Sentinel Secondary School is a secondary school

Secondary school

Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...

 located in West Vancouver, British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. It is one of three public secondary schools in the West Vancouver district (SD #45). The school has a grass field, two baseball diamonds, three street hockey courts, and three tennis courts. The main field is used for all sports, such as soccer, football

Canadian football

Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...

, and rugby

Rugby football

Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...

.

The school was established for the 1962-63 school year with students who had previously attended Hillside Secondary School. The first classes were held in the old Inglewood School until the new building was completed in 1963. The first grade 12 graduating class was in 1965.

Advanced Placement Program

Sentinel offers the Advanced Placement Program

Advanced Placement Program

The Advanced Placement program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada sponsored by the College Board which offers standardized courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college...

 (AP), unlike its neighbour school West Vancouver Secondary School

West Vancouver Secondary School

West Vancouver Secondary School is a five-year secondary school located in the middle of West Vancouver, British Columbia which educates grades 8 through 12. It is one of the three public high schools in West Vancouver. WVSS is noted for being a very diverse school offering many opportunities for...

, which offers the International Baccalaureate program. It also offers Pre-AP courses for the grade 10's preparing to enter the AP program later.

Grade 10

• Pre-AP English and Literature 10
• Pre-AP Math(Principles of Mathematics) 10
• Pre-AP Science (also offered in French) 10
• Pre-AP French 10

Grade 11

• AP Art 11
• AP Biology 11
• AP Chemistry 11
• AP Physics 11
• AP English 11
• AP Principles of Mathematics 11 Enriched
• AP French 11

Grade 12

• AP 2-D Design Portfolio 12
• AP 3-D Design Portfolio 12
• AP Studio Art Drawing 12
• AP Media Arts 12 (aka Photography)
• AP Biology 12
• AP Physics 12 (Examination only)
• AP Chemistry 12
• AP Calculus AB 12
• AP Calculus BC 12A
• AP Computer Science A 12
• AP Computer Science AB 12
• AP English Language and Composition 12
• AP English Literature and Composition 12
• AP Human Reproductive Anatomy 12
• AP Music Theory (Examination only)
• AP Psychology 12
• AP Spanish Language (Examination only)
• AP French 12

Other programmes

As of 2006, two immersion programmes exist: French immersion and Computer immersion (for grade 8 and 9). The school also offers the Super Achievers' Programme for those interested in participating in sports at a Provincial/National level.

Sentinel is also home to three "sport academies" - the Sentinel Hockey Academy, the Sentinel Soccer Academy, and the Sentinel Tennis Academy. All programs integrate sport based training into the courseload - students spend 2 blocks out of 8 on their chosen sport. They play this sport the last block of every day. Each week they: are on ice/court/field three times, once they are in the classroom (learning theory of the sport/nutrition/sex ed/other), and once at twist conditioning or NSWC(north shore winter club).

Sentinel has a music programme that features a variety of bands. It has a concert band for grades 8-9. Here it deviates from most schools as it has a regular Stage/Jazz Band

Jazz band

A jazz band is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music. Jazz bands usually consist of a rhythm section and a horn section, in the early days often trumpet, trombone, and clarinet with rhythm section of piano, banjo, bass or tuba, and drums.-Eras:SwingDuring the swing era in the mid-twentieth...

 typically for people grades 10-11, an orchestra which can encompass all grades, and a unique Rhythm and Blues

Rhythm and blues

Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...

 band usually for those in grades 11-12. The latter is a band that plays songs done by artists and bands such as James Brown

James Brown

James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...

, Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...

 and Tower of Power

Tower of Power

Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing for over 43 years. They are best known for their funky soul sound highlighted by a powerful horn section...

. It learns songs by ear from the actual recording rather than from sheet music. This band not only plays in school events but also in many community events. A number of videos of the Sentinel Rhythm and Blues Band are currently available on YouTube

YouTube

YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

.
Sentinel also offers the comprehensive Super Achievers programme which provides opportunities for students wanting to learn more in a specific sports or performing arts, such as golf, acrobatics, and dance.

Sentinel currently enrolls around 1,200 students each year.

External links

• Sentinel Secondary School Homepage