Turner Fenton Secondary School

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Turner Fenton Secondary School
Motto: Remis Velisque (By oars and sails)
Address
7935 Kennedy Road South Brampton, Ontario, L5V 3N2, Canada
Information
School board	Peel District School Board
Religious affiliation	Public
Superintendent	Scott Moreash
Area trustee	David Green
Principal	Robert Garton
Vice principal	Zorica Harrod, Cathy McGrann, Pam Sawyer
School type	high school
Grades	9-12+
Language	English
Mascot	Trojan Warrior
Team name	Turner Fenton Trojans
Colours	Blue, black, white, silver
Founded	1993
Enrollment	2,323 (September 2005)
Homepage	http://www.turnerfenton.com/

Turner Fenton Secondary School (nicknamed "TFC", for Turner Fenton Campus) is Peel Region's largest high school, located in Brampton, Ontario. The principal is Robert Garton. It operates under the Peel District School Board.

Feeder schools include IndEC North Education Centre, Cherrytree Public School, Khalsa Public School, Derry West Village Public School, Fletcher's Creek Sr. Public School, Helen Wilson Public School, Hickory Wood Public School, Parkway Public School, Sir Wilfrid Laurier Public School, and William G. Davis Sr. Public School.

1 Programs
2 Sports, Clubs, and Traditions
3 History
- 3.1 Violence and threats
- 3.2 Lanyards
4 Notable alumni
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Programs

Turner Fenton is a diverse school, even by Greater Toronto Area standards, due to the varied array of programs it offers. At least eleven educational programs are available:

l, Special Basic Level Program
Vocational, Basic Level Program
Applied and college level course
Academic, university and university/college-level programs
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

English as a Second Language, English Learning Development
Extended French
Chef Training Program, dubbed "Recipe for Success", a dedicated hospitality/chef training program
Section 19, based out of the Cuthbert House (open Custody program for young male offenders) and Invictus (closed custody program for young female offenders, closing fall 2005)
Store Front, an alternate work-based program

The school also works with the William Osler Campus, a Peel Board facility for those admitted to hospital for terms longer than 14 days. Turner offers a Learning Strategies Course, and Specific Learning Disabilities services. A Regional Enhanced Program program ran at the school, until the end of the 2004-2005 school year. The school also offers a number of different beneficial programs, including an International Baccalaureate Program. Turner Fenton is the largest highschool in Ontario as of 2006.

[edit] Sports, Clubs, and Traditions

Turner Fenton participates in Model UN events, in 2005 representing Cambodia and Kenya, and in 2006 representing The United States of America. In previous years, the school represented China, France, and Somalia. Turner Fenton consistently places high among Ontario schools for fundraising for the Terry Fox Run, although its totals are often eclipsed by one of its "feeder" schools, W.G. Davis Senior Public School, which, in 2005, raised over $23,000 from a school population of just over 550.

Due to its proximity to the recently constructed Powerade Centre, the OHL's Brampton Battalion hockey team members who have not yet completed high school are assigned to this school during the hockey season, returning to their home schools afterwards.

[edit] Athletic achievements

The Turner Fenton cross country team, winners of twelve straight ROPSSAA championships in the "overall team" division, pulled out another stellar performance October 25, 2003 at the Heart Lake Conservation Area. A solid showing that provincial OFSAA championships was highlighted by Santa hats for the Senior Boys team. The badminton team is also quite decent, having won a total of four medals in the 2005 season. The boys Lacrosse team won the 2006 ROPSSAA championships and went on to appear the OFSAA finals in St. Catharines, Ontario. Also the boys Baseball Team won 2006 ROPSSAA TIER II Championships. During the Late 80's and early 90s, the Trojan football teams dominated the Peel Gridiron.The senior varsity football team continues to dominate the Peel Gridiron, producing some of the best football players in Brampton. Until recent years, the school's archery team has also performed at high levels in both ROPSAA and OFSAA tournaments winning forst place on multiple occasions. The wrestling team also has a strong history with many ROPPSAA and OFSAA placings as well as team [overall] ROPPSAA wins.

[edit] Music

The music department is thriving at Turner Fenton Secondary School, with no metals disappointment at the renowned Music Fest in 2003, and an invitation to the Nationals for 2004. As the department continues to conjure its much deserved recognition, sheer numbers of enrolment have allowed the school to introduce the very popular IB level music courses. After school, students participate in the Senior Wind Ensemble, and Music council.

[edit] Culturefest

CultureFest is an annual two-day celebration of the various cultures at the school, and the Greater Toronto Area as a whole. CultureFest is compromised of various elements that all contribute to its overall success. It is composed of the Canadian, South Asian, European, West Indian/South American, Pacific Rim and African/Middle Easter pavilions. The festival is primarily focused on two major entertainment-based assemblies, as well a night performance for parents, and the community at largest. The North building cafeteria hosts displays from the pavilions presenting that day, and South cafeteria offers up ethnic foods from each region. The event was founded 15 years ago; this year the festival will run on during April.

[edit] Conferences

Turner Fenton students are renowned for their commitment to not only the school community, but also the community at large. Each year, scores of students and staff collaborate their efforts to plan leadership and skills development conferences. Noted conferences include the annual START (Students: The Active Risk Takers) leadership conference (where students from all over the GTA have the opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills and 'start' their behinds), the SOAR (Suddenly/Student Opportunities are Reachable) leadership conference for middle school students and the International Baccalaureate Mentorship Conference (IBMC). This conference is meant to introduce the newcoming Grade 9 Middle Years Programme students to the Highschool atmosphere. This year it was headed by three excpeional students, all of who are in IB. Students of TFSS are also noted for high involvement in the Peel Student Presidents' Council and the OSSSA.

[edit] Turner Fenton Robotics Team

Turner Fenton's active robotics team has participated in Canada and US FIRST competitions.

2001 - 17th place
2002 - 1st place, winner of the last SPAR Aerospace Award
2003 - 13th place out of 26 teams, disqualified
2004 - 4th place out of 75 teams at US First Robotics, eliminated in the quarter finals

[edit] Trojanfest

Turner Fenton's annual joining of local and aspiring bands in a one night performance for the school. Providing an effective media for aspiring bands, and a convenient venue for those who wish to see their favourite acts, Trojanfest is a Turner Fenton tradition that serves both audience and participants.

[edit] History

Turner Fenton Secondary School is composed of two buildings, dubbed North Hall and South Hall. Until 1992, the two buildings were each schools in their own right, the North being J. A. Turner SS, and the South being W. J. Fenton SS. W. J. Fenton was the first of the two to open in 1972, built by Val Mitchell Construction. C.A. Smith built J. A. Turner Secondary in 1974. Both buildings were designed by architect Don E. Skinner.

The rooms of the "new" North Hall are numbered 100s and 200s on the first floor and second floor, respectively; the South Hall rooms are numbered 300s on the first floor and 400s on the second floor. The portables are 500s. Each faculty department generally has its own section of the school. English, Math, Science, Business/Tech, the Library and Main Administration are in the North building. History, Moderns (French and other language studies), Geography, Arts (Dramatic, Visual, Digital, Culinary and Cosmetic). Some exceptions do apply however: Music classes are located in the North Hall although part of an integrated Arts department. Similarly, Biology classes are in the South Building. Administrative offices are split between the two buildings, with certain Vice Principals and Guidance Counselours located specifically in the South hall. The school also has two cafeterias, the North Hall cafeteria being the larger of the two. The South Hall cafeteria is less popular, but provides a different atmosphere for students. Additionally, as the South Hall was equipped to serve Culinary arts teaching, the cafeteria in the South Hall's servery allows students to volunteer to make/serve food.

Following the merger of the schools in 1992, the school was referred to officially on its main outdoor signage as 'Turner Fenton Secondary School,' however had also adopted a secondary brandname 'Turner Fenton Campus' used on school letterhead. In the early-2000s, the school board forced Turner Fenton to standardise its name, because the school had not filed the proper forms upon its creation in 1992.

[edit] Violence and threats

Over the past few years, violence at Turner Fenton has plummeted compared to three years ago. Although there is still violence in this school it is extremely rare. The following are two of the most recent violent events.

On the afternoon of Monday 20 March 2006, a group of five or six young males severely beat a fellow young male. They used a crowbar to inflict head injuries, according to police reports. The attack took place in the parking lot of a furniture store next to the school, in the Orion Gate mall, and it is as of yet unknown whether the victim knew his attacker, or if any were Turner students. As of 21 March 2006, the student was clinging to life in hospital.^[1]

An Atlanta resident looking to know how to remove hot pepper sauce stains stumbled across a web page of "instructions" on how to blow up a school, specifically Turner Fenton. The website creator, known only as "DiLiTHiUM", was supposedly a yearbook committee member and AV club member, thus having access to the boilerroom.^[2] School and police officials didn't take the threat seriously at first. The site, whose text appears on many sites, has not been updated since 2001, and was 10- to 15-years-old when discovered. Acting Inspector Gary Martin of the Peel Regional Police told The Brampton Guardian "It was a high school prank between him and a couple of buddies in a computer club. He doesn't know how it ended up on the Internet." The business owner drove directly to the police station to apologise for the "fuss", and police were satisfied enough not to charge him.^[3]

[edit] Lanyards

The Turner Fenton Lanyard and back of ID Card

The school was a part of a test project for the Peel Board, regarding the usage of ID lanyards. The card and lanyard combination was introduced in 2002, as an optional garment. However, by the time they were enforced in 2003, most students and faculty had had enough of the practice, even if they had initially supported it. During the 2004-2005 school year lanyards were enforced starting in November, 2004. Any student who was caught not wearing a lanyard would be issued a sticker which would identify them as a student. In addition, the student would be written up as 'forgetting lanyard'. After 5 times of being written up, the student would be suspended.