Prince of Wales Mini School
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| Prince of Wales Mini School | |
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| Address | |
| 4750 Haggart Street Vancouver, British Columbia, V6L 2H8, Canada |
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| Information | |
| School number | 03939019 |
| School board | School District 39 Vancouver |
| Superintendent | Sonia Hutson |
| Principal | Andrew Humphries (head teacher) |
| School type | Mini School/Secondary School |
| Grades | 8th–12th |
| Language | English |
| Area | Arbutus Ridge, Vancouver |
| Colours | Black and Gold |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Enrollment | 150 (2007-8) |
| Homepage | http://pw.vsb.bc.ca/ |
Prince of Wales Mini School is a program operating out of Prince of Wales Secondary School in Vancouver. It is an enriched program combining academics, community involvement, and outdoor education.
Every year, the Prince of Wales Mini staff and students go on multiple trips to several locations, including Strathcona Park Lodge and the Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Resort. Prince of Wales Mini School also takes part in two foreign exchange trips: Japan and France. The most recent of these happened in late 2006 and early 2007, respectively. In 2006, a group of students travelled to Cuba for two weeks.
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[edit] Application process
The Mini only accepts 30 people per grade every year, with an approximate equal mix of genders. Each year, there are around 400 applicants for the Mini. All applicants take a standardized written exam. The mini school faculty invites approximately 70 potential students for interviews. After the interviews based on those results. 30 students will be offered admission.
[edit] Overview
Prince of Wales Mini School seeks co-operative, creative, self-motivated, well-rounded students who have demonstrated above average academic achievement and involvement in school and community. The school aims to develop organizational skills, problem-solving techniques, and the ability to work cooperatively and independently in an academically challenging, enriched program requiring effort and self-discipline. An outdoor education component provides physical and emotional challenges, developing skills and contributing to the school community atmosphere. Students develop leadership skills through running school events and fund raising.
[edit] Goals
Like all schools in the public system, the Mini School aims to meet the needs of students' intellectual, social, human and vocational development. However, the combination of small size, a highly selected student body, and tightly-knit staff offers opportunities beyond those encountered in the larger secondary schools. The school thus further aims to:
Develop an enriched, integrated curriculum that provides opportunities for students to explore subject areas well beyond provincial requirements. Create, both within and outside the classroom, a stimulating, intense and supportive learning environment that values a high level of commitment, cooperation and student initiative. Prepare students to take an active part in confronting the problems and opportunities of today's and tomorrow's society (local, provincial and global) by developing their capacities for, and encouraging their use of, critical thinking. Establish a community of mutual concern which can overcome the feelings of alienation common in larger schools. Develop physical, leadership, co-operative skills and respect for the natural environment through an outdoor education component.
[edit] Selection of students
All applicants to the Mini School must:
Have a record of academic excellence (a B or better in in all academic subjects). Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain a positive relationship with students from a variety of backgrounds and viewpoints. Demonstrate involvement in school and/or extracurricular activities. Demonstrate evidence of initiative, curiosity and creativity. Demonstrate co-operative and independent learning skills. As a district program, the Mini School aims to draw a student population which is geographically diverse (within Vancouver) and which reflects the multicultural population of Vancouver. Students who would make a unique contribution to, and/or would receive particular benefit from, the Mini School are given attention in the selection process.
[edit] Costs
Students are expected to be involved in fundraising activities throughout the year. The largest student-run fundraiser is the poinsettia sale to the general public. It has also become somewhat of a tradition. These funds are used to help subsidize our events as well as to provide enrichment of the program. The student's costs for various field trips including Strathcona Park Lodge, Blackcomb Mountain, Bamfield Marine Station, June trips and plays, etc. are approximately $800 per year.
[edit] Courses
Students in Grades 8 - 10 take six Mini School courses: Humanities (enriched combination of English and Social Studies); Mathematics (enriched); Science (enriched); French (enriched); and Physical Education. Two electives are taken in the Main School. In Grade 11, students take Humanities, French, Math and possibly a Science in the Mini, and 3 or 4 other courses in the Mini School. In Grade 12, students take English 12 and Principles of Math 12 in the Mini. Their other senior courses are in the Main School.
A high level of student participation is expected in all courses. The program requires the ability to work co-operatively and independently in academically challenging, enriched courses requiring effort, self-discipline and concentration.
[edit] Whole school activities
Several whole-school extra-curricular activities take place, which include whole-school field trips (some of which, like Strahcona Park Lodge, last several days), student organized fund-raising, an Arts Night, Science Fair, forums with guest speakers, and Mini School dances. Each of these contributes to the integration of the school community.
