Unleashing Global Champions of Tomorrow

Posted On Tuesday May 07, 2019
Northern Dancer Opening - Administration
L-R: DDSB Superintendent Jamila Maliha and Northern Dancer PS Principal Barbara Speed celebrate the grand opening of Northern Dancer PS on April 9th.

Northern Dancer Public School in Oshawa hosts its official grand opening

Spark, Connect, Unleash; that is the motto of Northern Dancer Public School in Oshawa.

On April 9th the new school held their grand opening, which included dazzling student performances and presentations from Durham District School Board (DDSB) staff and community partners.

The school is named after the legendary racehorse Northern Dancer, who won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes and would eventually become one of the most successful sires of the 20th century. Although he was small in size, he was known to have a big personality and a need for speed.

Northern Dancer was born in 1961 at Windfields Farm in Oshawa, which was owned and operated by businessman E.P. Taylor. Northern Dancer PS now sits atop grounds that were once a part of that same farm, rich in horse racing history.

The school has been open to students and staff since September, and Principal Barbara Speed says it’s been a busy year of coming together. “We’ve had a lot of momentum since September. The building is full of energy and excitement,” says Speed. She adds that staff and students are looking forward to working with innovative community partners to unleash critical thinkers who are global champions.  

Attendees at the grand opening included DDSB trustees, superintendents, educators’ networks, local MPs and MPPs, and many more.

The student performances included inspirational messages, choreographed dances, musical performances, and a dramatic and comedic retelling of Northern Dancer’s story.

The Northern Dancer PS choir and band performed a musical piece entitled “Feel the Fury,” which was commissioned for the school by David Marlatt, a well-known Canadian composer. The lyrics of the piece were written by students in the choir and band under the guidance of musical director Stephanie Mattin.

The evening concluded with DDSB Director of Education Lisa Millar cutting a ceremonial red ribbon on stage to officially open the school.