltype = Public
religion = none
principal = Larry Schneider
viceprincipal = Joseph Robinson
streetaddress = 371 Tecumseh Avenue East
city = London
province= Ontario
country = Canada
campus = Township
enrollment= 1026 [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=31 October 2007
faculty = 30
free_label_1=Average class size
free_1 = 20 students
ratio = 20:1
year = 2007| SAT = n/a
free_label_2=Athletics
free_2=25 Interscholastic teams
colours = Garnet and Grey
mascot = Lion
url= [http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/south/ www.tvdsb.on.ca/south/]
lastupdate=June 8 2006

London South Secondary School, also known as "South Secondary"' or simply "South", is a public high school in London, Ontario, Canada, at 371 Tecumseh Avenue East.

South is administered by the Thames Valley District School Board. Approximately 1,000 students attend the school in Old South London, in grades nine to 12, plus a co-op program. There is also a program for gifted students called the "Academy Program".

The school colours are garnet and grey and the school mascot is the lion. South is known for its overall academic rigour and the strength of its arts program, which includes drama, visual arts, music and dance. It is one of the few schools in the city to still teach Latin.

History

Originally called London South Collegiate Institute, it first opened in 1922 at the corner of Askin Street and Wharncliffe Road South, with 290 students and 10 teachers. The growing school moved to its current location on Tecumseh Avenue in June 1928, six years later.

School pride was a focus right from the early years. According to the school's Web site, early students recited a daily pledge: "We're here to win the day for the garnet and grey, and to London South we pledge allegiance now". The school's Latin motto, "virtus repulsae nescia sordidae", means "courage will never know ignominious defeat." They are also known for their famous cheer: "Garnet and grey, garnet and grey, knock them down and lead the way! Hit 'em low and hit 'em high, fight 'em fight 'em SCI! Gooooooo, South! Fight, fight fight!" This cheer is used often with their football teams, before and after games.

Prominent teachers have included well-known Jungian psychologist Marion Woodman, who taught English at South in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Her brother, Fraser Boa, also a Jungian analyst, was an English and theatre arts teacher. Author [http://www.thelyceum.ca/about/johnkrisak.html John Krisak] , co-founder of the Canadian Lyceum of Greece, was also an English teacher in the 1980s and 1990s.

Renovations

Between 2005 and 2007, the rubber gym floor was replaced by a new wood floor, partly due to the success of the "Roar for the Floor" fundraising campaign. An outdoor scoreboard was also installed with money raised.

In the summer of 2007, the field was revamped, with new sod, a sprinkler system, new football nets, bleachers, a paved track, new fence, and several portable classrooms removed. It was paid for by an alumnus, James Giffen, and therefore named the James A. Giffen Memorial Field.

Notable alumni

* Robert Aziz, Jungian/ Freudian scholar, psychotherapist/author
* Dan Brodbeck, record producer
* David Brodbeck, experimental psychologist
* Keli Corpse, former Montreal Canadiens hockey player
* Tim Crellin, Canadian national swim team member (1995-98)
* Chris Doty, award-winning documentary filmmaker, historian, journalist and playwright
* Robert Ford, diplomat and poet
* Ray Getliffe, former Montreal Canadiens hockey player, London Sports Hall of Fame inductee
* Shuman Ghosemajumder, technologist and author (former student council president)
* John Glassford, CFL player (Ottawa Roughriders), mid-to-late 1970s
* Herman Goodden, columnist, playwright and author
* Dianne Haskett, former mayor, City of London (1994-2000)
* Harry Muir, former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher (Baby Jays)
* Kate Nelligan, film actress ("Frankie and Johnny", "The Prince of Tides", "A Wrinkle in Time")
* Laura Robinson, co-inventor of the board game Balderdash
* Stan Readings, a former London city treasurer
* Walter Stewart, journalist

References

* [http://www.southalumni.ca/docs/lionsprideFall2007.pdf Lion's Pride Fall 2007 Newsletter]

External links

* [http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/south Official site]
* [http://www.southalumni.ca South Collegiate Alumni Association]