Alexander Mackenzie High School

Alexander Mackenzie High School is a public secondary school with classes for students in grades 9 through 12, located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. The school opened in 1969 as Don Head Secondary School and was renamed Alexander Mackenzie High School in 1992, in honour of Major Addison Alexander Mackenzie, a well-known Richmond Hill resident and philanthropist.The school mascot is the Mustang. The AMHS Cricket team has won the YRAA championship for the past two years. The rugby teams are also rated very highly as they are perennial contenders for the YRAA championship.The school offers Advanced Placement courses for senior students.It was announced in October 2008 that AMHS will join Huron Heights S.S., Unionville High School, and Westmount Collegiate as one of the four high schools in York Region to offer a specialized arts program.FacilitiesThe original school building was built in 1969 and in 1992 a new wing was added in order to accommodate both the increase in student population and the change in school program. A second addition of 10 classrooms opened in the spring of 2002.Character MattersIn 2003, the Town of Richmond Hill contributed 10 "Character Matters" signs to the school as part of an initiative that encourages young adults to become more involved in their community. This event featured guest speaker Wendel Clark, the former Toronto Maple Leafs Captain.DepartmentsDramaThe Alexander Mackenzie High School is has a regional arts program that includes drama. Students take two years of drama classes and are taught by artists and professionals who have been in the film or stage industry. Guest speakers are brought in for workshops, such as acting for film and stage combat. Students are also given opportunities to expand their portfolios through class assignments, local festivals such as The Sears Drama Festival, and exposure to new forms of stage and film.