- Target:
- The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board
- Region:
- Canada
- Website:
- www.facebook.com
On May 23rd, 2012, it was announced that the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board has plans to close three high schools on the Hamilton Mountain in June 2015. Barton Secondary School, Mountain Secondary School, and Hill Park Secondary School. We are protesting the closing of Hill Park Secondary School, because we believe it has a lot to offer to the city of Hamilton.
Hill Park Secondary School opened its doors back in 1955, and it was the first high school to open on the Hamilton Mountain. With the school being around for all these years, it holds a lot of history.
During its recent years, Hill Park has been known for their board-wide "ArtSmart" program, where students from schools all over the district come and enrol for a semester in a one-of-a-kind intensive theatre program, while all working together to put on a final year end production. During the program's existence over the past four years, these students have put on Into the Woods, Seussical, Once Upon a Mattress, and Beauty & the Beast.
Hill Park is also known for being one of the first schools in Hamilton to have a Positive Space group, which is a group where LGBTQ students and their straight allies can go and feel safe and accepted. Also, if they're having an issue with things such as homophobia or intolerance at the school, it serves as a place where they can go and get the help they need.
Hill Park's Positive Space group also started Rainbow Prom, a prom specifically for LGBTQ youth and their allies, where they could celebrate prom night together and have the option of bringing the date that they want to bring to prom, without feeling like they'll be discriminated against by fellow students. This event was held for the past two years in the Hill Park Secondary School cafeteria, before Hill Park gave other schools the opportunity to host it.
Hill Park Secondary School is also in a convenient location, located near all the major bus routes in Hamilton, and it is surrounded by a wonderful community. There is a recreational centre, Early Years Centre, and the neighbouring public school, Linden Park, all within the Hill Park community.
Hill Park Secondary School has made a difference in the lives of thousands, and we hope that it will continue to do so for many years to come.
We, the undersigned, believe that the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board should reconsider their decision to close down Hill Park Secondary School.
We believe that Hill Park Secondary School has offered a lot and will continue to offer a lot to its community and the City of Hamilton as a whole. Without Hill Park Secondary School, we feel that students may not have the same opportunities elsewhere as they have had at Hill Park, whether it be in the arts, social acceptance, or education in general.
We sincerely hope that the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board will reconsider their decision.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Tell the HWDSB to not close Hill Park Secondary School! petition to The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board was written by Adam Bryan and is in the category Education at GoPetition.