École Handsworth Secondary
North Vancouver School District
Social Studies


 General Course Description 


The general goals of Social Studies are the development of thinking and communication skills through the study of various aspects of history, geography, and culture. Students examine major patterns of conflict, change, cooperation, and development while, above all, reflecting on the historical importance of various peoples’ attempts to be endowed with rights and respect while also improving society overall. Key skills for emphasis include written and oral communication, critical thinking, personal development, and social responsibility. These skills and content are ever relevant in the modern world in various ways as active citizenship requires individuals to create and analyze arguments about a variety of local and world affairs. Furthermore, various occupations and industries depend upon knowledge and understanding of the content and patterns embedded within the disciplines of geography, law, history, and psychology; these include: the entertainment industry (TV, film, literature, and gaming); the business world (marketing, product-development, law, and entrepreneurship); and the building and resource industries (architecture, urban planning, and resourcemanagement) to name a few.


Available Courses: 


  • Humanities 8
  • Social Studies 9 ​
  • Social Studies 10
  • Explorations in Social Studies 11
  • Psychology 12
  • 20th Century World History 12
  • Physical Geography 12
  • Social Justice 12
  • Law Studies 12 
  • Comparative Cultures 12
  • BC First Peoples 12
  • Genocide Studies 11/12​ 
For detailed information on the above courses, please see our latest course programming guide​.

From the Archives


"I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long  as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.  I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live." 

 



~ George Bernard Shaw


Holocaust Survivor Recipe

Earlier this year holocaust survivor Alex Buckman visited Handsworth.  Mr. Buckman's story was insightful and emotional.  Like many jews, Mr.  Buckman lost many relatives and personal belongings.  One thing that did survive was his aunt's Orange Cake recipe.  In honour of the victims of the holocaust please enjoy this recipe.

Please click here for the Holocaust Survivor Recipe ​