FORWARD MOMENTUM OUR REPORT CARD 2014-2015 1 2 BUILDING FINE YOUNG MEN. ONE BOY AT A TIME. 3 According to a wide range of indicators, the 2014-15 academic year was characterized by an impressive range of accomplishments reflecting a strong commitment to ongoing School improvement. Central to this process was our first-ever accreditation by Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS). The resulting Report concluded “that St. George’s is an excellent school,” and that this excellence is reflected “in the high number of commendations….contrasted with the relatively small number of recommendations for improvement.” In addition to commending our teachers “for the work they do in pursuing and maintaining the high standards,” the Report acknowledged them “for the sense of security with which they examine what they do in order to make the school a better place.” As well, the Visiting Committee was greatly impressed by the “pervasive sense of renewal and aspiration for continued – or expanded – success” that they observed, noting that the “sense of a school with forward momentum was palpable.” In addition to passing the CAIS accreditation with flying colours, we enjoyed many other successes in 2014-15. Once again, our boys excelled on wide range of external tests, including BC’s Foundation Skills Assessment and the College Board’s Advanced Placement Examinations. Just as impressive is the fact that our 162 graduates received more than 690 university acceptances at 147 different post-secondary institutions, along with more than $2 million in merit-based scholarships. The incredible diversity of these offers attests to our success in helping each boy find the program and university that are for him the best fit. In 2014-15, the richness of our students’ co-curricular experiences paralleled their academic achievements. With a broad range of clubs, recreational sports, and competitive teams from which to choose, every boy had ample opportunity to stretch himself and to find his niche. Close to 82% of them played on at least one competitive team, and out of 55 possible teams, no fewer than 6 were successful in reaching Provincial or National Championships. As well, our Music Program received 12 Gold Medals provincially, and our students participated in an expanded array of Student Leadership and Service Learning initiatives. Our Strategic Plan continued to move forward bringing with it a variety of initiatives enhancing student experiences. In response to our Campus Master Plan, we launched The ONE Campaign in order to raise the $40 million that will be required to renovate the current Junior School building and construct new learning spaces on the Senior School campus. Altogether, we raised $4.59 million in cash donations for the School, and by the end of June more than $12. 4 million had been committed to The ONE Campaign in cash & pledges. As we know from our most recent survey, the vast majority of our students love their School. They are happy to be here, just as they are keen to make us proud of them. As one Graduate of 2015 wrote: “St. George’s has given me unforgettable memories, lifelong friendships, and a strong foundation for my future. I know that when I graduate this June, I will look back at my high school years with gratification and be proud to be a Georgian.” Above and beyond any of the accomplishments included in this document, those words convey the essence of what makes this such a great school. St. George’s engages, motivates, and inspires boys and young men, and in the process, it helps them become the very best human beings they are capable of becoming. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of 2014-15 school year. I am honoured to serve as the School’s eighth Headmaster, and hope that you will share my sense of accomplishment as you read our Report Card for 2014-15. DR. TOM MATTHEWS HEADMASTER 4 While teachers at St. George’s are always looking for various and diverse ways to track our boys’ progress and competencies, the report card still seems to be a key tracking measure. So it should come as no surprise that the Board and senior administration anxiously awaited the results of our first-ever CAIS accreditation process, the closest thing that exists to a whole school report card. Phew! Were we ever happy. While Dr. Matthews elaborates on the details of the Report in this and other publications, and the entire Report is available on the school website, I am so happy to report that the Board has been strongly encouraged by the results. Perhaps the most encouraging thing about the Report though is not what you might first expect. While we were delighted to be given an unqualified accreditation with a record number of highlights and commendations, we were most encouraged by the response of our teaching staff and administration. Yes, the report confirms we are a great school, but still there is more to do. There was no sense of resting on our laurels or relaxing for a break. Rather, all involved just redoubled their commitments to areas like Growth & Renewal, enhanced safety, continuing improvement of co-curriculars, and really every other aspect of school life. This response really models the reactions we hope for from our sons as they progress through the school: if it is good, enjoy your success but keep working to improve anyway; if it is weak, investigate, plan a response, execute that and then reassess. I believe this modeling of improvement is so healthy for our boys and will serve them well in future academic endeavours and beyond as they enter the workplace and the world to improve the future for all of us. So, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our staff who worked so hard on this CAIS accreditation process, not just for the enormous effort that went into preparing for it but also for your wonderful response to the Report and your serious efforts to use it to make our School even better. One key message in the Accreditation Report was the expressed need to renew our teaching spaces, particularly at the Senior School. This is a key area of focus for the Board right now as we work to both plan the building and raise the funds. We know we have a really effective program for the boys, now we need the spaces to match. The School is in an excellent financial position with no debt. We are now actively working on the ONE Campaign for whole school space renewal. I have made a commitment to meet with every family in the School to ask you to further partner with us as we work together to raise these funds. I believe that we have a world-class education for our boys and I believe providing world-class facilities will only improve our faculty’s abilities to keep delivering the best education possible. Together, we will be able to create spaces for the next hundred years of teaching at Saints. So, when you get an invitation to join me and hear our plan, please come along with an excitement and anticipation of what we can achieve together so all Georgians, past, current and future, will continue to be proud of the school that has shaped the character of so many fine young men. MRS. LESLEY BENTLEY CHAIR OF THE BOARD 5 6 A BOY’S LEARNING OUR ACADEMIC PROFILE 7 MORE THAN 2015 GRADUATING CLASS Provincial Exam Results $2,000,000 JUNE 2015 100% TOTAL SCHOLARSHIPS OF ST. GEORGE’S GRADUATES RECEIVE OFFERED TO THE CLASS OF 2015 162 81.4% 86.2% 83.9% 84.1% 83.7% POST-SECONDARY ADMISSION 67.4% 71.1% 67.0% 70.6% 69.6% St. George’s School is a strong academic university preparatory institution with selective entrance standards. Offering a Boarding Program for Grades 8 to 12 and a Day Program for Grades 1 to 12, St. George’s is committed to its Mission of building 1262 fine young men. The School encourages the pursuit of excellence in all endeavours, and APPLICATIONS is committed to the healthy growth of body, mind, and spirit. Character development, SUBMITTED TO leadership, and service opportunities are integral to the School’s mission. ENGLISH SOCIAL ENGLISH MATH SCIENCE 12 STUDIES 11 10 10 10 201 JUNIOR SCHOOL ACADEMIC Results BC PROVINCIAL AVERAGE UNIVERSITIES ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL AVERAGE WORLDWIDE FOUNDATION SKILLS ASSESSMENT (FSA) RESULTS o. READING WRITING NUMERACY N 1 GRADE 4 GRADE 7 GRADE 4 GRADE 7 GRADE 4 GRADE 4 PROVINCIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EXCEEDING 52% 35% 35% 56% 83% 67% FOUNDATION SKILLS ASSESMENT (FSA) MEETING 48% 65% 65% 44% 17% 33% OFFERS16 FROM RANKING NOT MEETING 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% A WELL-DESERVED REPUTATION IVY LEAGUE + SCHOOLS (10 YEARS RUNNING!) AND CAMBRIDGE St. George’s reputation as one of the most BROWN (3) | CAMBRIDGE (1) academically challenging and competitive GAUS MATH COMPETITION COLUMBIA (1) | DARTMOUTH (1) MATH OLYMPIAD high school environments in Canada is CORNELL (4) | HARVARD (3) INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION long-standing. As a university preparatory UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (1) | YALE (2) FOR GRADES 6 & 7: 3 studentsPERFECT SCORE institution with selective entrance standards, our students meet that challenge PROVINCIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Greatest by earning exemplary grades, as evidenced CHESS by the extraordinary number of university CHAMPIONS acceptances from around the globe. All of Achievement our graduates leave St. George’s School 697 JUNIOR DIVISION OF THE GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL with options; our goal is to prepare them UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES sufficiently well in all respects to ensure RECEIVED BY THE CLASS OF 2015 SCIENCE FAIR: Award that the choices they have upon graduation FROM 147 DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES IN CANADA, USA, UK, EUROPE, AND ASIA 1 Silver MedaL | 1 Bronze MedaL (Top 2%) will set them on a path to lifelong success.