Strathcona High School, colloquially referred to as Scona and SCHS, is a public high school located in Edmonton, Alberta. The school was referred to as Strathcona Composite High School until 2014. A $6.1 million modernization project was completed in 2015 and the school now enrolls approximately 1500 students. Overview The original Strathcona High School opened in 1908, in the city of Strathcona, Alberta. The school, like the city, were named after Lord Strathcona, a pioneering Scottish businessman and Canadian Parliamentarian, who was very influential in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The city amalgamated with Edmonton in 1912, with the school joining the Edmonton Public Schools system. The population of Edmonton grew quickly, and Strathcona Composite High School outgrew its 1908 building. In 1955, the school transferred 20 blocks south to a newly built structure (the current building), on a large block of parkland. (The original 1908 building went through various uses before becoming Old Scona Academic High School in 1976.) Strathcona Composite is located on Edmonton's south side, just south of the Old Strathcona historic district. The school houses about 60 classrooms, several computer labs, two gymnasiums, a library media centre with networked CDs, a cafeteria, a fitness centre and a community pool operated by River City Recreation, a private contractor. Outside the school, the track team uses Rollie Miles Athletic Field. This field was also used as a training facility for the 1978 Commonwealth Games, the 2001 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, the 2005 World Masters Games and hosted olympic trials for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Other facilities nearby the school include South Side Sports Arena, which Phys Ed classes use for the skating unit. Strathcona High School teams use the team name "Strathcona (or Scona) Lords", referring to their school mascot. At the main entrance of the school, known as the Michener Entrance, an old lamp from the original Old Scona building is on during school hours and hangs above the Strathcona crest which, out of respect, students and staff will not walk across. Global Initiatives Since 2008, Strathcona High School has united annually to turn the motto “as one who serves” into reality. As of 2019, students have raised over $3 million. By engaging in multiple local service projects and massive global initiatives, Strathcona students have had a chance to learn about servant leadership, entrepreneurship, global citizenship, and social affairs. Students in the Leadership Program