River East Collegiate

Infobox_School | name=River East Collegiate


motto=
established=1961
type=Public
principal=Dr. Lauren Cartwright
enrollment=1 150
faculty =80
mascot=Kodiak
colors=Blue & Black & White
location=River East Collegiate:
295 Sutton Avenue
Winnipeg, MB
country=Canada
website=http://www.rec.retsd.mb.ca/
information=

River East Collegiate is a public high school located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that belongs to the River East Transcona School Division.

Located in the northeast part of Winnipeg, River East has a school population of roughly 1 200, making it the third biggest school in Manitoba. The school colours are blue, black, and white and the school mascot is the Kodiak. The school takes pride in its extremely low drop-out rate: the lowest in Winnipeg. Fact|date=May 2008

Music

River East Collegiate is well-known for its music program.Fact|date=June 2008

Concert Band

River East is home to two concert bands, both under the direction of Jeff Kula. Enrolment in one of the concert bands (Grade 10 Concert Band or Grade 11 & 12 Concert Band) is considered a credited course, and rehearsals take place every second school day throughout the year. The course focusses both on repertoire for performance, musical theory, and practical ability on instruments. Both bands are extremely popular: the Grade 10 Concert Band, open only to Grade 10 students at REC, is made up of 75+ students, while the Grade 11 & 12 Concert Band is made up of 135+ students. Both Concert Bands perform twice a year at each of the schools concerts, held at the Manitoba Centennial Concert Hall. Enrolment in either Concert Band at REC allows students to partake in the biannual REC Music Trip that takes place every even-numbered year, where River East students are given the opportunity to travel extensively throughout North America.

Wind Ensemble

The River East Collegiate Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Jeff Kula is an ensemble for students who wish to play Concert Band-style music in a much smaller setting. Unlike either of the schools Concert Bands, Wind Ensemble is an auditioned group where only the most dedicated students are invited to play. Participation in Wind Ensemble is worth a 1/2 credit and rehearsals take place in the morning before school twice a week. Aside from performing at each of the schools annual concerts, the REC Wind Ensemble has performed in numerous music festivals and debuted and recorded many world premier pieces by such local composers as Sid Robinovich and Borisa Sabilic.

Percussion Ensemble

The River East Collegiate Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Jeff Kula, rehearses once a week after school, and participation in the ensemble is strictly voluntary. The ensemble performs numerous times throughout the year, and annually does collaborative work with the Brandon University Percussion Ensemble.

Contemporary Music Ensemble

The REC Contemporary Music Ensemble, under the direction of Jeff Kula, performs at one concert at the very end of the school year. Performing pieces from such prestigious contemporary composers as John Cage and Steve Reich, the "CME" (as it's come to be known) is always prepared to make listeners say: "What the heck was that!?"

Jazz Band

The River East Collegiate Jazz Band (under the direction of Jeff Kula) is an anomaly amongst high school jazz bands. The REC Jazz Band is a no-cut ensemble (except for rhythm section, which is one to a part. However, auxiliary percussion parts are available to those who audition for a rhythm section instrument and don't get the top spot), and the enrolment in the band (80+ students), makes it one of the largest jazz bands in the world. Performing pieces by such influential jazz composers as Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and [Miles Davis] at bi-annual school jazz concerts and the Brandon Jazz Festival, the REC Jazz Band is quite the sight and sound when they perform. Enrolment in Jazz Band is worth a 1/2 credit.

Jazz Orchestra

The River East Collegiate Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Jeff Kula, meets for rehearsal four times a week after school. Unlike the schools Jazz Band, Jazz Orchestra is an auditioned group that is strictly one to a part. While the band takes part in numerous festivals every year, the band is best known for its participation in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival, which takes place each year at the Lincoln Centre in New York City. The band has been invited to play at the festival four times since 2003 (2003, 2004, 2007, and 2008), and at is the only Canadian band to ever be invited to the festival.

ports

River East Collegiate has many teams at both the Junior Varsity and Varsity levels. They have male and female teams in Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Golf, Hockey and Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field and a male-only Football team. They compete in the Kildonan Peguis Athletic Conference (KPAC). The school football team won the first annual Peguis Bowl in 2007 when they defeated their rival Miles Macdonell Collegiate Buckeyes by a score of 28-0. The school has a tradition of athletic success and hundred of KPAC championship banners hang in the gym (some dating back to the 1960s).

CIP

The River East Collegiate CIP (Career Internship Program) is the most recognizedWho|date=June 2008 and decoratedWho|date=June 2008 transition program in the country. Students involved with the program are offered on-the-job experience to help them make the transition from high school to career. Although students are not paid for their work in the program, each student from the last five years involved with the program was hired by the company they were involved with after graduation.Fact|date=June 2008

tudent Council

For as long as River East Collegiate has been around, so has the student council. The student council works to make the school a better and more interesting place with weekly meetings to plan events such as school dances, spirit weeks, "Karaoke In The Caf", event fundraisers, and pep rallies.

UNESCO

River East Collegiate takes pride in its involvement with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Over the years the school has been recognizedWho|date=June 2008 repeatedly as one of the most involved with UNESCO in Canada. The school UNESCO group has raised money to buy cows, build wells, and raise money for AIDS prevention for people in Third World Countries.

References