Millwood High School
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Millwood High School is a public secondary school in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia that offers a post-secondary preparation program for students in grades ten through twelve. It is a part of the Halifax Regional School Board, and one of 17 high schools in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The current administration is as follows: Linda Wills, Principal; Leon Swinkels and Carla Christionson, Vice Principals.
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[edit] History
Until 1987, Sackville High School was the only secondary school in the Sackville area. Due to the increase in accessibility to employment and services in nearby Halifax, which was facilitated by the construction of provincial highways 101 and 102 through the town in the 1970s, Sackville experienced and still experiences a rapid growth in population. To accommodate this increase in population, Millwood High School was established in 1987 and originally served the expanding communities of Lower, Middle, and Upper Sackville, Beaverbank, and Lucasville. The school originally had two feeder schools, Sackville Heights Junior High and Harold T. Barrett Junior High, until 2000 when Harold T. Barrett Junior High students were diverted to the newly opened Lockview High School in nearby Fall River, Nova Scotia. As a result, Millwood High saw a substantial decrease in population, which ultimately had a negative impact on many academic offerings and previously flourishing extracurricular activities. Though Millwood has suffered from these changes, many student groups and teams, notably the Millwood Hockey and Curling teams, continue to enjoy success, having advanced to provincial competition on numerous occasions. Today, Millwood employs approximately thirty teachers, supplemented by two guidance counsellors, and its administration, and serves a student population of about 600.
The school has been plagued with incidents recently that have given its name and community an undeserved reputation. In 2005, there were a number of "bear-masing" incidents, where bear mase into the bathroom vents, and on another occasion in the hallways, which caused a school-wide evacuation on two separate occasions, both during in the same week.
Quite recently a change has been made in the Millwood community. The teachers and students both agreed that the mascot of a medevil knight gave them a much too violent image. After much deliberation and a secret ballot the choice was made to change their school team from The Millwood Knights to the Millwood Kingfishers.
[edit] Hockey
Despite having a very small population in relation to neighbouring schools, the Millwood Knights hockey team has been very successful in recent years. In 2005/2006, they captured the Nova Scotia Division 1 Provincial Championship for the second time in 5 years. Graduating forwards Matt Slaunwhite, Neil Pashkoski, Jimmy MacInnis, and Richard Kerr, as well as defenceman Mitch Chan and goaltender Ricky Neima played a large role in the championship victory. But, with losing almost half the team to graduation, it did not look as if Millwood would remain competitive the following year. They surprised, however, by winning their first two tournaments of the season, and stomping annual rival Sackville High School 7-2 in their first encounter. It appears as if the Millwood Knights winning tradition will continue as it has in years past.
[edit] Academics
[edit] Graduation Requirements
As a school in the Halifax Regional School Board, Millwood's graduation requirements are mandated by the Nova Scotia Department of Education. Currently, its graduation requirements are as follows:
A minimum of 18 Credits as outlined below:
- A maximum of 7 grade 10 credits and a minimum of 5 grade 12 credits
- 3 English Credits (one at each grade level)
- 2 Math Credits
- 1 Science Credit (from Science 10, Sciences 10f, Biology 11, Biologie 11f, Chemistry 11, or Physics 11)
- 1 Science Credit (from those listed above or from Geology 12, Human Biology 11, or Oceans 11)
- 1 Credit in Canadian Studies (from Canadian History 11, Histoire du Canada 11f, or African Canadian Studies 11)
- 1 Credit in Global Studies (from Global History 12, Global Geography 12, Histoire Planetaire 12f, or Etudes Planetaires en Geographie 12f)
- 1/2 Credit in Career and Life Management
- 1/2 Credit in Physically Active Lifestyles
- 1 Fine Arts Credit (from Art, Drama, Instrumental Music, or Choral Music)
- 2 Further Credits in Mathematics, Science, or Technology (MST requirement)
- 5 Open Electives
Millwood High School is a semestered school where students can take up to four courses per semester, or eight courses per year. Typically, grade ten students take a full course load of eight credits, grade eleven students take seven to eight credits, and grade twelve students take five credits; however, many students choose to take more or less than the typical course load, especially students who are aiming to graduate in January of their grade twelve year, or those students whose academic records would be bolstered by further academic study or who are aiming to satisfy more demanding post-secondary entrance requirements. Since only eighteen credits are required out of a possible twenty-four credits, Millwood students enjoy a certain flexibility in their studies, often being able to compensate for classes in which they were not especially successful and still graduate "on time".
Millwood High School has some special academic offerings, including but not limited to its French Immersion Program, Cooperative Education Program, English as a Second Language/Foreign Exchange Program, and Academic Enrichment program. Also, 2005 marked the first year that Millwood High students took part in the Collegeboard's Advanced Placement program, with students writing examinations in English Composition and Language as well as Physics B (mechanics) to earn university credit.
[edit] French Immersion
Millwood High School offers a post-secondary preparatory French Immersion Program, allowing students to earn an additional diploma attesting a significant degree of exposure to the French language, which is attained by completing no less than nine of the required courses for graduation in French, while taking no less than two courses in French per year. Although completion of the French Immersion does not certify absolute proficiency in the language or deem a student fully bilingual, the program does allow students to participate in various enrichment programs such as the popular government-sponsored Summer Language Bursary Program, French for the Future/Francais a l'Avenir conferences, and Canadian Parents for French Reading programs for elementary-aged students, among others. French Immersion is also a popular choice for students who aspire to work for the government of Canada or who would like to show superior academic ability. The current French Immersion course offerings at Millwood High are as follows:
- Francais 10, Francais 11, Francais 12 (distinguished from French 10, 11, and 12, which are core-French courses)
- Biologie 11f, Biologie 12f
- Mathematiques 10f
- Sciences 10f
- Histoire du Canada 11f
- Education Planetaire en Geographie 12f
Since nine credits in French are required and Millwood only offers nine such courses, all French Immersion students much take each of these classes. This can create frustration for students whose academic and career goals do not align completely with this stream of courses, causing a small number of students to have to take courses for which they do not feel academically well-suited, or causing them to make awkward schedule changes that can significantly affect the academic path of a student. However, the majority of the courses required for the French Immersion diploma are also required for general graduation, so for many students, satisfying these requirements poses litte to no problem. Unfortunately, low enrollment in these courses makes creating two or more sections of the same class almost impossible, causing some inflexibility with scheduling. Because students have usually been in the French Immersion program since junior high school, they often feel pressured to complete the requirements, causing them to make heavy sacrifices in other academic areas. Many students and teachers believe limited courses offerings are to blame for decreased enrollment, but others feel that decreased enrollment is to blame for the inability of the program to cater to a more varied student population.
[edit] Music Program
Millwood has a history of possessing an excellent music program, especially in the early to mid 1990s. Since the school's split with Harold T. Barrett Junior High School, the band program has seen a significant drop in students enrolled, but has still managed to organize classes and give performances. Enrollment has been the biggest factor in decreased class offerings in recent years; however, in 2005, Millwood launched a vocal music program aimed at expanding course variety, making the music program able to reach out to a more diverse student population, and was successful in forming a choir. Instrumental music is offered at all three grade levels, with specific outcomes at each level. Regular concerts are also a part of the curriculum. Students that register for instrumental music at Millwood typically have some previous musical background, especially through the Sackville Heights Junior High School music program. Choral music is a more open course, aimed at students who have an appreciation for vocal music and who would like to develop their individual singing skills as well as ensemble singing skills. Although formal training is not needed, familiarization with general musical concepts is helpful.
[edit] Cooperative Education
Co-operative Education is a credit program that allows students to explore a possible career, gain valuable work experience and learn employment skills. Students planning to attend university, community college or those considering employment directly after high school will find Co-op extremely beneficial in assisting them with career decisions. The course consists of an in-school and out-of-school component. While in class, students study employment skills, job search strategies and career planning. The out-of-school component takes place in the community where the student is placed with an employer in an area related to his or her career interest and to at least one of their regular courses. Work placements in professional, technical, business, service and social settings have been experienced. Students are accepted into Co-op through the application/interview process.
[edit] Scholarships and Awards
The Governor General's Academic Medal is given out each year in the name of His or Her Excellency The Governor General of Canada to the graduating student with the highest academic average. Recent winners:
2006 - Natalie Dobbin
2005 - Chris Murphy
2004 - Megan Sample
2003 - Thomas McNutt
2002 - Meghan Campbell
2001 - Tasha Ramsey
2000 - James Saunders
Notable Recent Scholarship Winners:
2006
Natalie Dobbin - Dalhousie Chancellor's Scholarship ($32,000), University of PEI (Full Tuition), Saint Mary's University Santamarian Scholarship ($20,000)
Jenny Davision - Saint Mary's Santamarian Scholarship ($20,000)
Ashley Milbury - Mount Saint Vincent University President's Scholarship ($28,000)
2005
Chad Isnor - Acadia University ($8,500)
Ryan Collier - Dalhousie University ($20,000)
Matt Gillis - Mount Saint Vincent University ($24,000), University of King's College ($25,000)
Sarah Simpkin - Dalhousie University ($20,000), Carleton University ($16,000)
Chris Murphy - Harvard University Faculty Scholarship ($200,000), Dalhousie Chancellor's Scholarship ($32,000), Saint Mary's Santamarian Scholarship ($20,000), University of Guelph Presidential Scholarship ($20,000)
2004
Julie Hall - Dalhousie University ($20,000)
Brettney Pilgrim - Mount Saint Vincent University ($20,000)
Megan Sample - Dalhousie University ($16,000), Mount Allison University ($20,000), Saint Mary's University Presidential Scholarship ($32,000)
Jonathan Woodend - Mount Allison University ($20,000)
2002
Meaghan Bernard - Dalhousie University Chancellor's Scholarship ($28,000)
Pamela MacLeod - University of Ottawa Chancellor's Scholarship ($26,000)
Scholarship Totals by Class
Millwood High School Class of 2006 - $559,301
Millwood High School Class of 2005 - $659,275
Millwood High School Class of 2004 - $292,198
Millwood High School Class of 2003 - $207,648
