Sentinel Secondary School

Infobox Education in Canada
name= Sentinel Secondary School


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motto= Summis Cum Animis
motto_translation=with the greatest possible spirit
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city= West Vancouver
province= British Columbia
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email=
url= http://www.sd45.bc.ca/sentinel/
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schoolboard=
superintendent=
trustee=
affiliation=
principal= Barbara Jones
viceprincipal= Ms. Jeanette Laursoo (for grades 10-12)
Mr. Doug Francis (for grades 8,9, Int'l)
viceprincipal_label= Vice principals
administrator=
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schooltype= Public
grades= 8-12
language= English, French immersion
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mascot=
teamname= Spartans
colours=
founded= ~1966 (Founded as Hillside High School ~1950)
enrollment= 1100 (approx.)
lastupdate=May 18, 2006

Sentinel Secondary School is a 45-year-old secondary school located in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of three public secondary schools in the West Vancouver district (SD #45). The school has a grass field, two baseball diamonds, three street hockey courts, and three tennis courts. The main field is used for all sports, such as soccer, football, and rugby.

Advanced Placement Program

Sentinel offers the Advanced Placement Program (AP), unlike its neighbor school West Vancouver Secondary School, which offers the International Baccalaureate program. It also offers Pre-AP courses for the grade 10's preparing to enter the AP program later. The school has been the 4th school in West Van for a long time.

Grade 10

*Pre-AP English 10
*Pre-AP French 10
*Pre-AP Science 10

Grade 11

*AP Art 11
*AP Biology 11
*AP Chemistry 11
*AP English 11
*AP Principles of Mathematics 11 Enriched

Grade 12

*AP 2-D Design Portfolio 12
*AP 3-D Design Portfolio 12
*AP Studio Art Drawing 12
*AP Biology 12
*AP Calculus AB 12
*AP Calculus BC 12A
*AP Chemistry 12
*AP Computer Science A 12
*AP Computer Science AB 12
*AP English Language and Composition 12
*AP English Literature and Composition 12
*AP French Language 12
*AP Music Theory (Examination only)
*AP Psychology 12
*AP Spanish Language (Examination only)

Other programmes

As of 2006, two immersion programmes: French immersion and Computer immersion (for grade 8 and 9), exist in Sentinel. It also offers the Super Achievers' Programme for those interested in participating in sports at a Provincial/National level.

Sentinel has a music programme which features a a variety of bands. It has a concert band for grades 8-9. Here it deviates from most schools as it has a regular Stage/Jazz Band typically for people grades 10-11, an Orchestra which can encompass all grades, and a unique Rhythm and Blues band usually for those in grades 11-12. The latter is a band that plays songs done by artists and bands such as James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Tower of Power. It learns songs by ear from the actual recording rather than from sheet music. This band not only plays in school events but also in many community events. A number of videos of the Sentinel Rhythm and Blues Band are currently available on Youtube. [YouTube|1xL151Mw-zU|Sentinel R&B - Down to the Bone]

Sentinel is also home to two "sports schools" - the Sentinel Hockey Academy and the Sentinel Soccer Academy. Both programs integrate sport based training into the courseload - students spend 1 or 2 blocks out of 8 on their chosen sport. Sentinel is one of the most successful schools in the Vancouver area and currently enrolls more than 998 students each year.

History of Sentinel Secondary School

Sentinel Secondary School is located within the British Properties on Sentinel Hill in West Vancouver. In the late 19th century, strict bylaws were enforced on citizens living within the neighbourhood. Some of these laws forbid various ethnic groups from living in the British Properties. These various bylaws have laid a rich and unique history that has molded the surrounding neighbourhood. Sentinel Secondary school sits on former government land that was used as a sentry post for keeping a watchful eye on the inhabitants of the British Property. In fact, the school's mascot of a Spartan takes its name from this unique tidbit of history, as the guardian or protector of the British Properties.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.sd45.bc.ca/sentinel Sentinel Secondary School Homepage]