Old Scona Academic High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Strathcona Academic |
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Old Scona Academic High School in Edmonton
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| Address | |
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10523 84 Avenue NW
, , T6E 2H5
Canada
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| Coordinates | 53°31′11″N 113°30′07″W / 53.51972°N 113.50194°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public Secondary School |
| Motto | Ever to Excel |
| Founded | 1976 |
| School board | Edmonton Public Schools |
| Superintendent | Darrel Robertson |
| Area trustee | Michael Janz |
| Principal | Will Deys |
| Grades | 10–12 |
| Enrollment | 364 (2020-21) |
| Language | English |
| Area | Old Strathcona |
| Colour(s) | Maroon, Green, and Gold |
| Team name | Olympians |
Old Strathcona Academic, often called Old Scona or OSA, is a special high school in Edmonton, Alberta. It's known for being one of the best academic schools in Canada. Old Scona is a smaller school, usually having about 340 to 360 students. Its goal is to help students who love learning to grow in a challenging and exciting environment. The school's motto is "Ever to Excel," which means always trying to be your best.
Contents
School History
The building where Old Scona Academic is located first opened in 1908. Back then, it was called Strathcona Collegiate Institute. It was part of the school system for the City of Strathcona. In 1912, Strathcona joined with Edmonton. The school then became part of the Edmonton school system.
From 1909 to 1911, some classes for the University of Alberta were held on the upper floors. In 1912, the school's name changed to Strathcona High School. This high school closed in 1958. This happened after two new high schools, Strathcona Composite and Bonnie Doon, opened.
After the high school closed, the building was used for other things. It was a junior high school for a while. Later, it was used for adult learning and special education. It also served as an extra building for MacEwan University when it started in 1971.
In 1976, the Edmonton Public Schools decided to open Old Scona Academic High School. This new school was an academic alternative high school. It was placed in the original Strathcona Collegiate Institute building. Since June 1980, Old Scona Academic has been an International Baccalaureate World School.
Learning During COVID-19
During the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Old Scona Academic had two periods of online learning. Even with these changes, the school had the highest attendance rate. About 92% of senior high students attended online classes. This was much higher than the average for all schools in the Edmonton Public Schools district.
School Reputation
Old Scona Academic is known for its strong academic programs. In 2005, Maclean's Magazine named OSA the top academic high school in Canada. The Fraser Institute also ranked it as the best high school in Alberta in 2010. In 2011, the Edmonton Sun featured it as the top-ranked high school.
How to Get In
Each year, about 120 new students are chosen to attend Old Scona Academic. Many more students apply than there are spots available. Students are chosen based on several things. They take a special admission exam. Their grade 9 marks are also important. Finally, a junior high counselor or principal provides a character assessment.
Programs of Study
Old Scona Academic offers the International Baccalaureate (I.B.) Diploma Program. It also follows the regular Alberta Education Curriculum. When students start in grade ten, they are in a pre-I.B. program. Later in that year, students choose their path. They can go for the full I.B. program, a partial I.B. program, or the basic Alberta Education Curriculum. Most students at OSA choose the partial I.B. program. Only about 10 to 20 students each year aim for the full I.B. diploma.
International Baccalaureate Courses
As of 2021, Old Scona Academic offers several Higher Level (HL) I.B. courses. These include English A Language and Literature, European History, Biology, and Physics. Other courses are offered at the Standard Level (SL). These include Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, French B, and Group 6 arts. Many courses are also offered as regular Alberta 20 and 30 level classes. These are for students taking the basic Alberta Education Curriculum or partial I.B. program.
Students who want to earn the full two-year I.B. Diploma must complete six groups of courses. These are part of the International Baccalaureate (I.B.) Diploma Program. The course groups include:
- Group 1: English
- Group 2: Second Language (French)
- Group 3: Individuals and Societies (History)
- Group 4: Experimental Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, or Physics)
- Group 5: Mathematics and Computer Science
- Group 6: Arts
At least three of these groups must be completed at a Higher Level (HL). Besides these classes, full I.B. students take a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course. They also write an extended essay. They must also track extra-curricular and community service hours. This is known as CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) hours.
In Alberta, completing the I.B. Diploma program does not replace the provincial diploma. So, full I.B. students must also meet Alberta Education Curriculum requirements. This means taking courses like Career and Life Management (CALM) and physical education. They also need ten credit 30-level courses. Many universities, especially in Alberta, do not use only the I.B. program for acceptance. For example, they might require Chemistry, Biology, and Physics at the 30-level. The I.B. program only requires one science course. So, students might take the other two outside the I.B. program. These extra requirements can lead to very busy schedules.
Partial I.B. Program
Because of these demands, most students at Old Scona Academic choose a partial I.B. program. This does not give them an I.B. Diploma. However, there are still many benefits to taking 30-level classes at the I.B. Higher Level (HL). Many universities see these higher-level classes as equal to introductory university courses. This means students can get credit for university classes like Biology and English. This can save them time and money later on.
Elective Classes
Old Scona is a small school, so it has a limited choice of elective classes. These can include choral music, instrumental music, and jazz band. Other options are performing arts, drama, and speech and debate. Students can also take leadership, art, and theory of knowledge. Computer applications, computer programming, and cyber security are also offered. These options can change each year. This depends on what students are interested in and staff availability. Physical education is also offered as an elective. In the past, students have taken other languages like German and Japanese. These were through outside programs linked to Alberta Education.
The School Building
The building was designed by a local architect named Roland Lines. The first premier of Alberta, Alexander Rutherford, laid the cornerstone in 1907. This was the same year Strathcona became a city. Lieutenant-Governor George Bulyea officially opened the school on February 17, 1909. At the time, it was one of the biggest and most modern school buildings in Alberta. It even had an advanced automatic climate control system. The building's style is called Edwardian Classical Free. This style has some decorations from the Victorian era but is more simple and practical.
The building has been renovated many times since it opened. The biggest renovation and restoration happened in 1997. Since then, smaller projects like new flooring have been done. Modern updates, like computer labs and Wi-Fi, have been added carefully. This ensures the building's historical look is kept. Some old parts, like the outside fire escapes, remain for historical reasons. However, they are not used anymore because they are too old. Many of the building's original systems were very advanced for their time. Today, they have been replaced for safety and efficiency. Many old elements are still on display in the school. Some have been stored in the Provincial Archives of Alberta.
In September 2008, the school building was named a provincial historic resource. This was because of its long academic history and special architecture. This designation means that major changes or additions to the building are limited.
Famous Alumni
Many successful people have attended Old Scona or its previous schools in the same building.
- Clarence Campbell, who was the Third President of the National Hockey League.
- Chrystia Freeland, a journalist and current Deputy Prime Minister of Canada.
- Garnett Genuis, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.
- Lois Hole, who was the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.
- Heather McPherson (politician), a Member of Parliament (MP) for Edmonton Strathcona.
- Ray Muzyka, who helped start the video game company BioWare.
- William Smith Ziegler, a brigadier (a high-ranking military officer) in the Second World War.
- Ritu Khullar, the Chief Justice of Alberta.
