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Vancouver College

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Vancouver College
File:Vancouver College school logo.gif
Address
Map
5400 Cartier Street

Vancouver
,
British Columbia
,
V6M 3A5
Information
School typeIndependent
MottoSemper Fidelis
(Forever Faithful)
Founded1922
School boardCatholic School Board
PrincipalDavid Hardy
GradesK-12
Enrollment>1000
LanguageEnglish
AreaShaugnessy, Vancouver
Colour(s)Purple/gold
MascotFinnegan
Team nameFighting Irish
WebsiteVancouver College website

Vancouver College (referred to informally as VC) is an independent Catholic elementary and secondary school (K-12) located in the Shaughnessy neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. An all-boys university-preparatory school, VC's elementary and secondary programs have a combined population of over 1,000 students. Although its official religion is Catholic, it is open to all religions. The school participates in sporting events under the moniker of the "Fighting Irish". It is one of two all-boy schools in the Vancouver area, the other being St. George's School.

History

Vancouver College was founded in 1922 by the Christian Brothers, a world-wide community of religious brothers of the Catholic church founded by Edmund Rice. The school prides itself on offering strong academic, athletic, and arts programs, set within the context of a deep spiritual community.

Independent school status

Vancouver College is classified as a Group 1 school under British Columbia's Independent School Act. Schools in this category receive partial funding from the Ministry of Education. As of 2006, that consists of 50% of their local school district’s per student operating grant, based on full-time equivalent (FTE) student basis. Under the Act, the school has the "freedom to approach the curriculum from their own perspectives."[1] However, Group 1 schools must:

"...employ BC certified teachers, have educational programs consistent with ministerial orders, provide a program that meets the learning outcomes of the British Columbia curriculum, meet various administrative requirements, maintain adequate educational facilities, and comply with municipal and regional district codes."[1]

Academic performance

Over the past decade, Vancouver College has been ranked highly in academic performance by the Fraser Institute. The school has seen itself in rankings with St. George's School, Crofton House School, York House School, Little Flower Academy, and West Point Grey Academy. Vancouver College's Grade twelve students write Provincial Examinations in core academic subjects and continually score above the provincial average by as much as 10%. Vancouver College students perform well in North American science, mathematics, and essay competitions, consistently placing in the top quartile. Vancouver College graduates have gone on to study at reputable universities and colleges in North America, Asia, and Europe.


Vancouver College offers many accelerated courses, as well as university courses taught on campus in English 100, History 100, Classical Studies 102, Math 204, Physics 101, Biology 121, Chemistry 121, and French 122.

Sports

Athletics is a key part of the tradition and culture of Vancouver College. The school competes in many sports, including

Students are expected and encouraged to participate in these programs. The football and basketball programs traditionally rank among the top teams in British Columbia, while VC's rowing has performed well at nationals, usually ranking first or second.[citation needed] VC's teams are known as the "Fighting Irish", a slogan used as a reflection of school pride.

Extracurricular

There are many extracurricular activities in Vancouver College. They include: Student Council, Environment Club, Graduation Committee, Edmundians, Human Rights Conference, Lettermen, Debate, Yearbook, Social Justice, Science Club (STRINGS), School Newspaper, The Voice, Reach for the Top, Pro-Life, and the Humane Society. Vancouver College's Reach for the Top team placed 5th in the province in the 2007 Provincial Tournament

Notable Alumni

New Wing

On November 2nd, 2007 Vancouver College officially opened the Holler Family Science Centre and the new South Gym. The facilities were blessed by The Most Rev. R. Roussin, SM, The Archbishop of Vancouver. On January 30, 2008 Vancouver College opened the new High Performance Fitness Centre. The final phase of this expansion will include a theatre/lecture hall, a super-lab, offices and new change rooms. These facilities are expected to open early in the 2008/2009 school year.

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b Overview of Independent Schools in British Columbia
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