Kennebecasis Valley High School

Kennebecasis Valley High School (KVHS) is a secondary school that serves students from grades 9 to 12 in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Canada. It is a AAA (triple A) school because of its size, but the school prides itself on its balance of the three A's: Arts, Athletics and Academics.

History

KVHS opened its doors to students in 1975, led by then principal William (Bill) Bishop. It originally served the towns of Rothesay, Quispamsis, Hampton and much of rural Kings County, though today is mostly populated by students from Rothesay and Quispamsis. This is due in part to the opening of Hampton High School in 1992 which served the town of Hampton and much of rural Kings County. Rothesay High School was then opened in 1997 to serve the town of Rothesay. Following Mr. Bishop, the next principal was Robert Munro, and the current principal of Kennebecasis Valley High School is Peter Smith.

Kennebecasis Valley High School's logo.

Events

Rip Seeley Memorial Basketball Game

Each year KV's Varsity basketball teams compete against their rival Rothesay High in this Memorial Basketball Game. The location of the game alternates each year between the KV and Rothesay Gyms. The girls varsity teams play their game first followed by the boys game. Proceeds from the game go toward a scholarship for a student athlete.

Miller Bowl

Since 2008, when rival school Rothesay High opened the Arther Miller fields, there has been a memorial football game. The first two of the first four years of this tradition, the games were hosted at Arther Miller field. The following two seasons the games were hosted at KVHS on its own field, Usher Miller field. KVHS won each of the four games played against Rothesay High. In recent years, variations of Miller Bowl have arisen in its stead, carrying titles such as Filler Bowl and Papa John's. These are intended to honour the tradition of Miller Bowl while complying with new restrictions placed on KVHS's football team which prevent them from playing against Rothesay High after having risen to the 12-man league following two consecutive championship wins in the 10-man league.

Riverboat Basketball Tournament

The Riverboat Basketball Tournament is an event that is eagerly awaited by the student body. It showcases the varsity boys and girls basketball teams from KVHS, as well as many rival schools such as Rothesay High School, St. Stephen High School, Frederiction High School, and Woodstock High School. In recent years the tournament has expanded to include teams from other Canadian provinces such as Nova Scotia, and Quebec, and from the state of Maine. It is tradition that one boys game and one girls game takes place during class time, which allows the majority of the student body to attend and cheer on the home team. Students are charged $1 to leave class and attend the game, with proceeds supporting the athletes.

Campus Market

Since 2003, KVHS has had an annual fair which students taking the 'Entrepreneurship 110' course participate in. The market consists of students thinking up an idea of a product they want to sell and then constructing a business plan for that product. These students miss a full day of class to run their own table in the cafeteria to sell their products to passing students, as well as students whose classes have signed up to come visit the market during class time. In the past, students from Rothesay High's entrepreneurship class have been invited to partake as well. The market takes place mid-December, and as a result many of the products often relate to Christmas and the holidays.

Pink Day

One day of each year, every student wears pink clothing to school in support for breast cancer research. Despite being entirely optional, it's very uncommon to see a student dressed in anything other than pink on this day, as it has become a celebrated tradition. Each student and teacher donates one dollar to the breast cancer foundation for a walk around the school, ending with a pep-rally at which the students vote by cheering for the most pink and best dressed student. The costumes prepared for this competition are intentionally ridiculous and over the top, with an older student doing backflips in a pink-painted gas mask famously winning two years in a row.

Event Realization

KVHS has a dynamic student council known as the Leadership Team which plans and executes most events that take place at the school, also largely filling the role of a social committee. They can be seen planning, promoting, and setting up school events. The KVHS News team, which launched in 2011, provides information on school affairs and such upcoming events to students over a weekly video broadcast with the aim of encouraging an already high rate of student involvement.

Athletic achievements

• In the fall of 2010, KVHS became home to the Usher Miller turf field. This is an artificial surface with lights. It will be the home field for 4 soccer teams, 1 football team, 1 field hockey team and 2 rugby teams.
• In 1999 the Varsity Mens Soccer team won the Provincial AAA championship.
• In 2001 the Varsity Mens Soccer team won the Provincial AAA championship.
• In 2001 the Varsity Girls Rugby team won the Provincial AAA championship.
• In 2002 the Varsity Girls Rugby team won the Provincial AAA championship.
• In 2003 the Varsity Girls Rugby team won the Provincial AAA championship.
• In 2006 the Boys and Gils Curling teams won the Provincial NBIAA titles.
• In 2005 the Varsity Football team won the provincial AA championship completing their unexpected second straight undefeated season.
• In 2006 the Mixed Curling team won the Provincial NBIAA title.
• In 2007 the girls field hockey team won their second consecutive provincial title.
• In 2008 the JV Girls Basketball team defended their provincial title.
• In 2008 the Mixed Curling team won the provincial NBIAA title for a second time respectively.
• In 2010 the Varsity Football team won the provincial 10-Man AAA championship over Rothesay High School.
• In 2011 the Varsity girls Rugby team won the Provincial AAA championships over Simonds High School.
• In 2011 the Varsity Football team won the provincial 10-Man AAA championship over École Mathieu-Martin 49-48(2OT).
• In 2013 the Varsity girls Rugby team won the Provincial AAA championships
• In 2014 the Varsity girls Soccer team won the provincial championship.
• In 2014 the Varsity girls Field Hockey won the provincial championship.

Academic achievements

• In 2011, the KVHS Reach for the Top team defended their title at the national championship, topping off a 14-0 record at the national championship. They are only the second school in the history of the tournament to win back-to-back championships and have finished in the top three for five straight years. Their 28-game winning streak at Nationals (2010 and 2011) is the longest in Reach history. In the tournament, Team Captain Michael Forestell was added to the All-Star team.The team consisted of Mike Forestell (Captain), Dave MacFarquhar, Josh Outerbridge, and Kyle Mason. Alternates included Samuel Forestell, Andres Leon, Sarah Hirtle and Jack O'Connor. (http://www.reachforthetop.com/reachnews06-2011.pdf)
• In 2010, the KVHS Reach for the Top team won the national championship. KV is the second team from New Brunswick to win the title in the 45-year history of the game. The team was 60-0 in all games played including national, provincial, and invitational (UTS Event) play. This was their fourth consecutive top-3 finish at Nationals. The team consisted of Mike Forestell (Captain), Jordan Woods, Alex Maxan, and Josh Koncovy. Alternates included Dave MacFarquhar, Josh Outerbridge, and Kyle Mason.
• KVHS had defended the New Brunswick Reach for the Top Champion title since 2004, until a loss to Fredericton High School in April 2012.
• Between April 2004 and November 2011, the KVHS Reach for the Top team won 273 consecutive games (40 consecutive tournaments) in New Brunswick. This is considered to be the longest streak ever in any province.
• In April 2011, the team won their 7th straight New Brunswick Provincial Championship.
• KV's Crusaders were National Champions on CBC's SmartAsk trivia competition in 2002 and came second in the following year.
• In April 2015, the KVHS Reach for the Top team won the UTS University of Toronto Schools championship among many other teams competing in a close competition.

Artistic achievements

KVHS is known in New Brunswick for their success at the New Brunswick Drama festival every year. The theatre program was started by the original principal William Bishop. Suzanne Doyle-Yerxa then ran the theatre program at the school from 1977 to 2010 before her retirement in June 2010. That year, a scholarship was commemorated under her name: The Suzanne Doyle-Yerxa award. It is awarded to a student who plans to pursue the performing arts or creative arts as a post secondary study. KVHS has also received attention for its strong visual arts and music programs.

External links

• Kennebecasis Valley High School official website

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