Windermere Athena Arts

http://www.vsb.bc.ca/programs/windermere-athena-arts

Have you ever wanted to experience the Renaissance by picking up a paint brush? Have you ever wanted to understand geometry by creating a mosaic? Windermere Athena Arts is a unique academic program (8-12) designed for students keen to learn through the arts.

Athena Arts is an academic mini school program designed for students who have a passion for the arts, have an interest in community involvement, and a desire to work in an enriched environment. Athena offers arts enrichment, while promoting responsibility, community and media awareness, and encouraging creative self-expression in core academic courses.

Students will benefit from working with a small cohort of like-minded individuals within the larger Windermere community, and from being mentored by Senior students within the program. Students will have the opportunity to work with visiting artists and professionals throughout the year. They will also receive focused and personal attention from a small group of teachers, who endeavor to include multi-modal projects in the delivery of core academic subjects. They also receive the support of a coordinator, who acts as an administrator for the program.

Students in the Junior grades (8-10) attend arts-enriched academic core courses in English, Social Studies and Math. There, they explore the core subjects through a variety of creative means, including visual and performing arts. In addition, each 8-10 cohort is enrolled elective classes that support their artistic development. In their classes, students will have the opportunity to express knowledge through art and will gain a greater understanding of how the arts both shape and reflect the communities in which they live. They will join with other Windermere students for Science, PE, and their electives for their remaining courses.

Students in the Senior grades (11 -12) continue to take English and Math together as a cohort in Grade 11 and 12 but are given more freedom so they may pursue electives that match their post-secondary goals. However, Senior students are expected to demonstrate continued leadership within the program through specific independent Service Learning projects that mentor the program’s younger students.

Acceptance into the Athena Arts academic program is based on an application package and a one hour small-group assessment. Students must have and maintain a minimum C+ average and demonstrate good work habits. Come find out more at our open house. The date of this year's open house is listed on our school website and near the end of the Options Brochure.

Administering school: Windermere Secondary School

Location: 3155 E. 27th Ave., Vancouver, BC, V5M 1Y5

Grade: 8-12

Please visit http://windermere.vsb.bc.ca/programs.html for an application form and further information.

Athena Arts has some space avaialble for next year's program and is accepting applications for Grade 9-11.

Please direct your inquiries to Ms. Terin Stancombe, Athena Coordinator at (604) 713-8180 or tstancombe@vsb.bc.ca .