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College Heights wins Premier’s Award for Accepting Schools

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release
June 10, 2013

Guelph, Ontario: Guelph’s College Heights Secondary School has won a Premier’s Award for Accepting Schools for its work in creating a safe, inclusive and accepting school environment. The award was presented to the school’s Safe and Inclusive School’s team by Minister of Education Liz Sandals on Friday June 7, 2013.

The team worked together to develop innovative programs to boost school spirit by getting students engaged and excited through projects that involved the school grounds, bullying prevention and showcasing art throughout the school. This led to the student’s redeveloping a sense of pride in the school, while boosting student achievement, involvement and an enhanced sense of community.

In presenting the award, Minister Sandals said, “Safe and Accepting Schools Teams, like this one in Guelph, create a school community in which all students feel safe and accepted in an environment where they can thrive.”

The school’s team is composed of students Aaron H. and Sarah C., Parent Council Chair Barb McGee Turner, teacher Kevin Taylor, Child and Youth Counsellor Kevin Dorscht, Constable Dave Warren (as the High School Resource Officer and a community representative), as well as Principal Stephen Gayfer and Vice-principal Ian Main.

“I am very proud of this school,” commented Principal Stephen Gayfer. “We strive to be a community that accepts and celebrates diversity from all our members.”

The school has some of the strongest EQAO grade 9 applied math results in the province. Teachers and students engaged in one-on-one and group work to earn the school a success rate of 81% in the 2011-12 school year compared with 44% for the province. Suspensions have dropped, and credit accumulation is rising.

For more information on the Premier’s Awards and additional information on the school go to http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/2013award.html#college.

For more information: 

Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer
519-822-4420 ext. 725
[email protected]

Mark Weidmark, Administrative Officer – Communications
519-822-4420 ext. 544
[email protected]

Categories: Media Releases