Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School

Thomas Laird Kennedy Secondary School also known as T. L. Kennedy Secondary School, is a school located in Mississauga, Ontario which was erected in honour of Premier of Ontario Thomas Laird Kennedy. Kennedy had been a longtime resident of Streetsville (now part of Mississauga), where he was Master of the River Park Masonic Lodge. Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School first opened its doors to approximately four hundred and fifty students in September 1953.

Academics

The premiere of T. L. Kennedy's Leadership Academy was in September 2013. The International and Executive Leadership Academy states that they build leaders for tomorrow.^[1] Students apply for this program in grade 8. T.L. Kennedy began a new academic program in 2011 that allows students to obtain a "Specialist High Skills Major" in Business on their Ontario Secondary School diploma.^[2] The school has also started a "Specialist High Skills Major" in Technology from the beginning of the 2012 school year.^[3]

Athletics

The school has an extensive extracurricular program, including many athletic and sports teams. The school has successful basketball and cricket teams.^[4][5] T.l Kennedy also reached basketball ROPSAA finals in 2011-2012 season but lost giving them the 2nd position.

Arts

T.L. Kennedy has an active music program including clubs such as the TLK Rock Band and the TLK Choir. Students from all grades participate in these clubs and perform at many school wide and community events.^[6] Each year the Arts department hosts an evening performance called M.A.A.D. Night. This event showcases the talents of our students in Music, Arts (Visual),^[7] Animation and Drama.

Drama Productions

Special Events

September

• The annual Terry Fox Run has been running since 1983 and as of March 2010, TLK students have cumulatively raised over $234,000.^[11] March 11, 2010 Fred Fox, Terry Fox's older brother visited Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School this morning to thank the school for its 26-year commitment to raise money for cancer with its annual Terry Fox Run. Fred shared a "family photo album" presentation with staff and students that showed how he and Terry grew up and showed Terry's incredible desire to succeed through sport.

December

• The annual Food Drive is organized through the school's Interact club and collects non-perishable items and money to donate to the Mississauga Food Bank.^[12]

February

• Black History Month is annually celebrated through a variety of activities including field trips, guest speakers and fundraisers.

March

• Nutrition Month 2014 was celebrated with "The Great Big Crunch",^[13] and contests.

April

• Day of Pink is celebrated annually^[14]
• Annual School Drama Production or M.A.A.D night

May

T.L. Kennedy celebrated its first annual Community Fair in 2014, celebrating its 61st year anniversary.^[15] T.L. Kennedy has a long tradition of annual Asian Heritage Month celebrations which include Asian guest speakers, Asian themed events, workshops and fundraisers.

Teachers in the Media

• In September, 2011, Ms. D. Mehra, a member of the English department teaching staff, was honoured to receive the Teacher of the Month, Golden Apple Award^[16] awarded by Omni Television.
• In March 2011, Mr. S. Hill, a member of the Arts department teaching staff was interviewed by The Mississauga News about the play he wrote and produced, "Writer's Block" ^[17]
• In June, 2009, The Toronto Star interviewed and commended T.L. Kennedy teacher and mathematics department head, Ms. T. Grandy, for promoting literacy within the school.^[18]

Feeder Schools

T. L. Kennedy Family Schools^[19]

• Briarwood Public School
• Camilla Road Sr. Public School
• Clifton Public School
• Corsair Public School
• Fairview Public School
• Munden Park Public School
• Silver Creek Public School
• Thornwood Public School
• The Valleys Sr. Public School

On September 21, 2009, at around 9:50 am a 17-year-old male student was stabbed in the arm, initiating a school wide lock-down and tactical police to be called in. The lock-down lasted about 3 hours and was lifted at around 12:50 pm.^[20][21]

Notable students and alumni

• Maha el-Samnah, widow of Ahmed Khadr
• Rajesh Sharma, BJP politician in Punjab, India

See also

• List of high schools in Ontario

References

Schools part of Peel District School Board in Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga, Ontario
Secondary schools	Applewood Heights Bramalea Brampton Centennial Cawthra Park Central Peel Chinguacousy Clarkson David Suzuki Erindale Fletcher's Meadow Glenforest Gordon Graydon Harold M. Brathwaite Heart Lake Humberview John Fraser Lincoln M. Alexander Lorne Park Louise Arbour Mayfield Meadowvale Mississauga North Park Judith Nyman Port Credit Rick Hansen Sandalwood Heights Stephen Lewis Streetsville Thomas L. Kennedy Turner Fenton West Credit Woodlands
Middle or junior high schools	Allan A. Martin Senior Public School Darcel Avenue Senior Public School Dolphin Senior Public School Edenwood Middle School Hazel McCallion Senior Public School Sir William Gage Middle School Lisgar Middle School Tomken Road Middle School W. G. Davis Senior Public School Homelands Senior Public School
Primary or elementary schools	Dunrankin Drive Public School Helen Wilson Public School Hillcrest Public School Russell Langmaid Public School Sir Wilfrid Laurier Public School Whitehorn Public School Oakridge Public School

Coordinates: 43°34′53″N 79°37′13″W / 43.5813°N 79.6203°W / 43.5813; -79.6203