Vancouver, Canada Report of what it's like to live there - 02/22/17
Personal Experiences from Vancouver, Canada
School Name:
Sentinel Secondary School
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
8-10
3. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
US Government
4. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Yes. We have a child at Collingwood School. We wanted our son to attend Collingwood, but he needed to be in the Key program and they did not have a spot open for him. We heard the public schools on the North Shore were good so we enrolled him in Sentinel.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
Yes. I reached out to the district to confirm documents needed and to set up an appointment to register my son. We currently did not have a signed lease agreement, but they worked with us and allowed our son to attend anyway.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
I would give it a 7 out of 10. They had a welcome breakfast the day before school started, but it would've been nice to have a student ambassador or something similar to help my son.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
We received a monthly newsletter and the teachers are always available through email. I have had great success with contacting teachers and receiving a timely response.
2. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
We pay a yearly fee of $50 for sports equipment, etc and that is required for every student. There are after school activities that sometimes require payment. Musical instruments are provided.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
There are several counselors available at the school. They split you up according to last name. You can email them to set up an appointment or your child can walk in to their office.
2. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
My kids are older so they do not require daycare. If the school doesn't provide something, there are several centers close-by that might.
3. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Very large library! I am impressed by their facility. My son has gone there several times to study and research. He is notorious for losing library books so we don't allow him to check anything out unless he is willing to pay for it with his own money.
4. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
This is a public school so things are up to date, but could be improved. My son uses his own computer every day so he hasn't had a need to use the school computers. They provide wifi and online resources without an additional charge.
5. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
There is a gym that can be divided into 2 rooms. Large soccer fields that are used for many different sports. There is a work-out center and a tennis court around back.
6. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
around 20:1, sometimes more. Even though this is a public school, they try to keep their numbers reasonable.
7. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
IB courses are available at a different school in the district. They are more than willing to let your child attend that program if you so desire. There are AP courses available in grades 10-12.
8. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
We have heard that kids coming from this public system seem to test slightly lower than kids who have been in the US. My son has a learning disability and has been getting by pretty well where other schools have been a huge struggle. I'm not sure if this is because of the academics or my son's maturity.
9. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
In grade 8, my son was drowning in projects and homework. He is in grade 9 now and doing really well.
10. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
One thing I love about this school are the electives. My son took sewing, photography, wood-working and band. There are many different arts available.
11. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes.
12. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
13. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
My son has a learning disability and he has one class that is specifically for kids who need extra help. Because of this class, he had to omit taking French, which he was very upset about. The teachers try to accommodate him as much as possible and if there is concern, I can contact them easily. The public schools here are very similar to the public schools in the US as far as special needs go.
14. What services are available for students with physical disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
We haven't had experience with this but I know there is an elevator. This school has 3 levels and wide halls so accommodating a physical disability shouldn't be a problem at all.
15. What services are provided for speakers of English as a second language at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
I have no experience with this but know it exists. There are many ESL kids at this school.
16. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
You name it, it is probably offered at one time or another during the school year. they don't let weather get in the way of activities. Soccer, basketball, wrestling, ski club, chess club, cross country, track, volleyball, robotics, just to name a few.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Yes. This is a very multi-cultural school and my son did not have any issues.
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
This is a public school so bullying happens and most parents don't seem to care. Teachers and admin on the other hand will try to help.
Overall Impressions:
1. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
B.
2. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
School bus services are not normally provided. Public bus system is great and most kids use that or walk.
