Brockville Collegiate Institute
Brockville Collegiate Institute is a public high school that follows the Ontario High School Curriculum.
Their French Immersion program and Extended Core French involve approximately 125 students in grades 9–12. Business, mathematics, computers, science, liberal arts and communication programs have produced many graduates who have gone on to pursue careers in medicine, engineering, law, computer technology and business.
Brockville Collegiate draws from ten public elementary schools, one separate elementary school and one French Catholic elementary school and represent a variety of ethno-cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. BCI has a high level of student leadership and participation in many school activities including: Athletic Association, Student Council, Yearbook, Sound and Lighting Crew and the Arts Programs. Ninety per cent of the student body pursues studies at the post-secondary level.
BCI's long withstanding motto is "Excellence in Academics, Arts & Athletics"
A number of school partnerships are linked to the co-operative education program; each year 50–60 students are placed with employers in the Brockville community.
Students benefit from community participation and support in band boosters club, football group, and BCI alumni. These groups raise considerable amounts of money which contributes to the football program, the purchase of musical instruments, auditorium renovations and more than $30,000 annually in scholarships.
The school facilities are utilized by many community groups. BCI students are also involved in volunteering with community organizations and elementary schools.
History
Brockville Collegiate Institute was built on the present site in 1889, and was formally opened for the Fall term in September of that year. It was originally known as Brockville High School before changing its name to Brockville Collegiate Institute The grey stone building of simple and dignified architecture stood near the centre of the block between Orchard St. and Ormond St. facing Pearl St. on the south. A beautiful lawn in front extended the length of the block and was terraced to the playgrounds of the boys and girls at the rear.The school comprised the basement with cloakrooms for pupils and a furnace room, the main floor with office and library in a shallow extension at the front and three classrooms on the north. The second floor held a laboratory above the office, and an assembly room and one classroom; the third floor with two gyms for boys and girls.
John McMullen, the author of A History of Canada and editor of The Brockville Monitor was head of the building committee. The citizens felt that at last that they had a splendid school – one that would serve the town for ages. The new school evidently attracted more pupils, and in a short time, a small classroom was partitioned off the assembly room. Soon the later was required for classes.
In 1909, a north wing was added, containing the gymnasium on the ground floor, above that a laboratory and classroom, and on the second floor, a large assembly hall, but this too proved quite inadequate for the growing numbers, and the assembly hall was divided by means of temporary partitions into three classrooms. The two gymnasiums of the original building had long been used for very unsatisfactory classrooms.
It burned down on March 8, 1929, but re-opened two years later by architect George Roper Gouinlock, son for prominent architect George Wallace Gouinlock.
Twenty-seven alumni were killed serving in World War I and forty-six in World War II. A bronze memorial plaque is dedicated as a list of honour to the former students of Brockville Collegiate Institute and Vocational School who died in the First and Second World Wars.
Administration
The school is a member of the Upper Canada District School Board. Its feeder public elementary schools in the area include Commonwealth, Front of Yonge, Lyn, Maynard, Meadowview, Thousand Islands Elementary School, Thousand Island Secondary School, Toniata, Pineview, Westminster, St. Mary, Vanier, St. Francis Xavier, and J.L. Jordan.The student population currently sits at approximately 760.
Academics
BCI performs well in provincial academic testing and an estimated 90% of its graduates continue on to post-secondary education. In March 2007 it became the first school in the UCDSB to score 100% on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test with the provincial average at 84%.In November 2006 BCI became accredited to offer the prestigious, internationally recognized International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
The school offers French immersion and extended core French programs.
Through its cooperative education courses 50–70 students have work-study placements in the community.
In addition to these programs and its core curriculum, it also offers students courses in such subjects as music theatre, food and nutrition, English media, multimedia, music, art, photography, drama, leadership and peer support.
Extra-Curricular activities
The school also offers its students a wide range of extracurricular activities in athletics and service clubs.School teams compete in badminton, basketball, cross country running, football, baseball, hockey, rowing, rugby, soccer, track and field, and volleyball.
Other extracurricular opportunities include a Student Council, a Yearbook Club, the Sound and Lighting Crew, Reach for the Top teams, the Rambotics Robotics Club, Math teams, the Enviro-Club, the United Nations Club, Ontario Students against drunk driving, and a Grad Club.
In November 2010 the Senior Football team defeated Smith Falls 12–0 to win the EOSSAA championship, while doing so they became the first BCI squad to advance to the National Capital Bowl, held at Trent University in Peterborough. The Rams faced Adam Scott of Peterborough and were defeated, yet this marked a milestone for BCI Football and athletics in general.
In March 2014, the BCI Girls Curling Team won the EOSSAA Championship and then the Silver Medal at the OFSAA Provincial Championships. The same team repeated their Silver medal performance at the OFSAA Provincials in 2015.