Sacred Heart Catholic High School (Sacred Heart CHS), located at 1 Crusader Way in Newmarket, Ontario, is a distinguished educational institution administered by the York Catholic District School Board. The school is named after the Sacred Heart, a title associated with the physical heart of Jesus Christ in Christian tradition, symbolizing his divine love for humanity.
History of Sacred Heart CHS
Sacred Heart Catholic High School, previously known as Sacred Heart Junior High School, opened its doors in September 1979, providing 265 students with a Grades 7 to 9 program. Through the cooperative efforts of the Board and the Toronto Archdiocese High School Commission, Grade 11 was introduced in September 1981 and one grade was added each subsequent year. Simultaneously, a building program was undertaken and updated new facilities were made available to students in September 1983. The student population continued to increase and a new addition to the building was opened in May 1987. The Catholic School Council in conjunction with staff and students continue to seek improvements to the school.
School Features and Programs
Sacred Heart Catholic High School is known for its strong academics and a wide variety of extracurricular activities. The school offers an Advanced Placement Preparatory Program that provides students with the opportunity to explore in-depth, focused studies in specific subject areas while preparing for the senior-level AP exams.
The school also offers a Regional Arts Program (RAP) where students can specialize in drama, dance, visual arts, digital media arts, instrumental music, or vocal music while obtaining their high school diploma. This exciting program allows aspiring artists and performers to flourish in many branches of the arts and to integrate technology.
In September 2020, the York Catholic District School Board announced a new Integrated Regional Arts Program (iRAP) at Sacred Heart Catholic High School. Students in this program experience an enriched learning environment with a focus on creative engagement in the arts and beyond. The interdisciplinary approach merges comprehensive arts courses with core curriculum to facilitate life-long learning in the arts. This approach to arts-focused learning was the first program of its kind at YCDSB.
Community Engagement
In 2024, Sacred Heart Catholic High School’s Integrated Arts Course students did an incredible job creating four intricate murals for the Newmarket Food Pantry as a part of the Community Arts event. This opportunity allowed students to showcase their incredible and unique talents while collaborating to make wonderful art pieces. This event helped bring together the grade 9 students and the local community. The murals have been installed and are currently displayed in the Newmarket Food Pantry, representing the students’ creativity, talent, and dedication to the project. These murals have become a source of pride for the students and their teacher.
Sacred Heart Catholic High School continues to be a center of excellence in Newmarket, Ontario. With its rich history and commitment to excellence, it is indeed a school that nurtures both the academic and artistic prowess of its students. Its dedication to providing an exemplary education to every student makes it a remarkable institution in the landscape of Ontario’s publicly funded education system..
Sources
https://sahe.ycdsb.ca/
https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/local-news/ycdsb-launching-regional-arts-program-at-sacred-heart-high-1848770
https://www.ycdsb.ca/sacred-heart-students-beautify-food-bank/
https://www.app.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/sift/schoolProfileSec.asp?SCH_NUMBER=756709
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Heart_Catholic_High_School_%28Newmarket%29
