| St. Mary's College | |
| Address | |
| 130 Wellington Street East Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada |
|
| Information | |
| School board | Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board |
| Language | English, French |
| Motto | Teach me Goodness, Kindness, and Knowledge |
| Mascot | Knight |
| Team name | Knights |
| Colours | Maroon and White |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Enrolment | 800+ |
St. Mary's College is a high school in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1956 by Basilian priests as an all-boys Catholic high school on St. Georges Avenue. As the school grew in popularity and size, St. Mary's began admitting girls in September 1987. That same year, the school moved into a new building (the former location of Lakeway Collegiate & Vocational School) on Wellington Street.
The mascot of St. Mary's College is a Knight, and all sports teams are now referred to as the St. Mary's Knights. Before the elimination of grade thirteen, there were three levels of competition. Senior level teams were called the Knights while the Junior level teams were the Squires and the Midget level teams were called the Lancers.
In 2006 St. Mary's celebrated its 50th anniversary. A long running tradition at St. Mary's College is "Pennies from Heaven" which raises money each Christmas season to be donated to various charities. In 2008-2009 Pennies from heaven raised roughly $18,000, through organized school functions and concerts. The St. Mary's Knights senior football team has won the now defunct Central Bowl (one of the highest football achievements in Ontario) on three separate occasions. As well, they have won the Northern Bowl, (the Bowl game that replaced the Central Bowl), three times with head coach and St. Mary's College alumni Marty Smith. St. Mary's is noted for having many great achievements in sports, and is one of the top competitors at NOSSA (Northern Ontario Secondary School Athletics), and also in OFSSA (Ontario Federation of Secondary School Athletics|. The St.Mary's Knight's also won both NOSSA and OFSSA Hockey Championships consecutively the past 2 years.
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St. Mary's College is home to many local, district, regional, and provincial athletic achievements. The St. Mary's College hockey team is back to back NOSSA and OFSAA champions (2009 & 2010) while the SMC Senior Football program holds many NOSSA and OFSAA championships. The 2003 SMC Senior Football team won the City of Sault Ste. Marie Medal of Merit, the most prestigious municipal award. St. Mary's College also competes in local junior football leagues as well as junior and senior men's and women's basketball. Volleyball is offered to females in the junior and senior category. St. Mary's College also has notable teams in badminton, soccer, cross country, and holds many records in track and field. Intermural sports include dodge ball, floorball and soccer.
Students at St. Mary's College teamed up to produce a self endorsing video in 2009. The video, which showcased the many programs and experiences St. Mary's College offers, has received over 30 000 views on Youtube to date, and sparked local challenges from media outlets. The video which was fully endorsed by the students also became a common topic with alumni. The video starts at an entrance of the school, continues to do a tour of the first and second floor, while showcasing various subjects, organizations, and groups the St. Mary's College family is proud of. The video which is just over 7 minutes long and features The Black Eyes Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" concludes in the gym where the faculty and students engage in a choreographed dance and 2 school cheers.
Students and staff at St. Mary's College team up and reach out to their school community and the local community at large for 3 weeks in December every year. Pennies From Heaven raises $18 000+ every year with the highest tally being over $21 000. All proceeds go towards helping community organizations, and sometimes a student from SMC in need due to an illness as well as the vital school Breakfast Program. Students have daily activities during lunch breaks and school time where students pay an entrance/registration fee. The most notable event is Mr. SMC, a bachelor pageant involving 20 male students, with a female who escorts the male on stage. Students must show a talent, answer questions, and do sometimes embarrassing dares, all in the spirit of charity and the prestigious Mr. SMC crown. Pennies from Heaven runs the first 3 weeks of December every year Don't be surprised if you see students fighting the winter cold in penny and star costumes along Wellington Street asking for donations for the charitable cause.