Vaughan Road Academy
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Vaughan Road Academy |
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| Motto | In Medium Quaesita Reponunt (They lay up in store for common use whatever they have gained) |
| Established | 1927 |
| Type | Public (Toronto District School Board) |
| Principal | Suzanna Greenaway |
| Students | 1000 |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Colours | Blue, Red, and Gold |
| Mascot | Vaughan Road Viper |
| Website | http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/vaughanroad/ |
Vaughan Road Academy (VRA) is one of the few Toronto IB World Schools. Vaughan Road is situated at the Vaughan Road and Winona Drive intersection close to Oakwood Avenue and southwest of Forest Hill. It offers the IB Middle Years Programme and works in partnership with Arlington Middle School, J.R. Wilcox and Cedervale Community Schools, and also offers the IB Diploma Programme for students in grades 11 and 12. Apart from the International Baccalaureate,in which it is best known for, it also has Cooperative Education and INTERACT programs. The school's main defense against any violence is the use of mandatory school uniforms and the Empowered Student Partnership program (or E.S.P.). Vaughan Road Academy has started to make a name for itself by its diverse range of academic and non-academic programs. It is committed to creating a school community that will enable students to learn, to strive for excellence, and to participate as responsible citizens in a pluralistic society.
The school's current principal is Suzanna Greenaway and current vice principals are Elizabeth Addo and Rita Betro. The IB coordinator is Anthony Masciello and INTERACT coordinators are Doug Gowen and Kim Janzen.
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[edit] Core Values
Vaughan Road Academy supposedly believes in:
Fostering mutual respect and a belief in the dignity and worth of all people.
Nurturing the intellectual, physical, and social potential of all students.
Providing a caring, positive, and safe environment.
Utilizing a disciplined approach that enables students to acquire the basic skill and knowledge to function productively in our information-based society.
Providing a challenging curriculum that promotes the development of reflective, creative, and critical thinking skills.
Providing students with the opportunity to learn both co-operatively and independently.
Promoting involvement in the community by both students and staff.
Enhancing the students' enthusiasm and commitment to life-long learning.
[edit] School Programs
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program, originated from Geneva, Switzerland is an internationally recognized program for over thirty years. It was adopted by Vaughan Road Academy in 1998 and ever since then, the school has prospered greatly from the program. When earning the IB Diploma, students also earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (O.S.S.D.)which increases a student's chance of acceptance into prestigious universities world-wide greatly.
The INTERACT program is for students in the school who are heavily involved in the arts or athletics. The program enables students to have flexible schedules to accommodate their auditions, rehearsals, performances, competitions, etc. It lets the student pursue their interests but also keep up in their academics. The program is mostly done in small group settings and whenever possible, the teachers can design assignments that incorporate the student's interest in it as well (such as a history assignment researching on the music of a certain historical era because the student is interested in music).
Co-operative Education or Co-op is a structured method of combining academic education with practical work experience. It's a 4 credit semester program and at Vaughan Road, it is offered in: World of Work (3) and Business English (1). The program is open to all students 16 years of age who plan to attend community college or university, as well as students who plan to work immediately after graduation. This program offers youth to "try out" a career while they can still afford the chance to explore, gain and develop good work habits and experience for the future, and test their skills and knowledge learnt at school in the work place.
Empowered Student Partnership or E.S.P. was launched in October 2002 and since then 110 high schools have registered to be apart of it including Vaughan Road Academy. It challenges schools citywide to make a difference in their community and tackles issues through many creative, student-driven initiatives.
Being in E.S.P. means that students along with the Toronto Police Service,the Canadian Safe School Network, ProAction, the City of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest, and Conseil scolaire de district Catholique Centre-Sud work together to execute a safe schools initiative in their local schools and communities. Students are empowered to take the necessary steps or actions to solve problems specific to their school with the option of utilizing programs or guest speakers, available to them through the Police Coordinator at Community Programs, Youth Services. It has made Vaughan Road Academy less susceptible to violence and encouraged students to promote safety within their school and community at large.
[edit] Athletics
Vaughan Road Academy has teams for the following sports:
- Badminton
- Ball Hockey
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Broomball
- Cricket
- Cross-country running
- Hockey
- Rugby
- Skiing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Touch Football
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
- Dance
Vaughan Road competes in TDSSAA and OFSAA
[edit] History
The following is from the Vaughan Road Alumni Association website:
[edit] Founding
Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute was the first High School built in York Township, the forerunner of the Borough of York . This working man’s suburb never quite reached the appeal and panache of the City of Toronto but never-the-less, it was home to many hard working citizens. Recently the Borough of York was swallowed in the final act of Amalgamation.
Construction of VRCI was commenced July 2.,1926 and the cornerstone laid by the Lieutenant-Governor Col. Henry Cockshutt on Saturday September 18.,1926. George Evans the first principal served from the beginning in 1926 until 1957. Evans was a remarkable person. His ability to select and manage outstanding teachers was legend. His vision of VRCI was un-interrupted throughout his tenure but above all, under a stern staid facade there beat the heart of an athlete, a scholar and a wonderfully warm human being.
On April 25, 1927 the students moved into the school from temporary quarters in portables at Rawlinson Public School. ACTA STUDENTIUM reported the school to be “lavish” .
[edit] War Time & Depression
During the early development of the school great moments of history intervened to assist in building the school spirit and character. The early twenties, the period soon after the First World War had robbed the world of thousands of young men saw a new hope for civilization. The relative boom period of growth produced newly affluent families with dreams of a better life. Many of whose hopes were dashed by the Stock Market Crash of 1929 . The thirties saw Vaughan Road Collegiate struggle and grow in stature, both academic and athletic and as the economy started to turn around yet again hopes for a rosy future again grew. In 1939 these were dashed as the War commenced and the flower of Vaughan’s youth rushed to enroll in the services.
If the character and lives of Vaughan Roaders had been shaped by the hardships of the Great Depression, the Second World War produced another crop of young aspiring citizens, intent on helping the war effort at home.
For obvious reasons, The War Years at Vaughan were different and unique. Yet, at the same time, with the war related changes and shortages, the school and staff struggled to maintain a semblance of normalcy.
With many teachers leaving for war duties, qualified replacements produced regular classroom activities. Much was the same: daily class periods, frequent exams, tea dances in the gym, Friday football games against hated Runnymede, East York Collegiate Institute, Etobicoke Collegiate Institute and York Memorial teams. And, during these troubled times, the Vaughan Road teams were very good, as both Seniors and Juniors won TDIAA titles. War or no war, daily school life went on.
But the War brought major changes... The many paper and aluminum drives led by the irrepressible Mr. Cunningham; the sombre assemblies with the dramatic reading of the names of missing, or Killed in Action; the many Vaughan girls donating their time to The Christie Street Hospital, or dancing with the handsome Norwegians at Little Norway, on the Lakeshore; the appearance of past students at the school in uniform, usually just before they were sent overseas; almost all of the girls knitting balaclavas, mitts, socks, and scarves for The Red Cross. Additionally, a major benefit of those times was that because of all the war related activities, there was a much greater feeling of closeness and comradery between the students and teachers.
The human chemistry of The War Years was very strong and binding. Even to-day, 55 years later, many of that ‘War group’ are still in almost daily contact with each other.
Yes, The War Years were special. As principal George Evans wrote in the 1946 ACTA - “We must not forget that one teacher and almost one hundred of our boys have paid the supreme sacrifice for freedom’s cause. May we be worthy of a sacrifice so great and may we in the days to come use the privileges and opportunities, so dearly bought, for lofty and noble ends.”
[edit] School Motto
In Medium Quaesita Reponunt
The English Translation: They lay up in store for common use whatever they have gained
[edit] Significance
The Latin comes from Virgil's Georgics in the book where he describes the Commonwealth of Bees. The bees are wandering widely over field and stream, searching for the sweet juices of plants which they may extract and bring back to the hive for storage. They are searching for these juices not only that they may have food for themselves, but also that they may contribute equally towards the common support. Drones who do not work nor gather honey are not allowed in the hive. All are busy in search of honey, and ultimately, all share in what has been collected.
Applied to us as students, the motto suggests that we are all here for the purpose of searching for and acquiring the knowledge and skills which may ultimately be used for the benefit of the community at large. We study subjects such as English, Mathematics, Sciences, Social Sciences, the Languages, and Business, so that in the future our skills may be used in service to society. The word "Quaesita" suggests effort sustained over a long period of time and also the application of all our powers of mind towards the attainment of a purpose. The words "In Medium" show that the purpose is not a selfish one that we are aiming to prepare ourselves for service to society.
[edit] School Song
Colours red and blue and gold
Vaughan Road Academy we hail
For your honour we uphold
The torch and we'll never fail
Raise your glorious banner high
And forever let them fly
Cherr, cheer all cheer
Shout for all your might V.R.A.!
(Originally, the words Vaughan Road Academy and V.R.A. were Vaughan Road C.I. and V.R.C.I., respectively. They rhymed, then.)
[edit] School Architecture
VRA, or Vaughan as it is affectionately known, is unique in the architectural design of the edifice that houses it; which from above appears as a near-isosceles right angle triangle with enclosed courtyard (in which a daycare for Vaughan students' children operates) of the same shape; the overall aerial view's reminiscence of The Pentagon lending the building the moniker "The Triagon". While the school letter is predictably "V" as chosen from the Latin alphabet, the lesser-known Greek school letter, Delta, is derived from the building's shape; as in the sciences Delta denotes change, this choice reflects the schools always-progressive attitude towards education.
[edit] Alumni
Some of Vaughan Road Academy's notable alumni include: Don Harron -Actor, Author, Broadcaster
Dr. Michael W. Higgins - Educator, Author, President and Vice Chancellor, St. Jerome's University (U of W)
William Hutt (actor) - Actor, Director,Companion of the Order of Canada (1969),Order of Ontario (1992),First recipient of the Governor General’s Lifetime Achievement Award, English Stage (1992),Shakespeare Globe’s Sam Wanamaker Award for most outstanding contribution to the world of Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre (1998)
Dr. Robert Kerbel - Physician, Medical Researcher,Director of Molecular and Cell Biology Research, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre,John and Elizabeth Tory Professor of Experimental Oncology (U of T)
Hr. Justice William D. Lyon - Chief Judge of the District Court of Ontario
Anne Michaels - Author, winner of the Trillium Prize, the Chapters/Books in Canada First Novel Award, the Beatrice and Martin Fischer Award and the Orange Prize
Dr. Arthur L. Schawlow - Research Scientist, Educator, Nobel Laureate (1981),Professor of Physics, Emeritus, Stanford University
Dr. Michael V. Sefton -Research Scientist, Educator, director of Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (U of T),Professor of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry (U of T),recipient of Century of Achievement Award by the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering in 1999
Dr. F. Dow Smith -Research Scientist, Businessman, Educator, President of the New England College of Optometry,Chairperson of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Vision,Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Optometry, and the Optical Society of America.
Al Waxman - Actor, Broadcaster, Author, philanthropist,Order of Ontario (1996), Order of Canada (1997)
