H. D. Stafford Middle School
H.D. Stafford Middle School (formerly H.D. Stafford Secondary) is a public middle school in Langley, British Columbia, part of School District 35 Langley. It was formerly the only secondary school in Langley City (as opposed to the Township of Langley), but in September, 2008, HD Stafford Secondary became a Middle School.
| H D Stafford Middle School | |
|---|---|
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| Address | |
20441 Grade Crescent , , Canada | |
| Coordinates | 49.0897°N 122.6564°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public, middle school |
| School board | School District 35 Langley |
| School number | 3535031 |
| Principal | John Hantke |
| Staff | 90 |
| Grades | 6-8 |
| Enrollment | 620 (30 September 2019) |
| Language | English, French |
| Colour(s) | (Burgundy, Black and White) |
| Mascot | Skyhawk |
| Team name | Skyhawk |
| Website | hdsms |
| Last updated: 05 October 2019 | |
History
H.D. Stafford School was originally opened as a junior high school (grades 8-10) in 1970.[1] It was named after Harold D. Stafford, former Inspector of Schools, Administrative Officer, and later as Chief Executive Officer, all with Langley School District.[1] Additional wings were added to the building in 1971 (west end 2-storey wing), 1974 (N.W. Room shop wing) and 1975 (N. W. Art room shop wing). In the early 1980s, an expanding population led to its transformation into a full-fledged secondary school (grades 8-12).[1] The building was further expanded in 1994.
In 2006, H.D. Stafford's athletics expanded to include a rugby team. Teams were running at the grade 8, junior varsity and varsity levels.
Conversion to a middle school
At a school board meeting on May 22, 2007, it was revealed that the Langley School District Trustees would vote in the fall on a recommendation to transform HD Stafford from a secondary school into a middle school, serving students from Grades 6 to 8. From Grade 9 to 12, Stafford students then would attend one of the remaining secondary schools in the Langley area.
Some members of the Stafford community rallied against the changes. A march to Langley Secondary School from H.D.S.S. was held to illustrate concerns regarding the safety of students walking to and from school along busy roads. Additionally students held a walk-out en masse which took them to the school board office. Upon their arrival, Stafford students sat in silence to protest their silenced voices.
In October 2007, in a four to three vote, school board trustees voted to reconfigure HD Stafford Secondary into a Middle School.
Notable alumni
- Amanda Crew, actress
- Ryan Steele, comedian
- Alisen Down, actress
Programs
H.D. Stafford was one of only a handful of schools in the province to be part of a pilot project for the AVID program. AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is an in-school program which prepares students for university eligibility and success. AVID BC At the time of its closure as a secondary school, approximately 40% of Stafford's teachers were trained in AVID strategies.
Fine arts
The school is known for its Fine Arts program, offering classes in visual arts, dance, drama and music. In particular, known for its musical productions, the school's productions have included Chicago (2004–05), and Disney's Beauty and the Beast amongst others.
In mid-2017, the decision was made to integrate the fine arts program into the regular school stream, thus enrolment in the IFA program will cease as of the 2017-18 school year.
Explorations
Students at Stafford go through a series of programs that are called "Explorations". These explorations are designed to prepare students for life in a career and to develop their talents in real life scenarios. The Grade 6's 7's and 8's have Cooking, OACES (Outdoor Aboriginal Community Environmental Services), Sewing and Visual Arts, and Metalwork and Woodwork as Explorations.
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The main entrance to H.D. Stafford.jpg.webp)
The school sign for H.D. Stafford