Duncan MacMillan High School

Duncan MacMillan High School (DMHS) is a secondary school in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Duncan MacMillan High is the smallest high school in the Halifax Regional School Board, but it has the largest geographical area for bussing. Duncan MacMillan hosts grades 7–12 and teaches 174 students. DMHS has two feeder schools: Sheet Harbour Consolidated School, and Lakefront Consolidated School in Tangier. A third feeder school, Eastern Consolidated School, in Moser River, used to be active but it was closed in September 2015 because of very low student population issues. As of 2015-16, the school's administrative team consisted of Principal Ronnie Reynolds, Vice Principal Mike McWatters and Registrar/Guidance Counsellor Alana Hogg. In addition, there are 20 teaching staff and 12 support staff. Although DMHS is small in student population, it does provide the courses necessary for any post-secondary program. Throughout both junior and senior high, there is a continuing option for students to follow the Integrated French program in which French Language Arts (FLA) and Sciences Humaines (Social Studies) are presented in French, with the remaining courses being taught in English. In addition to the services provided directly by the Halifax Regional School Board, DMHS is also provided service by the Nova Scotia Health Authority via a very active Youth Health Centre under the coordination of Darlene Rasmussen, RN, and Laurette McGaughey, a youth social worker who serves DMHS and its feeder schools.

In 2011, the HRSB had unveiled a plan that would eventually see all of the DMHS feeder schools closed, the present DMHS building vacated and possibly demolished, and in their place would be a single new school somewhere in Sheet Harbour serving grades primary through 12.

School

Duncan MacMillan High School teaches 174 students and the building has an area of 48091 ft².^[1] There are four administrative personnel, 20 teaching staff and 12 support staff.^[2] The principal of DMHS is Ronnie Reynolds and the Vice Principal is Mike McWatters. The school currently has two feeder schools: Sheet Harbour Consolidated School, and Lakefront Consolidated School in Tangier. A third feeder school, Eastern Consolidated School, in Moser River, used to be active but it was closed in September 2015 as a consequence of very low student population issues. The school's official mascot is Eddy the Eagle, the team name is the Eagles and the school's official colours are gold and black.

Integrated French is offered, but not mandatory, as a course in both junior and senior high. Students in the program are taught French Language Arts (FLA) and Sciences Humaines (Social Studies) in Canadian French, while they are taught less English Language Arts (ELA).^[1]

DMHS is also served by the Nova Scotia Health Authority via the school's Youth Health Centre, which is under the coordination of RN Darlene Rasmussen and Laurette McGaughey, a youth social worker who serves DMHS as well as its feeder schools.

History

The school officially was opened on the night of 22 November 1963, the same night John F. Kennedy was assassinated. It was named after Dr. Duncan MacMillan, a Sheet Harbour doctor who sparked the interest in building the Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital in Sheet Harbour.^[3]

When DMHS was opened, there were 21 teachers. In the old high school, they had 12 staff members, but with students coming in from Moser River and Tangier, they needed to increase the staff.^[4]

New school plan

In 2011, the HRSB had unveiled a plan that would eventually see all of the DMHS feeder schools closed, the present DMHS building vacated and possibly demolished, and in their place would be a single new school serving grades primary through 12 in Sheet Harbour.^[5]

References

External links

• DMHS website