Centennial Secondary School (Coquitlam)
Centennial Secondary School | |
---|---|
Address | |
570 Poirier Street high school | |
Established | 1966 (original building) 2017 (new building) |
School district | School District 43 Coquitlam |
School number | 4343076 |
Principal | Mr. Anthony Ciolfitto |
Staff | 135 |
Grades | 9-12 |
Enrollment | 1500 (31 January 2015) |
Campus | Open Campus |
Colour(s) | Red Blue White |
Mascot | Centaur |
Website | www |
Last updated: 19 July 2018 |
Centennial Secondary School is a
History
Centennial Secondary School was built in 1966, a year before the centennial of Canada's founding. It was completed one year after adjacent Vanier Elementary opened in 1965. Its running track was completed soon after on an empty grassy field. An additional activity centre and gymnasium were built on the southeast side of the school in 2003.
In September 2016, some students and faculty started moving into a newer building bearing the Centennial name, built southwest of the original building. Construction ended on the newer building in 2017 and in late 2017 after all staff and students had finished moving into the newer building, the older building began demolition, which was completed in May 2018. The remnants will be replaced by a soccer field, tennis court, and an extension on the existing activity centre which will become a neighbourhood learning centre.
Programs and Athletics
Music Department
Centennial's music department offers concert and jazz bands and choirs. The theatre department offers varying programs including Metfest, Centfest, and Musical Theatre classes. The music department works together with the theatre department to put on a major production every year. The 2009 production of "Grease" was well received by the local community and all shows were sold out prior to the production dates; this created a larger following for the theatre department's future productions, most of those fully selling out as well.[1] The music department has also been known to put on different fundraising events to help students pay for things like uniforms and supplies as well as field trips. The fundraising events include a haunted house around Halloween, tree chipping after Christmas, and various food fundraisers.
Summer Learning
Centennial is one of two secondary schools in the district to offer summer learning credit courses, the other being Gleneagle Secondary. Most core courses are available, especially those required for graduation. Students may take up to two courses with a refundable deposit of $100 each. Courses can be face-to-face or a combination of online and traditional learning (FastTrack).
Clubs
There are many student-run and teacher-directed clubs and organizations at Centennial, including After School Discussion Groups, Amnesty International, The Aquatic Conservation Team, The Art & Design Club, The Book Club, Bubble Cents (a bubble tea club), The Business Club, Dare To Care, The Debate Club, Drag Racing, Dragonboat, Eurotour, The Games Club, The Gavel Club, Grad Council, Kids Help Phone, Leadership, Luthiers, The Manga Club, Math Crew, Pete's Place, Recycling Group, Red Cross, The Salmon Club, Skiers & Snowboarders, Students for Sweetwater, VOX, The Writer's Society, Me2We and World Vision.
Athletics
The school's sports teams include badminton, basketball, cross country running, curling, field hockey, field lacrosse, football, golf, gymnastics, netball, rugby, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.
Since the 2009–2010 school year, Centennial (along with Riverside Secondary in Port Coquitlam) has been offering a hockey academy program to boys and girls. The program gives students three hours of course time on ice a week and two hours of off-ice instruction for four credits towards graduation. While hockey programs are common throughout other school districts in North America, this academy represents the first of its kind in the Tri-Cities.[2]
Building Replacement
Centennial Secondary's original school building, constructed in 1967, is currently being replaced with a newer building located on the same site. Once construction is complete, the old building will be demolished, with the exception of one of its gymnasiums. The new building was designed by Graham Hoffart Mathiasen Architects and will have a capacity of 1250 students. The school's design is expected to meet
The project was initially announced by the province in 2009. Detailed plans for the school replacement were presented to the public on January 17, 2012. Construction of the new school began in late 2013,[5] and is expected to be finished during the 2015–2016 school year.[6] Those expectations were met in 2016.
Several residents from the surrounding residential neighbourhood raised concerns about the proposed building's height, stating that portions of the building at a height of 16 metres would decrease property values, diminished sightlines, and restrict privacy and natural lighting. The project's architect responded by stating that testing concluding that no natural lighting to surrounding buildings would be lost.[7]
Notable alumni
James Moore, former Conservative cabinet minister and Member of Parliament for Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, graduated from Centennial in 1994.[8]
Former
Brent Pierce, who graduated from Centennial Secondary in 1987, was on the Greg McAulay team that won the 2000 Briar (Canadian Curling Championships). He then participated at the 2000 Ford World Curling Championships. In 2009, Pierce was at the Briar again as the third on the Sean Geall team[15]
Former National Basketball Association player Lars Hansen played his high school basketball at Centennial School. He was a member of the Seattle SuperSonics 1979 NBA Championship team, and was elected to the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.[16]
Model and host of MTV Select and G4techTV Amanda MacKay also attended Centennial School where she started her journalism career writing for the school's student newspaper.
2007 graduate Sandy Gill swam for Team Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympic Qualifiers. A member of the Canadian National Synchronized Swimming team for 10 years, also attending two World Championships.
Movies/TV
Centennial High School was used in the filming of an episode of Psych, Season 3 Episode 2, titled "Murder? … Anyone? … Anyone? … Bueller?"[18]
"Stand Against Fear" featuring Sarah Chalke was filmed at Centennial in 1996.
Scenes from Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem and American Pie Presents: The Book of Love were also filmed at Centennial.
References
- ^ The Coquitlam Now:Centennial students channel a '70s vibe[permanent dead link] 4 February 2009
- ^ Tri-City News: Coquitlam school district to offer hockey academies[permanent dead link] 17 April 2009
- ^ "Centennial Secondary School". Graham Hoffart Mathiasen Architects. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ Strandberg, Diane (January 5, 2012). "Moving walls, changing education". Tri-City News. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ Strandberg, Diane (October 24, 2013). "Construction starts on new Coquitlam high school". Tri-City News. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ "School construction marches forward in the new year". Province of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ Kurucz, John (April 10, 2013). "Residents oppose Centennial rebuild plan". Coquitlam Now. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ^ Moore, James. "Biography page". Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
- ^ CSA: Forrest Named Honorary Chair of WYC 2007 Archived May 5, 2005, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 4 May 2005
- ^ CSA: Forrest to Soccer Hall of Fame Archived May 19, 2007, at the Wayback Machine 4 December 2006
- ^ PaulStalteri.com: Jeff Clarke Archived December 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 15 March 2009
- ^ CSA: Brittany Timko Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 12 February 2009
- ^ Canadaka.com: Matthew Good Archived April 14, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 12 February 2009
- ISBN 1-894663-08-X.
- ^ The Province: Geall wins B.C. curling[permanent dead link] Retrieved on 16 February 2009
- ^ Canada Basketball: 2006 Hall of Fame Inductees Archived July 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine 9 January 2008
- ^ American Legends: Dorothy Stratten Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 13 February 2009
- ^ McMurray, M. (Director). (2008). "Psych" Murder?... Anyone?... Anyone?... Bueller? . United States: USA Network.