St. George's School (Vancouver)

History

St. George's was founded in 1930 by Captain F.J. Danby-Hunter.

The original school operated out of a large country manor house. It has since expanded, and the school now maintains two campuses: the senior school, on land leased from UBC in 1925, and the junior school, converted from the former Convent of the Sacred Heart, a historic property purchased in 1979, which had formerly served as a Catholic all-girls school.

Students

The student body at St. George's comprises 1,151 students from 22 countries, with approximately 750 at the senior school and the remainder in the Junior School. As of June 2016, 109 students were boarding students. Like other independent schools, it maintains a system of prefects and mandates the wearing of uniforms. In the Junior School, the Head Boy and Assistant Head Boy, are Grade 7 students elected by faculty. In the senior school, the school captain, assistant captain, and other prefects are also elected by faculty and their fellow students to provide the school with student leaders. "Wings", or houses, are given to all students. The Wings are: MacDougall (Blue), Clark (Yellow), Tupper (Red), and Fell (Green).

Athletics

Approximately 80% of students at St. George's School play in a competitive team. The school mandates that its boys select a recreational or competitive sport starting from Grade 8. Boys in Grades 11–12 may opt out for one term based on past games attendance.

St. George's has a wide variety of sports teams, including:

• Badminton
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Cross country running
• Curling
• Downhill Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Volleyball
• Field Hockey
• Golf
• Ice hockey
• Rugby
• Ultimate
• Rowing
• Soccer
• Squash
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Track and Field
• Triathlon
• Tennis
• Water polo
• Sport Climbing

Outdoor education

There is also a mandatory outdoor education program implemented for students from grades 1-10. Students are required to participate in outdoor educational programs both in the junior school and the senior school. These activities range from half day trips (grade 1) to full, week-long excursions (grade 10). The junior experiences focus on an education aspect: students learn about First Nations peoples and about the environment. The senior trips involve more personal-based learning; activities in the wilderness such as hiking, kayaking and canoeing focus on leadership and interpersonal skills. There is also a focus on environmental care and education. In grade 10, students have the option of applying for the 'Discovery 10' cohort program. This program is limited to 20 students who participate in a modified Social Studies and PE program, focusing on First Nations history, environmental studies, and outdoor leadership. The students spend approximately 55 days of each school year out of class on outdoor-education trips. These trips include, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, rock-climbing and backcountry ski touring.

Notable alumni

Arms

References

Notes

• The junior school campus (Convent of the Sacred Heart) is a heritage site.
• St. George's "sister" schools are York House School in Vancouver; St. Margaret's School in Victoria, British Columbia; and Crofton House School, also in Vancouver.
• The school has a rivalry with Vancouver College; for example, the Saints' and VC rowing crews compete annually in a regatta in April, the "Saints College Boat Race".

References

1. "2015-2016 St. George's School Endowment Report".
2. (September 1999). "The Handbook of Canadian Boarding Schools". Dundurn Press.
3. "St. George's School 2016-2017 Report Card".
4. "Athletics at St. George's School".
5. "Games Program at St. George's School".
6. "Mr. Peter Bentley '47".
7. Zelko, Frank. (May 30, 2013). "Make It a Green Peace!: The Rise of a Countercultural Environmentalism". OUP USA.
8. "Mr. Anthony von Mandl '68".
9. "The Georgian Honours".
10. (October 16, 2008). "West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea-to-Sky's John Weston". [[Vancouver Sun]].
11. "St George's School". Canadian Heraldic Authority.