St. Michaels University School
St. Michaels University School | |
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Address | |
3400 Richmond Road Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 4P5 Canada | |
Coordinates | 48°27′08″N 123°19′40″W / 48.45222°N 123.32778°WCoordinates: 48°27′08″N 123°19′40″W / 48.45222°N 123.32778°W |
Information | |
School type | Private Day and Boarding |
Founded |
1906 (University School) 1910 (St. Michaels School) 1971 (amalgamation) |
Headmaster | Mark Turner |
Grades | K–12 |
Enrollment | 1000 |
Language | English |
Colour(s) | Red, White, Black, Blue |
Mascot | Blue Jaguar |
Team name | Blue Jags |
Website |
www |
St. Michaels University School (abbreviated SMU or SMUS) is a private day and boarding school in the municipality of Saanich, which is a suburb of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Previous headmasters include Robert Snowden (2017), David Penaluna (1988–94) and John Shaffter (1977–88).[1]
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.
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 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 began to enrol grade 1 and 2 students for the first time. In 1978, girls were accepted as day and boarding students in grades 10–12 for the first time,[2] and the school began the process of becoming fully coeducational in 1985. A major expansion of the campus also began in 1985.[3] In 1993, SMUS's boarding houses were renamed after the school's six founders: Bolton, Harvey, Winslow, Timmis, Symons, and Barnacle.[4]
Boarding houses
There are currently six houses: three for boys and three for girls. The houses are named after the headmasters and founders of the school.
Boys
- Barnacle
- Bolton
- Harvey
Girls
- Timmis
- Symons
- Winslow
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.[5]
Motto
The motto of University School was "Mens sana in corpore sano," which means, "A healthy mind in a healthy body."[6] 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:[7]
- National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
- The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
- Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS)[8]
- 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:
- Bryce Soderberg (1998) – Musician-Lifehouse (band)
- 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
- The Racoons (Jeff Mitchelmore 2004, Matthew Lyall 2002) – Musicians
Politics:
- Jason Kenney – Conservative cabinet minister under Stephen Harper (Immigration and National Defence)
- 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)[9]
- 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
References
- ↑ "SMUS History". St. Michael's University School. Retrieved 2015-08-23.
- ↑ Jean Barman (2011). Growing Up British in British Columbia: Boys in Private School. UBC Press. pp. 26–27, 145–146, et passim. ISBN 978-0774845021.
- ↑ Ashley Thomson; Sylvie Lafortune (1999). Handbook of Canadian Boarding Schools. Dundurn Press. pp. 99–109. ISBN 978-1550023237.
- ↑ "SMUS History". Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- ↑ "Advance Placement Results". Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- ↑ Snowden, Bob. "Welcome from Bob Snowden, head of school". St Michaels University School. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- ↑ "Accreditation and Associations | SMUS, Victoria BC". www.smus.ca. Retrieved 2016-07-03.
- ↑ "St. Michaels University School". Canadian Accredited Independent Schools. Retrieved 2015-03-23.
- ↑ Paola Boivin (February 28, 2010). "Hometown shaped its famous Sun, Steve Nash: Nash's upbringing forged his work ethic, attitude". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2015-08-23.
External links
- Official website
- St. Michael's University School Profile By TopPrivateSchools.ca