Frances Kelsey Secondary School
| Frances Kelsey Secondary School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
|
953 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road Mill Bay, British Columbia Canada | |
| Information | |
| School type | High School |
| Founded | 1995–1996 |
| School board | SD79 |
| Superintendent | Rod Allen |
| School number | 07965039 |
| Principal | Jeff Rowan |
| Grades | 8–12 |
| Enrollment | 920 (2014–2015) |
| Language | English |
| Colour(s) | White, Navy, Gold |
| Mascot | Orca |
| Team name | Breakers/Whalers |
| Website |
www |
Frances Kelsey Secondary School (FKSS) is a high school located in Mill Bay, British Columbia, Canada, named after Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey. The school, under founding Principal Allan MacLeod, adopted a self-directed learning system. FKSS is one of School District 79 Cowichan Valley's four mainstream secondary schools.[1][2]
Philosophy and design
By 1990, the SD 79 Board had put together a committee consisting of senior district administration, teachers, school administrators and south-end parent representatives to develop plans for the new school. In 1990, the Summary Report of the South Cowichan Consultative Committee was published. This document represented a distillation of the ideas gained by the committee during fact finding tours to other districts and schools in BC and Alberta, professional reading and research, numerous parent and community meetings and the advice and recommendations sought from parents, students, educators and other professionals for the design of the new south-end secondary school.
The document reflected the need to construct a school that incorporated local community desires for unique features, that would support programs geared for the hospitality tourism industry such as a teaching kitchen and an auditorium, that would lend support to a performing arts program, and that would serve as a large group teaching area. In addition, there was a strong desire to seek the most effective ways to incorporate the new “principles of learning” emerging from the Ministry of Education that stated:
- learning requires the active participation of the student
- people learn in a variety of ways and at different rates
- learning is both an individual and group process
In carefully examining how these principles might be addressed, the committee recommended that the “self-paced, continuous progress” model similar to Calgary’s Bishop Carroll Secondary School could be successfully implemented at the new south end high school.
By 1991, the site had been purchased and the firm of Dalla-Lana/Griffin - architects had been hired to begin the task of designing a building that would later become known as Frances Kelsey Secondary School. Construction began in 1994 and the building was substantially completed by February 1995. The school's math, English, socials, and science areas were enlarged, and another, smaller gym added, along with several hundred more lockers in the fall of 2004.
Changes to the school structure
On May 15, 2013 the Cowichan Valley School District made the decision to eliminate middle schools in the area in an effort to save on budgeting costs.[3] The decision was also prompted by the decline in school population in the past years. Starting in September 2013, grade 8 students are attending FKSS full-time and grade 9 is no longer self-paced.
Academics
Science
FKSS' self-paced program adopts a powerful role in the science curriculum by giving the students the ability to schedule labs using permission forms known as 'Blue Slips'. Students attended seminars in their mandatory class blocks and may sign up for labs in their flex blocks (classes that do not necessarily require attendance if a student requires time elsewhere). Students must sign up for labs at least one day in advance and are usually encouraged to be in a group for safety reasons. Constant supervision by teaching staff insures that the lab remains a safe environment. Science 9 and Science 10 are mandatory courses in the BC curriculum, with Science 10 including a provincial exam. Students must also take one science at the grade 11 or 12 level. In grade 11 these are Biology 11, Physics 11, Science and Technology 11, and Chemistry 11. Grade 12 courses are: Biology 12, Chemistry 12, and Physics 12.
Mathematics
Completed in 2005, Frances Kelsey's Math wing holds five classrooms specializing in the study of Mathematics. Students focus on the ministry program, but often the self-paced program allows students to deviate depending on their ability. Three levels of each math grade are offered, as well as Calculus in grade 12.
English
The Frances Kelsey English program prides itself on helping students see areas where cross-curricular projects can be completed for dual credit and encourages students to be self-directed. This is the only core subject that is required for graduation.
Social Studies
A large Social Studies "Conference room" allows for large seminars, or for large groups of independent student study. The department is currently offering the required core courses as well as the new addition of Civics 11.
Languages
Kelsey offers French, Spanish, and Japanese. Italian courses are also sometimes offered. Grade 12 languages are only offered if there is sufficient enrolment in the course. Kelsey also has an exchange program with many students from Japan, China, Germany and other countries coming to FKSS to learn English and graduate under the BC education program.
Technology
Computer Sciences
One of Kelsey's many computer labs is dedicated to courses such as Drafting, Computer Graphics, Film, and Programming. This program area is known for its learning environment which teaches students about working in a stressful or discipline-rich field.
Technology
Kelsey features a "high tech arts & crafts" course, which explores ideas of modern industrial design, as well as a course in Electronics.
Arts
Theatre
Frances Kelsey's Theatre program, formerly led by Roger Carr, is tied closely with the movement and vocal arts. Drama is offered as an exploratory course for grade 9's and 10's. At the Grade 11/12 level it is offered in full year courses such as: Acting, Directing and Script Development, Stagecraft, and Theatre Management. The theatre 'company' hosts a fluctuating number of plays directed by the current Teacher and sometimes by students. Most of the theatre maintenance and props are completed by students enrolled in Stagecraft courses.
Band
Frances Kelsey Secondary offers an easy band program for all levels. Jazz Band, Choir, and Concert Band are all offered. Students in the program take part in numerous performances throughout the year and compete in festivals at the local level. The current Band and Choral Director is John Evans. Every other year the groups do a "Music Tour" usually to the U.S. [4]
Visual Arts
The schools art program occupies one of the largest rooms in the school, hosting students in both two- and three-dimensional art programs. Art students can choose to do Drawing, Painting, Sculpting, and Carving. Art Careers is offered to senior students who wish to pursue art in their future.
University of Vancouver Island partnership
FKSS played host to Vancouver Island University's cookery students, who operated a publicly accessible lunch room and the Kelsey Café, a cafeteria-style service for Kelsey students serving main courses, soup, and sandwiches. Senior culinary arts students worked in the kitchen alongside the university students. Currently; The senior culinary art students run the Kelsey Cafe alone and no longer is the lunch room for the public.
External links
School Reports - Ministry of Education