Royal West Academy
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Royal West Academy (commonly referred to as Royal West or RWA) is a public anglophone secondary school in Montreal, Quebec. Royal West has limited enrollment, and prospective students are only admitted after an entrance examination and interview. It is situated on Easton Avenue in Montreal West, but its students come from all parts of the Greater Montreal Area. Royal West Academy is part of the English Montreal School Board.
In 2006, the Fraser Institute's report on Quebec high schools ranked Royal West as 37th out of over 400 other schools, making it the highest ranking anglophone school in the public sector. Royal West has also placed high in scholastic math competitions, including its rank of first in Quebec in 2006.[1]
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[edit] History
The grounds where Royal West is now located was once the Saint Philip's Anglican Church. In 1894, the Aberdeen School was founded. It was renamed as the Montreal West High School in 1921. Ten years later, in 1931, the building was demolished and a larger building was built in its place. In 1951 and 1959, an extension to the main structure was built to make way for an elementary school. The extensions are what is now called the west wing.
In 1980, the elementary school was closed because of poor enrollment. The Royal Vale elementary school moved in, but was closed as well. Finally, in 1983, the Royal Vale French immersion high school and Montreal West High School merged to form Royal West Academy. The new Royal West Academy is quite different from its predecessor; unlike most public schools it has a uniform and an entrance examination.
The Royal West Academy yearbook is called The Phoenix, in homage to the fact that Royal West Academy was born out of Montreal West High School. Students are encouraged to submit art and literature for The Phoenix and there is one illustration of a Phoenix that is chosen each year for the cover.
[edit] Areas of the School
The main structure is in the shape of a long rectangle. The hallway runs the length of the longer side of the rectangle. Classrooms are located on either side of the hallway. The main section of the school is three stories high.
[edit] First Floor
The first floor has three major entrances into the school. The entrance in the centre of the school opens to Royal West's foyer. The South entrance on Easton leads to the cafeteria and the North entrance on Avon is primarily used by students arriving by commuter train or by bus.
The Auditorium can be accessed by two doors in the foyer. A passage, to the foyer's right, on the northern side fo the school, leads towards the Girl's and Boy's Gym, and the music room where teacher/conductor music classes and the school's honour band perform. They are situated in a wing similar the west wing, which includes another entranced, usually used by concert performers, or more commonly, gym students going outside. The first floor also houses the prefect's room, the school store, the studio of the Shakespeare troop (the "Bardolators"), and the woodworking room.
[edit] The Second Floor
The second floor is home to the school computer labs and the bulk of the math Department classrooms. The library, the main school office, the Staff Lounge and the detention room are located here as well.
[edit] The Third Floor
The third floor houses subjects taught mainly to the upper grades. Departments located here include the science laboratories, biology, chemistry, and physics. The floor also includes a number of math, geography and history classes. The Environment Club is also located on the third floor, as well as the student council (Student Life Association) and Leadership group.
[edit] The West Wing
Shaped like the letter L, this section of the school was a later addition added to the back of the school grounds. Unlike the main structure of the school, the west wing rises only two stories. The first floor of the west wing houses most of the French classes. Some social science (including Global Awareness) classes are also situated here, as well as the visual arts room. The popular Social Justice Club and Free The Children Chapter is also situated here. The second floor of the west wing houses the English and Drama Departments. To the school's students, a notable feature of the west wing is its second floor door leading to the main building. Being that this entranceway is a single door (rather than double doors), it often causes lineups on both sides and sometimes leads to students being late for their upcoming class.
[edit] School Grounds
Royal West has two outdoor fields, one to the front of the school and one to the back. The front field is a rectangular field with parameters suited mainly to soccer and football. A combination soccer net and football goalpost is located at both ends of the field. There are also baseball cages located in the two corners furthest from the school building. This field is used annually on January 1st for the Montreal West Garbage Bowl event, and during the last day of school for the annual "Shaving Cream Fight"[2].
The back field of the school has a strange shape due to a private residence which is located on part of what would otherwise be the field. Its shape and it's bumpy terrain make it less suitable for sports than the front field. As such, this field is used mainly at times when there is more than one class of gym going on at the same time, forcing one of the two classes to use this field or during special events like the "Welcome Back BBQ".
[edit] School Song
Set to the tune of The High School Cadets by John Philip Sousa.
Royal West
We're the best!
We will always pass the test.
We will always be true
To the burgundy and blue.
We will stand tall with pride
As we venture far and wide.
Royal West
We will lead
And all together we'll succeed!
[edit] The teaching program
The school teaches grades 7 to 11, in line with most high schools in the province of Quebec. As a school advocating French immersion, many of the classes are taught in French. The curriculum is set up in such a way that as a student progresses towards their final year, more and more of the classes are taught in English.
Grade 7 students are enrolled in an enriched integrated science program, and are required to participate in yearly science fairs during at least one of their five years at the school if they choose to go into the physics and chemistry stream in grade 11.
Students in grades 8 to 11 are divided by ability whereby some are put into an advanced math program that has them completing math work that is, on average, a year above what they would normally be learning in their current grade.
Students are also expected to complete three extracurricular "credits" during each academic year. A student must complete a sports, community service, and cultural credit. These credits can be obtained either by signing up and completing and event/undertaking suggested or organized by the school's teachers (usually advertised in the Royal West Academy daily bulletin). Starting in the 2005-06 school year, credits are not awarded for activities not organised by the school.
Summers constitute part of the curriculum at Royal West. During these months, students are required to read a certain number of books which they will be tested on come the beginning of the following school year. Also, they will be marked on the quality of the notes they took on their chosen books. Notes must be made on these books. This reading program applies to all incoming grade 7 students, as well as students beginning grades 8, 9, 10 and 11.
[edit] Customs
[edit] Shaving Cream Fight
On the last school day of every year, students gather in the front field and participate in what has been a long running tradition of Royal West - The shaving cream fight. Students are allowed no more than one can at the time and spray one another with shaving cream. This fight lasts from 2:57 to 4:15. Near the end of the fight, a teacher is there with a hose to attempt to wash off the majority of the shaving cream. Students must then walk home soaking wet or covered in shaving cream. One of the traditions of this event is to play classical music through large speakers during the event.
Before the year 2000, this event was less controlled and took place throughout Montreal West. Students could been seen up and down Westminster (Montreal West's largest street), in Davies Park, and on other side streets. School property was the only place where one could not partake in this activity during this period. Eggs were often used along with shaving cream, much to many student's chagrin. There was little or no teacher supervision, and it took place after school, but sometimes at lunch period as well. It was mainly due to the remains of shaving cream, littering of empty shaving cream bottles, and general disregard for the residents of Montreal West that the school set tighter rules. The unfair targeting of particular students not wishing to take part in the activity was also an issue. The school decided to change the rules of this event and in the 2000-2001 school year the event was restricted to the front field.
[edit] Welcome Back BBQ
A welcome back BBQ is set up every year, usually during the first month and second Friday of the school year. Students gather in the back field and feast on hot dogs and chips. Some students bring their iPods and plug them into the sound system so that everyone participating can enjoy music. Games such as Tug of war, "Royal West" Idol, and watermelon eating contests are set up on the field to entertain students.
[edit] Goodbye BBQ
The goodbye BBQ is the more recently established BBQ and takes place during the last month and last Friday of the school year. It is relatively the same as the first BBQ. Students gather in the back field yet again and hot dogs and chips are served. Like the Welcome Back BBQ, students play music using their iPods. Games are set up throughout the field to entertain the students. Despite the similarities to the Welcome BBQ, the goodbye BBQ tends to attract few students since most are eager to for summer break to begin.
[edit] Prefects
Prefects aid in the cafeteria, library and every other activity that needs control in the school. Each prefect is awarded with one community and one cultural credit. Prefects also make sure students are in full uniform (shirts tucked in, proper shoes, etc.)
Royal West selects prefects in May for the following school year. Prefects applying must be in grade 9 or higher and must submit an application, and an evaluation from every teacher in the school, and an essay.
There are two head prefects, seniors, and two foot prefects, juniors. These head and foot prefects are elected by the other prefects.
The prefects are allowed one room on the first floor. The room includes lounge furniture and a microwave. Though this rooms is private, honour band members are often permitted to leave their things inside during after-school concerts.
[edit] Bardolators
Bardolators represent a major part of Royal West's dramatic arts. The organisation was founded by Dougles Floen (a former English teaher at Royal West). Following an audition process, members accepted into the program perform two complete Shakespeare plays during the school year. Bardolators also act out individual Shakespeare scenes from plays studied throughout the years at Royal West such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Macbeth and Hamlet, giving a better understanding of the characters and plays.
[edit] Bands
The Honour Band represents the school in music competitions and festivals, and performs live for special occasions such as Memorial Day and graduation ceremonies. It consists of students in grades 9 through 11 (with the exception of a few very talented 8th grade students) who were selected through auditions. Its members wear specially made burgundy coats with pins representing the number of years they have been in band.
There is also a RWA Winds band comprised of juniors, a Jazz Band composed of seniors, and a Teacher Band. Faculty in the Teachers Band are often taught to play instruments by honour band members.
[edit] Notable Graduates
- Matthew Mackay at the Internet Movie Database
- Jacob Tierney at the Internet Movie Database
- Brigid Tierney at the Internet Movie Database
- Nathalie Vansier at the Internet Movie Database
- Members of rock group The Stills
- Andrew Knowles: computer engineer, linguist & card shark
- Nik Witkowski, rugby centre for Canada national rugby union team & Coventry R.F.C., UK
