Strathcona-Tweedsmuir became a school, in that name, in 1971, though it’s history stretches back more than a century. It is essentially an amalgamation of three schools that excelled in different ways: St. Hilda’s School for Girls, Strathcona School for Boys, and Tweedsmuir, a girls’ school. The current school motto, Nil Nisi Optimum, “nothing but the best,” was originally used by Tweedsmuir, as was the black watch uniforms—in that and other traditions that remain in place reflect the founding schools long, shared histories.
The amalgamation came at a time of economic growth due to a boom in oil and gas exploration in the region. Each school was outgrowing its footprint, and so looked to combining forces. The world, too, was changing, and the move to a co-ed academic atmosphere was equally emblematic of the time. The newly minted Strathcona-Tweedsmuir also moved to a sizable parcel of land, where the school remains today.
In time, the school would continue to grow its curricular offerings, including advance placement courses, adoption of Round Square, and the growth of the International Baccalaureate program. STS was also an early adopter of digital technologies in the classroom. Those things are an expression of perhaps the most important tradition that STS expresses, namely that of looking ahead, being flexible, and working to adapt the program to student need. The ideal student is one who will thrive in large, vibrant, and challenging academic environment.