Crofton House School
| Crofton House School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
3200 West 41st Avenue , , V6N 3E1 | |
| Information | |
| School type | Independent |
| Motto | Servabo Fidem (Keep the Faith) |
| Founded | 1898 |
| Principal | Patricia J. Dawson |
| Grades | 1-12 |
| Enrollment | 708 |
| Language | English |
| Colour(s) | Navy blue, green and white |
| Symbol | Ivy Leaf |
| Website | http://www.croftonhouse.ca |
| Last updated: May 10, 2006 | |
Crofton House School, located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is a private, non-denominational girls' day school. The school offers a wide range of enriched and Advanced Placement courses.
Mission statement
"Crofton House School is an independent school for girls and young women. Enhanced by a century of tradition, we are a community dedicated to stimulating and nurturing each student's potential for intellectual, artistic, and athletic excellence. We inspire young women to meet the challenges of life with confidence, to take a responsible role in society, and to enjoy a lifelong enthusiasm for learning."
Expectations of the School Community
Each year the students in the Junior and Senior Schools select the charities they will support for the year. Traditionally, both schools have supported the Run for the Cure in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation in the fall and the World Partnership Walk in support of the Aga Khan Foundation Canada in the spring. As well, both schools support a foster child.
History
Crofton House School was founded in 1898 by the Gordon sisters, Miss Jessie Gordon and Miss Mary Gordon, in their father's home on Georgia Street with just four girls. Three years later, in 1901, the school moved to the corner of Jervis and Nelson in the West End. The name Crofton House was suggested by memories of the "Crofton Cottages" just outside Cambridge. The ivy leaf, the emblem of the Gordon clan, was chosen as the school emblem, and the motto became "servabo fidem" (I will keep the faith). Also, the school used to be a boys and girls school, but later on was just all girls. For many years there was a boarding house, called now the 'old residence', which is now the school's office that used to have girls living in it. This was a boarding house up until 1990.
In 1937, the Misses Gordon retired and Crofton House School became an educational trust. Miss Sara E.G. Macdonald became Headmistress and in 1942 the school moved to the present 10-acre (4 ha) site on West 41st Avenue in Kerrisdale. On the day of its 90th birthday the school received its own coat of arms, granted by the Lord Lyon. To mark this occasion the Rev. Dr. T. Herbert O'Driscoll wrote a hymn for the school, "We Thank You Lord For all the Years".
Junior School
The Junior School is a caring and challenging teaching and learning community that focuses on the total child: intellectual, physical, aesthetic, social, and emotional development. Academics, the arts, and athletics provide a balanced, stimulating program. The pursuit of excellence in all areas helps to build a strong foundation of skills to prepare students for the future.
An enriched curriculum combines basic skills with creative activities and inspiring assignments. Field trips, expert visitors, and specialist teachers in art, music, physical education, technology, and French further enhance the learning opportunities for each girl. Students are encouraged to focus on the application of skills, think critically, solve problems, and make logical decisions. Attention to detail and careful work and study habits extend their capabilities. Small class sizes and increased instructional time allow teachers to create positive relationships with all children and support their diverse learning needs.
Exceptional teachers are central to the success of each girl in the Junior School. Teachers are experts in primary and intermediate education with an emphasis on lifelong learning through continuous professional growth and development. They are caring and enthusiastic professionals who support student growth by planning and implementing exciting lessons and activities, providing extra help, and encouraging involvement in co-curricular activities. As well, teachers value ongoing communication and a positive partnership with parents.
Co-curricular opportunities in the Junior School provide opportunities for each girl to try new experiences, meet many friends, and work with different teachers. Choirs, drama, debating, chess, visual arts, running, cross country, volleyball, basketball, track and field, and intramurals are just a few of the many possibilities for young girls at Crofton House.
The Junior School is a happy, child-centred environment with high expectations for all members of the community. We believe in the importance of a balance between work and play. A beautiful garden, lawn, and woods with state-of-the-art play structures as well as the open space of Kent Field with many hoops, balls, basketball nets, and skipping ropes offer quiet spaces, social areas, imaginative shelters, and rigorous physical spaces for play.
This dynamic Junior School community ensures that each girl reaches her full potential and is prepared for the future as a caring and competent young citizen.
Senior School
In the Senior School, we extend a commitment to learning for students in grades 8-12. We seek to enable each student to develop her full intellectual, creative, and physical potential. In addition, the Senior School strives to prepare young women to take their places as leaders of the future. As one of our recent graduates commented, "The Senior School is a place in which we explore our interests and passions for the future -- alongside others on a similar exploration. The Senior School is a place in which we feel 'at home' as we grow and prepare to 'leave home.'"
The Senior School is a strong, vibrant, interdependent community of students, parents, and faculty. Our community is dynamic, participative, and caring. We welcome and encourage continuing dialogue and active participation of the entire community in the life of the Senior School.
Indeed, Crofton House Senior School is a special place -- one that offers innovation, encourages on-going reflection for all learners, and perhaps most important, celebrates the joy in learning and living.
Crofton House Senior School provides an enriched and accelerated curriculum which meets or exceeds Ministry requirements. Exposure to fine arts and applied skills complements a rigorous academic program that prepares young women for successful post-secondary studies. Physical education is compulsory to the end of grade 10, and students have a variety of opportunities to be physically active, both in scheduled classes and in the extensive athletics program. The curriculum is developmental in all subject areas, with a spiraling complexity and difficulty as students progress. While much of the grade 8 and 9 program is compulsory, students learn to make choices in fine arts and applied skills. When students enter the graduation program, in grade 10, they experience a wide range of options.
In mathematics and French, students who demonstrate high ability are given the opportunity to accelerate their programs, finishing grade 12 in their eleventh year. In mathematics, English, French, and Science, students have the opportunity to accelerate and enrich their own programs in the final two years by taking Advanced Placement courses offered by the College Board in Princeton, New Jersey. Students complete their grade 12 English in their eleventh year, thus allowing them to pursue an enriched English course in their final year. Students complete their grade 11 Social Studies in their grade 10 year, thus allowing them to pursue an enriched Board Authority/Authorized course designed to meet students' interests in economics, world history, or human geography.
The Senior School operates on a rotating 8-block cycle, with 4 blocks each day that are 80 minutes in duration.
The Senior School is divided into three terms; report cards and student profiles are sent home at the end of each term. Electives at the grade 8 level are compulsory quarter courses, while electives at the grade 9 and 10 levels are student-chosen half-year courses.
Students are assigned to teacher advisors who play an integral role in the lives of the students. Advisors act as advocates for students as well as liaisons with parents and other teachers. Students meet with their advisors each morning and remain with their advisor and fellow students for two years.
While there are many electives in the Senior School, selection may depend on timetabling and prerequisites. The school assesses its timetable and course offerings in the spring of each year. Students work closely with their Career and Personal Planning (CAPP) counselor to choose courses that ensure a challenging and rich learning experience.
For more information about our Senior School Curriculum, the Senior School Course Information Handbook has been developed to provide comprehensive, friendly information about departments, course offerings, the course planning and selection process, and related policies and procedures.
Campus Plan
Crofton House has developed a campus plan that involves rebuilding the senior school and building a new dining and athletic facility. They also plan to renovate the lower floor of the junior school and the administration facilities. Currently, Crofton House has demolished their senior school in order to rebuild it and the senior school will be residing in a temporary "village" while the school is being rebuilt. The new senior school is expected to be finished in early 2009.
Notable Alumnae
- Jacqueline Blackman, competitor on the popular reality TV series Canada's Next Top Model.
- Joyce Cheng, daughter of Hong Kong celebrities Lydia Shum and Adam Cheng.
- Dolores Claman, composer of the theme song to Hockey Night in Canada.
- Laura Harris, actress.
- Elena Juatco, competitior in the top 10 of Canadian Idol, Season 2.
- Kit Pearson, notable Canadian author.
- Emily Perkins, actress.
- Janice (Reid) Anderson, daughter of the late artist Bill Reid
- Patricia Taylor, wife of the late William F. Buckley
Notable Faculty
- Emily Carr, Canadian artist, and the school's first art teacher.
- Sonia Clements, mother of Juno-award winning musicians Tegan and Sara
- Ms. Malinowski, sister of Jay Malinowski who is the lead singer of Bedouin Soundclash.
Notes
- Crofton's "brother" school is St. George's School. It also has well-established relations with Vancouver College, York House School, West Point Grey Academy, and Little Flower Academy.