R. H. King Academy

R. H. King Academy (formerly R. H. King Collegiate Institute)
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We care, we strive, we serve Per ardua Sapientia Through hard task of wisdom
Address
3800 St. Clair Avenue East Cliffcrest, Scarborough, Ontario, M1M 1V3
Coordinates
Information
School type	Public High school Alternative magnet High school
Founded	1922
School board	Toronto District School Board (Scarborough Board of Education)
Oversight	Toronto Lands Corporation
Superintendent	Kerry-Lynn Stadnyk
Area trustee	Parthi Kandavel
School number	4148 / 937266
Administrator	Shanta Das
Principal	David Rowan
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1219 (2014-15)
Language	English
Colour(s)	Black, Navy Blue, Light Blue, Green and Gold
Mascot	Kingsley lion
Team name	King Lions
Newspaper	Kingsley Voice
Yearbook	The Bluff
Affiliation	Secular
Website	rhkingacademy.ca

R. H. King Academy (also called R. H. King, RHKA, RHK or King); formerly named R. H. King Collegiate Institute, Scarborough Collegiate Institute and Scarborough High School is a secondary school (and a de facto alternative school) located in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario and is part of the Scarborough Board of Education that was merged in 1998 into the Toronto District School Board. Founded in 1922 as Scarborough High School, the school became Scarborough Collegiate Institute in 1930, before becoming R. H. King Collegiate Institute in 1954 and renamed again to R. H. King Academy in 1989. King was the first secondary school built in the region of what was then known as the township of Scarborough and second-oldest surviving institution in the Scarborough district, after Agincourt Collegiate Institute. The motto for R. H. King Academy is '"Per ardua Sapientia" (Through hard task of wisdom).

History

File:RHKCI Plaque.jpg

The inscription of the plaque written by the Scarborough Historical Society dated 1977.

Scarborough High School (1922–1929)

R. H. King could trace back as far as In 1919 when the Township Council of Scarborough received a letter from the City of Toronto that it would soon have to turn away students from Scarborough wishing to attend Malvern Collegiate Institute. A council of public school trustees decided to form a High School District, but this was unheard of for a rural community such as Scarborough. There was no provision in the High School Act, so legislation was put through the offices of George S. Henry, Member of Provincial Parliament. The Government of Ontario passed the legislation and Scarborough High School was born. The first Board of Trustees was set up by the end of 1919.

The Board finally made the move to begin construction in 1922. The Board of Trustees purchased seven acres of land from the Pherrill Estate for $14,000 and on June 29, 1922, the cornerstone was laid for the new building. The next requirement was to find a principal and staff for the new school.

After reviewing many qualified applicants, the Board chose Reginald H. King for the position of principal. He was a man who served the military during World War I and was a Classics Specialist. King, the first principal, served 32 years, although his teaching career began in Newmarket, Ontario. The school building was not ready but classes began September 6, 1922, in the basement of Birch Cliff Congregational Church with King, three staff members and 116 students. Designed by the architects Burden, Gouinlock, and Carter, the school building finally opened for classes on November 11 and the official opening was on December 15, 1922.

Scarborough H.S. took pride in its history from the beginning, recording its events in an annual edition of the local newspaper "The Advertiser". It wasn't until 1928 that Scarborough High School had its own yearbook, "The Scarborough Bluff", celebrating its first 5 years, published in cooperation with the "Agincourt Sense-or", for Agincourt Continuation School.

By 1928, the school population grew to 300, with new Commercial courses being offered and talk of expansion.

Scarborough Collegiate Institute (1930–1954)

In January 1930, Scarborough High School went through its first change of many, to officially become Scarborough Collegiate Institute. This brought about more growth and the first addition to the school in 1932, despite The Great Depression. As time went on, though, the Depression began to take hold and the financial position of the Township changed. The population of the school continued to grow but the Township could no longer pay the teachers' salaries. To maintain the education of the students and the well being of the staff, teachers were paid with food stamps in order to provide food for their families.

Beginning in 1939, there was a new challenge for the students of Scarborough Collegiate-World War II. As another war began in Europe, a new call for soldiers went out and S.C.I. responded with spirit. Students and staff of S.C.I., by the war's end, had invested over $25,000 in War Saving Certificates and close to $5,000 for overseas parcels and the Scarborough Red Cross. Many SCI students were decorated with medals or honours for their efforts and in 1946, there was a party for those 600 people who returned. SCI had also paid a price for the war. The 62 students who died were greatly missed by their families and friends. They are remembered in the War Memorial in the school and annually at the Remembrance Day Assembly.

In 1947, Scarborough Collegiate Institute celebrated its first 25 years, with a dance, cake and special magazine. S.C.I. had grown into a school with a strong tradition in sports such as Hockey, Basketball, Rugby, Student Clubs and some new problems - Double Shifts. The Double Shift was a programme that continued until 1952 when the next addition was completed. The Double Shifts were as follows:

• The first shift for Grades 9 and 10 started at 8 am and ran until 1 pm.
• The second shift for Grades 11, 12 and 13 started classes at 1 pm and ran until 6 pm.

The same teachers taught the whole day and to make matters more challenging, the power was turned off at 4 pm to save electricity. Light for the remainder of the day came from two lanterns hanging in the middle of the class, with the teacher giving individual instruction. Due to space constraints, classes also took place in the halls and in sections of the cafeteria.

The 1952-53 year brought new facilities such as the library (the Heritage room), a new gym (Gym 3) and classroom space. The enlarged annex was designed by the architects Carter and Coleman. SCI was still growing at an incredible rate because in 1954 the double shift programme was re-introduced temporarily until new facilities were complete.

R. H. King Collegiate Institute (1954–1989)

In 1954, R. H. King, who had been principal for the past 32 years, became the director for the newly formed Scarborough Board of Education. His close friend and vice-principal William A. Porter became principal, until his death in 1956. With this changing of the guard came the change of the school name: R. H. King Collegiate Institute.

This new era in education saw growth all over Scarborough. Over the years, the growing population necessitated many additions and improvements to the original building which in turn led to several schools erected surrounding it under his watch - Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute (1954), W.A. Porter Collegiate Institute (1958), David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute (1959) and Cedarbrae Secondary School (1961) - although his successor Anson S. Taylor continue to see the schools nearby established: Midland Avenue Secondary School (1962), Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute (1964) and Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute (1965) along with two vocational schools for the challenged (Bendale Secondary School in 1963 and Tabor Park Vocational School in 1965). Some staff and students of the old S.C.I. transferred to these new sites of higher learning. This breathing space for R. H. King C.I. allowed the rebirth of some clubs and activities that had been postponed due to "double shifting".

The Scarborough Board announced in the 1960s to replace R.H. King Collegiate's outdated structures due to fire hazards in the ceilings and floors for its $5.7 million replacement 1900 pupil campus. King was second behind Weston Collegiate Institute in the adolescence list because the vocational art course were offered for 400 students due to pressures at Cedarbrae and Thomson Collegiates. Later in 1976, the cafetorium and pool were added in the western section where the original parking lot stood and the older 1922 sections were partially demolished.

In 1972, R. H. King C. I. celebrated its 50th anniversary.

R. H. King Academy (1989-present)

During the 1989-90 school year, the school was given academy status by the Scarborough Board of Education, thus rebranding itself as R.H. King Academy because of its possible threatening closure due to declining enrollment (and to the extent, possible transfer of the school to the Metropolitan Separate School Board (which is now called the Toronto Catholic District School Board) if it were to house the students from nearby Cardinal Newman due to the provincial law that extended funding to Catholic high schools). The school was also given partial "special status" as an alternative school, meaning the school was not deemed automatically as a home-school for students residing nearby. "In area" students were granted the first available spaces, but could opt to go to one of the other near-by high schools if the "Academy" system was not what they wanted. Additional spaces were available after this first group of in area students were registered. These spaces would go to students from "out of area". There ware no specific "academic" requirements for admission to King, but students and their parents did need to agree to abide by the Academy's uniform and other policies. During the first 4 or 5 years of the Academy, there were "line-ups" for "out of area" registration. Parents would even come the day before to get a spot in line. These line-ups began to become a bit of a marketing problem for the board of education (but a boon to King), so a more equitable system where students were selected through a lottery-system was established. A local uniform provider "Earth River Naturals" was an initial supplier, but currently a larger Canadian retailer R. J. McCarthy is providing the uniforms for King students. The uniform is mandated for all students.

King has won three Canada Awards for Excellence from the National Quality Institute.

In 2005, King implemented a new Leadership Pathway program in which students applying for first year can opt to apply for Leadership Pathway admission. Program admission requirements are applicable and enrollment in the program requires students to complete more tasks, such as an additional 25 hours of Ontario Community Involvement hours and taking an active part in at least 2 leadership councils each year. The first group of students who entered the program graduated in 2009.

At the end of the 2012-13 school year, King turned their Heritage Room, a university-style lecture room that was the school's original library, into the Tommy Jutcovich Heritage Room. It was named after the school's long standing principal, Tommy Juctovich, who left the school after a tenure which saw the school rise to one of the top public schools in Toronto. Tommy remains an inspiration to the school and all of his adoring graduates.

Overview

The school is situated in the mixed attendance boundaries shared with David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute and Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute, as portions of the area were inherited from Midland Avenue Collegiate Institute which was closed in 2000. Feeder schools for R. H. King are John A. Leslie Public School, Bliss Carman Senior Public School, Anson Park Public School, and (since 2000), Robert Service Senior Public School.

Building

File:RHKCI Archway - Girls.jpg

The original entrance archway.

The building design of R. H. King has changed significantly. The structure was initially built in the shape of an "H" when seen from the air. The auditorium of the school was later repaired after it was damaged by fire. The school's addition was built in 1952 as renovation after the fire, changing the school from its original "H" shape. The original library which was located on the top floor was later relocated into the newly built east portion. The older sections, with the exception of the entrance arch that was the Girls' entrance, were demolished in 1976 and was converted into the eastern parking lot.

The school, in addition to the library, is built in the 12.4 acres with 191,552 sq. ft of space has more than 40 academic classrooms, six science labs, two dance studios, a drama room, three gymnasia (two large gym with the partition wall and one small gym), a cafetorium, a 25m swimming pool, two art rooms, and shops for wood, manufacturing, and automotives. There are seven portables and 19 fire exits. Because of the building's strange design, the wings consist of blocks A and B which is the main entrance, with C, D and E in the eastern side. However, there are two entrances to the school which has the western entrance (Door #1) and the eastern entrance (Door #18) for accessibility because the school has no elevators in place. Navy blue, light blue, grey, teal, and light green are the colours of the lockers. King is one of five collegiates to have a cafetorium built in lieu of standard auditoriums. It also has the 400m six-lane race track and football/soccer field.

The second archway which was the Boys' entrance, now resides at the Guild Inn.

A urban legend exists that a janitor committed suicide in the 1940s because of overwork. The myth is kept alive by staff as a stairwell of the school has been restricted for use by anyone for several years. It is believed that the janitor's "ghost" may have set the fire in anger. It is also believed that the library may have been relocated for this reason as the old library (now called the Heritage Room) has an entrance to the stairwell (currently unused) where the janitor allegedly committed his suicide.

Academics

King students are obligated to do more community service hours than that mandated by the province high school students. They are assigned Independent Study Unit (ISU) projects throughout the semester, and are obliged to complete a minimum of 75 hours of community service versus the normal TDSB level of 40 hours; students in the Leadership strand are required to complete 100 hours. R.H. King Academy also honors students who have an annual 80% average, and awards a Gold K to students maintaining an 85% annual average. The highest honour at RH King Academy is the Vestri Taedam Tollere Award, which is given to the student who has obtained the highest average in grade 9, 11, and 12 of each year. At commencement, the most intelligent grade 12 student passes a candle to the most intelligent grade 9 student as a symbol of learning. Likewise, at Academy Awards, the most intelligent grade 11 student passes a candle to the most intelligent grade 9 student.

Students are encouraged to take part in leadership groups and teams, where they fund and become involved in various causes and events throughout the community. Recently, R.H. King leadership groups are involved in the following events:

• Red Ribbon Campaign for HIV and AIDS awareness, prevention, and treatment
• Events to recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21)
• Daffodil Campaign for the Canadian Cancer Society
• Hoops for Heart Fund-raiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
• Relay for Life for the Canadian Cancer Society
• 30 Hour Famine for World Vision
• Vow of Silence for Free the Children
• Brick by Brick Campaign for Free the Children

In addition, funds raised during events like the Multi-cultural night are contributed often to support causes and charities around the world.

Coat of arms

R. H. King Academy is one of the few schools in Canada that has its own official (granted by the Governor General of Canada) coat of arms. Created during the 2002/2003 academic year in conjunction with the school's 80th anniversary with the principal design work done by S. Bolter, one of the art teachers teaching at the institution, its symbols are designed to signify the core values of the Academy:

• The arches - a historical symbol of the school. The arches is the only remaining part of the original 1922 building that still stands on the front lawn of the school.
• Trillium flowers - representing the province of Ontario.
• Chestnuts - a symbol of knowledge.
• Bluffs/Water - signifying its location and proximity to the Scarborough Bluffs
• Lions - The mascot of the school is Kingsley, a lion. It also represents pride and ties to the British lion.
• DILIGIMUS, QUAERIMUS, SERVIMUS - The school's motto, in Latin (We Care, We Strive, We Serve).

Notable alumni

• Nick St. Nicholas - bassist, Steppenwolf

See also

• List of high schools in Ontario

External links

• R. H. King Academy
• TDSB Profile