Royal West Academy
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| Motto | (archaic) Sapere Aude |
|---|---|
| Established | 1983 (Previously as Montreal West High School) |
| Type | Public |
| Principal | Mary Reynolds |
| Teaching staff | 45 |
| Students | 825 |
| Grades | 7-11 |
| Location | 189 Easton Ave, Montreal West, Quebec,, Canada |
| Colours | Blue, burgundy and grey |
| Yearbook | The Phoenix |
| Sports teams | Wildcats |
| Website | http://www.emsb.qc.ca/royalwest |
Royal West Academy (commonly referred to as Royal West or RWA) is a public anglophone secondary school in Montreal, Quebec. Royal West has limited enrollment, and prospective students are only admitted after an entrance examination and interview. It is situated on Easton Avenue in Montreal West, but its students come from all parts of the Greater Montreal Area. Royal West Academy is part of the English Montreal School Board (EMSB).
In 2006, the Fraser Institute's report on Quebec high schools ranked Royal West as 37th out of over 400 other schools, making it the perennial highest ranking anglophone school in the public sector. Royal West has also placed high in scholastic math competitions, including its rank of first in Quebec in 2006. [1]
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[edit] History
The grounds where Royal West is now located was once the Saint Philip's Anglican Church. In 1894, the Aberdeen School was founded. It was renamed as the Montreal West High School in 1921. Ten years later, in 1931, the building was demolished and a larger building was built in its place. In 1951 and 1959, an extension to the main structure was built to make way for an elementary school. The extensions are what is now called the west wing.
In 1980, the elementary school was closed because of poor enrollment. The Royal Vale elementary school moved in, but was closed as well. Finally, in 1983, the Royal Vale French immersion high school and Montreal West High School merged to form Royal West Academy. The new Royal West Academy is quite different from its predecessor; unlike most public schools it has a uniform and an entrance examination.
The Royal West Academy yearbook is called The Phoenix, in homage to the fact that Royal West Academy was born out of Montreal West High School. Students are encouraged to submit art and literature for The Phoenix and there is one illustration of a Phoenix that is chosen each year for the cover.
[edit] Curriculum
The school teaches grades 7 to 11, in line with most high schools in the province of Quebec. As a school advocating French immersion, many of the classes are taught in French. The curriculum is set up in such a way that as a student progresses towards their final year, more and more of the classes are taught in English.
Grade 7 students were enrolled in an enriched integrated science program in English, but after the reform in 2007, the grade 7's were enrolled in a science and technology course in french instead. They also have to participate in the Invention Convention. The grades 8 and up are required to participate in yearly science fairs during at least one of their four remaining years at the school if they choose to go into the physics and chemistry stream in grade 11.
Students in grades 8 to 11 are divided by ability whereby some are put into an advanced math program that has them completing math work that is, on average, a year above what they would normally be learning in their current grade.
Students are also expected to complete three and a half extracurricular "credits" during each academic year. A student must complete a sports, community service, and cultural credit. In accordance with the reform, a new environment (or "green") credit was introduced. This green credit is only half a credit (as opposed to the 1 credit value of the other credits) and is acquired by participating in environmentally friendly duites around the school. The other credits can be obtained either by signing up and completing and event/undertaking suggested or organized by the school's teachers (usually advertised in the Royal West Academy daily bulletin). Starting in the 2005-06 school year, credits are not awarded for activities not organised by the school.
Summers constitute part of the curriculum at Royal West. During these months, students are required to read a certain number of books which they will be tested on come the beginning of the following school year. Also, they will be marked on the quality of the notes they took on their chosen books. Notes must be made on these books. This reading program applies to all incoming grade 7 students, as well as students beginning grades 8, 9, 10 and 11. The extra curricular activities must be completed before the end of the term or they will be forced to leave the school.
[edit] School Grounds
The oldest and largest section of the school is shaped like a rectangle and runs from end to end of the school property. It stands three stories high. Behind the main structure, a two-story addition colloquially entitled 'The West Wing' was added. The school houses two gymnasiums, an auditorium, music room, woodworking facilities, and its own library.
Royal West has two outdoor fields, one to the front of the school building and one to the back. The front field is a rectangular field with parameters suited mainly to soccer and football. A combination soccer net and football goalpost is located at both ends of the field. There are also baseball cages located in the two corners furthest from the school building. This field is used annually on January 1st for the Montreal West Garbage Bowl event, and during the last day of school for the annual Shaving Cream Fight.
The back field of the school was formerly used largely for gym class activities. During the 2000's, plans were drawn up to enlarge the school using this portion of land. In 2007, construction of a new gymnasium began. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 21, 2007. The new gym was opened during the first few weeks of 2008. The first major event held in the new gym was a basketball game between the teachers and the Montreal Alouettes.
[edit] Customs
[edit] Shaving Cream Fight
On the last school day of every year, students gather in the front field and participate in what has been a long running tradition of spraying one another using shaving cream canisters. Near the end of the fight, a teacher is there with a hose to attempt to wash off the majority of the shaving cream. Students must then walk home soaking wet or covered in shaving cream. One of the traditions of this event is for the school office to play classical music through large speakers located on the second floor balcony in an attempt to ward off students from the grounds.
In previous years, this took place throughout the town of Montreal West throughout the day. Beginning in the early 2000's, due to complaints from numerous parties, this event became more restrictive. It now occurs exclusively on school grounds after school hours from 2:57 to 4:15.
[edit] Welcome Back BBQ
A welcome back BBQ is set up every year, usually during the first month and second Friday of the school year. Students gather in the back field and feast on hot dogs and chips. Games such as Tug of war, and watermelon eating contests are set up on the field to entertain students.
[edit] Goodbye BBQ
The Goodbye BBQ is a more recently established BBQ and takes place during the last month and last Friday of the school year. It is similar in structure to the Welcome Back BBQ noted above. Students gather in the grounds behind the school where hot dogs and chips are served. Games are setup throughout the field to entertain the students.
[edit] Student Groups
[edit] Student Life Association
The Student Life Association at Royal West Academy is an organization responsible for most student life events at RWA. These events include school danses, Variety Show, Winter Carnival Day, Free Dress Days, BBQs, Movie nights, etc. In May of every school year, a full week of campaigning followed by a presentation of platforms by all Slates (2 secondary 4 students, one secondary 3 student, and a secondary 2 student) who are willing to become the SLA executives for the following year takes place. All students in the school vote for who they want to be responsible for their student life in the following year. The Student Life Association, made up of a Dance Committee, a Refreshments Committee, an Athletics Chair, a Special Events committee, and others deemed appropriate by the executives. Members are awarded 2 ECA credits of their choice for their work throughout the entire school year.
[edit] Prefects
Prefects aid the school staff in ensuring that rules and proper conduct are followed by the student population. This usually translates into Prefects being present during cafeteria and library hours, as well as during special events and assemblies. Each prefect is awarded with one community and one cultural credit.
Prefects are selected in May for the following school year. Prefects applying must be in grade 9 or higher and must submit an application in the form of an essay. There are two head prefects, seniors, and two foot prefects (Juniors). These head and foot prefects are elected by the other prefects.
[edit] Bardolators
Bardolators are a part of the school drama department. The organisation was founded by Douglas Floen, a semi-retired English teacher at the school. Following an audition process, students accepted into the program perform two complete Shakespeare plays during the school year. Bardolators also act out individual Shakespeare scenes from plays studied throughout the years at Royal West such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Macbeth and Hamlet.
[edit] Bands
The Honour Band represents the school in music competitions and festivals, and performs live for special occasions such as Memorial Day and graduation ceremonies. It consists mainly of students in grades 9 through 11 who are selected through auditions. Its members wear specially made burgundy coats with pins representing the number of years they have been in band. The Royal West Academy Honour Band is also the only high school marching band in the city of Montreal.
There is also a Winds band composed of juniors, a Jazz Band composed of seniors, and a Teacher Band.
[edit] Environment Club
- See also: Royal West Academy Environment Committee
The Environment Committee is one of the environment/cultural activities offered by the school. The club meets regularly to organize special events for Royal West Academy's student community, such as the Environment Week, letter writing campaigns, "No Car" days and used battery raffles (the batteries are then recycled at the local Eco-Centre). During the 2006-2007 school year, it invited guest speakers from Greenpeace and the Sierra Club of Canada to come and talk about climate change, as well as the need to modify our daily habits to diminish our impact on the environment. Club members also participated in a nature hike on Mont St. Hilaire, just outside of Montreal.[1] As off February 2008, the Committee has its own website, which can be accessed by clicking here[2].
[edit] Social Justice Club
The Social Justice Club is a student-run activist group whose purpose is to spread awareness within Royal West and within the community of current social or political issues. It explores topics as various as human rights, HIV/AIDS and land mines in its weekly meetings and organises awareness campaigns, fundraisers, supply packages and petitions with the objective being to effectuate positive change. Its yearly trip has brought members to other countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil in order to gain a better perspective of the world. Currently, the club is supporting a petition campaign demanding action by the Canadian government to pressure the Burmese government to stop its crackdown on dissent.
[edit] Reach For The Top
The school has had a Reach For The Top team for several years. In 2008, the team became the Provincial Champions and went on to compete in the National Competition.
[edit] Fatman Eating Sausage
Fatman Eating Sausage is a student political campaign that voices dissatisfaction to the school's Student Life Association (SLA). The campaign is depicted by its logo, an overweight stick man consuming a sausage with a fork. Though Fatman Eating Sausage is not recognized as an official SLA electoral slate, members of the group, known as Fatmanians or Fatmaniacs, draw the Fatman Eating Sausage logo on their ballots. Their goal is to one day have enough 'Fatman' votes to trigger reform within the SLA. Some have criticized its legitimacy, yet many teachers, alumni and SLA members have recognized the campaign's significance, and have noted the importance of peaceful reformist movements of its kind.
[edit] Notable Graduates
- Nik Witkowski, rugby centre for Canada national rugby union team & Coventry R.F.C., UK
- Jacob Tierney, actor
- Brigid Tierney, actress [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0862923/ 1
- Natalie McLennan, tap dancer-turned-infamous New York escort
- Members of The Stills
- Paul Solomon know for his association with jared
- David Nayer, UFE 2006 Gold Medalist [3]
- Members of Dimebag Jonnys, notable Montreal area ska-core band
