Turner Fenton Secondary School - History

History

Turner Fenton Secondary School is composed of two buildings, dubbed North Hall and South Hall. Until 1992, the two buildings were each schools in their own right, the North being J. A. Turner SS, and the South being W. J. Fenton SS. W. J. Fenton was the first of the two to open in 1972, built by Val Mitchell Construction. C.A. Smith built J. A. Turner Secondary in 1974. Both buildings were designed by architect Don E. Skinner Thughliphe.

The rooms of the "new" North Hall are numbered 100s and 200s on the first floor and second floor, respectively; the South Hall rooms are numbered 300s on the first floor and 400s on the second floor. The portables are 500s. Each faculty department generally has its own section of the school. English, Math, Science, Business/Tech, the Library and Main Administration are in the North building. History, Moderns (French and other language studies), Geography, Arts (Dramatic, Visual, Digital, Culinary and Cosmetic). Some exceptions do apply however: Music classes are located in the North Hall although part of an integrated Arts department. Similarly, Biology classes are in the South Building. Administrative offices are split between the two buildings, with certain Vice Principals and Guidance Counselors located specifically in the South hall. The school also has two cafeterias, the North Hall cafeteria being the larger of the two. Additionally, as the South Hall was equipped to serve Culinary arts teaching, the cafeteria in the South Hall allows students to make/serve food.

Following the merger of the schools in 1992, the school was referred to officially on its main outdoor signage as 'Turner Fenton Secondary School,' however had also adopted a secondary brand name 'Turner Fenton Campus' used on school letterhead. In the early-2000s, the school board forced Turner Fenton to standardize its name, because the school had not filed the proper forms upon its creation in 1992.

Some other changes were also made to the already large school. On September 2007, construction workers had fenced off an area between north hall and south hall to extend the school. Construction was coming to an end by the end of the 2007-2008 school year and on September 2, the new section was opened to all staff and students. The school now has new lab rooms and English classrooms. As well, math teachers were upgraded to a newer and much larger office to accommodate all the teachers. The newer division also came with two new staircases and a beautiful large window from one of the staircases that looks onto the parking lot. In addition, trees and plants were also added to the parking lot and the side of the school to make it more appealing.

On January 11, 2011, a stabbing occurred, sending one sixteen year old male to Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto, and 3 suspects to custody, one of which also sustained minor injuries. The victim sustained stab wounds to the head and neck. Police are currently investigating this incident.