Park Street Collegiate Institute

Park Street Collegiate Institute (PSCI) was a secondary school located in Orillia, Ontario, Canada. It was built in 1961 to help with the overflow of students from Orillia District Collegiate & Vocational Institute. In March 2008, a review process was to have begun to consolidate Orillia's three public high schools into two buildings as a result of cost of maintenance of the aging buildings and the declining enrolment at PSCI.[1][2]

Park Street Collegiate Institute
Address
233 Park Street Orillia , Ontario , L3V 5W1 Canada
Coordinates	44°36′45″N 79°26′2″W
Information
School type	Public, high school
Motto	Doctrina Petentibus (Knowledge to those who seek)
Founded	1961
Closed	2013
School board	Simcoe County District School Board
Area trustee	Jodi Lloyd
School number	933627
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	0, CLOSED (2015)
Language	English
Colour(s)	Maroon, Grey and White
Team name	Trojans
Feeder schools	Coldwater, Mount Slaven, Warminster, East Oro, Orillia Christian, Orchard Park, Guthrie

Park Street had a capacity of 1011 students but, as of 2006, fewer than 900 students were enrolled.[3]

On 28 November 2007, a bomb threat written on a mirror in a student washroom caused great concern and students were kept in classes in a school lockdown for the morning as police cleared the building room by room. Nothing suspicious was found and students returned to classes following an extended lunch break.[4][5]

The school was closed and demolished in 2013, and a new school was planned to be built in its place to replace both Park Street Collegiate and Orillia District Collegiate & Vocational Institute.[6][7][8]

Special programs

PSCI has a Construction Craft Program in Grade 11, partnership with the YMCA and CAPC for a Young Parent Education Support Program, Life Skills courses, Co-operative education program, and a private nursery school that links to parenting courses. Other programs include: a Latin program, full music, art and drama programs, electronics, transportation, construction, yearbook, manufacturing, drafting, model construction, and computer technology.[9]

Extracurricular activities

• Park Street Collegiate participates in Blood Donor Clinics, Take our Kids to Work Day, OPP Youth Liaison Project, Whiteball volleyball tournament, Kiwanis Big Sister Basketball Championship, Blackball Tournaments, Kiwanis Music Festival, and Sir Sam Steele Gallery.[9]
• The Technical Program provides assistance for community projects and are setting up a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the Construction Craft program.[9]
• Students' Administrative Council is in charge of dances, Winter Carnival, Hallowe'en and Christmas activities, Staff-Grad Baseball, Semi-formal and Formal, and the Grad Luncheon.
• Park Athletic Council is in charge of all sport-related activities, including organizing support officials for games, running buy-ins, and selling school spirit clothes.
• Cabaret - School's musical which is presented at the Orillia Opera House annually.
• Gay Straight Alliance - a club meant to break down the walls between heterosexuals and homosexuals in the student population.
• Fund Raising: PSCI raises funds annually to support Green Haven Shelter, Terry Fox Run, The Salvation Army, a foster child, respond to needs overseas, and provide support for those in need in the community.[9] In January, 2007, Grade 10 Civics students organised to win a $5000 donation to the Orillia Food Bank from the Toskan-Casale Foundation through the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative[10] and in December, 2007, the Peer Leadership class ran a four-day silent auction to raise money for the Orillia Food Bank.[11]
• Operation Knapsack: Students donate left-over school supplies at the end of the school year to children in developing countries.[12]

Sport

• Boys'/Girls' Hockey, Boys'/Girls' Soccer, Boys'/Girls' Rugby, Boys'/Girls' Basketball, Boys'/Girls' Golf, Boys'/Girls' Volleyball, Track & Field, Badminton, Tennis, Boys' Football, Girls' Flag Football

Notable alumni

• Bruce Stanton, Member of Parliament for Simcoe North (2006-present)[13]
• Don Tapscott, author and consultant
• Marnie Woodrow, novelist and screenwriter
• John Willsey, curler

Notable faculty

• Don Tapscott, Sr., (1919-2006) music composer[14][15]

See also

• List of high schools in Ontario

References

1. Taylor, Nathan (2007-12-15). "Review targets Orillia schools; Trustee says process could lead to closure of one public high school". Orillia Packet and Times.
2. Blenkhorn, Leigh (2007-12-20). "School reviews begin next year". Barrie Advance.
3. "Student Enrolment Projections and Facility Condition" (pdf). Simcoe County District School Board. March 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
4. Whalen, Courtney (2007-11-09). "Lockdown at PSCI". Orillia Packet and Times. Archived from the original on 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2007-12-30. Alt URL
5. "High school lockdown ends". Barrie Advance. 2007-11-08.
6. Carson, Sara (7 May 2013). "Closing time nears at Park Street". Orillia Packet & Times. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
7. Arsalides, Mike (25 September 2013). "Rivals become teammates in Orillia". CTV News Barrie. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
8. Carson, Sara (30 August 2013). "Students, teachers share nervous, anxious feelings as first day of school approaches at OD/Park". Orillia Packet & Times. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
9. "Park Street Collegiate Institute". Simcoe County District School Board. Archived from the original on June 30, 2005. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
10. "Orillia Park Street Students Achieve $5000 Donation for Foodbank. The YPI continued at PSCI through to its closing in 2013, raising $35,000 for local charities". Simcoe County District School Board. 2007-01-26. Archived from the original on January 13, 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
11. "Park Street Collegiate Institute Raises Funds for Food Bank". Simcoe County District School Board. 2007-12-14. Archived from the original on January 13, 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
12. "Recycling with Operation Knapsack". A Little Good News Today. 2007-08-30.
13. "About Bruce". Bruce Stanton, MP. Archived from the original on 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
14. Tapscott, Don, Jr. (2006-12-30). "The Candy Man" (PDF). Orillia Packet and Times. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-10. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
15. "Don Tapscott, Sr". Archived from the original on 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2007-12-29.

External links

• Park Street Collegiate at Simcoe County DSB
• EQAO School Reports