In 1985 archaeologists digging on the school grounds uncovered clues regarding Toronto's history as a terminus of the Underground Railroad. Between 1834 and 1890 this site was the home of Lucie and Thornton Blackburn, refugee former slaves from Kentucky who started Toronto's first taxicab company. Twin plaques have been erected at this site and one in Louisville, KY. Inglenook is located in the oldest continually-operated school building in the Toronto District School Board. Originally Sackville Street School, it was designed by William G. Storm. The first principal of Sackville Street School was Georgina Stanley Riches, who served from 1887 to 1912. At one time the school enrolled 269 students. In 1974, Sackville Street School closed and the building became home to both Inglenook Community High School and an aboriginal learning centre, which soon moved out. The school is said to be haunted.
Mission and Framework
Inglenook gives more power to the student body than the average Toronto school. The Committee on Evaluations, Academic Standards and Admissions is the school's disciplinary body. If corrective measures are required, two students and teachers meet with the pupils involved and attempt to rectify the situation. There are no detentions and no letters home. Students are responsible for attendance and schoolwork, which are mandatory.
Overview
Inglenook offers a program called Outreach, typically shortened to "Reach," which is completed on Wednesdays in lieu of traditional courses. The other four schooldays each have a double period to make up for Wednesday's lost time. In Outreach, the student is expected to volunteer in the community for three hours a week. They then relate this experience to one of their academic courses by doing a tie-in project which receives a mark included in the final course grade. After the first semester, students can also perform an equivalent of Outreach, known as Inreach. This is still affiliated with a specific course, and a tie-in project is still completed, but instead of performing volunteer work the student can pursue an interest such as learning to paint, acquiring a new language, or writing a play. Inglenook features an open-access kitchen, which is cleaned by two hoppers after classes each day. Hoppers are two students who are chosen for duty on any particular day, and as it is rotational, each student will only have to clean once per semester. The school features a public art space named the "Inglenook Gallery". There is also a student lounge with furniture and books, and most of the classrooms contain couches.
