Vancouver Technical Secondary School
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2014) |
| Vancouver Technical Secondary School | |
|---|---|
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 Vancouver Technical Secondary from East Broadway | |
| Address | |
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2600 East Broadway , , Canada | |
| Coordinates | 49°15′41″N 123°03′06″W / 49.2614°N 123.0517°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Secondary school |
| Motto | "Semper Sersum" (Ever Upwards) |
| Founded | 1916 |
| School board | School District 39 Vancouver |
| Superintendent | Scott Robinson |
| Area trustee | Mike Lombardi |
| School number | 03939011 |
| Principal | Annette Vey-Chilton |
| Grades | 8-12 |
| Enrollment | 1660 Students |
| Language | English, French immersion |
| Area | Mount Pleasant Grandview-Woodland Nootka Elementary Hastings-Sunrise Renfrew-Collingwood |
| Colour(s) | Emerald and Gold |
| Mascot | Talisman (Wiki Tiki Tribe Member) |
| Team name | Van Tech Talismen (Girls Ice Hockey team - Taliswomen) |
| Public transit access | 9, 7, 16, Millennium Line (Skytrain), 27, 99 - (Select Trips Only) |
| Website | vantech |
| Last updated: March 2016 | |
Vancouver Technical Secondary School, often referred to as Van Tech, is a public secondary school located on the East Side of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
History
The school originally opened in 1916, for boys only, in the Fairview neighbourhood. It then moved downtown until 1928 when it settled into its present location in East Vancouver. Starting in 1940, girls were admitted. One of the school's founders (and principal from 1930 until 1944), James George Sinclair, is also the great-grandfather of 23rd Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Minischools
Vancouver Technical offers a wide range of minischool programs.
Summit is a three-year minischool program which focuses on enriching the four academic courses: Math, Science, Social Studies and English. The summit program offers accelerated sciences and mathematics, with students completing Chemistry 11 and Pre-Calculus 11 by Grade 10. Many extra-curricular activities are part of the program. Students in the Summit program engage in many extra-curricular activities including a four-day camp at the beginning of the school year, and a week-long horseback riding camp in their Grade 10 year. Students also work to obtain the Duke of Edinburgh's Award at the end of the program.[1]
Flex is a three-year mini school program which focuses on the humanities, English and Social Studies. Students in Flex take unique classes for the first 3 years in the program and often go onto taking History and Philosophy. Flex 10 students also get a chance to go to Quebec or New York.
Program Highlights
Arts
Music
There are several music classes offered at Van Tech. These include, concert band, concert choir, string orchestra, jazz band, drum line as well as a few others.
Visual Arts
Visual Art classes available include drawing, painting, photography and ceramics.
Theatre
Within the field theatre, students start in grade 8 in a drama class which is available up to grade 10. Students in grades 11 and 12 are allowed to take a theatre production class which will put on an annual play. Another class that is also offered is stage production.
Technical Classes
Shop Classes
These classes include wood, metal and jewelry. Students get the opportunity to learn hands on with the materials they would craft with. Past projects include, a stool, cutting boards, jewelry boxes, safes, belt buckles, rings, and pendants.
Drafting
Using computer software and hands on techniques students get a comprehensive look into the world of structure.
Graphics
Using current design programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, students can design their own projects, which include buttons, decals and basic Photoshop work. Another part of this is the Van Tech yearbook, which is designed in house by students in the same shop.
Electronics
In electronics students are taught about circuits and robotics. Van Tech has attended and competed in robotics tournaments.
Hairdressing
A unique program offered at Van Tech is the Hairdressing program for 12th grade students. They complete English 12 and have 7 full blocks of hairdressing where they learn how to cut and style hair.
Notable alumni
- Greg Joy, Olympic medalist - track and field
- Sam Sullivan, former mayor of the city of Vancouver, MLA for Vancouver False Creek
- John Ferguson (1938–2007), NHL player/coach[citation needed]
Popular culture
- Exterior shots of the school were used to represent Smallville High School in Smallville. The school was also used as a filming location in Scary Movie, Paycheck, Supernatural, iZombie, Psych and Supergirl.[2]