St. Margaret’s School ESTABLISHED
1908 ACCREDITATION
Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) MEMBERSHIP
National Coalition of Girls Schools (NCGS), Independent Schools Association of British Columbia (ISABC), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) HEAD OF SCHOOL
Cathy Thornicroft SENIOR YEARS PRINCIPAL & DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION
Rob Ducharme FOUNDATION & MIDDLE YEARS PRINCIPAL
Megan Hedderick
| School Profile 2012/2013
Our School St. Margaret’s School (SMS) is an all-girls, independent day and boarding school located in the City of Victoria on the scenic west coast of British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1908, SMS is the oldest and largest international school for girls in Western Canada. Our Motto: Servite In Caritate ~ Service with Love Servite In Caritate ~ Service with Love: SMS is a global school where girls are nurtured and inspired to become life-long learners. Girls here are challenged to achieve their full potential and contribute to society in a meaningful way. We embrace our motto “Service with Love” in both individual pursuits and shared responsibilities. Our Vision: Confident girls. Inspiring women. This is a school where girls who want to change the world become women who do. Our committed staff, beautiful campus, and innovative curriculum create a nurturing environment that challenges students to achieve their leadership potential. Our Mission: Empowering her to set her own course and shape her own dreams. SMS values diversity and inspires excellence of mind and strength of spirit. Students here are challenged to take responsibility for their own learning experience, to develop individual worth, academic excellence, personal wellness, connection with nature, and service to their local and global community.
ENROLMENT
The SMS Advantage
Total Students: 392
At St. Margaret’s School (SMS), we are focused entirely on the education, development and well-being of girls. We provide a personalized learning experience in an environment where girls can gain confidence and discover their passions. Our programs equip girls with the knowledge, attitudes and courage to thrive – in their studies, their careers and in life.
Junior (ECE–Grade 6): 142 Senior (Grade 7–12): 250 Boarding (Grades 7–12): 144 English Language Program: 101 Countries of Origin: 9 Canada: 246 (64%) International: 125 (36%) Average Class Size: 18 Student/Teacher Ratio: 8 to 1 POINTS OF PRIDE • rigorous curriculum • post-secondary preparedness • leadership development • supportive environment • world-class campus • student-driven learning TOP ELEMENTARY PROGRAM • junior program has been ranked #1 in BC • LEED Certified: Junior Building recognized for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
48% of girls’ school
alumnae rate themselves great at math versus 37% of their co-ed peers. Source: The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools
1 | SMS School Profile
Founded in 1908, SMS is the oldest and largest international girls’ school in Western Canada. Today we honour our founders’ aim, “to consider the special requirements of individual girls, and to give to each one as much attention and consideration as possible.” Our state-of-the-art facilities – including a LEED certified Junior Building, four modern residence houses, and Athletics Centre – sit on 22-acres of park-like grounds bordering Blenkinsop Lake with access to extensive hiking & cycling trail networks; and all located only 20 minutes from downtown.
Why All-Girls The benefits of a girls’ school do not come from separating girls from boys, but from the ability of a girls’ school to focus entirely on the education, development and well-being of girls. Girls’ schools are able to direct all of their time, resources, attention and energy to the unique needs of girls where co-educational schools simply cannot. They have the flexibility to customize teaching strategies, programs, and experiences to match girls’ interests, challenges and learning styles. Our small classes ensure that our outstanding teachers are able to provide every student with a customized learning experience, in an academic environment where students can be themselves, discover their true passions and strive to meet their own potential. We prepare students for university entrance and crosscultural leadership. SMS is a school where a rigorous and rich academic program, is complimented by fine arts, athletics and leadership. Students feel a part of a family and form deep community bonds that last their whole lives. Strong partnerships built with our families foster trust and communication. The result of a St. Margaret’s education is a self-assured, focused young woman who is eager to pursue her dreams and make a difference in the lives of others.
Leadership
EXTRACURRICULAR
SMS students are accustomed to stepping into leadership roles because this is part of their everyday experience. Dedicated leadership courses in Grades 5-12 are supported by experiential programs designed to provide students with authentic leadership experience, including a variety of student-led committees, a mentorship program, outdoor education, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, community service projects, and a House System.
The following are some of activities offered at SMS: • Volleyball • Basketball • Soccer • Badminton • Tennis • X-country
Athletics
• Track
Our Athletics Program stresses broad participation in and enjoyment of sport; it is designed to keep students engaged in sports and help them develop their skills. The experience of belonging and working together as part of a team is not part of the experience for just a few of our students, but for most of them: 95% of Junior School students and 70% of Senior School students represent SMS on at least one school team. Competitive athletics teams include Swimming, Volleyball, Rowing, Badminton, Basketball, Cross-Country, Field Hockey, Tennis, Track and Field, and Soccer. Club sports, intramurals, house challenges and outdoor recreation offer additional opportunities for students to be active outside of class.
• Rowing
Extracurricular Activities
• Robotics Club / Tech Girls
Our school is a dynamic community with many experiences to be had outside of school hours. There are over 20 clubs, councils and activities from which to choose; whether a student’s passion lies in robotics, playing in a rock band, performing on stage, making a difference in her community, or pushing herself on the basketball court, life at SMS will never be dull.
• Glee Club & Song Writing
• Aquatics • Crossfit Training • Yoga • Ballet • Jazzercise • Outreach Club • Green Club • World Wide Club / Multicultural club • Jazz & Rock Band • Debate / United Nations Club • Theatre Production Club • School Play • Visual Arts Club • Private Music Lessons • Speech Arts
97% of girls’
school graduates feel confident with their public speaking skills. Source: The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools
SMS School Profile | 2
SENIOR COURSES: GRADES 10–12 ENGLISH English, Honours English, Language and Literature Development, Language and Literature, English Literature, Writing, Communications, Tutorial SOCIAL SCIENCES Social Studies, Comparative Civilizations, Geography, History, Law MATHEMATICS Foundation of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus, Honours Foundation of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus, Foundation of Mathematics, Pre-Calculus SCIENCES Science, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics LANGUAGES French, Honours French, Introduction to German, Introductory Japanese, Japanese, Introductory Mandarin, Mandarin, Introductory Spanish, Spanish BUSINESS EDUCATION Investment and Financial Planning, Economics FINE ARTS AND APPLIED SKILLS Visual Arts, Visual Arts 3-D, Photography, Information Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Beginning Band, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Drama Theatre, Physical Education, Food & Nutrition GUIDANCE Planning, Leadership, Graduation Transitions INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM Bridge to French, Canadian Culture, Canadian History, Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus, Language Acquisition Skills, Literature Acquisition Skills, Language and Literature, Development, Planning, Science
3 | SMS School Profile
Academics Majority of St. Margaret’s School (SMS) students consistently achieve at a high level in academics, as reflected in their grades. In 2012/2013, 72% of senior students (Grades 7-12) achieved the Honour Roll (a grade average of 80% or higher). Of that, 13% achieved an average over 90% to make the Head’s List.
Provincial Exams In British Columbia, annual examinations are adminstered in key subjects to evaluate benchmarks for achievement in academics. SMS students regularly exceed independent school and public school averages on these provincial exams. 90 80
EXAM RESULTS 2012/2013
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
St Margaret's School All Independent Schools All Public Schools
Advanced Placement & SAT The Advanced Placement (AP) program allows students to participate in a college or university level course while still in secondary school. Students achieving at a high level may opt to complete an AP exam as it is recognized for advanced credit or placement in many Canadian and American universities and colleges. AP Exam Options at SMS include: English Literature and Composition, Calculus, Chemistry, French, Studio Art. At St. Margaret’s, only the students interested in applying to Amercian colleges and universities write the SAT exam. SAT Preparation courses are available to students outside of the regular timetable.
Post-Secondary Preparation At the core of our mission is the belief that higher education is a powerful and valuable experience – one that opens doors, offers opportunities, and is integral to the continuing growth and development of our students. Honours level courses, Accelerated Courses and Advanced Placement courses are all options available to challenge our students and help them prepare for the next phase in their education. Students are also supported in pursuing self-initiated projects for credit to help them develop as independent learners. Our guidance department provides resources and oneon-one advising to help students explore career paths, post-secondary programs and their own strengths and interests; and to guide them through the process of planning for what will come next.
Our Graduates The Class of 2013 by the numbers: 42 graduates 138 offers of admission 103 universities and colleges 55% offered scholarships (total funds: $212,500) 98% enrolled in post-secondary programs immediately following graduation (one graduate took a GAP year) 60% accepted to their first choice of institution Fields of Study:
Business Social Sciences Fine Arts Health Sciences Sciences
POST-SECONDARY DESTINATIONS SMS graduates are accepted to colleges and universities around the world, including the following schools:
CANADA Carleton University Dalhousie University Emily Carr University of Art and Design Kwantlen Polytechnic University McGill University Queen’s University Ryerson University Simon Fraser University University of Alberta University of British Columbia University of Calgary University of Guelph University of Toronto University of Victoria University of Waterloo Western University UNITED STATES American University Art Center College of Design – Los Angeles Art Institute of Chicago Boston University Cornell University University of Notre Dame – Indianna Pratt Institute – New York City San Fransisco Conservatory of Music School of Visual Arts – New York City University of Hawaii University of Illinois – Urbana University of Michigan – Ann Arbor OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA International Study Centre at Herstmonceux Castle – East Sussex, England Kingston University – United Kingdom
Technology Tourism Engineering Law Math
Three times as many alumnae of single-sex schools
plan to become engineers. Source: The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools
SMS School Profile | 4
Notes.....................................................................
Questions...............................................................
Come and see for yourself. To set up an appointment to view the school or to find out more about choosing a St. Margaret’s education for your daughter, please contact: Kathy Charleson, Director of Admissions 1.250.479.7171 • admissions@stmarg.ca
1080 Lucas Avenue Victoria • BC • V8X 3P7 Canada
1080 Lucas Avenue Victoria • BC • V8X 3P7 Canada
(+1) 250.479.7171 admissions@stmarg.ca | Confident girls. Inspiring women. www.stmarg.ca
(+1) 250 479 7171 admissions@stmarg.ca www.stmarg.ca