Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School (, commonly known as PETHS, PET, or Trudeau) is a public, bilingual English and French-immersion secondary school in Markham, Ontario. It was named in honour of the 15th Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
History
Construction of Pierre Elliott Trudeau HS commenced in June 2001 and opened the following September 2002 with 500 students in grade 7, 8, 9 and 10. The grade 7 and 8 students were from Castlemore Public School, a designated feeder school, and were segregated from the high school students. The Class of 2005 was the first graduating class of Pierre Elliott Trudeau HS.
Location and feeder schools
Located in northern Markham between Major Mackenzie Dr. and 16th Avenue on Kennedy and Bur Oak Avenue, Trudeau is a part of the York Region District School Board, Trudeau primarily serves students who reside in northern Unionville, which include the communities of Cachet, Angus Glen, and Berczy Village. Trudeau also serves students in the French-immersion program who reside in the communities of Stouffville, and most of the City of Markham. During the school year of 2017-2018, the opening of Bill Hogarth Secondary School resulted in mandatory transfers from approximately half of the French immersion students at Trudeau.
PETHS's feeder schools include: Ashton Meadows P.S. Beckett Farm P.S. Castlemore P.S. Stonebridge P.S. Milliken Mills P.S. (French Immersion) Sir Wilfrid Laurier P.S. (French Immersion)
Academics
PETHS was intended to be an academic school from the onset. Initially upon opening, Trudeau hired many teachers from Bayview Secondary School with the intent of implementing the International Baccalaureate program, which as of 2021 had not yet been achieved. The school is slowly phasing out the AP program, though exams can still be written. AP courses are no longer offered. In addition, Trudeau now offers a Specialist High Skills Major in business, health & wellness, arts & culture and information computer technology.
The 2015 Fraser Institute Report Card on Secondary Schools gives PET the following ranking:
Music
Trudeau Music, (often stylized as "trudeaumusic") is the music department at PETHS. Starting in 2002, the department has grown considerably and now consists of more than 700 students. Over the years, Trudeau Music has traveled to New York City, Chicago, and Washington D.C. The department has previously invited composers such as Samuel Hazo, Frank Ticheli, Elliot del Borgo, Robert Sheldon, Stephen Bulla, Doctor Andrew Boysen Jr., Doc Severinsen and clinicians such as Paula Holcomb to work with students. Trudeau Music is also the first school in Canadian history to have won 8 Gold Awards at MusicFest Canada.
Courses
Trudeau Music offers a wide selection of courses available for students, including:
Instrumental Band & Repertoire (Grades 9-12)
These courses offer students the opportunity to participate in their own concert band and hone their musical talents. Repertoire courses (consisting of full ensemble rehearsals) occur after school-hours. The Repertoire course is recommended as a co-requisite with this course.
Vocals & Repertoire (Grades 9-12)
In a choir setting, Trudeau Music's Vocal Courses train students' musical abilities. The Repertoire course is included as a co-requisite with this course.
Strings & Repertoire (Grades 9-12)
Students are able to develop their skills by playing in their own string orchestra. The String Courses are divided into two separate ones: one being "Junior Strings", for musicians in Grade 9, and "Senior Strings", featuring students from Grades 10 and up. The Repertoire course is included as a co-requisite with both courses.
Guitar (Grade 11)
Trudeau Music's own Guitar Course trains and enriches students' guitar playing skills and technique.
Musical Theatre (Grades 10-12)
This course at Trudeau Music teaches students the fundamentals of musical theatre and gives them the chance to perform in their very own stage production at the end of the school year. Previously a club, the class was started in the 2017-2018 school year.
Concerts
Trudeau Music hosts 3 annual concerts throughout the school year: