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. History 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. 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. 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. 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. In 2017, the school celebrated its 160th anniversary. International Baccalaureate program The International Baccalaureate Program (also known as the IB Program) is a Graduate Diploma. It was introduced in March 1994 to Weston. All the teachers are specially selected 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). However, due to its rigorous nature, Weston Collegiate Institute offers the Preparatory International Baccalaureate Program (also known as the Pre-IB Program) to students. 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. 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). In their final year, students write the official IB exams in May. All IB students from Weston Collegiate Institute are accepted to their first choice universities and are offered substantial scholarships. 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). The IB Scholarships are broken into the following categories: IB Ideal, Leadership, Most Improved, Creativity, Service, Academic. Current IB subjects offered Athletics Arts Other recreational/co-curricular activities Community Notable faculty Bob Nadin – Ice hockey referee, and IIHF Hall of Fame inductee Notable alumni Esmond Butler – private secretary of Governor General (1954-1984), received Order of Canada in 1986 Ed Chadwick – former goaltender with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins Sir James Alexander Lougheed – Northwest Territories/Alberta senator and federal cabinet minister Carline Muir – track and field athlete, competed in 2008 Beijing Olympics William Paris – fighter pilot and trainer of pilots, receive the Order of Canada in 1989 Vera Peters – medical doctor, received Order of Canada in 1975 Bob Pulford – NHL hockey player Sinclair Stevens (1927–2016) – lawyer, businessman and Federal Cabinet minister Carole Taylor – former Chair of the Board of Directors of the CBC and politician Elwy Yost (1925–2011) – TV Ontario movie reviewer See also Education in Ontario List of secondary schools in Ontario References Listed among "top 75 schools" by the University of Toronto 1996 Ontario Biology Competition Listed as #52 in the University of Toronto's 2000 National Biology Competition participated in 2000 Toronto "In the Driver's seat" safety program Student received a 1996 Canada Governor General's Academic Medal (Bronze) Student received a 1994 Canada Governor General's Academic Medal (Bronze) News story about 150th anniversary