School type High school Area trustee Ken Lister Enrollment 850 (2012) Phone +1 416-395-3240 Province Ontario Founded 1965 | Superintendent Angela Nardi-Addesa Principal Huw Chinnery Language English Number of students 850 (2012) Motto Studere est Excellere | |
Address 200 Graydon Hall Dr, North York, ON M3A 3A6, Canada School board Toronto District School Board Similar Georges Vanier Secondar, A Y Jackson Secondar, Victoria Park Collegiat, Earl Haig Secondary School, Northview Heights Secondar | ||
George S. Henry Academy is a semestered high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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History
The initial opening of George S. Henry Secondary School was scheduled for September 7, 1965. However, there was a strike among workers. Some of the workers went back to work at the end of the summer, but it was not possible to open the school on time. During the fall students had to share Don Mills School and Victoria Park Collegiate. Don Mills students attended from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and Henry students went from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
George S. Henry Secondary School was finally opened on December 6, 1965, with the official opening held on Thursday January 27, 1966. Guest speakers included Mr. Foote, the principal at the time, as well as Mr. Robarts, the Premier of Ontario.
An addition to the school was opened February 16, 1972. This addition included the two floors of classes on the west side of the school as well as a new gymnasium and pool.
The school was named after George Stewart Henry (1871–1958) – a farmer, businessman and politician in Ontario. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1913 as a Conservative. The school was built on the Home Farm portion of the estate before housing development occurred, just east of Mr. Henry's "home". It was a Georgian "palace" complete with ornate gardens, statuary and fountains. Its nine-hole golf course was used by some of the early student body. The mansion alone remains as a social centre.
Uniforms
George S. Henry Academy has a strict policy on uniforms which was instituted during the 1997–98 school year. Prior to that, the students were not required to wear uniforms and the student body voted in 1996 to bring the uniforms back. Students are required to wear a polo shirt, being short-sleeved or long-sleeved, that comes in black or white, or a sweater that comes in black or grey, both with the Henry crest on them. Students are required to wear black dress pants along with these tops. Females are also given the option to wear the Henry kilt all year round, and all the students are given the option to wear black capris during the summer time.
Recently, starting the year 2013, the school has been lenient on their uniform policy, allowing their students to wear any type of pants regardless of the colour.
50th-anniversary reunion
2015 marked the 50th anniversary of the school's opening. The reunion was to have taken place on Friday May 29 and Saturday May 30. All former students and teachers were invited.