School Profile 2013-2014
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School
Grades 9 to 12 (semestered)
Address:
1515 Tenth Line Rd.
Orléans, Ontario
K1E 3E8
Phone: 613-834-4500
Fax: 613-834-4511
School hours:
8:40 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
School Website1
Principal
Barry Armstrong
Vice Principals
Allan Penney
Kaarina Gagner
Office Administrator
Laurie Watson
Chief Custodian
Michel Pentillier
School Council Chairs
Lana Kinnie and Ed Gratton
Superintendent of Instruction
Neil Yorke-Slader
School Trustee
John Shea
Chair of the Board
Jennifer McKenzie
Director of Education/
Secretary of the Board
Jennifer Adams
General Board Information:
Phone: 613-721-1820
OCDSB Website2
Accessibility Information3
Our School
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School, home of the Lancers, prides
itself on being committed to excellence in academics, athletics and
activities. Sir Wil has been recognized as a leading school in Canada
in the use of information technology in the classroom. Our present
building opened in September 1991 as a state-of-the-art facility. We
operate on the semester system for students in Grade 9 to 12.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School is committed to providing a safe
and stimulating learning environment for all students and staff. We
believe it is the responsibility of each student to develop the attitudes
and values which will foster respect and the pursuit of personal
excellence. Our graduates have productive work habits and can work,
with self-discipline, either individually or as a member of a team. The
majority of our graduates go on to post-secondary schools in Canada
and the U.S. The school’s motto is “We Strive for the Highest”.
We are a community-based school linked with the Ray Friel
Recreation Complex, the Ottawa Public Library, the Eastern Ottawa
Resource Centre, and the River Heights Children’s Centre, making
the school the hub of the community. Many students take advantage
of the proximity of these facilities for their cooperative education
placements and their volunteer community service hours. A
comprehensive cooperative education program offers opportunities
for students to enrol in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.
Our Students
Sir Wilfrid Laurier has an enrolment of approximately 1035 students
with diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds that enhance our school
culture. Our main elementary feeder schools are Avalon, DunningFoubert, Fallingbrook, Maple Ridge, and Trillium. Twenty-one percent
of our 2013 graduates were accepted to university programs and
fifteen percent to college programs. Fifty percent of our 2013
graduates were Ontario Scholars.
Our Staff
Our dedicated staff is committed to the academic success of our
students. Our staff is dedicated to encouraging personal excellence,
with a focus on classroom instruction techniques. In addition,
enrichment activities such as guest presenters and field trips are
common and help to supplement the curriculum. Our Staff Bursary
Fund assists deserving students with Financial Assistance in their
post-secondary endeavours.
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Our Community
Parents and Community
SWL has an active school council, which meets on Wednesday nights, every six weeks.
The Council forms subcommittees as needed, to participate in and contribute to various
activities at both the board and secondary school council representative level. The Council
welcomes parents who are interested in learning about their children’s school lives and in
contributing to the Council and the school. Council invites staff and students for regular
presentations on curriculum and issues relevant to adolescents.
Mission Statement
The school’s Code of Behaviour is described by the motto “Wil Power.” Wil Power is based
on:
1. RESPECT FOR SELF: Students are encouraged to gain self-awareness and selfconfidence as they promote a positive self-image and feel pride in their
accomplishments.
2. RESPECT FOR OTHERS: All members of the school community have a right to
dignity, consideration, and respect.
3. RESPECT FOR PROPERTY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Display pride in our school
by treating all property with care.
Picture of Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School
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Programs and Services
Academic Programs
A wide range of academic programs are offered at Sir Wilfrid Laurier. These programs provide our
students with a strong foundation for further studies at University or College or for the world of
work.
The programs include:
 outstanding Arts programs in music, drama and visual arts
 Core French and extensive French Immersion program
 a comprehensive Cooperative Education Program and OYAP opportunities
 a wide range of technology courses
 endorsement certificates in French Immersion, Business Studies, and Technological Studies
 certificates in Science, English, Construction, International Studies, Canadian Broadcast
Media, Multimedia Designer
 a unique pre-engineering program including robotics
 a Crisis and Conflict course
 a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in Construction
 a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in Communication and Information Technology
with a choice of focus in Broadcasting or Digital Media
 a Leadership course
 a Link Crew course
 a Dual Credit opportunity with Algonguin College in the grade 12 broadcasting course
 a level one Auto Mechanic course at Algonquin College for grade 12 students
Classroom Organization
Sir Wilfrid Laurier programs operate on the semester system with the day divided into four 75minute periods. Students in the Broadcasting class are responsible for delivering announcements
on closed circuit television. This daily contact is supplemented by regular extended sessions with
guest speakers and special presentations. All subject teachers have access to computer labs to
supplement the curriculum.
Special Education
The Learning Support Teachers at Sir Wilfrid Laurier work closely with all of the teaching staff to
meet the specific needs of students. Student needs are met by means of regular classroom
support following the IEP accommodations, the Learning Strategies course, monitoring by the
Learning Support teacher, a homework assistance program, and/or SEA training. Sir Wilfrid Laurier
houses a Dual Support program.
Clubs and Activities
Sir Wilfrid Laurier offers a broad interscholastic sports program. The Lancers compete in the
National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association. From September to June, Sir Wil’s student
athletes proudly represent the school in a range of interscholastic sports: volleyball, basketball,
football, ultimate, touch football, Nordic skiing, golf, swimming, badminton, curling, baseball,
softball, track and field, cross country running, soccer, field hockey, and boys’ and girls’ ice
hockey. Student Council, the Leadership class and Link Crew are actively involved in developing a
wide variety of activities for students. Music students regularly perform in the community and
participate in music festivals, massed bands and international travel. Reach for the Top is a
popular activity at Sir Wil. Our Free the Children group has been given the distinction as a lead
“We School” in the Ottawa region. Our You ROCK group is committed to building unity and
acceptance of differences.
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Safe Schools Initiatives
As an active member of the local community, school staff communicates with local businesses and
the City of Ottawa to coordinate programs to ensure a safe school and community. Within the
school, staff has developed emergency response procedures in preparation for a variety of
potential incidents. Our Ottawa Police Service School Resource Officer visits the school regularly
to make presentations on topics of interest to students and staff. Wil Power continues to be our
best initiative allowing students to show pride in their school and knowing that it is a safe and
caring place.
Facilities and Resources
The school library is a full-service resource centre which facilitates class and individual research.
In addition to computer labs for specific programs the school has a number of labs, which can be
booked for both Macintosh and PC platforms.
In addition to the triple gym and weight room facilities of the school, students can access the
facilities of the adjoining community recreation centre with a wave pool, fitness centre, ice rink, and
meeting rooms.
All computer labs are equipped with projectors enabling increased use of Power Point and other
presentations. We have a graphic media lab and a radio and television studio for the
Communication Technologies program. Comm. Tech. students are offered experiential
opportunities such as field trips and workshops at radio and/or television stations, audio and video
production companies, as well as with former graduates who are now working in areas of the
industry.
Google Map of Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School
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Achievement and School Improvement Planning
Measures of Student Achievement and Success
Regular consultation with our feeder schools is maintained to provide a learning continuum for the
transition to high school. Learning Support Teachers and guidance counsellors meet with
classroom teachers to plan for improved student achievement. A variety of teaching and
assessment methods are employed to provide students with every opportunity to demonstrate their
achievement of the learning outcomes. Depending on the curriculum area, these strategies may
include interactive e-mail, multi-media instructional material, student-created web pages,
independent study projects, portfolios, student-created newspapers, rubrics, demonstrations, or
traditional tests and examinations. A strong academic program is evidenced by the fact that 368
students -- 36% of Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School students in 2012-2013 -- were Honour
Society members with averages over 80%. In 2013, there were 54 Silver Medallist recipients with
averages over 90%, including 19 Silver Medallists in our graduating class.
School Improvement Plans and Initiatives
Sir Wilfrid Laurier staff has created working groups to conduct an ongoing review of school
programs, policies, and practices. In the current year, a particular focus of our school improvement
planning is the enhancement of authentic learning experiences and experiential learning in order to
foster student engagement across all subjects and programs. Plans are currently underway to
maximize student achievement in literacy by responding to the needs identified through the student
results in the EQAO Grade 10 Literacy Test and the district-wide Grade 12 English examinations.
Likewise, plans are being implemented to build on student achievement in numeracy by
responding to the needs identified through the student results from the EQAO Grade 9 Math
Assessment, and the district-wide Grade 10 Math examination.
Various school programs are involved in the creative use of technology. Additionally, we have
begun to work with Adobe Youth Voices and will eventually be offering Adobe certifications.
The Math Department has introduced Smart Board technology in their classrooms. Immersion
courses are offered in Geography, History, Science and Visual Arts. Named by the Ministry of
Education and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board as a host school, Sir Wilfrid Laurier offers
a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in i) Construction, ii) Sports Broadcasting, and
Information and Communication Technology with choice of focus area in, iii) Broadcasting or, iv)
Digital Media. Successful completion of a designated set of credits results in a special red seal on
the student’s diploma. Students enrolled in a SHSM program attend the host school for one
semester and return to their home school to complete their secondary school diploma
requirements. In the fourth year of the program 96 red seal SHSM diplomas were granted across
the school district with 24 of them awarded at Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s 2013 graduation. In its fifth year
the SHSM program at Sir Wil is again running successfully with a good enrolment. In receipt of
additional Ministry funding, we have been able to provide state-of-the-art equipment for the SHSM
program.
Student Success Program
Sir Wilfrid Laurier provides several credit support programs through the Student Success resource
room. Credit Intervention and Credit Rescue allow students at risk of not graduating additional
opportunities to complete missing course work and/or remediate missed course expectations
within the semester. The Credit Recovery program is a course designed to help at-risk students
meet the expectations of a course they have previously completed but for which have received a
failing grade.
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Leadership Recognition
“Leadership in the OCDSB is the demonstration of personal initiative
to achieve a positive outcome.”
Students
Student leadership is a crucial feature of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier culture. One way our Student
Leaders are mentored and trained is in our Leadership and Link Crew courses. Students enrolled
in the Leadership course volunteer their time to school and community efforts, such as raising
money and food donations for the Emergency Food Program of the Orleans-Cumberland
Resource Centre. With one of the longest-standing Link Crew Grade Nine Connection programs in
Ottawa, in which Link Crew students mentor and provide leadership to our Grade 9 students, the
model for Link Crew developed at Sir Wilfrid Laurier has since been adopted by all OCDSB
schools.
We are also grateful to our students in the Marketing and International Business Studies classes
for their continued support of our bursary program through their profit-generating small business
projects. Their success and generosity have helped many of our graduates in need to pursue their
post-secondary endeavours.
Student Leadership at Sir Wil expands to the larger community, both locally and globally. Sir Wil
students raise money through activities such as the International Festival. The money raised has
supported the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Delanor Channer Foundation, Red
Cross, Amnesty International, and UNICEF Spread the Net anti-malaria campaign. Our “Fast to
Feast” events raised $5000 in 2007 and 2008 to complete a two-year commitment we undertook to
help fund a senior citizens’ home in northern India for Tibetan refugees. Our Free the Children
group raised more than $3000 in 2012 for water sanitation in Sierra, Leone, and another $3000 in
2013 for a food security project in the rural village in China which we visited in March 2013. Our
students collected $650 for the Typhoon Relief fund in the Philippines in November 2013.
Sir Wil students are committed to improving the local community. The entire school is committed to
building Toy Mountain and providing holiday hampers to those in need.
Assisting with events such as parent nights, immunization clinics and blood donor clinics, Sir Wil
students act as ambassadors for our school. Supporting the work of the Ottawa Mission, the
Hands for Humanity Club bakes sweet treats for the homeless. Sir Wil students actively participate
in Live It Up - J’vis ma vie, and Eat Smart Programs to promote healthy lifestyles.
Some of our senior students have gone to Rideau Hall to join a number of new Canadians who
were taking part in their first Canadian citizenship ceremony. Our students took part in round table
discussions sharing experiences and allowing new connections to be established.
The Concert Band has consistently achieved a Gold Standard at the Kiwanis Music Festival for the
past four years. The music program regularly performs in the school and greater community
supporting community events like Toy Mountain. International travel has been a part of the music
experience at Sir Wil with recent participation in the Harrogate International Music Festival in the
United Kingdom.
Sir Wil students are recipients of several accolades and awards:
 44 nominees and five winners of Cappies high school drama awards over eight years
 OCRI High School Entrepreneur winner
 gold, silver and/or bronze medals six times 2006-2009 and 2011-2012 in Skills Canada local
and provincial Video Challenge competitions. Skills Canada uses our school’s video to promote
the program across the province
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Staff
Sir Wil has a dedicated staff that is committed to improving student success. Experienced and well
qualified in many areas, the staff at Sir Wil is involved with in-school and out-of-school professional
development. In addition to hosting foreign exchange teachers, Sir Wil teachers are committed to
the training of new teachers by supporting students from university faculties of education in their
work placements. We are proud of the accomplishments of our staff.
Staff leadership is also evident in the generous contribution of personal time by staff and
community volunteers to support our strong extra-curricular activities. Sir Wil’s spirit of giving is
cultivated by the staff. The distinguished fundraising initiatives would not be possible without the
leadership of our staff. Moreover, the staff provides several bursaries to deserving graduates to
help them pursue post-secondary studies. The Sir Wil staff has always been a committed
supporter of the United Way, giving a total of $8470 to the 2013 campaign.
Parents/Guardians/Volunteers
We value the contributions made by our parents and volunteers. In addition to the tremendous time
they give to the school, the School Council also awards a volunteer prize to graduating students at
commencement.
Community
Sir Wilfrid Laurier has a strong tradition of community partnerships. Ventrex and the Gloucester
Cumberland Basketball Association were instrumental in helping secure a new score clock for the
Sir Wil gymnasium.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier has been actively involved with the Smoking Cessation program sponsored by
Ottawa Public Health. We are also involved in two Public Health initiatives that promote healthy
active living: Live It Up and Eat Smart. Our staff participated in the City of Ottawa 10,000 Step
Challenge for two years. Many of our graduates have benefited from the generosity of
Chartwells/Compass Group Canada, Bank of Montreal, M&M Meat Shops, Ray Friel Recreation
Complex, Grace Presbyterian Church, YMCA/YWCA, the Edith Wilson bequest through the
Community Foundation of Ottawa, and the Delanor Channer Foundation, all of which have
donated money for various scholarships. Sir Wilfrid Laurier is grateful to the Education Foundation,
through the United Way, for their generous donation to our visual arts digital photography program.
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URL References
1
http://sirwilfridlaurierss.ocdsb.ca/
http://www.ocdsb.ca/
3 http://www.ocdsb.ca/ab-ocdsb/
4 http://www.eqao.com/
2
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