Our School
Nepean is a community school celebrating a 90 year old tradition to encourage its students to strive for excellence academically, artistically, and in athletics. Our dedicated and energetic staff is committed to providing a stimulating and caring environment where every student is challenged to meet his/her potential. We expect our students to become responsible citizens and leaders of our community. As the majority of our students walk to school each day, we have strong ties to our immediate community, with many families having connections to Nepean that can be traced back two or three generations.
Our curricular offerings include University, College, French Immersion, Extended French, Enriched, Advanced Placement, Co-operative Education, Apprenticeship, Leadership Development, and Environment Specialist Program.
Mission Statement
Love Purple, Live Gold! At Nepean we are committed to providing an exceptional high school experience for our students through enriched programming in academics, athletics, fine arts and leadership programs. We want our students to love their time at NHS! We expect our students to demonstrate character and to make positive contributions to others in our school community.
Nepean Knights:
School Colours – Purple & Gold
School Motto – “Play the Game”
Team Name – Knights
Programs and Services
Academic Programs
Percentages of students in the following programs:
75% Regular English/Core French
25% French Immersion
17% Special Education (including Gifted)
Enriched courses are offered in English, Math, Science, History, and Core French. A comprehensive array of Fine Arts courses are offered; students are able to take at least two credits each year in Music, as well as two in Grades 10-12 Drama and two in Grade 11 & 12 Visual Arts. Advanced Placement preparatory courses are offered in English, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Computer Programming and French Immersion. In addition a third language opportunity is available in Spanish through a formal partnership with our sister school in Galicia, Spain.
In 2009, Nepean was designated as a Specialist High Skills Major site for Environment. The program is comprised of a core group of courses and industry specific certifications. Students who complete all elements graduate with a red seal on their diploma which distinguishes their secondary learning as having a focus on the Environment.
Classroom Organization
Nepean High School is a grade 9-12 semestered school with four 75 minute periods. Students have a full hour for lunch. Some elective courses run outside the regular school day to permit flexibility and more course options for students. These may include Drama Production, Music Repertoire, and our own locally-developed Nepean Leadership Development Course.
Special Education and ESL Programs
Nepean High School assists students who are IPRC’d and who are integrated into the regular classroom but require some individual help through trained staff who are available in the Resource Centre.
Clubs and Activities
Nepean’s strong academic program is supplemented by a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. These activities include an active interscholastic and intramural sports program, an extensive collection of student-centered clubs and organizations, a very active Student Council, leadership programs, dances and coffee houses, peer helping, as well as award winning bands, choir, and drama productions. In August, 2011, The Ottawa Citizen recognized Nepean High School as the #3 sports school in Ottawa.
Clubs include Model UN, Amnesty International, Free the Children, Environmental Club, Ski Club, Live It Up, Children’s Theatre, Improv!, Humanitarian Club, Knight Watch (school newspaper), Students Unite, Students Against Drinking and Driving (OSAID) and the Key (Kiwanis Engaging Youth) Club.
During the course of the year, Nepean High School also offers leadership skill development for many of our students through a number of leadership camps.
Safe Schools Initiatives
We maintain a safe and caring environment at Nepean, demonstrating respect for each individual in our learning community. Ensuring the safety of each student is reinforced by consistently modelling and reinforcing a simple yet powerful idea: At Nepean we respect everybody, every day, all of the time. Parents, students, staff and community members all work in collaboration to create the best possible learning environment. The Student Code of Behaviour was developed by staff, students, and parents and is printed in the student handbook and reviewed with students at the beginning of each school year.
FUSE is a successful student- directed welcoming and orientation program geared to assist new students in their transition to our school. The ultimate goal is to connect all students to the culture, spirit and community of NHS and foster cooperation between students of all grade levels.
Nepean encourages students in all grades to participate in programs such as Restorative Justice training, CORE Leadership, Beyond the Hurt, Empowering the Bystander, SAIL (athletic outreach to elementary schools), and many of our student clubs which have a focus on caring, service to others, and community involvement.
Parents and Community
Our collective goal is to ensure that Nepean students are successful in realizing their full academic potential. We feel that this is best accomplished through a motivating and challenging curriculum combined with high expectations of achievements. We are committed to establishing and maintaining links between all members of our community through the creation of opportunities for students, parents, staff and community members to meet and discuss issues of mutual interest. Nepean has a dynamic School Council that meets the third Tuesday of every month from September until June and organizes numerous activities including fundraising as well as guest speakers for parents. The Council welcomes all parents, students, school staff and community members to its meetings which begin at 7:00 p.m. in the library.