Garibaldi Secondary School

Garibaldi Secondary School is a grade 8-12 school located in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. The school presently has about 1040 students, and 62 teachers.^[1]

International Baccalaureate

Garibaldi Secondary School (GSS) is an International Baccalaureate World School for the IB Diploma Programme since October 2007.^[2] The first International Baccalaureate diploma classes started in 2008. Garibaldi is the only school in Maple Ridge to offer the IB Diploma Programme. The school also offers courses in the junior grades to help prepare students for the IB Diploma Programme.^[1]

Other programs

In addition to its academic programs Garibaldi is known for its Fine Arts program (Drama, Video Editing, Music and Art), its Technical program (Automotive, Woodwork and Drafting)and its Business and Information Technology program (Accounting, Economics, Business Computer Applications, Desktop Publishing, Marketing, Tourism and Information Technology).^[1]

Online learning

The school has been involved from the start in the District's Distance Learning Program the Connected Learning Community(CLC) which offers courses online to students all over British Columbia. Several teachers conduct online courses using various programs including Moodle and recently Second Life.^[3]

History

The original school was built in 1956 when it was named after Garibaldi Provincial Park which was just to the North of the school. Later this part of the park became a separate park known as Golden Ears Provincial Park but the school kept the name Garibaldi Secondary School, so it is also named after Giuseppe Garibaldi. The school has completed its building program with new classrooms, science labs and computer labs.

References