Strathroy District Collegiate Institute

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Old SDCI's back
The Old SDCI's back
The front of the old SDCI
The front of the old SDCI

Strathroy District Collegiate Institute (SDCI) is one of two secondary schools in Strathroy, Ontario. It is a public high school in the Thames Valley District School Board. It has approximately 1350 students and 86 teachers. The students come from the local township of Strathroy-Caradoc as well as Mount Brydges and surrounding rural areas. SDCI offers a full academic program to a wide variety of students. They also offer full programs in business and computers, technology, music, drama, visual arts, family studies and co-operative education. More information about their academic and athletic programs are available at their website.

A new facility was opened in the fall of 2002 in a unique shared building with the Catholic school Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School. The two schools share some facilities, including the 4 gyms, the library, the cafetorium, the auditorium, computer labs, technology labs, and various other classrooms, while also maintaining completely separate schools. SDCI's principal is Mr. Ron Newnes.

[edit] The new SDCI

On September 3, 2002 over 1000 students, staff and alumni walked with the director, Bill Bryce from the old school site at 96 Kittridge Street some 3.2 kilometres to the new building at 361 Second Street. They walked behind a huge student made banner declaring that “SDCI LIVES ON".

In honour of its alumni, SDCI has named three of its classrooms after famous graduates. Two history classrooms, room 249 and 247, have been named after Sir Arthur Currie and James T. Shotwell. The music room has been named after Don Wright. These classrooms are those of history teachers John Brennan and Brian Anderson, and music teachers Rick Rogozinski and Greg Mainprize.

During the 2004-2005 school year, three portable classrooms were brought to SDCI. To this date, there are 14 portables on site, making SDCI the school with the most portables in the board. After 2 years of lobbying, Strathroy was granted an addition, to be completed by January 2008. Construction started on November 13, 2006 at two different sites. The north addition was opened to students on November 5, 2007, and has 14 academic classrooms, as well as a newly renovated existing wing to accommodate SDCI's growing developmental program. The other addition includes a new gym, a greenhouse, and specialty rooms for hospitality and technology. Many of the portables at the school are now not used, for the exception of "PLC" classrooms during lunch hours.

The school's principal Ron Newnes will be retiring after the 2007-2008 year, along with one of the vice principals, Joan Cooper.

[edit] Alumni