Collingwood School

Collingwood School is an independent, non-denominational, 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.^[1]

Facilities

Front Entrance of Morven Campus

Morven Campus

Located at 49°21′38″N 123°07′12″W / 49.3606°N 123.1201°W / 49.3606; -123.1201.

The Morven campus is the oldest of Collingwood School. It is located at 70 Morven Drive in the British Properties residential area of West Vancouver,^[2] and houses Grades 8 and 9 of the Middle School and Grades 10-12 of the Senior School. The buildings previously made up Glenmore Elementary School, which was closed in 1982 along with several other schools in West Vancouver. Parents, students and teachers protested the closure of Glenmore, but were unsuccessful in keeping the school open in the face of declining enrollment and a reduced education budget.^[3]

The campus has since seen several expansions and improvements, including a full redevelopment completed in 2014 that included a state of the art theatre, dance studio, band and choir facilities, library, gymnasium, weight facilities and athletics field, cafeteria, and 21st century learning spaces, all around an open, central student commons. Morven is adjacent to Glenmore Park.

Wentworth Campus

Wentworth Campus

Located at 49°20′52″N 123°11′07″W / 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 in proximity to Cypress Provincial Park. This campus houses all students in the Junior School, which ranges from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5, and the first two years of Middle School (grades 6 and 7). The school consists of two wings, the Junior Kindergarten-Grade 5 Wing and the Grades 6 and 7 Wing. The Grade 6/7 Wing features a full-sized gymnasium suitable for basketball, volleyball and badminton, among other sports, as well as two state-of-the-art science labs.

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 categories. All students participate in Academics, Arts, Athletics and Service, the fundamental components of The Four Strands which are essential to a good education and the growth of a well-rounded citizen.^[4]

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.^[5]

Debating & Public Speaking

Collingwood has a highly successful debating and public speaking program, 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 (Grad '05) and two-time champion, Shakir Rahim (Grad '07). 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."

It seeks to give every student a variety of academic, physical, cultural and spiritual experiences to enhance their global outlook. Collingwood annually sends students across the globe to Round Square International Service trips, to exotic destinations such as India, Belize, and Thailand. Projects include building homes and schools for communities to constructing a fresh water collection system in countries. There is also involvement in local service initiatives, such as Habitat for Humanity. Every year, Collingwood sends a delegation of both staff and students to the International Round Square Conference.

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".^[6]

Advanced Placement

Collingwood School offers Advanced Placement courses, teaching material equivalent to university-level study. All of the courses require a strong comprehension of general knowledge and excellent work habits. It requires a powerful intellectual commitment to perseverance and solid, foundational work habits, and are regarded as more rigorous than the general course offerings. Pre-AP courses are offered to students wishing to prepare for the full Advanced Placement offerings in their Senior School years.

Athletics

Collingwood has a strong athletics program that has won eight AA rugby, one AA soccer, and one AA basketball provincial titles. Collingwood is also competitive in all of the sports it competes in.

Headmasters of Collingwood School

David Mackenzie 

David Mackenzie was Collingwood School's first 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 Head during its formative years. During his tenure, the school population grew from 200 to 1000 students, and was separated into two campuses.

Jim Burnett 

Jim Burnett was appointed acting Head following the departure of Graham Baldwin. He was previously a member of the US Olympic track & field team.

Rodger Wright

Rodger Wright was Head of Collingwood School between 2004 and 2016. He was previously Head of Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario.

Rob Lake

Rob Lake is the current Head of Collingwood School, appointed in 2016. He previously served as the Head of Head-Royce School in Oakland, California.

References

External links

• Collingwood School Official Site
• Round Square Official Site

Schools in West Vancouver and Bowen Island
Secondary schools	Rockridge Sentinel West Vancouver
Primary or elementary schools	Bowen Island Caulfeild Cedardale Chartwell Cypress Park Eagle Harbour Gleneagles Hollyburn Irwin Park Pauline Johnson Ridgeview West Bay Westcot
Private schools	Collingwood Island Pacific Mulgrave