Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School

Infobox Education in Canada
name= Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School


imagesize= 140px
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city= Montreal
province= Quebec
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url= http://pchs.lbpsb.qc.ca/
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schoolboard= Lester B. Pearson School Board
affiliation=
superintendent=
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principal= Cristina Prata
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schooltype= Public Middle and High School
grades= Secondary 1 to 5 [Education levels in Quebec: Secondary 1 - 5 is the equivalent of grades 7 to 11 in Canada, and 7th to 11th grades in the US]
language= English
area=
mascot= Killer Bees
teamname= Trojans
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founded= 1971
enrollment= 1189
enrollment_as_of=

Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School (PCHS) is a non-denominational, English speaking educational facility located in Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada with an enrolment of approximately 1,200 students, in grades 7 through 11. It operates within the Lester B. Pearson School Board and has functioned as a secondary school since 1971. The principal of the school is Ms. Cristina Prata.

History

PCHS began as an academic and vocational high school for both English and French speaking students, to accommodate West Island population expansion at the beginning of the 1970s. Prior to its opening in 1971, other established schools like Saint Thomas High School, located in Pointe Claire, Quebec, were doubling their enrolment to help the community cope. Originally conceived under the proposed name of Villa Nova, it opened as Polyvalente de Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School, to better reflect its multi-disciplined approach. In 1977 it ceded half its population when French speaking students moved to the new "Polyvalente des Sources" high school, located nearby. PCHS served from this point on as the north-west shore's sole English speaking high school.

In 1994 it began its International Baccalaureate program which continues to this day, and in 1995 undertook a campaign to amend its name, although a strategic focus group decided to keep the name "comprehensive", to reflect both the wide variety of programs and services offered and the commitment to meeting all student needs [ [http://pchs.lbpsb.qc.ca//AboutHistory.htm Our History] From the official website] . In 2001 it celebrated its 30th anniversary and honoured four teachers for their long standing and exceptional educational service and dedication to the school.

ArchitecturePCHS was built as an "open-concept" over a "reflected plan" - meaning that one side mirrors the other - along an axial core. It features a large cafeteria at the center, and a gigantic gymnasium, or "Field House", at the south end, which is connected by a tunnel. Designed by a Californian architect, as recommended by the school's first principal, Mr. John Oss [ [http://pchs.lbpsb.qc.ca//AboutHistory.htm Our History] Architectural Design, first paragraph] , it employed industrial, visual cues like unfinished concrete walls, exposed ceiling pipes and ducts that were painted primary red, blue and yellow enamel, and small windows that did not open. Stylistically it was considered radical for an educational institution at the time, particularly due to the fact that the classrooms had no doors, an experiment that resulted in students sometimes being distracted by people passing by in the halls. The school was still being finished when classes began in the fall of 1971.

PCHS

Besides its International Baccalaureate program, "PCHS" participates in an aggressive immersion program, an English program and a remedial program. In sports it is a member of the GMAA (Greater Montreal Athletic Association) and is represented by the "Trojans" (rugby, girls' football, basketball) and the "Killer Bees" (Indoor and Outdoor soccer). It also participates in other sports like volleyball.

Features

* Auditorium: State-of-the-art professional theatre
* Art facility: Well-equipped art and music rooms
* Science and technology facility: 11 science labs, 2 computer labs with 34 computers per lab, computer workstations located in individual classrooms
* Library: Newly renovated and fully automated library, access to books in French, English and Spanish, equipped with 6 computers
* Atrium: A place situated next to the library where people may socialize

Footnotes

External links

* [http://pchs.lbpsb.qc.ca// Official PCHS website]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070706044901/http://pchs.dzyn.net/ Unofficial PCHS website with valuable alumni database]