Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute

This article refers to a high school in Scarborough, Ontario. For other institutions named Bethune, see the listing at Bethune (disambiguation).

Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute
Debonnaire
Address
200 Fundy Bay Blvd. Agincourt, Ontario, M1W 3G1, Canada
Coordinates	43°48′43″N 79°19′12″W / 43.81194°N 79.32°W / 43.81194; -79.32Coordinates: 43°48′43″N 79°19′12″W / 43.81194°N 79.32°W / 43.81194; -79.32
Information
School number	937592
School board	Toronto District School Board
Superintendent	Sandy Spyropoulos
Area trustee	Soo Wong
Principal	Ms. Sandra Kaskens
Vice principal	Ms. A. Wong Mr.Stewart Burns
School type	High school
Grades	9-12
Language	English
Mascot	Normy the Bear
Colours	Gold, Green,White and Red
Founded	1979
Enrolment	1800 (Winter 2009[1])
Homepage	http://www.bethuneci.com

Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute is a high school in Toronto, located in the northwest part of Scarborough. It was founded in 1979 and named after Norman Bethune. The school is attended by over 1800 students, most of whom speak a primary language other than English,^[1] the language of instruction. Bethune is also partners with the neighboring senior's homes: Mon Sheong and Tendercare, and with School #15 in Beijing, China.

Courses

• English
• Literacy
• Modern Language: French, Spanish

Students taking Modern Language classes are offered many enrichment opportunities, including outings to French and Spanish movies, theatre productions and restaurants. Senior students may travel abroad to France and Spain. Bethune students receive excellent results in French and Spanish Contests as well as the Concours D'Art Oratiore (French Public Speaking).^[2]

• Math:General Math 9-11, Data management, Advance Functions, Calculus
• Robotics
• Science:General Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Exercise Science
• Physical Education: Large Activity, Small group activity, Weights and Fitness
• Health: Food and Nutrition, Sex Education, Parenting
• Arts: Dance, Dramatic Arts

Music:Band, Choir, Jazz Choir, Music Concerts / Performances, Orchestra, Piano, Stageband, Strings, Vocal Music,

Visual Arts: Computer/Graphic Arts, Interior Design, Photography

Students have many opportunities to explore their love of the arts. Students can choose from visual art, photography, computer art, dramatic arts vocal music, and repertoire instrumental music and strings. Outside the classroom, students can enrich their experience by joining the art club, the drama club, or the music council.^[2]

• Stellar Program

The Stellar Program is an enrichment program for grade 9 and 10 in Math and Science.^[2]

School Programs

• Be Excited About Reading (B.E.A.R.)

The school-wide reading program promotes the love of reading in every classroom, every Friday, with every member of the Bethune community enjoying 20 minutes of reading.^[2]

• English as a Second Language (ESL)

Bethune's ESL program features field trips that promote Canadian culture and experiential learning. The semestered program has 5 levels in addition to ESL sensitive courses in Geography and History. Bilingual classroom helpers, full-time settlement workers, peer mentor programs, the Chinese Association, and the Newcomer Orientation Week in August help to ease the transition to Canada and to Bethune. In addition to after-school and week-end support classes, OSSLT preparation classes and peer-tutoring support ESL students throughout the year.^[2]

• Individual Education Plan (IEP)

A variety of special education programs and services are offered to meet the needs of all students, including students with exceptionalities, such as behavioural, communication, intellectual, physical and multiple learning disabilities. Students' exceptionalities are identified through a formal review process undertaken by an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC).^[1]

Student Leadership Groups

The Student Leadership Council at Bethune consists of organizers and committed students:

• The Student Administrative Council (SAC) coordinates extra-curricular activities within the school
• The Bethune REPS are the prefects and representatives of Bethune
• The ABC is the Athletic Bears Council and organizes all athletic events within the school.
• The Bethune Journal is the school newspaper that delivers current news and opinion columns every few months.
• The Bethune Music Council is responsible for organizing events related to the music program at Bethune, such as winter and spring retreats and various band trips.
• The Bethune Environmental Action Team (BEAT) has helped Bethune become a Platinum Certified Eco-school.^[3]
• The DECA club is an association for Bethune's business students and competes in various business simulation competitions
• The Bethune ESL Mentor program helps newcomers with English and adaptation to Canada.

Athletics

A variety of sports are offered through different seasons.

Fall

• Cross Country
• Double Tennis
• Swimming
• Golf

Winter

• Field Hockey
• Badminton
• Ice hockey

Spring

• Single Tennis
• Rugby
• Field Hockey
• Track and Field
• Soccer
• Baseball

All Year Round

• Archery
• Wrestling
• Volleyball

Competitions

• DECA
• Mathematics Competitions:

Euclid Contest, Fermat Contest, Pascal Contest, Cayley contest, Fryer, Galois & Hypatia Contests, Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge

• Music Competitions:

Music Festival Canada, Ontario Band Association Festival

• Science Competitions:

Sir Isaac Newton Physics, O.A.P.T. Physics Contest, Avogadro Chemistry Competition, Chem 13 Contest, National Biology Competition

Awards

Notable Awards given to the school and the students in it

• Platinum Certified Eco-school.^[3]

Alumni

• Steve Chao, journalist for CTV News
• Jay Manuel, makeup artist, fashion photographer and creative director of the America's Next Top Model and Canada's Next Top Model TV shows
• Dwayne Morgan, spoken word artist
• Mike Ricci, retired ice hockey player
• Kevin Weekes, professional ice hockey player for the National Hockey League and CBC Sports commentator
• Nick Kypreos, retired Canadian professional ice hockey and hockey analyst.
• David Morland IV, professional golf player.
• Paul Loduca, bassist in the Canadian pop/rock band Neverest.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Current School Profile" (PDF). Dr Norman Bethune CI. Toronto District School Board. http://www.tdsb.on.ca/profiles/4116.pdf. Retrieved 2007-12-26. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} http://www.tdsb.on.ca/schools/index.asp?schno=4116
3. ^ ^{a b} "B.E.A.T.". http://www.bethuneci.com/index.php?flash=true&section=beat. 

External links

• Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute Website
• Dr Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute Website at the TDSB