Message from the Principal's Desk
Welcome to Niagara District. We are a small rural school with an excellent academic reputation. Usually one third of our student population is on the Principal’s Honour Roll with an average of 80% or higher. Our students are academically competitive and strive to do well. Our teachers, parents and community partners are very involved in supporting their efforts.
Our teaching staff is an exceptionally versatile and committed team. They all have a passion for teaching, learning, and caring about adolescents. Through the generous support of the Virgil Business Association and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, eight of our teachers attended International Baccalaureate training last year. Several are presently working on either Masters Degrees or additional basic qualifications through universities affiliated with the Ministry of Education. Every one of them is also committed to extra-curricular activities.
We presently specialize in the Arts (District of Niagara Academy for the Arts) and have students taking music, dance, drama, and visual arts courses. If they take eight courses successfully, they earn a DNA Arts Certificate. This year we have added a Specialist High Skills Major in the Arts. This provincially recognized program ensures that Arts graduates have taken a variety of arts courses, participated in many experiential learning activities such as professionally run workshops and attended amateur and professional performances. Students must also do a cooperative education placement related to the Arts. They must also complete skill specific training such as First Aid, and WHIMIS.
Since we are a school for the performing arts our students are also required to perform and display their talents. They absolutely love to perform. We have musicians, we have singers, we have dancers, we have actors – they are all talented, and are they ever good. Our visual artists as well, have an ever-changing display of their works throughout the school and often, in the local community. Our play productions are sold out year after year and people in the audience leave with a good feeling – they’re never disappointed. Our dancers and musicians entertain on their special nights throughout the year as well as at out school assemblies. It is not unusual for me to get requests for actors, singers, dancers, and painters for the community. They love to perform!
The community and Shaw Festival are very supportive. We enjoy a productive partnership with Shaw and thank them for their generosity in supporting our school.
Enjoy your visit to our website. You will find that we are an incredibly busy organization that is centered around the students. The parents support that, the teachers support that, the community supports that, and, the kids love it!
Yours in Education
Mike Cockburn
Principal, Niagara District Secondary School
mike.cockburn@dsbn.edu.on.ca