Byng Arts Mini School

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Byng Arts Mini School is a School District 39 Vancouver Mini School program^[1] for Literary, Media, Visual, Music, and Performing Arts. The school is located with in Lord Byng Secondary School in West Point Grey on the west side of Vancouver, British Columbia.

1 Program Philosophy
2 History
3 Selection Criteria
4 Application Process
5 Selection Process
6 Notes
7 References

[edit] Program Philosophy

The school offers an intensive program designed for the artistic development of above average students in high school, both in the fine arts and academics.

The program promotes both academic and artistic excellence while fostering interdisciplinary awareness and individual creativity through curricular and extra-curricular activities in the fine arts, literary arts and applied fine arts.^[2]

[edit] History

November 2006, Mandatory VSB online test registration begins.
2005-2006, Byng Art Mini School's Theatre Company gained international attention for staging the play The Laramie Project after the Surrey School Board banned the play. ^[3]
September 2004, the Literary Arts program expanded to include Grades 8 to 12.
September 2003, a Literary Arts discipline was introduced at the Senior level. This program included: Literature 12, Enriched English 11, and English 12AP.
September 2000, the program officially becomes Byng Arts Mini School.
September 1999, a Junior program (Grade 8 - 10) is introduced.
Before September 1999, Byng Arts starts informally as a Senior program (Grade 11 and 12): Theatre Company, Honours Art, Concert Band, and Honour Orchestra.

[edit] Selection Criteria

A Selection Committee will look for students who have the following:

Commitment to a focussed and rigorous program in the arts
Demonstrated ability in one or more area of the arts
Ability to work cooperatively and to respect the creativity of others
Proven ability in core academic subjects

For all grades:

Availability of seats
Two most recent report cards
One letter of reference
Handwritten essay (by student)
One audition (or more) in:

Band
Drama
Literary Arts (Current Grades 8 to 11)
Strings
Visual Arts

Grade 7's entering Grade 8( In additon to all of the above):

District Cognitive Test Scores
District Writing Sample
District Mathematics skills test

All Visual Arts applicants (In addition to the above):

three (3) well-chosen pieces of work spanning a variety of media. The pieces must fit inside the application package and may be photographs

Literary Arts 9 to 12 (Current Grades 8 to 11) (In addition to the general tools):

five (5) pieces of writing including at least one analytical and one creative work. A maximum of two may be school assignments

[edit] Application Process

Complete the District on-line application in early December.
Complete the Byng Arts on-line application also in early December,
Submit the completed application package before Winter Break. The package includes:

Confirmation of on-line application, both VSB and Byng Arts,
Byng Arts application form completed in the student’s handwriting,
Byng Arts Mini School Reference Form in sealed envelope,
Two most recent report cards: November and previous June,
A recent photograph with the student’s name written across the back.

Write the District-wide standardized cognitive skills test, writing sample, and mathematics test at a specified test centre,

Visual arts applicants only are required to submit other supporting documents as requested in the application package.

[edit] Selection Process

The Selection Process has three distinctive steps: Application Review, Short List, and Auditions.

Applications are reviewed and checked for:

Confirmation page from the VSB online application
Confirmation page from Byng Arts online application.
Completed cross boundary application form, if the catchment school is not Lord Byng.
Completed Byng Arts Mini School Reference Form.
Two most recent report cards: November and previous June.
A recent photograph.
Supporting documents for visual & literary arts applicants only.

Eligible students will be added to a Short List if successful through the Application Review.

Short listed students are notified of appointment times for testing, auditions portfolio assessments, skills assessments, interviews as appropriate.

Students selected for Byng Arts are offered positions. Students on wait list are notified of wait-list status.