North Vancouver School Board

North Vancouver School Board

The city of North Vancouver lays in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia. It’s kept apart from the bigger Vancouver by the Burrard Inlet. There is also North Vancouver School Board in the city, comprised of 32 schools with more than fifteen thousands students. The area of North Vancouver belongs to the indigenous population of Canada, so in gratitude for the native people kindly allowing their territories to occupy, one of the aims of the North Vancouver School Board is to provide diverse and open education accessible to everyone, based on reciprocal respect and trustworthiness.

Programs

The schools of North Vancouver School Board are divided according to the level of education: from elementary schools to the secondary schools. Early Learning programs are also held in North Vancouver School Board which is highly beneficial for children as the program strives for developing their skills and abilities from the very young age.

Generally, the schools of North Vancouver School Board are arranged in quite a peculiar way: one secondary school form a family with the neighboring elementary schools. So basically, after completing an elementary school students go to the secondary school which is attached to the family. The system is perceived to be very efficient in cumulating resources in a relatively small area and facilitating the interaction of schools’ staff.

The elementary programs begin from the kindergarten and last till the grade seven. When a child turn five, he’s allowed to enroll in a kindergarten. North Vancouver School Board offer an exclusive opportunity of art education for children. It was found out that teaching art to kids immensely affect their lives in the most positive way. The program offers an after school program, during which children are taught artistic skills by artists and secondary school students specializing in art.

Another program available in North Vancouver School Board is French Immersion. In the process of studying a student develops all aspects of the language. It’s developed for students whose native language is not French, but who has a strong inclination to achieve proficiency in this language. The programs are offered for both age groups: late and early French immersion. Early French immersion starts at the kindergarten, it means that during the first three years in school student are taught in French only. Year by year the number subjects taught in English grows and during the secondary school students are free to choose subjects they learn which can be either in French or English.

Late French Immersion is more rigorous, demanding a greater expanse of mental abilities for the reason it lasts only for two years. It’s offered to the students, who finished grade five, the next grade is taught utterly in French with the focus on boosting communicative skills for the shortest time possible. The purpose is that in the eighth grade they join the students from Early French Immersion program, having just the same level of language knowledge as them. All the students participating in the French programs can pass a test in French proficiency which is held by Alliance France in Vancouver. The program of French immersion is available in three school families of North Vancouver School Board with the following secondary schools: Argyle, Handsworth and Windsor. 

North Vancouver School Board make attempts to encourage the studies of culture, history and language of the indigenous population. Moreover, it engages the representatives of the native population in working as teachers in North Vancouver School Board and support students with indigenous origins in their studies, so special workers operate in schools for this purpose.

In the schools of North Vancouver School Board students are prepared to find out if they have potential and predisposition to this or that career path. One of the ways to do it is by participating in a programs where students of eleventh and twelfth grades are being engaged into the working atmosphere, explore and even do some of the basic tasks themselves gaining hands-on experience. It helps them to get personal perception of how things are rather than reading it in textbooks and gain a better understanding what they want to pursue in future.

Another program which serves the same aims and ideas is an apprenticeship. These students go to high school as usual but together with it they’re being paid trainees in trade. For 120 hours of work students are given sixteen credits in a secondary school. This is a chance for every student to start their career earlier which is a major step forward in their future success.

Another program is based on students working with business entrepreneurs and other pioneering figures in business. The program is aimed at developing entrepreneurial and creative skills of students and giving them an opportunity to propose their ideas and projects to their mentors. It’s for them to decide whether they want to invest in the proposed project or help a promising student by advising and guiding them. The program is scheduled on after school time and lasts for three semesters.

North Vancouver School Board has a special education facilities for online classes. The  number of courses taught in the remote mode is more than fifty and the list is comprised of subjects of eighth to twelfth grade according to the school curriculum. Being online, during the course a student doesn’t only brush up on the number of disciplines but also learn independency and responsibility in a calm and safe environment of their homes.

For the reason that North Vancouver School Board values psychological well-being of their students, they offer individual secondary school programs for pregnant students and the ones who have already become parents. The students who deals with psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety, North Vancouver School Board also offers a unique program where there is specific amount of hours dedicated both for studying and relaxation. There are also programs for the students who are trying to cope with emotional demurrals, discipline problems and health issues.

International Students

If you chose North Vancouver School Board as an international student, there are two options you may pick from: study in a secondary school or participate in one of the general studies program. Whatever you choose, you’ll certainly be provided with superior education and a special atmosphere permeated with the sense of belonging and fraternity.

Each school of North Vancouver School Board can admit a specific number of international students. For instance, in an elementary school the maximum of twenty foreign students are allowed to study in order to stay more focused on the progress  and well-being of each of the international students. International students may show their preferences in terms of school, but the final decision is based on the availability and vacant places of the specific school.

If an international student is to study in the elementary school, it’s essential that their parents live together with them in the city of North Vancouver. They can not participate in a homestay program or reside with other relative, besides from a parent.

As for secondary programs, international students are offered to study all the necessary subject and disciplines needed for their future enrollment to colleges, universities and a number of other post-secondary establishments. Fine Arts, Economics, IT,  Business Education and many more can be studied by an international student in North Vancouver School Board. On this stage it’s available to participate in a homestay program with a Canadian family which only contributes to the process of adaption to a different mentality and learning its specifics. A homestay family is examined beforehand on psychological readiness for welcoming a foreigner to their homes, that’s why for many international students the members of Canadian homestay families stay their lifetime’s friends long after their graduation.

North Vancouver School Board has a special program of assistance students and their families in adjustment to the place of residence. It’s provided in the following languages: Mandarin, Filipino, Korean and Farsi and supports foreigners in the questions of immigration and settlement.

After graduating from the secondary school of North Vancouver School Board, an international student can opt for continuing their education. They may choose to enroll in vocational courses, colleges and universities. One of the option can be North Island College of British Columbia. In this college an international student may obtain a certificate in Business Administration after one year of studying and even the degree of Bachelor of Business Administration on the program lasting four years. Among many other specialties a student may choose to study Android apps development, furniture design, tourism and hospitality etc.

There is also DEA Canadian College which is located in the same city as North Vancouver School Board. This vocational training college has a streamlined process of application for international students.

Fees

Only the students from the countries other than Canada need to pay fees for studying in North Vancouver School. The cost for studying in elementary and secondary schools of North Vancouver School Board is $15000. In addition to that, parents need to pay an application fee of non-refundable $200. The cost of the homestay can be submitted upon the request.

Online courses are also free for the non-adults residents of British Columbia, but not for adults and international students. The cost of the online courses for an international student comes to $1000 per one course, the sum is not refundable. Other adults pay twice less, which means $550 per a course.