Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute
Encyclopedia
Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute is a high school in Toronto, located in the northwest part of Scarborough
. It was founded in 1979 and named after Norman Bethune
. The school is attended by over 1800 students, most of whom speak a primary language other than English, the language of instruction. Bethune is also partners with the neighboring senior's homes: Mon Sheong and Tendercare, and with School #15 in Beijing, China.
Students taking Modern Language classes are offered many enrichment opportunities, including outings to French and Spanish movies, theatre productions and restaurants. Senior students may travel abroad to France and Spain. Bethune students receive excellent results in French and Spanish Contests as well as the Concours D'Art Oratiore (French Public Speaking).
Students have many opportunities to explore their love of the arts. Students can choose from visual art, photography, computer art, dramatic arts vocal music, and repertoire instrumental music and strings. Outside the classroom, students can enrich their experience by joining the art club, the drama club, or the music council.
The Stellar Program is an enrichment program for grade 9 and 10 in Math and Science.
The school-wide reading program promotes the love of reading in every classroom, every Friday, with every member of the Bethune community enjoying 20 minutes of reading.
Bethune's ESL program features field trips that promote Canadian culture and experiential learning. The semestered program has 5 levels in addition to ESL sensitive courses in Geography and History. Bilingual classroom helpers, full-time settlement workers, peer mentor programs, the Chinese Association, and the Newcomer Orientation Week in August help to ease the transition to Canada and to Bethune. In addition to after-school and week-end support classes, OSSLT preparation classes and peer-tutoring support ESL students throughout the year.
A variety of special education programs and services are offered to meet the
needs of all students, including students with exceptionalities, such as
behavioural, communication, intellectual, physical and multiple learning
disabilities. Students' exceptionalities are identified through a formal review
process undertaken by an Identification, Placement and Review Committee
(IPRC).
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
. It was founded in 1979 and named after Norman Bethune
Norman Bethune
Henry Norman Bethune was a Canadian physician and medical innovator. Bethune is best known for his service in war time medical units during the Spanish Civil War and with the Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
. The school is attended by over 1800 students, most of whom speak a primary language other than English, the language of instruction. Bethune is also partners with the neighboring senior's homes: Mon Sheong and Tendercare, and with School #15 in Beijing, China.
Courses
- English
- Literacy
- Modern Language: French, Spanish
Students taking Modern Language classes are offered many enrichment opportunities, including outings to French and Spanish movies, theatre productions and restaurants. Senior students may travel abroad to France and Spain. Bethune students receive excellent results in French and Spanish Contests as well as the Concours D'Art Oratiore (French Public Speaking).
- Math:General Math 9-11, Data management, Advance Functions, Calculus
- Robotics
- Science:General Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Exercise Science
- Physical Education: Large Activity, Small group activity, Weights and Fitness
- Health: Food and Nutrition, Sex Education, Parenting
- Arts: Dance, Dramatic Arts
- Music:Band, Choir, Jazz Choir, Music Concerts / Performances, Orchestra, Piano, Stageband, Strings, Vocal Music,
- Visual Arts: Computer/Graphic Arts, Interior Design, Photography
Students have many opportunities to explore their love of the arts. Students can choose from visual art, photography, computer art, dramatic arts vocal music, and repertoire instrumental music and strings. Outside the classroom, students can enrich their experience by joining the art club, the drama club, or the music council.
- Stellar Program
The Stellar Program is an enrichment program for grade 9 and 10 in Math and Science.
School Programs
- Be Excited About Reading (B.E.A.R.)
The school-wide reading program promotes the love of reading in every classroom, every Friday, with every member of the Bethune community enjoying 20 minutes of reading.
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
Bethune's ESL program features field trips that promote Canadian culture and experiential learning. The semestered program has 5 levels in addition to ESL sensitive courses in Geography and History. Bilingual classroom helpers, full-time settlement workers, peer mentor programs, the Chinese Association, and the Newcomer Orientation Week in August help to ease the transition to Canada and to Bethune. In addition to after-school and week-end support classes, OSSLT preparation classes and peer-tutoring support ESL students throughout the year.
- Individual Education Plan (IEP)
A variety of special education programs and services are offered to meet the
needs of all students, including students with exceptionalities, such as
behavioural, communication, intellectual, physical and multiple learning
disabilities. Students' exceptionalities are identified through a formal review
process undertaken by an Identification, Placement and Review Committee
(IPRC).
Student Leadership Groups
The Student Leadership Council at Bethune consists of organizers and committed students:- The Student Administrative Council (SAC) coordinates extra-curricular activities within the school
- The Bethune REPS are the prefects and representatives of Bethune
- The ABC is the Athletic Bears Council and organizes all athletic events within the school.
- The Bethune Journal is the school newspaper that delivers current news and opinion columns every few months.
- The Bethune Music Council is responsible for organizing events related to the music program at Bethune, such as winter and spring retreats and various band trips.
- The Bethune Environmental Action Team (BEAT) has helped Bethune become a Platinum Certified Eco-school.
- The DECA club is an association for Bethune's business students and competes in various business simulation competitions
- The Bethune ESL Mentor program helps newcomers with English and adaptation to Canada.
Competitions
- DECA
- Mathematics Competitions:
- Euclid Contest, Fermat Contest, Pascal Contest, Cayley contest, Fryer, Galois & Hypatia Contests, Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge
- Music Competitions:
- Music Festival Canada, Ontario Band Association Festival
- Science Competitions:
- Sir Isaac Newton Physics, O.A.P.T. Physics Contest, Avogadro Chemistry Competition, Chem 13 Contest, National Biology Competition
Awards
Notable Awards given to the school and the students in it- Platinum Certified Eco-school.
Alumni
- Steve ChaoSteve ChaoSteve Chao is a Canadian journalist. He was the Far East and Asia Bureau Chief for CTV News. He is currently a reporter for Al Jazeera English. He is based in Beijing. Chao was raised in Toronto where he attended Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute high school. He began his career in Ottawa,...
, journalist for CTV NewsCTV NewsCTV News is the news division of the CTV Television Network in Canada. The name CTV News is also applied as the title of local and regional newscasts on the network's owned-and-operated stations , which are closely tied to the national news division... - Jay ManuelJay ManuelJay Manuel is a Canadian make-up artist, fashion photographer, and model. He is most recognizable as the director of photo shoots on the popular reality television show America's Next Top Model...
, makeup artistMakeup artistthumb|[[Michelle Camaclang]], an international-certified professional makeup artistthumb|Special effects makeup techniquesA Make-up artist is an artist whose medium is the human body, applying makeup and prosthetics for theatrical, television, film, fashion, magazines and other similar productions...
, fashion photographer and creative director of the America's Next Top ModelAmerica's Next Top ModelAmerica's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
and Canada's Next Top ModelCanada's Next Top ModelCanada's Next Top Model is a Canadian reality show in which female contestants compete for the title "Canada's Next Top Model" and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry...
TV shows - Dwayne MorganDwayne MorganDwayne Morgan is a Canadian spoken word artist, motivational speaker and event organizer based in Toronto, Ontario.Morgan began his career as a spoken word artist in 1993. He is the founder of Up From The Roots Entertainment, which was established in 1994 to promote the positive artistic...
, spoken word artist - Mike RicciMike RicciMichael Ricci is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks and Phoenix Coyotes....
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player - Kevin WeekesKevin WeekesKevin Weekes is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who most recently played for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League . He is now a color commentator on Hockey Night in Canada, and a studio analyst for NHL on the Fly.- Player :Weekes' career began with the Owen...
, professional ice hockey player for the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and CBC SportsCBC SportsCBC Sports is the division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for English-language sports broadcasting. The CBC's sports programming primarily airs on CBC Television, with some additional broadcasts on bold, CBC.ca, and occasionally CBC Radio One...
commentator - Nick KypreosNick KypreosNikos Kypreos is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger of Greek descent. He played eight seasons in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs...
, retired Canadian professional ice hockey and hockey analyst. - David Morland IVDavid Morland IVDavid Morland IV is a Canadian professional golfer who has played on the Canadian Tour, PGA Tour, and Nationwide Tour.Morland was born in North Bay, Ontario. He turned professional in 1991 after going to Kent State University...
, professional golf player. - Paul Loduca, bassist in the Canadian pop/rock band NeverestNeverestNeverest is a Canadian pop-rock band from Toronto, Ontario. The band was formed by Spyros “Spee” Chalkiotis and Mike Klose. Chalkiotis and Klose began working with producer Mike ‘MK’ Kiofos of Vic Park Productions...
.