Collingwood School

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Collingwood School
Ex Visu Ad Verum
From Vision to Reality
Address
70 Morven Drive
West Vancouver, British Columbia, V7S 3H4, Canada
Information
Headmaster Rodger Wright
School type Private / Day
Grades JK-12
Language English
Campus Suburban
Mascot Cavalier
Team name Collingwood Cavaliers
Colours Blue, Yellow, White
Founded 1984
Enrollment 1,212

Collingwood School is an independent, co-educational, university-preparatory school founded in 1984. Located in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada it delivers the British Columbia Ministry of Education curriculum from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Collingwood School was officially opened in 1984. A group of West Vancouver and North Vancouver parents, who were fed up by the public school system, or the long commute to other independent schools, gathered to create an independent school on the North Shore as an alternative. The school was named in honour of the HMCS Collingwood, a flower class corvette which was commanded by the father of one of the founding members.

The school occupied the buildings that formerly made up Glenmore Elementary School, which was closed the previous year along with several other schools in West Vancouver. Parents, students and teachers protested against the closure of Glenmore, but were unsuccessful in keeping the school open in the face of declining enrollment and a reduced education budget.

Subsequently, they carried out a series of renovations, and the school has since undergone two major expansion projects, including the addition of the wing where most of the Upper School is housed. In 1997, Collingwood constructed the Wentworth campus to house grades Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5.

[edit] Facilities

Front Entrance of Morven Campus
Front Entrance of Morven Campus

[edit] Morven Campus

Located at 49°21′38″N 123°07′12″W / 49.3606, -123.1201.

The senior campus – also known as the "Morven" campus – is the oldest campus of Collingwood School. It is located at 70 Morven Drive in the British Properties residential area of West Vancouver[2], and houses all students in the Middle and Upper Schools, ranging from Grade 6 to Grade 12. The buildings previously made up Glenmore Elementary School, but have since seen several expansions and improvements, including a full-size grass field, and a new wing which houses the gymnasium, the lecture theatre and the Upper School. It is adjacent to Glenmore Park, and in walking distance of North Vancouver via the Cleveland Dam across the Capilano River.

Wentworth Campus
Wentworth Campus

[edit] Wentworth Campus

Located at 49°20′52″N 123°11′07″W / 49.3478, -123.1854.

Opened in 1997, the junior campus – also known as the "Wentworth" campus – is located at 2605 Wentworth Avenue, in the Cypress area of West Vancouver. It is located right below Cypress Provincial Park. This campus houses all students in the Junior School, which ranges from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5.

[edit] Proposed Improvements

With the arrival of Headmaster Rodger Wright, several facility improvements and expansions were proposed to parents and contributors as part of the "Room to Excel" facility planning initiative. Plans to upgrade the Wentworth campus facilities were proposed in 2006. These plans were voted on twice, and neither time did the plan meet the required 75% vote. In 2007, the school decided that the construction of a separate middle school would be the better route to expansion of the school. Collingwood has taken several steps to ease this transition, including the reorganization of the Morven Campus into a Upper School (Grades 9-12) and a Middle School (Grades 6-8).

[edit] Curriculum

Collingwood School delivers the British Columbia Ministry of Education Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum. In addition to the Ministry of Education requirements, Collingwood also requires that students partake in the Collingwood Certificate program (and the Four Strands approach) and offers an extensive selection of Advanced Placement courses.

[edit] Four Strands

Collingwood emphasizes a concept known as the Four Strands. The Four Strands are Academics, Athletics, Service, and the Arts. It is compulsory to participate in the Four Strands and many extracurricular activities are offered to fulfill the requirements. Students are recognized by awards known as grade colours and school colours if they excel in any of the four.

[edit] Collingwood Certificate

The Collingwood Certificate program is a set of higher standards in addition to the BC Ministry of Education's requirements. The Collingwood Certificate program accompanies the unique Four Strands approach at Collingwood School. The Collingwood Certificate challenges students with respect to academic achievement, compulsory athletic participation, continued arts enrollment, participation in community service, the graduation portfolio, and overall citizenship at the school. Upon graduation, the Collingwood Certificate diploma is awarded to all those that meet the requirements.[3]

[edit] Debating & Public Speaking

Collingwood has a highly successful debating and public speaking program, led by debating coach Julia Clarke, which has won dozens of provincial, national and international tournaments. The program's alumni include World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships champion Sarah Mortazavi and two-time champion, Shakir Rahim. Additionally, each student (from Grade 1 to Grade 12) is required to write and present a persuasive speech, a humorous speech, or a dramatic monologue each year in the school's annual public speaking competition.

[edit] Round Square

Round Square

Collingwood is a member of the international Round Square network of schools. "Round Square is a worldwide association of schools, which share a commitment, beyond academic excellence, to personal development and responsibility through service, challenge, adventure, and international understanding."

In October 2008, Collingwood School will be co-hosting the international senior Round Square conference with Glenyon Norfolk School. Delegates from every Round Square school will be billeting with Collingwood families. The theme of this conference is "Creating Sustainable Communities – Local to Global".[4]

[edit] Uniform

All Collingwood School students are required to wear uniforms. The uniform varies for each grade. Both campuses require two sets of uniform: a formal dress (called the "#1 Uniform") for assemblies and special events, as well as a more casual outfit (the "#2 Uniform") for everyday wear. In the Morven Campus, the #1 Uniform requires a school blazer and necktie to be worn. The necktie depends on the grade, with different designs for middle school, senior school, and the graduating class.[5][6]

[edit] Headmasters of Collingwood School

David Mackenzie 
David Mackenzie was Collingwood School's original headmaster. A former member of the British Navy and an avid rugby fan, he also re-founded Brentwood College on Vancouver Island.
Graham Baldwin 
Graham Baldwin was Collingwood's headmaster during its formative years.
Jim Burnett 
Jim Burnett was appointed acting Headmaster after the departure of Graham Baldwin. Jim Burnett was previously a member of the US Olympic track & field team.
Rodger Wright 
Rodger Wright is the current headmaster of Collingwood School, appointed in 2004. He previously served as the Headmaster of Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario.

[edit] References

[edit] External links