John G. Althouse Middle School

John G. Althouse Middle School
Address
130 Lloyd Manor Road
Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, M9B 5K1
Canada
Information
School type Middle School
Founded November 4, 1957
School board Toronto District School Board
Superintendent Susan Winter
Area trustee Chris Glover
School number 283738
Principal Edward Rawson
Grades 6 to 8
Enrollment 556 (Fall 2008)
Language English
Area Martingrove Road and Princess Margaret Boulevard
Colour(s) Purple and Grey         
Mascot Jaguar
Team name John G. Althouse Jaguars
Website schools.tdsb.on.ca/johngalthouse/
Last updated: December 7, 2009

John G. Althouse Middle School (JGA) is a middle school located in the Etobicoke area of Toronto, Ontario, near the intersection of Lloyd Manor Road and Princess Margaret Boulevard. Most graduates of John G. Althouse go to Martingrove Collegiate Institute, Richview Collegiate Institute, or Etobicoke Collegiate Institute for their high school education.

Education system

Gifted program

John G. Althouse is notable for its advanced learner special education program, commonly referred to as the "gifted" program, which transferred to John G. Althouse in 1996, after several years of being housed at Islington Junior Middle School.

Because of this program, John G. Althouse is divided into two separate sections, which means awards are presented always with one regular student and one gifted student. When graduating, the student's grades are, if the student has the requisite score, classified and announced as "Honours" (79.5% to 84.4% average), or "Principal's Honours" (84.5% average or higher). Other awards include The Robert J. Blackburn Award, the Principal's Award for Leadership, the Doreen Ferns Personal Growth Award, the G.T. Bowie award, the Barry Gosse award, the Bernie Reuben Music Award, the Toronto Dominion Bank Award, the Citizenship Award, the Tammy Craig Award, the Urban Voices Book Award, the Student Government Award, the Heather Lucko Humanitarian Award, and the title of School Valedictorian, presented to one gifted and one regular student.

Musical program

John G. Althouse has a music program in which every student is required to play an instrument, either in band or strings. Each February, John G. Althouse students participate in the Kiwanis Music Festival and the school has won several times. As of 2015, the band teacher is Michael Samotowka and the strings teacher is Jeffery Worden.

John G. Althouse also uses the Martingrove Collegiate Institute stage five times a year to showcase their student's musical talents during two different sets of concerts. The annual Christmas concert is called "A Gift of Music", where the seventh and eighth graders perform on two separate nights. The end of the year concert is "Crescendo", where the sixth graders have their first chance to perform on their own night.

The school organizes the Toronto Summer Music Camp.,[1] which takes place at either Albion Hills Outdoor Education Centre or Mono Cliffs Outdoor Education Centre.

Instrumental music

The school's extracurricular instrumental activities are the Honour Orchestra, Chamber Strings, and Stage Band ensembles, all of which require auditioning.

The Stage Band has won the first place provincially as the best middle school jazz band. In May 2008, the Stage Band went to New York City with the Jazz Choir as part of their tour. The Stage Band and Jazz Choir have also travelled to New Orleans in May 2010. In 2012, the Stage Band and Jazz Choir travelled to Chicago to perform. In 2014, the Jazz choir, the Stage Band, and the Chamber Strings went to New York City To perform.

Chamber Strings won first place in the Provincials as best middle school ensemble. The words "John G. Althouse Chamber Strings" are displayed. In 2008/09 and 2009/10 school years, Chamber Strings has been invited to play at a concert at Canada's wonderland in the spring/summer season.

A new ensemble introduced in the late 2007/2008 school year was the Wind Ensemble. This ensemble was primarily created to play at the Ontario Music Educators Association conference in November 2008, where Chamber Strings also performed.

Vocal music

The choirs are led by Mr. Yashar Nazarian. Auditions are required for both the Jazz Choir and the Chamber Choir. The open choirs are the Junior Choir (Grade Six only), the Grade Seven and Eight Concert Choir, Boys' Treble Choir and Boys' Baritone Choir. About 50 members are in the Chamber Choir, which performs a virtuosic and challenging repertoire. In 2014, the Chamber Choir won first prize at the Provincials Competition (Ontario Music Festivals Association) and was invited to the Nationals Competition, a first for any John G. Choir. The Jazz Choir consists of 12 members who sing a variety of pop and jazz tunes. This Choir has previously performed in New York, New Orleans and Chicago. In 2014, The Jazz Choir performed on the flight deck of USS Intrepid in New York City. Additionally, The Jazz Choir earned a high score of 94 in the Kiwanis music festival in 2016, the highest mark ever achieved by the choir.

Musical groups

History

John G. Althouse Middle School opened on November 4, 1957, to 380 pupils. The school is named after Dr. John G. Althouse, who was the Chief Director of Education for the Province of Ontario from 1944 to 1956.

School activities

Music Trip

Every other year, the top musical groups in the school, such as Stage Band, Chamber Strings and Jazz Choir go on trips to perform. In past years they went to New Orleans, Chicago and New York City. In May 2016, they will be going to Chicago for five days.

Field trips

The grade sevens have three days at Manitou, in Northern Ontario, where they learn about ecosystems and the environment. The students get to choose who they room with during those three days. Different classes are paired up and go together throughout the course of the entire year. The grade eights go on a four-day graduation trip to Ottawa or Quebec, where they learn about the city and the History of Canada.

After winter break, the school hosts a ski day at Mount St. Louis Moonstone.

Many activities are also required for students to participate. They are mostly organized by the Student Government, such as the Terry Fox Run consisting of a five kilometre walk or run at West Deane Park.

Science fair

From October to February, students in grades seven and eight work on a project for the school Science Fair. About twenty projects receive an Honourable Mention certificate, but the top five winners are picked to go to the city-wide science fair. Students generally place well in the city-wide fair, with two projects winning gold in the 2008 Toronto Science Fair[2] and two projects winning silver.[3] It is alternated with the history fair every year.

History fair

Starting in the year of 2009/2010, students in grades 7 and 8 participate in the history fair, which alternates with the science fair every year. Winners go to compete in the city wide finals at Fort York.

Sports

Sports and clubs

John G. Althouse has many sports such as:

JGA has many clubs such as the Art Club, Chess Club, Knitting, Dino Club, Book Club, Dr. Who Club and more.

There are also 3 branches of student government; the Eco Team, Social Justice and School Spirit.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "IMC - Interprovincial Music Camp". Official Website. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Gold Medal Winners - 2008". Toronto Science Fair. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Silver Medal Winners - 2008". Toronto Science Fair. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
  4. ↑ "The Harper Timeline". The Harper Index. Retrieved January 9, 2008.
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