Weston Collegiate Institute
| Weston Collegiate Institute | |
|---|---|
 Manu Cordeque ("With Hand and With Heart") | |
| Address | |
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100 Pine Street Weston, Ontario, M9N 2Y9, Canada | |
| Information | |
| School board | Toronto District School Board |
| Principal | Ms. Deborah Blair |
| School type | High school |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Language | Canadian English |
| Mascot | The Blue and White Ironman |
| Team name | Weston Ironmen |
| Colours | White and Blue |
| Founded | 1857 |
| Homepage | tdsb.on.ca/westonci |
Weston Collegiate Institute is a Grade 9 to 12 public high school located in the York South-Weston area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1] It is the second oldest high school in Toronto, after Jarvis Collegiate Institute. Weston CI is located on 100 Pine Street and is near the Jane Street & Lawrence Avenue West intersection. The school has a student population of 1,234.[2]
About Weston Collegiate Institute
Weston Collegiate Institute holds the distinction of being the second-oldest secondary school in Toronto, as it was established in 1857.[3] With a rich history and years of tradition, Weston's Alumni Foundation continues to take an active role in supporting the school's activities and scholarship programs.[4]
WCI has an international focus with the student body representing over 80 countries in the world. The diversity within WCI is reflected in its school activities and clubs.[5] The school also strives to meet the needs of all students, with programs that prepare students for universities, colleges, and skills trade that lead to work or apprenticeship.[5] The school's facilities include a library, a large indoor pool, a full-sized field with surrounding track, a double gymnasium and a fitness/weight room.[6]
The surrounding area at Jane St and St Lawrence Ave is known as a high-crime area, and several criminal incidents have occurred on campus, most notably recent school lockdowns after two men from a dance group were shot dead at night after a dance recital.[7] During the 08/09, school year Weston Collegiate Institute was one of the 19 area public schools to be involved in a controversial decision to have an armed police officer on site at all times and to be given permanent office space. Proponents claim that the officer would take a positive approach to being involved in the school, even being involved in school activities and sports. Opponents argue that guns should not be allowed in the school in any way, and that the presence of the police was intimidating.[8] Some students and teachers have spoken out about the officer's involvement and questioned the difference, if any, he is making. Others see a connection between the school's recent decline in reported crime and the officer's presence.[9]
International Baccalaureate program
The International Baccalaureate Program (also known as the IB Program) is a world-renowned Graduate Diploma recognized by universities internationally.[10] It was introduced by then IB Coordinator, Mr. Gary Hophan, in March 1994.[11] The present coordinator is Ms. Anne Dale. All teachers are specially selected and trained prior to teaching the IB program.[10]
The IB Program at Weston Collegiate Institute is taught in English and taken in the latter two years of high school (i.e. Grades 11 and 12).[10] However, due to its rigorous nature, Weston Collegiate Institute offers the Preparatory International Baccalaureate Program (also known as the Pre-IB Program) to students.[10] The Pre-IB Program is generally recommended to students, but entry into the IB program without Pre-IB may be accepted. All IB courses are offered at the enriched level, which exceeds the expectations of the Ontario Secondary School curriculum. By Grade 12, all students study at the university-level, leading some universities to offer advanced standing for Higher Level subjects.[10]
Students who are enrolled in the IB program receive both the International Baccalaureate Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma upon successful completion. Students are expected to study 3 subjects at the Higher Level (HL) and 3 at the Standard Level (SL). Students may also opt to complete 4 HL and 2 SL subjects if they wish. Successful completion of the IB program entails receiving passing grades on all written IB examinations, the Theory of Knowledge essay, and the Extended Essay, as well as 150 hours of volunteered community involvement in three areas (i.e. creativity, action, service; also known as CAS hours).[10] In their final year, students write the official IB exams in May.[11]
Many IB students from Weston are accepted to their first choice universities and are offered substantial scholarships.[10] In fact, the IB Department at Weston Collegiate Institute provide a number of IB Scholarships for outstanding IB students. Recipients are nominated by IB teachers, administrators, or students and selected by a committee of 5 members (i.e. IB Coordinator, 3 teachers, IB Parent Council parent representatives).[12] The IB Scholarships are broken into the following categories: IB Ideal, Leadership, Most Improved, Creativity, Service, Academic.[12]
Each year, the Grade 12 students, with the help of the IB Coordinator, organize a 3-day trip to Algonquin Park which includes the newly arrived Grade 9's. The purpose of this trip is to help the new students transition to high school and to foster a sense of community. Weston also offers IB tutoring by advanced students to support new students academically. Furthermore, the IB Department, which includes the students, teachers, and coordinator, organizes an annual IB Multicultural Evening and Fundraiser to raise money to support the IB Scholarships and the Annual Algonquin Park trip. Many Weston Collegiate Institute IB Alumni and their friends and family are invited to this event.
Current IB subjects offered
In order to graduate as a diploma student, an IB candidate must take 2 science courses (one HL), one math course, and one high-level English course, Theory of Knowledge, as well as one secondary language (only French is offered at Weston).
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Experimental Sciences
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Mathematics
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Languages A1, A2, B
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Individuals and Societies
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Athletics
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Arts
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Other recreational/co-curricular activities
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Community
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Fundraisers
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Caring
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Safe & Caring Schools
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Notable alumni
- Carline Muir - track and field athlete, competed in 2008 Beijing Olympics
- Carole (Goss) Taylor O.C. - Chair of the Board of Directors of the CBC
- Ed Chadwick - former goaltender with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins
- Esmond Butler - private secretary of Governor General (1954-1984), received Order of Canada in 1986
- Elwy Yost - - late TV Ontario movie reviewer
- Fred Sayer - founder of Sayers & Associates
- James Garrow - Author "The Pink Pagoda"
- Sir James Alexander Lougheed - Northwest Territories/Alberta senator and federal cabinet minister
- Michael Scott - last National Commissioner and the first Chief Commissioner of Scouts Canada
- Robert (Bob) MacPhie - recipient of Outstanding Educator's Award in Electrical Engineering in Canada in 1991
- Sonia (Pittioni) DeBuglio, Associate Director of Alumni Affairs for the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering at the U of T
- Vera Peters - medical doctor, received Order of Canada in 1975
- William H. “Louie” Reil - founder of Reil Industrial Enterprises Ltd
- William Paris - fighter pilot and trainer of pilots, receive the Order of Canada in 1989
- Willis Chipman - Canada's first environmental engineering consultant
- Bob Pulford - Former player of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings, and current Vice President and General Manager of the Chicago Blackhawks
- John Martini - Former football player of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Toronto Argonauts, and current Head of Boys Physical and Health Education at Pickering High School
- Paul Coffey - Former NHL All-Star Defenceman
See also
References
- ↑ Weston CI
- ↑ http://www.tdsb.on.ca/schools/factsfigures.asp?schno=6988&schoolId=1455&Status=L
- ↑ http://www.tdsb.on.ca/MOSS/asp_apps/school_landing_page/index.asp?schno=6988
- ↑ http://www.tdsb.on.ca/schools/details.asp?FeatureID=D&schno=6988&schoolId=1455&Status=L
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.tdsb.on.ca/schools/index.asp?schno=6988
- ↑ http://www.tdsb.on.ca/schools/otherInfo.asp?schno=6988&schoolId=1455&Status=L
- ↑ http://www.citynews.ca/2010/09/30/two-dead-in-weston-road-shooting/
- ↑ http://basicsnews.ca/2009/04/%E2%80%98they-don%E2%80%99t-belong%E2%80%99-the-solution-is-not-cops/
- ↑ http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_26714.aspx
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 http://westonalumni.com/data/WCAF_060630.pdf
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 http://www.ibo.org/school/000747/
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://westonci.ca/?page_id=378
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 http://www.tdsb.on.ca/MOSS/asp_apps/school_landing_page/pdfs/AlsoOffers/6988.pdf
- Listed among "top 75 schools" by the University of Toronto 1996 Ontario Biology Competition
- Listed as #52 in the University of Toronto's 2000 National Biology Competition
- participated in 2000 Toronto "In the Driver's seat" safety program
- Student received a 1996 Canada Governor General's Academic Medal (Bronze)
- Student received a 1994 Canada Governor General's Academic Medal (Bronze)
- News story about 150th anniversary
External links
- Weston C.I. Official site
- Weston Alumni Foundation Official site
- Weston CI TDSB Site
- International Baccalaureate listing
Coordinates: 43°42′14″N 79°30′34″W / 43.703847°N 79.509316°W