École secondaire Grande-Rivière, commonly abbreviated as ESGR or E.S.G.R. (both officially and non-officially), a francophone
secondary school in
Aylmer, Quebec. Its total population is over 2000, including 1992
students and 191 faculty members. Students from all
social classes
A social class is a grouping of people into a set of hierarchical social categories, the most common being the upper, middle and lower classes. Membership in a social class can for example be dependent on education, wealth, occupation, inco ...
attend it, from the poorer suburbs to the richer neighbourhoods. It is therefore the seat of many different organizations and events, from
science fair
Science and engineering fairs, hosted by schools worldwide, offer students the opportunity to experience the practices of science and engineering for themselves. In the United States, the Next Generation Science Standards makes experiencing the ...
s to
sports teams, and a myriad of things in between.
Structure
The school is divided into 7 major sectors, each unofficially called by the hundred of its number (example: "Secteur 400). The divisions between sections are generally determined by the floor on which they are, and the order in which they were built.
Facilities include a large
gym
A gymnasium, also known as a gym, is an indoor location for athletics. The word is derived from the ancient Greek term " gymnasium". They are commonly found in athletic and fitness centres, and as activity and learning spaces in educational i ...
nasium,
swimming pool (also used for public swimming classes), two symphony practice rooms, a cafeteria, several manual work-related rooms for special education, a small greenhouse, and an extensive laboratory section.
Flooding
In recent years, the school's roof has been known to leak rather severely, occasioning the school's temporary closure at least twice in the past four years, including
2004's Hurricane Frances record rainfall. Work began on new roofing in 2005, although part of the applied roof is rumoured to be of temporary nature and quality. The last flood, having happened in autumn of 2005 (''after'' the new roofing was installed), was cause for the school's closure for the second half of the day. Its aftermath was rife with students poking fun at the school's roofing, and by extension, its budget. In 2019, the school still has some leaking problems, but they are less frequent.
Programs
Standard program
This is the standard
Quebec education system
Education in Quebec is governed by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (''Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur''). It was administered at the local level by publicly elected French and English school boards, chan ...
's curriculum. It involves Secondary years I through V; elective courses include Art/Music options; Regular/Bilingual
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
(both for all levels);
Physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
;
Chemistry; Twentieth Century
History
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
; Advanced
Biology
Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...
(for Secondary V students);
Mathematics CST, TS or SN (in Secondary IV and V). The bulk of attendees are in this program. Classes change from subject to subject, and the choices available generally suit all students.
Concentration program
This program is similar to the standard program, except that its members are fewer, and they enjoy more courses of their respective choice (either Arts or Music).
Arts
Members of the Arts program often participate in decoration of the school, either for holidays, thematic weeks, or school projects and they have an exposition at the beginning of may every year.
Music
The Music program is incorporated into the school
symphony, and in their final year, may also take part in a stage band.
IB Middle Years Program
This is likely the most restrictive of the programs. It functions as an IBO supplement to the standard curriculum, the most obvious difference being that it features mandatory
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
classes from Secondary II through III, and does not allow students to choose any other courses (they are required to take the most advanced classes in almost all cases). The subjects of Arts and Music are divided by level: Secondary I-II take Music, and III-V take Arts.
There are three or four
classes (each of 28-32). Also unlike other programs, students remain in the same class throughout all the subjects - in every class, all the students are the same. This results in a more tight-knit class than in the other programs, which can both be a treat and an inconvenience to
teacher
A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching.
''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...
s.
Despite the fact that it is often viewed as a program for gifted students by the regular students, there are students from all backgrounds, of all types, and of all ambitions in the program. While there is an admittable difference in grading between the "internationals" and other students, this is often explained on the basis that those who are accepted into the program are chosen for their desire to work harder and learn more enriched content.
Organizations
References
External links
School's Web Page (French)School Board Page (French)
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High schools in Gatineau
International Baccalaureate schools in Quebec
Educational institutions established in 1975
1975 establishments in Quebec