As stated by headmaster Tom
Matthews, St. George’s School is “dedicated to the development of the well-rounded boy.” A student may excel
in one particular but during his time at the school he will benefit from a broad and inclusive program
embracing academics, arts, athletics, outdoor education, service and leadership.
Located in a quiet
neighbourhood in Vancouver, St. George’s consists of two campuses — one for the Junior School and one for the
Senior School, and meets the needs of boys from Grades 1 to 12. As part of an all-boys school, its students
enjoy intimate classroom sizes ranging from a dozen in some cases at the Senior School, to just over 20
students.
With students from over 15
countries worldwide, the school’s environment is rich with diversity and culture. The curriculum is outlined
by the Ministry of Education, and offers various streams of enriched programs in English, mathematics and
French. Students also enjoy an array of sports such as rugby, soccer, field and ice hockey, basketball,
badminton, tennis and more. There’s something for every student.
Service &
Charity Program
The Service and Charity
Program is an integral part of St. George’s mission.
“Our goal is to establish
meaningful, ongoing partnerships to maximize the benefits both for the school and the service organizations,”
says headmaster Tom Matthews.
When students are
encouraged to get involved in philanthropy and community work in the early years, it’s more likely to become
a lifelong commitment.
Q&A: TOM
MATTHEWS Here we speak to Matthews about academics, philanthropy, university preparation and
more.
How is a
single-gendered school beneficial to students versus a co-gendered school?
We now know that everyone
learns differently; we all have different kinds of minds. Groundbreaking research has confirmed that boys
learn differently and that boys’ schools enjoy many distinct advantages in the education of boys over
co-educational schools.
St. George’s looks
for and values the well-rounded boy. By the school's standards, what makes a student
well-rounded?
A willingness to get
involved and develop his potential in a wide range of areas — academics, athletics, the arts, service,
outdoor education and leadership.
What are some
academic initiatives that help students stay on track and prepare for post-secondary
education?
We have a well-developed
mentorship and pastoral care program at the school. Our goal is to ensure that every student is "known and
loved" and that he is able to find his own unique potential during his time at the school. With that
intention in mind, we have a variety of structures in place to support our students, including a university
guidance department and personal counsellors. We also have an Advisor System so that every boy has an adult
assigned to him with the responsibility to keep him on track.
How do the
curriculum and/or staff guide students in finding their passions and selecting the right careers for
them?
We have a multi-year
university counselling program through which boys develop a clearer understanding of their interests,
strengths, passions and future ambitions. It’s all about fit — which program and which university best suit a
particular student.
What makes St.
George's different from other boarding and independent schools?
We are a boys’ school
located in a safe and quiet neighbourhood in Vancouver, the city repeatedly recognized as the world’s most
livable city. We offer an incredibly rich array of academic and co-curricular programs with enormous range
and depth.
For more information
on St. George’s School, call 604-224-1304 or visit » stgeorges.bc.ca