Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) - Norwell District Secondary School

Norwell District Secondary School is located in the town of Palmerston. Norwell has a rich history that began in the fall of 1940 when it first opened its doors as Palmerston High School. Norwell is a mid-sized composite high school with a full range of educational programs – academic, technical, and special education. Over 90% of students are bused from a wide area of approximately 500 square kilometres. The goal at Norwell is to engage students in the learning process and to challenge them to achieve personal excellence.

The secondary school experience should leave every student richer, prepared for the future, and aware of their responsibilities as good citizens. While building on time-honoured traditions, Norwell is committed to meeting the needs of 21st-century students with innovative programming and technology. Norwell’s grade nine and eleven Hockey Skills Program and Integrated Arts Projects at Drayton Theatre, CELP, state of the art technical programming, and achievement of becoming an ECO Gold School represent the foundation of a new way of building educational programs that are relevant to learning and to its learners.

Norwell’s desire to be on the cutting edge of new learning trends is a result of the confidence gleaned from a great experience. By promoting critical, creative, independent thinking and problem-solving through diverse school experiences, Norwell empowers students to cultivate the skills necessary for a lifelong dedication to learning, while fostering local and global citizenship and healthy ways of life in a safe and inclusive learning environment. 

Why Norwell District Secondary School

• Arts Performance Project: APP is an innovative, off-site, performance-based Arts program designed for grade 9 and 11 students with a keen interest in the arts. Students will have the opportunity to explore the Performing Arts in a collaborative, non-traditional environment at the Drayton Festival Theatre. In this setting, students will develop their artistic talents in theatre, music, and/or dance.  As well, students will take part in a variety of workshops with industry professionals and community mentors.
• Course variety: Norwell offers French Immersion, Dual Credit programs, and Specialist High Skills Majors in Business, Construction, Environment, Health & Wellness, Manufacturing, Transportation, and Arts and Culture. Norwell also offers the LEAF program, which stands for Local, Environmental, Agriculture, and Food. Hands-on learning is the focus of LEAF. Students will learn through engaging experiences such as growing food in the garden and greenhouse, cooking and eating local food, and making connections between agriculture and the environment.
• Extracurricular activities: From Arts to Athletics Norwell has something for everyone to come out and be a part of the Varsity Reds family.