Overview

Mission Statement

St. Helen's School is a Catholic Community of dedicated educators with Christ as our centre. It is our purpose to fully develop the spiritual, intellectual, physical, social and emotional growth of the students with special regard given to the individuality of each child, enabling them as Christians to live, share, and serve in the community while striving for personal excellence in all endeavors.

General Information

St. Helen's School is a Catholic Community of dedicated educators with Christ as our center. It is our purpose to fully develop the spiritual intellectual, physical, social, and emotional growth of the students with special regard given to the individuality of each child, enabling them as Christians to live, share, and serve in the community while striving for personal excellence in all endeavours.

St. Helen's School is a Catholic Independent School of the Vancouver. St. Helen's School serves the educational needs of the children of St. Helen's Parish.

St. Helen's School is, by its origin, committed to the teaching of the Catholic Faith according to the Doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church as outlined in the Archbishop's letter, "The Catholic School, Its Character and Mission"

The Pastor of St. Helen's Parish is the Spiritual and Executive Director of St. Helen's School. He is supported in this mission by an elected Education Committee as provided under "The Guidelines for Structure of our School Administration under the Catholic Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese".

The school follows the British Columbia Ministry of Education Requirements for the Academic Program of Instruction. The program focuses on thematic approaches, integrating themes into all subject areas. We take the child from where they are and build from there.

We strongly believe in a philosophy of success for all. Students with special needs are integrated into the regular classroom and our program meets the ned of gifted children. This is supported by a full time methods and resource teacher. To help all students be successful, we have school philosophies of "Second Home" and "Excellence". Students need time to do their best and to take part in the school's life as fully as possible. They should strive for excellence in their spiritual, academic, physical, social and emotional development.

• Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation

  Three important Sacraments are celebrated during a child's school years: First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation. These Sacramental programs are integrated into the school and parish programs. The children prepare for these Sacraments with the help and guidance of priests, principal, teachers and parents.

• Computers

  Computer classes are incorporated into the curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 7. Students also have the opportunity to further develop their skills in an extra curricular computer club.

• Library

  The Library Program has a double goal - firstly, to instill in the students a love for books and literature and - secondly, to teach the students library and research skills that will enable them to be independent library users and life long learners.

• Science

  The program is dedicated to providing students with the opportunity to become active participants in science activities. "Hands on Science" and "Experimental Learning Goals" ensure the students develop positive and enriching science attitudes. Students are also active participants in an annual Science Fair/Science Challenge hosted by the school.

• Study Skills

  This extra curricular program is designed to systematically teach critical organization and study skills. The program is geared toward intermediate students.

• Peer Tutoring

  This extra curricular program allows students to help each other to achieve educational goals. Tutoring reinforces classroom instruction and at the same time enhances cooperative learning skills.

• Fine Arts Program

  - Art, Music, Drama and Speech Arts are integrated into the curriculum. Each student is able to develop his or her own personal artistic gift.
  
  - Orff Music Program is offered at all levels.
  
  - Intermediate and Primary choirs performs for school activities and community events.
  
  - Christmas Concerts and Spring Musical provide experience in the production and performance of quality drama.
  

• Outdoor Education

  Every September students from Grades 4 to 7 learn about the environment and nature with God during a week of Outdoor School.

• Athletic Program

  The Athletics Program at St. Helen's School is a comprehensive program which combines a variety of extra curricular activities with a well balanced physical education programs. The Physical Education Program offers students a variety of learning experiences in the area of games, gymnastics and dances. This program also offers a wide range of recreational activities which includes a swimming, skating, skiing, snowshoeing and hiking.
  
  The extra curricular programs at St. Helen's give the students an opportunity to participate in the following sporting activities throughout the year; cross country running, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track and field, and soccer.

St. Helen's believes that a school uniform is an identifying symbol of a particular school with its own individual characteristics. It identifies a child as a student of St. Helen's School and should be worn with pride. A student's personal appearance impacts on their attitude as well as their behavior and thus the learning process. The purpose of having and enforcing a uniform is to create uniformity whereby diminishing social and cosmetic differences that attract undue attention to individual students. In school the student is encouraged to draw on their inner strengths to express their creativity and personal self.

Girls:
St. Helen's kilt, navy blue knee socks or tights.
Navy blue cotton twill pants 
Navy blue skort, navy blue (above ankle) socks, 
(Optional Summer uniform)

Boys:
Navy blue cotton twill pants. 
Navy blue walking shorts, navy blue (above ankle) socks, 
(Optional Summer uniform)

Girls & Boys:
Light yellow polo shirt 
Navy blue St. Helen's sweater. 
Black or navy dress type shoes or runners, preferably soft soled 
(no stripes, logo's etc.)

P.E. Uniform:
St. Helen's gym uniform consists of St. Helen's shorts and 
T-shirts (white socks at the discretion of the teacher) and running shoes.

It is expected that all uniform items will be those supplied by Neat Uniforms (external website). Exceptions will be made only on an individual basis for reasons such as fabric allergies, size availability, etc.

Rules

All students from Kindergarten through Grade Seven are expected to be in full uniform at all times. If for unforeseeable circumstances, the child/children are unable to be in uniform, they must bring a note to their teachers giving the reason. Parents are strongly advised to put their child's name, on ALL uniform items, in some permanent fashion.

On the first occasion a child is not in uniform without a note, or if the child's appearance is determined as unacceptable, a note will be sent home to the parents outlining the problem. If the problem is ongoing, and no special consideration has been given to the specific situation, the parents will be called and the child/children will be suspended. The suspension will remain in place until the situation is rectified. Any time missed will have to be made up at the school's convenience.

Sweaters are worn daily at the discretion of the child BUT the child must bring it to school every day so that it is available to be put on for school gatherings, masses, field trips etc.

Based on the school's philosophy of uniform, there are expectations regarding personal grooming and accessories at school and during school related functions. Predicting ever changing fashion statements is impossible, therefore, the following are only some examples of these expectations:

Girls: No extreme haircuts, styles, coloring and/or bleaching of hair, no extreme accessories, no makeup, maximum one earring/earlobe - studs or sleepers only, no other body piercing or tattoos, no nail polish, skirts to be a modest length, shoe heel height not to exceed 1 - 1/2" or 3 centimeters.

Boys: No extreme haircuts, styles, coloring and/or bleaching of hair, no extreme accessories, no earrings, body piercing or tattoos.

It is the prerogative of the Education Committee to measure these expectations and the responsibility of the Principal to see they are enforced. All decisions made by the committee are final and subject to the terms of the Parent/Guardian Letter of Commitment signed at the time of admission.