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North Shore public schools foster innovation, opportunities for secondary students

November 28, 2016

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NORTH VANCOUVER/WEST VANCOUVER, November 27, 2016 — Students have more opportunities than ever to acquire excellence in new or emerging areas of interest during the regular school day, thanks to a range of unique programming offered in grades 8-12 at North Vancouver School District and West Vancouver Schools.

The two school districts, backed by talented and caring staff, are gearing up now through early spring for the 2017-2018 school year, to offer everything from the more traditional International Baccalaureate, French Immersion and Advanced Placement options to new academies, focused visual and performing arts programs, business education, career programs and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education.

Both school districts offer robust International Baccalaureate (IB) programs at the secondary level, along with French Immersion, Advanced Placement (AP) and flexible performance programs for students dedicated to high level athletics and performance during school hours. The two districts also offer academies in field hockey, soccer, hockey, dance and basketball, providing high school credits while working with some of the best coaches in BC.

In the North Vancouver School District, students can also immerse themselves in the Digital Media Academy, Artists for Kids, Volleyball Academy and a new Outdoor Education Academy. West Vancouver Schools has academies in ballet, baseball, fencing, tennis, and new this year – mechatronics robotics and rugby.

North Shore public schoolsThe North Vancouver School District’s Artists for Kids Studio Art Academy provides rigorous, high-level creative instruction, while the Outdoor Education Academy takes the curriculum outside into the rich wilderness of the North Shore. The Culinary Arts program at Carson Graham Secondary allows grade 11 and 12 students to earn post-secondary credits and certification as a professional chef. The Performance Learning Program at Seycove Secondary offers an enriched academic program infused with technology.  

“To inspire all students to succeed we need to recognize that students thrive when they are engaged in meaningful educational experiences. Choice programs provide students the opportunity to become independent learners who know how to go deep into a topic and transfer their learning to other areas of interest. It’s amazing to see students taking control of their learning and exploding past all expectations as a result,” said Arlene Martin, District Principal responsible for academies, North Vancouver School District.

West Vancouver Schools also offers students the option to study the AP Capstone, a diploma program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills valued by post-secondary admissions officers.  Grade 11 and 12 students with an interest in business at West Vancouver Schools can enroll in the Youth Entrepreneurship and Leadership Launchpad (YELL), a dynamic and engaging forum to explore the field of business in a real-world setting. Students hoping to certify as lifeguards can complete the prerequisites during school hours with the recent addition of the First Aid Swim Training Program (FAST).

“Providing choice in education is one of the things that we’ve always done really well here at West Vancouver Schools,” said Director of Instruction and Academy Programs Diane Nelson. “We know that students learn best when they are connected to what they are learning through curiosity and interest; choice programming offers students an opportunity to improve their skills very quickly, bringing tangible and exciting results for each learner.”

Embedded in a tradition of academic excellence, choice programming offered by both the North Vancouver School Districtand West Vancouver Schools inspires excellence, rewards perseverance and builds leadership.


© 2016 North Shore News - See more at: http://www.nsnews.com/living/north-shore-public-schools-foster-innovation-opportunities-for-secondary-students-1.3179284#sthash.SetPWC7S.dpuf​