This is Milton District
A proud tradition of excellence
From 1960 to the present day, MD students have excelled in the arts, athletics, academics and applied technologies. The many awards, pictures, trophies, banners and plaques on display throughout our school record our deep tradition of excellence and honour the achievements of all the Mustangs who have worn the M with pride, including MD's most famous graduate, Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Class of 1977, the first Canadian to walk in space. Milton is also proud of two graduates Mark Saunders and Nishan ‘Nish’ Duraiappah who are both Chiefs of Police of two of the largest police forces in Ontario. Saunders is recently retired Metro Toronto Chief and Duraiappah is Peel Region Chief. Building on our strong foundation of success on the performance stage, in the classroom, on the playing field and in the gym, our most recent class of MD students proudly carry on the Mustang tradition of reaching for the stars in their pursuit of Nothing but the Best.
A caring, inclusive school culture
Deeply embedded in our school culture, the principles of equity and inclusiveness guide our decision-making when we design curriculum and plan important school-wide events. Over the past 15 years, a large number of MD students and staff have engaged in seven Equity Lenses/Cultural Proficiency training, and this ongoing journey of shared learning has led to the creation of new units and courses of study, including Living Cultures, Contemporary Indigenous Voices, World Religions, and our Social Justice SHSM. Of equal importance are the many opportunities we provide for MD staff and students to put their learning into practice by planning and hosting significant school-wide events, such as Faces of Faith, Education for Reconciliation, From Holocaust to Hope, the Metis Nation of Ontario Flag Raising Ceremony, Empowering the Bystander, A Taste of Milton, Inside & Out Conference and the Canadian Citizenship Ceremony. When MD students and staff work together to promote understanding an inclusion, we strengthen relationships with peers and the broader school community, while reinforcing the shared value that we are all connected.
A dynamic, collaborative community of learners
The rapid pace of change in the 21st Century presents both challenges and exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth in our community of learners. At MD we are fortunate to share a close, long-standing partnership with many HDSB Instructional Program Leaders who support our ongoing inquiry-based learning. In recent years, MD staff have engaged in important professional development and explored new learning in Classroom Technologies, Literacy & Numeracy, PE4Life, Circles, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Mindfulness, Applied Learning & Collaborative Problem Solving. We regularly monitor and reflect on student engagement and achievement, adapting learning-teaching processes and assessment to ensure all learners in our MD school community achieve the best possible educational outcomes.
A strong commitment to student voice & leadership
MD is a school community that fosters caring, supportive relationships among students and staff. Well-established initiatives, such as Mustangs in Blue, Student Athletic Association, Scene & Herd, Gay Straight Alliance, Students Unite, MD Express and Wilderness North, engage student voices, build leadership skills, promote school spirit and cultivate positive peer relationships. MD's ongoing commitment to mentorship structures and team-building activities that develop a deep sense of belonging in students and staff is a strong expression of our core belief that everyone has a place, a valued voice, and an important role to play in the MD school community. As we way in Mustang country, "It's not about the horse, it's the herd." We are stronger together than apart.
A clear focus on experiential learning
MD students take their learning beyond the classroom. In museums, art galleries, provincial parks and cultural centres, from construction sites to conservation areas, MD students extend course concepts and skills by participating in authentic performance tasks. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity in 2016, students in the Construction Technology SHSM built a townhouse in Burlington, and in 2017 they renovated a portable at MD. History students research the topic aviation at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, science students learning about predator-prey relationships in a hands-on, interactive way at Mountsberg, and art students find inspiration in the breathtaking scenery of the Elora Gorge. Outdoor Education students paddle the lakes of Algonquin Park in the spring, and English students explore the Petroglyphs Site in the fall. Throughout the school year, and across the curriculum, MD students engage in Experiential Education that embeds deep learning and creates lasting impressions. As one MD student put it: "I only went on the Kawartha trip for three days, yet I learned things that will stick with me for a lifetime."