Weston Collegiate Institute

Weston Collegiate Institute (Weston C.I., WCI, Weston) is a Grade 9 to 12 public high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was formerly known by its previous names of Weston Grammar School, Weston High School, Weston High and Vocational School and Weston Collegiate and Vocational School. It is located in the York South-Weston area. It is the second oldest high school in Toronto, after Jarvis Collegiate Institute. Weston CI is located on 100 Pine Street and has a student population of about 1043.[1]

Weston Collegiate Institute
Address
Map
100 Pine Street

Toronto
,
Ontario
,
Canada
Coordinates43°42′14″N 79°30′34″W / 43.703847°N 79.509316°W / 43.703847; -79.509316
Information
Former namesWeston Grammar School (1857-1871)
Weston High School (1871-1922)
Weston High and Vocational School (1922-1939)
Weston Collegiate and Vocational School (1939-1965)
School typeHigh school
MottoManu Cordeque
("With Hand and With Heart")
Founded1857
School boardToronto District School Board
PrincipalRosanna Deo
Grades9-12
LanguageEnglish
AreaYork South-Weston
Colour(s)White and Blue   
MascotThe Blue and White Ironman
Team nameWeston Ironmen
Websitewww.westonci.ca
Last updated: June 1, 2022

History edit

Weston Collegiate Institute is the second-oldest secondary school in Toronto and the oldest in the former City of York, having been established in 1857 as Weston Grammar School.[2] The school's activities and scholarships are supported by the Weston's Alumni Foundation. The school was renamed to Weston High School in 1871, then Weston High and Vocational School in 1922, and lastly to Weston Collegiate and Vocational School in 1939 before adopting its present name in 1965.

WCI displays an international focus as the student body representing over 80 countries in the world.[3]

The original school building on King Street was built in 1858 and was replaced in January 1876 after a fire burned the original school on March 23, 1875. The enlarged school, Collegiate Gothic, designed by architect Stephen Burwell Coon, was built in 1913 facing William Street with six classrooms, an office, a science lab and an gymnatorium.[4] In 1952-53, the building gained additional features such as more classrooms, auditorium, cafeteria, library, gymnasium, offices and music room. The school's modern facility was constructed in 1968 in the old track and field and was opened in September 1970. The brutalist building includes a library, auditorium, a large indoor pool, a full-sized field with surrounding track, a double gymnasium and a fitness/weight room.[5]

In 2017, the school celebrated its 160th anniversary.

International Baccalaureate program edit

The International Baccalaureate Program (also known as the IB Program) is a Graduate Diploma.[6] It was introduced by then IB Coordinator, Mr. Gary Hophan, in March 1994 to Weston.[7] The present coordinator is Ms. Anne Dale. All the teachers are specially selected[citation needed] and trained to support the International Baccalaureate program.

The IB Program at Weston Collegiate Institute is taught in English and taken in the latter two years of high school (i.e. Grades 11 and 12).[6] However, due to its rigorous nature, Weston Collegiate Institute offers the Preparatory International Baccalaureate Program (also known as the Pre-IB Program) to students.[6] The Pre-IB Program is largely recommended to students, but entry into the IB program without Pre-IB may be accepted. All IB courses are offered at the enriched level, which greatly exceeds the expectations of the Ontario Secondary School curriculum. By Grade 12, all students study at the university-level, leading some universities to offer advanced standing for Higher Level subjects.[6]

Students who are enrolled in the IB program receive both the International Baccalaureate Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma upon successful completion. Students are expected to study 3 subjects at the Higher Level (HL) and 3 at the Standard Level (SL). Students may also opt to complete 4 HL and 2 SL subjects if they wish although it is not recommended due to the potential for the exorbitant workload Successful completion of the IB program entails receiving passing grades on all written IB examinations, the Theory of Knowledge essay, and the Extended Essay, as well as 150 hours of volunteered community involvement in three areas (i.e. creativity, action, service; also known as CAS hours).[6] In their final year, students write the official IB exams in May.[7]

All IB students from Weston Collegiate Institute are accepted to their first choice universities and are offered substantial scholarships.[6] In fact, the IB Department at Weston Collegiate Institute provides a number of IB Scholarships for outstanding IB students. Recipients are nominated by IB teachers, administrators, or students and selected by a committee of 5 members (i.e. IB Coordinator, 3 teachers, IB Parent Council parent representatives).[8] The IB Scholarships are broken into the following categories: IB Ideal, Leadership, Most Improved, Creativity, Service, Academic.[8]

Current IB subjects offered edit

In order to graduate as a diploma student, an IB candidate must take one (or two) science course(s), one math course, and one higher-level English course, Theory of Knowledge, as well as one secondary language (only French is offered at Weston).

Athletics edit

Arts edit

Other recreational/co-curricular activities edit

Community edit

Notable faculty edit

Notable alumni edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Weston Collegiate Institute". Toronto District School Board. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  2. ^ "Weston Collegiate Institute (GR. 09-12)". Toronto District School Board. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  3. ^ "Weston Collegiate Institute". Archived from the original on November 19, 2012.
  4. ^ "Coon, Stephen Burwell | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada".
  5. ^ "Weston Collegiate Institute (flyer)" (PDF). Toronto District School Board. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Weston Collegiate Alumni News" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "Weston Collegiate Institute".
  8. ^ a b "Weston Collegiate Institute - 100 Pine St. Toronto, ON M9N 2Y9". Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  9. ^ a b c d "Weston Collegiate Institute - 2013-2014 Also Offers" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 11, 2015.
  10. ^ "Olympic Orders" (PDF). Around the Rings. May 2012. pp. 12–13. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  11. ^ David Twiston Davies (1996). Canada from afar : the Daily telegraph book of Canadian obituaries. Toronto, Ont.: Dundurn Press. p. 245. ISBN 1550022520. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "LOUGHEED, Sir JAMES ALEXANDER". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  13. ^ Cooper, David. "Carline Muir of Weston C. I. crosses the finish line to win the senior girls 200m at the 2004 Metro". Getty Images. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Weston Collegiate Alumni News" (PDF). Weston Collegiate Alumni Foundation. June 2012. p. 1. Retrieved November 11, 2020.