Pickering High School, Ajax

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Pickering High School

Motto	"Enter To Learn, Go Forth To Serve"
Principal	Mrs. A Taylor
Type	Secondary School
Grades	9-12
Population	1500
Built	1951 "2009 Renovated"
Address	180 Church Street N
City	Ajax (Pickering Village)
Province & Country	Ontario Canada
Fax Number	(905) 683-0491
Telephone Number	(905) 683-4760

Pickering High School is a Canadian high school located in Ajax, Ontario within the Durham District School Board. Specifically, the school is found in historical Pickering Village, Ontario. The school has students in grades 9-12, and offers both Gifted and French immersion classes.

The school is traditionally known for its excellent academics, strong football, basketball, and track and field teams.

Pickering High is also well known for its great achievements in a low violence rating. In 2002, student fired a shot at front wall of the school. No one was hurt and the student was charged and expelled. In October 2007, a portable was set on fire. Again, no one got hurt. After the 2007 strike with the EA's, Janitors, etc., Pickering High School has become one of the cleanest & safest high schools in Durham.

The Senior Reach team (consisting of 4 Grade 12 students and one Grade 11) placed first in the 2007-2008 Durham Regional SchoolReach tournament. This means that they advance on to the provincials in May at Centennial College. They are currently in 7th place out of 42, meaning they advance to the Provincial Finals of the top 10 teams, which are being filmed on Monday and Tuesday May 12 and 13 at the TVO studios in Toronto.

1 Events
2 Sports
3 Provincial Track & Field Titles - OFSAA Champions
4 Notable alumni
5 External links

[edit] Events

The school runs many annual events, from common events such as dances and talent shows to student-made movie showings. Some more notable and unique ones are:

Food Frenzy: A "buy-in" event, where students pay to spend half a day outside to consume food, listen to local bands perform, and participate in events and games run by the school's various clubs. Funds raised go to each club or group.

East Meets West: Students organize a show and express the cultures of India and the West Indies (hence East meets West). Students do not have to be from either culture and may wish to join to expand their cultural understanding.

Music Marathon: The various instrumental and vocal groups put on performances from the beginning of the day, cycling each ensemble throughout the school day ensuring that performances are running each period. At night, another concert is performed for the parents of the students, or any others who may wish to come and listen. During the period between the end of class and the beginning of the night performance, various individuals or groups display their individual talents. From beginning to end, the event lasts for about 12 hours.

BattleChess: A new tradition at PHS for the last couple of years is the annual BattleChess, or "Living Chess", played with thirty two live players in costume on a giant board.

Renovations: Pickering High School has been given $20 million for renovations that are currently undergoing until late 2009. Among the planned additions and changes are a new cafetorium, gymnasium,swimming pool, parking lots, 400m track, with practice fields, and new hallways with all new classrooms and workshops on both the main and upper levels. 250,000ft² of added on building, see construction plans at the front doors of the school for more details.

High School Hockey Buy Out at Village arena.

[edit] Sports

Pickering High's senior football team won the 2005 Metro Bowl, making them the best high school football team in Ontario. At the 2006 Metro Bowl, the team lost to the Kerry Blues of St. Michael, who they lost to in 2004. The Pickering High senior football team is considered best in the Durham Region, according to an article in the Toronto Star (2007).

In 2007 the senior boys Basketball team won gold 47-52 against Eastern Commerce in Hamilton at the OFSAA campionships.

The Pickering High sports teams have produced many professional and Olympic athletes. The school has many former professional and former Olympic athletes as coaches: