Robert Cecil Palmer Secondary School, (commonly, ''R.C. Palmer Secondary School'', ''RCPSS'', ''RCP'', and ''Palmer Secondary School'') is a
public
In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociological concept of the ''Öffentlichkei ...
,
co-educational
Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to t ...
secondary school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...
situated in
Richmond
Richmond most often refers to:
* Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States
* Richmond, London, a part of London
* Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England
* Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada
* Richmond, California, ...
,
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
which educates students in grades 8-12. Palmer Secondary School is one of the many schools under the
Richmond School District
Richmond School District (School District No. 38) is a school district based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
The school board serves the city of Richmond.
Schools
As of 2016 the district has 38 primary schools, 10 secondary schools, ...
. It is the only school in Richmond to offer the Pre-AP Incentive Program, the ACE-IT plumbing program and, previously, the Palmer Hockey Academy. The Richmond Virtual School is also hosted in the Palmer building.
History
Robert C. Palmer Junior High School first opened in September 1959 with an enrollment of 769. This school is named after Robert Cecil Palmer, a Richmond resident and magistrate in the provincial court for 22 years. The school suffered a terrible fire on April 10, 1976. The school underwent two renovations in 1978 to recover from the fire. In 1996, the Richmond School District converted all senior (Grade 11 and 12 only) and junior (Grade 9 and 10 only) high schools to full spectrum grade 8 to 12 schools. Palmer officially reopened in May 2000 as a full grade 8 to 12 secondary school.
["R.C. Palmer school information"](_blank)
Retrieved 10 November 2013
Motto and Colours
The school colours, navy blue and powder blue, were chosen in 1959 by the student council. The school's Greek motto, KUDOS, can be translated to "for valour" or "for honour" and it is a part of the school's crest designed by the first art department.
Palmer Griffins
The
Griffin
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (Ancient Greek: , ''gryps''; Classical Latin: ''grȳps'' or ''grȳpus''; Late Latin, Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a legendary creature with the body, tail ...
represents the Palmer family and is a part of the Palmer Family coat of arms. It is a
mythological creature
A legendary creature (also mythical or mythological creature) is a type of fictional entity, typically a hybrid, that has not been proven and that is described in folklore (including myths and legends), but may be featured in historical accounts ...
that is a hybrid of both lion and eagle. Griffins are a symbol of wisdom, strength, and loyalty. The Palmer Griffin name is often used for Palmer's athletic teams.
Curriculum and Programs
Robert Cecil Palmer Secondary School utilizes the full-year linear system. The school year is divided into 3 terms. Students take a minimum of 6 courses to a maximum of 8 courses for the full year; students attend four 75-minute classes on one day and another four different classes the next day. Each week is divided into a rotational basis.
Grading Scale
Palmer uses the same grading scale as established by the BC Ministry of Education.
For anything less than 49%, students will be assigned an "I" (Incomplete) which will turn into an "F" (Fail) if course requirements are not completed.
Pre-AP/Incentive Program
Palmer offers honours level courses through its selective Pre-AP/Incentive program. The program develops academic excellence and offers acceleration for subjects in Math, Science, and Socials Students. The Incentive program also challenges students with leadership opportunities, outdoor and physical education, and community service, with the intent of building strong personal character. The Incentive program is established on the basis of promoting a well-rounded education for high school students and to develop learners to think critically.
Entry to the Program is by application, followed by an entrance exam and an interview.
As of 2016–2017, the program offers:
* Enriched (honours) courses in English, Math, Social Studies, and Science
* 2 year accelerated track for Grade 8, 9, 10 Math and Science
* Preparation for AP courses and exams in Grade 12
* Trips and outdoor camp experiences to complement Incentive classes
* Leadership and community service opportunities
* Develops personal character
AP Program
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course ...
(AP) courses are offered at RC Palmer Secondary School and are taken by qualified Grade 12 students by selective application. Palmer's AI Code is 821315, as assigned by
College Board
The College Board is an American nonprofit organization that was formed in December 1899 as the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) to expand access to higher education. While the College Board is not an association of colleges, it runs a ...
.
As of 2016–2017, the following five AP courses are offered:
ACE IT Career Prep Program
The Accelerated Credit Enrolment in Industry Training (ACE IT) program is the in-class component of a high school apprenticeship. ACE IT students are Youth Apprentices registered with the Industry Training Authority (ITA).
ACE IT programs are usually offered as partnerships between school districts and post-secondary institutions with onsite training at either location. Students who successfully complete the ACE IT program earn credit towards both high school graduation and a post-secondary credential. Enrolment in the ACE IT program is free.
Palmer is the only school in Richmond that houses the Plumbing Program for the ACE IT program.
Independent Studies Program
Independent Directed Studies (IDS), co-operated with the Richmond Virtual School, under teacher supervision, allow students to initiate their own learning on a subject of choice and earn credits towards graduation. Students must submit an IDS application and have previously shown independent work abilities and excellent work ethics to enroll in the course.
Collaboration Day Schedule
RC Palmer Secondary School has been working with the Collaboration Time late start model for a number of years. Currently, Palmer Staff meet in groups on the first Tuesday of every month for 75 minutes to work on initiatives related to enhancing student achievement and engagement.
Reading Block
Palmer dedicates 90 minutes of time per week tied to the third block of the day. This 18 minute period is intended to support sustained reading in an area or on a topic that interests the student. The goal is to provide a regular consistent environment that encourages students to pursue reading for pleasure. Access to a variety of topics and authors as well as a variety of strategies is important to developing engaged readers.
Athletics
Palmer competes in the RSSAA (Richmond Secondary School Athletic Association) with other schools in the
School District No.38.
Fall
Winter
Spring
Intramurals
The intramural program is an opportunity given to all students, regardless of skill level, to participate in an athletic activity. The intramural games occur during lunch time, where students participate in a variety of activities in the gymnasium. The activities are open to all students and the intramural season runs for about a month long, concluding with playoffs.
Intramural sports offered include:
Basketball Team
The school hosts a basketball program for students that replaces the regular P.E. course with an all-basketball program and teaches the fundamentals, tricks, and plays of the sport. In 2007, the senior basketball team made it to the 63rd Annual
Telus
Telus Communications Inc. (TCI) is the wholly owned principal subsidiary of Telus Corporation, a Canadian national telecommunications company that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voi ...
-BCHSBBA Boys Provincial Basketball Championships, held in the
PNE Agrodome
PNE Agrodome is a sports arena located in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was built in 1963 and holds 5,000 people or 3,260 when configured to use the hockey or lacrosse surface.
It annually hosted the provincial high school boys' 'AAA' basketb ...
. In 2011, they won the Provincial Championships at the
Langley Events Centre
The Langley Events Centre is a multipurpose facility in the Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada. The LEC debuted in April 2009, hosting the 2009 BC Gymnastics Championships. It boasts an arena bowl with a 5,276 capacity for sports, in ...
.
Athletic Achievements
British Columbia Provincial Champions:
Lower Mainland Champions:
RSSAA League Champions:
School Excellence
Science Fair Achievements
Palmer is actively involved in promoting interest in the fields of ''
STEM
Stem or STEM may refer to:
Plant structures
* Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang
* Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure
* Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...
'' and research. The school has hosted the Palmer Annual Science Fair (Richmond District) since 2008 and sponsors the 1st place, 2nd place, and, sometimes, 3rd place of the fair to compete in the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair.
The school's teams had also won multiple medals at the
Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF).
* 2015, Microcontroller Controlled Laser Area Denial (M-CLAD)
** Gold, Excellence Award – Senior
** Dalhousie University Faculty of Science Entrance Scholarship
** UBC Science (Vancouver) Entrance Award
** University of Manitoba Entrance Scholarship
** University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship
** Western University Scholarship
** University of New Brunswick Entrance Scholarship
* 2014, Concentrated Photovoltaic Thermoelectric Hybrid Systems (C.P.T.H.)
** Bronze, Excellence Award – Intermediate
** Western University Scholarship
* 2010, A Statistical Approach to the Applications of Fractal Geometry
** Discovery Channel Math Award
* 2009, Cancer-Killing Combinations
** Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science Award
** The University of Western Ontario Scholarship
** Gold, Health Sciences, Excellence Award – Intermediate
Destination Imagination (DI) Achievements
Destination Imagination is a volunteer-led, educational non-profit organization that teaches 21st century skills and ''
STEM
Stem or STEM may refer to:
Plant structures
* Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang
* Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure
* Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...
'' principles to kindergarten through university level students through creative and collaborative problem-solving challenges. In the past, Palmer has won 1st and 2nd in 2014, 2013, 2010, 2009, and 2006 Destination Imagination British Columbia Provincial Tournament. The team is most notable for their Instant Challenge excellence, which Palmer had earned 2 consecutive gold medals at the Provincial level.
Mathematical Competition Achievements
Palmer students enrolled in Enriched Math
or Pre-Calculus courses are encouraged to take part in the various math contests that occur annually. Palmer also houses a Junior and Senior Math Club
which works on math contest problems and promotes interest in math.
Math Challengers:
CEMC Math Competition:
Notable alumni
*
Edison Chen
Edison Chen Koon-hei (, born Chen Hing-wah on 7 October 1980) is a Canadian-born Hong Kong actor, singer, rapper, fashion designer and entrepreneur. Chen is the co-founder of CLOT, a Hong Kong-based streetwear and fashion label. Debuting in 19 ...
,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
-based entertainer
*
Bobby Singh
Bobby Singh (born November 21, 1975) is a retired professional American and Canadian football guard. He was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the first round of the 1999 CFL Draft. Singh has the distinction of being the only player in footba ...
,
Canadian football
Canadian football () is a team sport, sport played in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposing team's sco ...
guard
Guard or guards may refer to:
Professional occupations
* Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault
* Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street
* Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning
* Prison ...
for the
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium and are the third-old ...
and school trustee for
School District 38 Richmond
Richmond School District (School District No. 38) is a school district based in Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. It occupies almost the entirety of Lulu Isla ...
*
Julie Suronen,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
-based film producer
References
External links
Official homepageEnrollment Reports
{{RichmondBCSchools
High schools in Richmond, British Columbia
Educational institutions established in 1959
1959 establishments in British Columbia