R. H. King Academy

It was the first secondary school built in the former township of Scarborough and second-oldest surviving institution in Scarborough, after Agincourt Collegiate Institute. King school motto is "Per Ardua Sapientia" which translates into Through the hard task of wisdom.

• Name — R. H. King Academy • Former Name — Scarborough High School (1922–1930) Scarborough Collegiate Institute (1930–1954) R.H. King Collegiate Institute (1954–1989) • Slogan — Diligimus Quaerimus Servimus (We care, we strive, we serve) • Motto — Per Ardua Sapientia • Motto Translation — Through the hard task of wisdom • Address — 3800 St. Clair Avenue East • City — Scarborough, Toronto • Postal Code — M1M 1V3 • Province — Ontario • Country — Canada • Schooltype — Public, alternative magnet high school • Founded — at Birch Cliff Congregational Church • School Board — * Toronto District School Board 1998–present • Scarborough Board of Education 1954–1997 • Oversight — Toronto Lands Corporation • Superintendent — Brendan Browne LC3, Executive Diana Panagiotopoulos LN17 • Trustee — Parthi Kandvel Ward 18 • Administrator — Shanta Das • Principal — Katherine Chang • Grades — 9–12 • Colours — Black, navy, light blue, grey and gold blacknavylightbluegreygold • Mascot — Kingsley lion • Newspaper — Kingsley Voice • Yearbook — The Bluff • Website — rhkingacademy.ca • School Number — 4148 / 937266 • Affiliation — Secular • Language — English • Team Name — King Lions • Enrolment — 1,316 • Enrolment As Of — 2020–21

• Illustration — The inscription of the plaque written by the Scarborough Historical Society dated 1977. Founded in 1922 as Scarborough High School, the school became Scarborough Collegiate Institute in January 1930, before becoming R. H. King Collegiate Institute in 1954, and being renamed again to R. H. King Academy in 1989.

In January 1930, Scarborough High School went through its first change of many, to officially become Scarborough Collegiate Institute. This brought about more growth and the first addition to the school in 1932, despite The Great Depression. As time went on, however, the Depression began to take hold and the financial position of the Township changed. The population of the school continued to grow but the Township could no longer pay the teachers' salaries. To maintain the education of the students and the well-being of the staff, teachers were paid with food stamps to provide food for their families. Beginning in September 1939, there was a new challenge for the students of Scarborough Collegiate: World War II. As another war began against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in Europe and Imperial Japan and Asia, a new call for soldiers went out and SCI. responded with spirit. Students and staff of SCI, by the end of World War II, had invested over $25,000 in War Saving Certificates and close to $5,000 for overseas parcels and the Scarborough Red Cross. Many of the SCI students were decorated with medals or honours for their efforts, and in 1945 or 1946, there was a party for those 600 people who returned. The sixty-two students who perished during the war are still honoured in the school's War Memorial, and at the annual Remembrance Day Assembly. In 1947, Scarborough Collegiate Institute celebrated its first 25 years, with a dance, cake and special magazine. S.C.I. had grown into a school with a strong tradition in sports such as Hockey, Basketball, Rugby, Student Clubs and some new problems – Double Shifts. The Double Shift was a programme that continued until 1952 when the next addition was completed. The Double Shifts were as follows: • The first shift for Grades 9 and 10 started at 8 am and ran until 1 pm. • The second shift for Grades 11, 12 and 13 started classes at 1 pm and ran until 6 pm. The same teachers taught the whole day, and to make matters more challenging, the power was turned off at 4 pm to save electricity. Light for the remainder of the day came from two lanterns hanging in the middle of the class, with the teacher giving individual instruction. Due to space constraints, classes also took place in the halls and in sections of the cafeteria. The 1952–53-year brought new facilities such as the library (later called the Heritage Room), a new gymnasium, and classroom space. The enlarged annex was designed by the architects Carter, Coleman and Rankin Associates. SCI was still growing at an incredible rate because in 1954 the double shift programme was re-introduced temporarily until new facilities were complete.

In 1954, Dr. King, who had been principal for the past 32 years, became the Director for the newly-formed Scarborough Board of Education. His close friend and vice-principal William A. Porter became principal, until his death in 1956. With this changing of the guard came the change of the school's official name: R. H. King Collegiate Institute. The new era in education saw growth all over Scarborough. Over the years, the growing post-war population necessitated many additions and improvements to the original building which in turn led to several schools erected surrounding it under his watch – Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute (1954), W. A. Porter Collegiate Institute (1958), David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute (1959) and Cedarbrae Secondary School (1961) – although his successor Anson S. Taylor continue to see the schools nearby established: Midland Avenue Secondary School (1962), Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute (1964) and Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute (1965) along with two vocational schools (Bendale Secondary School in 1963 and Tabor Park Vocational School in 1965). Some staff and students of the old S.C.I. transferred to these new sites of higher learning. This breathing space for R. H. King C.I. allowed the rebirth of some clubs and activities that had been postponed due to "double shifting". The school expanded westward with the new addition that adds ten classrooms, a double gymnasium, and the modern entrance, which was completed by the start of the 1961–62 school year. This addition was designed by architects Allward and Gouinlock. By then, the Scarborough Board announced R.H. King Collegiate's replacement of its outdated structures dated to 1922 due to fire hazards in the ceilings and floors for its $5.7 million replacement 1900 pupil campus. King was second behind Weston Collegiate Institute in the adolescence list because the vocational art course were offered for 400 students due to pressures at Cedarbrae and Thomson Collegiates. While the 1952 additions and the archway remain, the majority of the original 1922 structure was demolished in spring 1976, replaced by a modern structure with newer academic and science classrooms, library, swimming pool, offices, and cafetorium. Phase two of the construction remodelled the entire 1950s eastern wing. In 1972, R. H. King C. I. celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Arts King provides opportunities for students to participate in visual arts, dance, photography, arts management, communications, technology, drama, fashion, media, improv, music (voice, band, strings, guitar), musical theatre, presentation skills, technical theatre production, technological design, video production and writers' craft. R.H. King provides a Leadership: Arts and Culture stream where students have 4 years of arts-based classes. Athletics The school provides opportunities for students to participate in volleyball, basketball, hockey, flag football, cricket, field hockey, curling, lacrosse, golf, cross country, rugby, soccer, swimming, ultimate frisbee, slo-pitch, badminton and track and field. Leadership This school provides two different streams for leadership alongside their regular stream. • Leadership: Future Leaders • Leadership: Arts and Culture

• Bobby Baun - NHL player • Andy Donato – political cartoonist • Peter Douris – NHL player • Brett Callighen – NHL player • Robbie Robertson – The Band

• Escutcheon — Azure the entrance portal of the former Scarborough High School Argent. • Crest — Issuant from a circlet Or the upper rim set with hazelnuts alternating with trillium flowers Proper a demi lion Or holding between its paws a mortarboard cap Azure. • Notes — Granted January 15, 2002. • Motto — Diligimus Quaerimus Servimus • Supporters — On a representation of the Scarborough Bluffs proper rising from barry wavy Argent and Azure two lions rampant Or each gorged with a collar compony Azure Sable and Vert and grasping a torch Sable enflamed Or.