School type Secondary School Principal Scot Bishop Enrollment 1611 (Sept 2013) Mascot Martin The Spartan | Founded 1967 Grades 9 to 12 Phone +1 519-821-0360 Province Ontario | |
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Motto Palma Per Ardua
(Latin: "Success through hard work") Address 289 College Ave W, Guelph, ON N1G 1S9, Canada District Upper Grand District School Board Similar Bishop Macdonell Catholic, Saint James Catholic, Woodland Christian High Sch, Preston High School, Saint Mary's High Sch | ||
Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute is a secondary high school located in Ward Five of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Centennial offers many programs at their facilities, including: Science, Math, English, French, Latin, and Japanese. The school colours are gold and purple.
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History
The school is located in the south side of the city of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Centennial was opened in 1967, 100 years after Canadian Confederation, as indicated by its name and is operated by the Upper Grand District School Board. Centennial is known for its academic reputation—it hosts a variety of extracurricular contests and is known for producing university-bound students (54% of graduates attend a university program 2013). The high school was ranked 3rd of 719 in the Fraser Institute Report Card on Ontario Secondary School's 2007 Edition.
Many Centennial athletes have gone on to become successful in their careers. One example of this is Victor Davis, who was a successful Canadian swimmer, and Olympic Medalist. Other athletes have gone on to compete in national and international events, or have plans on doing so when they have left school.
Centennial boasts occasional extracurricular achievements, such as winning the McMaster University BrainBee for seven years running, It is known for sending many athletes, particularly baseball players, to the national and international high school levels, and more. Many students are recruited to play university level sports, for example in hockey, football, tennis, swimming and basketball.
Centennial also prides itself on the success of the arts program at the school. Every year, the school sends students to competitions all around Guelph and the surrounding area. This year, the school took part in 2 main "Science Olympics", as well as a Science Fair in Alberta, with two competitors going. Both projects taking Honorable Mentions, as well as Scholarships for one particular project. The Science Department staff have many specialist teachers on the subject of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. One teacher also specializes in biotechnology. Centennial has many innovative Math courses with students consistently doing well in National contests.
Besides Science, Centennial is a constant contestant in other events all over Southern Ontario. Every year, Centennial competes in the Classics Conference, in which students of Latin, and Classical studies, have a chance to compete against other schools in the region. Also, Centennial sends a team for "Reach for the Top", where their team is able to compete against other schools from the region in general knowledge competitions. In the past years, Centennial has consistently made their appearance in the Provincial round of the competition and were Provincial champions in 2011. The team went on to win the silver medal at the National Championship that same year. Centennial also becomes involved in events around the community, such as: Me to We, The Amazing Raise, Raise Your Game and more. The school is an active participant of recycling programs (which they are currently testing for the UGDSB), and community composting initiatives. Centennial has attained "Gold" Ecoschool Status.
The school mascot of Centennial C.V.I, is "Martin The Spartan."
Music Knights
Centennial is known to have an excellent Music Program rivaling that of Universities surrounding the area. Led by the two music teachers at the school, Centennial's bands and choirs perform, not only for school performances, but around the city as well.
The school offers many bands and choirs for all types of musicians, which include; Jazz Band, Dixie Band, Symphonic Winds, Meister Singers, Concert Choir, and Concert Band. These ensembles perform throughout the year at various community events, and performances at the school. The school has participated in the Kiwanis Festival, taking home gold and silver standards in all categories. The Concert Choir has made many appearances at the River Run Center in shows. The choir also sang at the opening of Guelph's new City Hall, with a soloist singing "God Save the Queen" followed by the rest of a select few students singing "O Canada".
In addition, The Jazz Band "Eh" is known for its unique soloing and being very elite in the music world around Guelph's high schools, this year, taking a Silver "Plus" medal at the Kiwanis Festival. The Symphonic Winds band (made up of students from grades 10-12+), has made a similar impact, making appearances at many school functions.
Alumni
Atlanta Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff attended Centennial while his father coached the Guelph Gryphons university football team.
Current General Manager of the Vegas Golden Knights NHL franchise, George McPhee.
Novelist and archaeologist David Gibbins attended Centennial from 1975 to 1980.
Organ donor and Olympic swimmer/medalist Victor Davis.
Current Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Scott Diamond.
Multiple time martial arts world champion and owner of Guelph Family Martial Arts: Nathan Skoufis.