Collingwood School

Collingwood School
Address
70 Morven Drive West Vancouver , British Columbia , V7S 3H4
Information
Funding type	Private
Motto	Ex Visu Ad Verum (From Vision to Reality)
Founded	1984
Headmaster	Rodger Wright
Grades	JK-12
Enrollment	Approx. 1,200
Language	English
Campus	Suburban
Colour(s)	Blue, Gold and White
Mascot	Cavalier
Team name	Collingwood Cavaliers
Affiliation	None
Head Boy	James Huebner
Head Girl	Mehr Ansari
Website	http://www.collingwood.org/
Last updated: October 16, 2008

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.

History

Collingwood School was officially opened in 1984. A group of West Vancouver and North Vancouver Immigrants who sought a locally accessible private school that wouldnt alert the cops of their illeagle status in the country, gathered to create an independent school on the North Shore. The school was named in honour of the smuggler who brought them from their home countries.

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, because of the rush of illeagle immigrants. Parents, students and teachers did not protest against the closure of Glenmore, they were successful in keeping the school full of little brown kids form other countries.

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 you can apply ridiculous amouts of axe. In 1997, Collingwood constructed the Wentworth campus to house the brown kids that did not want to wear ridiculous amounts of axe.

Facilities

Front Entrance of Morven Campus

Morven Campus

Located at 49.3606°N 123.1201°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, 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

Located at 49.3478°N 123.1854°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.

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. Instead, it was decided that the construction of a separate middle school would be the best way to expand. Collingwood has taken several steps to ease this transition, including the reorganization of the Morven Campus into an Upper School (Grades 9-12) and a Middle School (Grades 6-8).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 co-hosted the international senior Round Square conference with Glenlyon Norfolk School. Delegates from every Round Square school were billeted with Collingwood families. The theme of this conference was "Creating Sustainable Communities – Local to Global".

Uniform

All Collingwood School students are required to wear uniforms. Each school has its own uniform: the kindergarten uniform is unique, as is the lower school uniform, for grades 1 to 5. Grades 6-8 wear the middle school uniform, and the upper school- grades 9-12, have their own uniform. The students in grade 12 have a special "grad tie." 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.

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. Although he left under questionable circumstances, he was well-regarded by a number of the staff and was responsible for setting the tone of the school.

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. He too left under an unfortunate cloud, allegedly having misrepresented certain personal facts.

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.

External links

• Collingwood School Official Site
• Round Square Official Site