W. A. Porter Collegiate Institute

History

Located on 14.9 acres of land, W. A. Porter Collegiate Institute had its cornerstone laid and constructed in 1957 and opened for classes on September 9, 1958 to serve the south-west area of Scarborough as the city's fifth collegiate. The building was designed by the Toronto-based architectural firm Carter, Coleman and Rankin Associates.

The school's namesake, William Arnot Porter (1893-1956) began teaching in 1922 at Scarborough High School as a science teacher, specializing in the science of agriculture. He became the school's principal in 1954, and continued his lifelong work until his death in 1956. The school's founding principal was J. Ross Stevenson who served a year at Porter until he was transferred to the new David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute in 1959.

By 1961, the swimming pool was added. Additions were made in subsequent years.

With enrolment numbers dwindling, the SBE considered closing either Porter or Midland Avenue Collegiate Institute. However, instead, it was decided that at the start of the 1997–98 school year, W. A. Porter Collegiate was designated as the Scarborough Academy of Technological, Environmental and Computer Studies by the SBE, although the original name continues to exist. As of the 2000–01 academic year, Porter's attendance area was expanded after Midland closed that June. Since then, Porter's enrolment has rapidly increased.

The school celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008, coinciding with the PEO Engineering Education Conference of the same year.

In 2010, Porter C.I. became a certified, platinum Eco-School of the TDSB.

Porter has a range of specialized programs like MST (Math and Science Technology), Cisco, High Skills Major, and many more. It celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2018.

Porter's feeder schools are Clairlea Public School, Danforth Gardens Public School, General Brock Public School and Regent Heights Public School

Overview

Historically, admissions to SATEC @ Porter Collegiate are competitive and based on three factors: the entrance test, which is held each December, the student's Ontario grade 7 final report card, and the extra-curricular and leadership supplementary application. Along with this, applicants must bring a $10 fee and photo identification to the test. Students are ranked based on all three factors, and those at the top of the ranking are admitted first, whereas students who are not accepted may be placed on a waiting list if deemed necessary by school administration.

As of 2022, SATEC has switched to an essay-only system, as a requirement to enter their STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) program. If an essay qualifies, a participant is entered into a lottery, where entrants are picked at random.

SATEC/Porter is regarded as a magnet school by the school board because of its strong technology program and its policies. It is a CISCO regional academy with certification in CISCO Networking and A+ Computer Service Technician Certification for the senior program. It has been named “Best For Technology” every year since 2006 among the secondary schools of Toronto.{{cite news

The school offers two Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs: ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and the Environment. In each program, students are required to complete a set number of courses, including a two-credit co-op course, along with obtaining industry standard certification. The first graduates from SATEC/Porter with the Specialist High Skills Major accreditation were the Class of 2011.

In January 2016, the TDSB released a list of schools which needed major repairs ranked by the province in "critical" condition. SATEC/Porter, built in 1956, was ranked 26th of 136 in the repair backlog list at 96.09%.

Athletics

In November 2012, the school hosted the reenactment of the 38th Grey Cup Mud Bowl that occurred on November 25, 1950 as part of a string of CFL festivities to commemorate the 100th Grey Cup. With generous support of corporate donors in Rona and the Toronto Argonauts, SATEC revamped its track field into a regulation-sized football stadium.

SATEC hosted its first-ever Friday night game on October 11, 2013 against David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute. Soon after, a selected group of players appeared on CP24 Breakfast with Nalini Sharma as Argos head coach Jim Barker demonstrated the fundamental runs and tackles of the sport.

References

References

1. "Carter, Harold | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada".
2. "Newsletters Archive: 1997 Fall Thomson Tradewinds".
3. Daly, Rita. "[https://archive.today/20130729081351/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/474143841.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+20,+1988&author=Rita+Daly+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Trustees+resent+turning+school+over+to+Catholics&pqatl=google Trustees resent turning school over to Catholics]." ''[[Toronto Star]]''. September 20, 1988. News p. A7. Retrieved on July 29, 2013.
4. "Math, Science & Technology".
5. Mangione, Naomi Parness and Kendra. (2016-01-20). "Nearly a quarter of Toronto public schools in 'critical' condition".
6. [http://www.cp24.com/video?clipId=1028547 Part I], [http://www.cp24.com/video?clipId=1028548 Part II of appearance on ''CP24 Breakfast'']