by Dianne More, Teacher Co-Chair of the MDHS 2009 Reunion Committee

“Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed.”
~Irene Peter, Author

Greetings from MDHS Today!

Things are bustling as classes change on any day at MDHS! Five minutes to get from Tech to English, or Third Hall to First Hall, or elbowing your way through the crowds to make that Guidance appointment to select your courses for next fall. Maybe you are on your way to meet someone at lunch in the Cold Caf or the Hot Caf or heading to the Blue Zone for a special Spirit Day event or to buy your Prom ticket!

Some things never change, and if that scenario is an echo of your years at MDHS --- no matter what decade you were here between 1954 and 2009 --- the buzz of activity and the synergy of a building full of young minds is constant.

Today there is an air of change, anticipation, and sentimentality as we move ourselves towards the Third Incarnation of Markham District High School.

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”
~ Pericles

The heavy machinery is altering the familiar landscape of the east football field as the beginning of a foundation emerges. The dump trucks file in and out of the construction site onto Church Street with clock-like precision throughout our school day. Catchment ponds have been dug and piles of construction materials magically appear along the fenceline daily.

The students and teachers, naturally, have mixed feelings about the “change”. Our windows are drafty, we occasionally have water main issues that require the digging of massive trenches across the front driveway, and our heating system varies radically throughout the building --- depending on the day, the weather outside, which room you are in and the “mood” of the boiler!

The idea of going into a “new” building has been on the minds of all our building’s occupants. Principal Marg Clarke has committed many hours of meetings to the planning phase of the actual structure, and Department Heads and Teachers have had input into aspects of the design --- what would work best for Markham. Our Technology Committee is working hard to have us as Tech-ready as possible with classrooms wired for LCD projectors, Smart Boards, and AirLiners. EcoMarkham is working closely with the Board to move us into the building with an understanding of environmental sustainability; room lighting sensors, large windows to allow for more daylighting, a solar panel-ready roof, solar skylights and a place for our Living Wall.

“Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.”
~Pauline R. Kezer - President of The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

We are heading toward change at Markham District and we are looking forward to the 2009 Reunion to be able to celebrate our 150 Years of Educating Markham’s children and 55 wonderful years of memories in the building on Church Street. A final opportunity to walk through our very hallowed halls!

Hope to see you all there!!!