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St. Michaels University School

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Headmaster
  
Robert Snowden

Language
  
English

Mascot
  
Blue Jaguar

Province
  
British Columbia

Grades
  
K–12

Phone
  
+1 250-592-2411

Total enrollment
  
923 (2011)

Colors
  
Black, White, Blue, Red

School type
  
Private Day and Boarding

Founded
  
1906 (University School) 1910 (St. Michaels School) 1971 (amalgamation)

Colour(s)
  
Red, White, Black, Blue

Address
  
3400 Richmond Rd, Victoria, BC V8P 4P5, Canada

Notable alumni
  
Steve Nash, Kenneth Oppel, Gareth Rees, Leslie Hope, Manoj Sood

Similar
  
Camosun College, Royal Roads University, University of Victoria, Havergal College, Saint Michael's College

Profiles

The best school year ever 2016 st michaels university school


St. Michaels University School (SMUS or SMU) is a private day and boarding school in the municipality of Saanich, which is a suburb of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The school is currently under the direction of headmaster Robert Snowden. Previous headmasters include David Penaluna (1988–94) and John Shaffter (1977–88).

Contents

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Location

SMUS is located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The Senior and Middle School campus is located on Richmond Road in Saanich, a suburban municipality of Greater Victoria. The Junior School campus is situated on Victoria Avenue in Oak Bay.

SMUS history

In 1906, University School was founded by Cap. R. V. Harvey, the Rev. W. W. Bolton and J. C. Barnacle. Four years later, in 1910, K. C. Symons founded St. Michael's School. St. Michael's School was unusual for its relatively large number of local day students for the period (as contrasted with University School's large number of boarders).

Facing some financial difficulties and the death of its headmaster in 1970, University School merged with St. Michael's in 1971 to become St Michaels University School. In 1973,the school enrolls grade 1 and 2 students for the first time in its history. In 1978, girls were enrolled as day and boarding students in grades 10–12 for the first time, and the school began the process of becoming fully coeducational in 1985. A major expansion of the campus also began in 1985. In 1993, SMUS's boarding houses were renamed after the school's six founders: Bolton, Harvey, Winslow, Timmis, Symons, and Barnacle.

SMUS is known for offering numerous AP (Advanced Placement) courses at its senior school, with popular courses including AP Physics, AP Microeconomics/Macroeconomics, AP Calculus AB, and AP Human Geography.

School Performance

The average amount of APs taken by SMUS students ranks first in country across all schools as of 2012. The record for most APs taken and completed by a single student is 14. In terms of average mean grades, SMUS students achieved an average of 3.68, which was higher than the global average of 2.92. Of the 650 exams across 25 different AP subjects taken by 245 SMUS students, 81% of them received grades of three or higher on the five point scale, which was also higher than the worldwide rate of 59% achieving grades of three or higher.

Leadership Program

SMUS emphasizes the importance of global leadership skills. Students from kindergarten to grade 12 are given opportunities to explore their potential as leaders. The school offers students the chance to go on service trips to countries like the Dominican Republic, India, and Kenya. While there, students work with local people and non-profit organizations to construct schools and orphanages. The aim of these activities is fostering in students a lifelong desire to help improve the lives of others. SMUS hosts a variety of service events such as Keep The Beat, a music festival at the senior school in support of War Child Canada, and an annual basketball game at the middle school benefiting the World Partnership Walk, an anti-poverty campaign.

Motto

The motto of University School was "Mens sana in corpore sano," which means, "A healthy mind in a healthy body." St. Michael's School had the motto "Nihil Magnum Nisi Bonum," or, "Nothing is great unless it is good."

The current motto of St. Michaels University School is "Vivat!", or "Long live the school!" This ties into the school's song, "Vivat - Universitas!", written by Capt. R. V. Harvey originally for University School. The school uses "Vivat" when trying to cheer on a team.

Campus

Richmond Road Campus:

  • School House: Administration, Library, Mathematics
  • Brown Hall: Dining Hall
  • Chapel
  • Crothall Centre for the Humanities and Arts: Classrooms, Lecture Theatre, Drama Room, Art Room
  • William Monkman Athletic Complex: Gymnasium, Squash Courts, Fitness Center
  • John and Anne Schaffter Hall for Music
  • Science Building: Science Classrooms and Computer Labs
  • Infirmary
  • Residence Buildings: Barnacle, Bolton, Harvey (boys) and Winslow, Symons, Timmis (girls)
  • Wenman Pavilion (Senior Lounge and home to the Daily Grind Cafe)
  • Reynolds House (Headmaster's Residence)
  • Middle School
  • Accreditation and Memberships

    St. Michaels University School is accredited or a member of the following organizations:

  • National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
  • The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
  • Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS)
  • Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS)
  • Independent Schools Association of British Columbia (ISABC)
  • Secondary Schools Admissions Test (SSAT)
  • Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
  • Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
  • Western Boarding Schools Association (WBSA)
  • The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS)
  • Notable alumni

    Entertainment:

  • Afshin Feiz – Fashion Designer
  • Timothy Williams (1983) – Composer and Orchestrator
  • Manoj Sood (1981) – Actor
  • Leslie Hope (1982) – Actress
  • Andrew Sabiston (1982) – Actor
  • Kenneth Oppel (1985) – Author
  • Bert Archer (1986) – Journalist/Author
  • Bryce Soderberg (1998) – Musician
  • The Racoons (Jeff Mitchelmore 2004, Matthew Lyall 2002) – Musicians
  • Politics:

  • Jason Kenney – Conservative cabinet minister under Stephen Harper (Immigration)
  • David Anderson – Former Liberal cabinet minister and former leader of the BC Liberal Party
  • Jodie Emery – marijuana activist and politician
  • Anthony C. E. Quainton – Former United States ambassador to Nicaragua
  • Sports:

  • Steve Nash (1992) – Retired NBA player with the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers (Two-time NBA MVP)
  • Ryan O'Byrne – NHL player with Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Matt Pettinger – Former NHL player with Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Mike Pyke – Former professional rugby union player with Edinburgh (Celtic League) and Montauban (French Top 14), currently professional Australian Rules Football Player with the Sydney Swans
  • Gareth Rees – Former captain of the Canadian national rugby union team
  • Business:

  • Stewart Butterfield (1991) – co-founder of Flickr and CEO at Slack
  • Science and Technology:

  • Ann (Andini) Makosinski – inventor
  • References

    St. Michaels University School Wikipedia