Frances Kelsey Secondary School
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| Frances Kelsey | |
 |
|
| Location | |
| Mill Bay, British Columbia, Canada | |
| Information | |
| School number | 07965039 |
| Superintendent | Peter Porte |
| Principal | Marilyn Sandford |
| School type | High School |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Language | English |
| Mascot | Orca |
| Team name | Breakers |
| Colours | White, Blue, Gold |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Enrollment | 1253 (2005-06) |
| Homepage | http://www.fkss.ca |
Frances Kelsey Secondary School (FKSS) is a high school located in Mill Bay, British Columbia, Canada, named after Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey. The school, under founding Principal Allan MacLeod, adopted a self-directed learning system. FKSS is one of School District 79 Cowichan Valley's four main-stream secondary schools, and the only one not using the standard teaching approach. FKSS is a member of the Canadian Coalition of Self-Directed Learners (CCSDL).[1][2]
Contents |
[edit] Philosophy and Design
By 1990, the SD 79 Board had put together a committee consisting of senior district administration, teachers, school administrators and south-end parent representatives to develop plans for the new school. In 1990, the Summary Report of the South Cowichan Consultative Committee was published. This document represented a distillation of the ideas gained by the committee during fact finding tours to other districts and schools in BC and Alberta, professional reading and research, numerous parent and community meetings and the advice and recommendations sought from parents, students, educators and other professionals for the design of the new south-end secondary school.
The document reflected the need to construct a school which not only incorporated local community desires for unique features that would support programs geared for the hospitality tourism industry such as a teaching kitchen and an auditorium which would lend support to a performing arts program and also serve as a large group teaching area. In addition, there was a strong desire to seek the most effective ways to incorporate the new “principles of learning” emerging from the Ministry of Education that stated:
* learning requires the active participation of the student * people learn in a variety of ways and at different rates * learning is both and individual and group process
In carefully examining how these how these principles might be addressed, the committee recommended that the “self-paced, continuous progress” model similar to Calgary’s Bishop Carroll Secondary School could be successfully implemented at the new south end high school.
By 1991, the site had been purchased and the firm of Dalla-Lana/Griffin - architects, had been hired to begin the task of designing a building that would later become known as Frances Kelsey Secondary School. Construction began in 1994 and the building was substantially completed by February 1995. The school's Math, English, Socials, and Science areas were enlarged, and annother, smaller gym added, along with several hundred more lockers, in the fall of 2004.
[edit] Academics
[edit] Science
FKSS' self paced programs adopts a powerful role in the science lab. By giving the students the ability to schedule labs to their schedule no student is held back by class. Constant supervision by teaching staff assures that the lab remains a safe environment.
[edit] Mathematics
Completed in 2005, Francis Kelsey's Math wing holds five classrooms specializing in the study of Mathematics. Students focus on the ministry program, but often the self paced program allows students to deviate depending on their ability. Three levels of each math grade are offered, as well as calculus twelve.
[edit] English
An extensive English program thrives in FKSS, students find themselves able to quickly exceed with the self paced program, and those with some difficulty never find an English teacher too far. The Frances Kelsey English program aligns itself with the fine arts departments, as the English teachers recognize the power of creativity within language. Various contests are available to students throughout the year. As well as the basic English courses required by the Ministry, Literature is also offered.
[edit] Social Studies/History/Comparative Civilizations
Below the second floor English quadrant lies its sister subject. A large History "Conference room" allows for large seminars, or for large groups of independent student study. Student keep up to date on current events through the similarly named program. Senior students have the option of History or 'Comp Civ.'
[edit] Languages
At Kelsey Japanese, Italian, Spanish and French are offered. We also have an exchange program many students from Japan, China, Germany and other countries come to FKSS to learn English and graduate under the BC education program.
[edit] Technology
[edit] Computer Sciences
One of Kelsey's many computer labs is dedicated to courses such as Drafting, Computer Graphics, Film, and Programming.
[edit] Technology
Kelsey features a "high tech arts & crafts" course, which explores ideas of modern industrial design, as well as a course in Electronics.
[edit] Shop
Kelsey features a large shop, with a forge, many wood & metalworking tools, as well as a classroom style loft, and a garage. It features metal & woodworking courses, as well as Power Mechanics, which allows students to design and build various machines, including the well known (among Kelsey students) "Motorized Shopping Cart".
[edit] Arts
[edit] Theatre
Frances Kelsey's Theatre program, lead by Roger Carr, is tied closely with the movement and vocal arts. Each year FKSS' Performing arts class may put on one to two major plays. The theatre 'company' also hosts a fluctuating number of plays directed by students. Most of the theatre maintenance and props are completed by students enrolled in Stagecraft courses.
[edit] Band
Frances Kelsey Secondary offers an extensive band program for all levels. Specialized classes for stringed instruments are also offered.
[edit] Visual Arts
The schools art program occupies one of the largest rooms in the school, hosting students in both two, and three dimensional art programs.
[edit] Malaspina partnership
FKSS plays host to Malaspina Community College's cookery students, who operate a publicly-accessible lunch room and the Kelsey Café, a cafeteria-style service for Kelsey students serving high-quality main courses, soup, and sandwiches. Senior culinary arts students work in the kitchen alongside the Malaspina students.
[edit] Sports
[edit] Rugby
Frances Kelsey has always had an excellent rugby program, in the past coached by genius mathematician, Wayne Loutet. Both the Junior and Senior teams have a strong history of good players, including international level players Kyle LeClerc, Jordie Roy and Dan James. In 2006, the Senior team made Kelsey Rugby history by going to the provincial playoffs for the first time ever, unfortunately, three starters were injured early on, preventing Kelsey (of which more than half were Juniors) from securing a high finishing standing.
[edit] Volleyball
FKSS has always held a respectable standing in the Girls Volleyball school league. Kelsey has spawned dozens of select, and provincial level players.
[edit] Other
[edit] International exchange
FKSS has played host to students on exchange from Spain, Japan, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Korea, Brazil...
[edit] Noteworthy Alumni
- Kaivon Pakzad-Vaizi (2003) won the Lieutenant-Governor's (?) medal for academic achievement.
- Dante DeCaro (1999) was a member of the band Hot Hot Heat during their rise to stardom. He now fronts Johnny and the Moon
[edit] External links
[edit] School Reports - Ministry of Education
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.fkss.ca/AboutFKSS.html About FKSS
- ^ http://www.bchs.calgary.ab.ca/ccsdl/ CCSDL Site
