In 1961 the Hungarian Helicon Society formed a Helicon School Committee, which helped develop an extra-curricular program that offered Hungarian classes for high school students. In 1969, the Helicon School became recognized by the Toronto Board of Education as a credit course program, then in 1994, the Separate School Board in Toronto also began to support Hungarian credit courses.

Currently, over 60 students in grades 9 through 12 are taking advantage of the opportunity to study Hungarian literature, grammar and history at the school. The school plays an important part in educating first, second and third generation Hungarian Canadians, and also other members of our multicultural community who are interested in Hungarian heritage.

The high school courses offered at the “Torontoi Magyar Gimnázium” or “Helikon Iskola”’ operate under the umbrella of the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s (TCDSB’s) International Languages Program and students are awarded high school credits, which they can use toward the completion of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. The program is open to all students of any faith and who attend non-TCDSB schools as well (the credits are accepted by other Ontario school boards, including public school boards and private schools).

While the high school program is administered by the TCDSB, the Hungarian Helicon Society continues to play an important role through our financial support and assistance to the program throughout the year.

Location and Schedule

Classes are held for students in Grades 9 through 12 on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Senator O'Connor Secondary School (60 Rowena Drive, in the Victoria Park & Ellesmere/Lawrence area). The classes for the current academic year will run from September 29, 2007 to May 24, 2008.

Registration

Registration begins September 8th, 2008 on the TCDSB’s website. For information on the registration process, please visit the TCDSB’s website at this link.

Information

For more information about the high school program, please contact the school’s director:
Mr. György Koós-Hutás - georgekh@sympatico.ca