Alexander Mackenzie High School

Alexander Mackenzie High School
Address
300 Major Mackenzie Dr. W. Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4C 3S3 Canada
Coordinates	43°52′12″N 79°26′50″W / 43.87000°N 79.44722°W / 43.87000; -79.44722Coordinates: 43°52′12″N 79°26′50″W / 43.87000°N 79.44722°W / 43.87000; -79.44722
Information
School type	High school
Religious affiliation(s)	Secular
Founded	1969
School board	York Region District School Board
Superintendent	Karen Friedman[1]
Area trustee	Diane Giangrande[2]
Principal	Debra Conrad-Knight[3]
Vice principal	Otilia Olteanu and Jay Perri[4]
Grades	9 to 12
Enrollment	1029[5] (October 2013)
Language	English
Colour(s)	Blue & Yellow
Team name	Mustangs
Website	www.alexandermackenzie.hs.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Last updated: March 23, 2006

Alexander Mackenzie High School is a public secondary school with classes for students in grades 9 through 12, located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The school opened in 1969 as Don Head Secondary School and was renamed Alexander Mackenzie High School in 1992, in honour of Major Addison Alexander Mackenzie, a well-known Richmond Hill resident and philanthropist.

The school mascot is the Mustang. The AMHS Cricket team has won the YRAA championship for the past two years. The rugby teams are also rated very highly as they are perennial contenders for the YRAA championship.

The school offers Advanced Placement courses for senior students.

It was announced in October 2008 that AMHS will join Huron Heights S.S., Unionville High School, and Westmount Collegiate as one of the four high schools in York Region to offer a specialized arts program.

Facilities

The original school building was built in 1969 and in 1992 a new wing was added in order to accommodate both the increase in student population and the change in school program. A second addition of 10 classrooms opened in the spring of 2002.

Character Matters

In 2003, the Town of Richmond Hill contributed 10 "Character Matters" signs to the school as part of an initiative that encourages young adults to become more involved in their community. This event featured guest speaker Wendel Clark, the former Toronto Maple Leafs Captain.^[6]

Departments

Drama

The Alexander Mackenzie High School is has a regional arts program that includes drama. Students take four years of drama classes and are taught by artists and professionals who have been in the film or stage industry. Guest speakers are brought in for workshops, such as acting for film and stage combat. Students are also given opportunities to expand their portfolios through class assignments, local festivals such as The Sears Drama Festival, and exposure to new forms of stage and film.

Music

The Alexander Mackenzie High School Music Department offers courses in instrumental band, strings, vocal music, classical guitar, piano, and musical theatre. Approximately 30% of the students at AMHS are involved in the music program. The senior or "Symphonic Band" is well decorated and consistently attains gold or platinum in competitions. However, the music program also leads many other ensembles for both singers and students playing instruments, such as concert band, intermediate band, jazz band, man choir, women's choir, chamber choir, concert choir (Mackenzie singers), jazz choir, and many more. There are many talented students among these ensembles and in the music program.

Art

Art is one of the four departments apart of the newly welcomed Arts Program at Alexander Mackenzie High School. A vast part of the school displays the extraordinary art the students have to offer.

Notable Alumni

Ramin Karimloo

See also

• List of high schools in Ontario

References and notes

External links

• Official site