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Richmond Secondary School

Coordinates: 49°09′41″N 123°08′34″W / 49.16135°N 123.14268°W / 49.16135; -123.14268
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Richmond Secondary School
Address
Map
7171 Minoru Blvd

, ,
Canada
Coordinates49°09′41″N 123°08′34″W / 49.16135°N 123.14268°W / 49.16135; -123.14268
Information
School typePublic, high school
Founded1927
School boardSchool District 38 Richmond
SuperintendentScott Robinson
Area trusteeHeather Larson
School code03838065
PrincipalAnita Kwon
Staff100
Grades8–12
Enrollment1,176[1] (2021/2022)
LanguageEnglish
Colour(s)  Maroon

  Grey

  White
MascotColts
Websiterhs.sd38.bc.ca

Richmond Secondary School, (commonly, Richmond High School, RHS, and RSS) is a public, co-educational secondary school located in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It educates approximately 1200 students from grades 8 to 12. Richmond Secondary is the only school in Richmond that offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and is a magnet school in the region.[2]

History

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Richmond Secondary School is the City of Richmond's first high school. Originally established in 1927 on Cambie and Sexsmith street as Richmond High School, it has undergone location, name and organizational structure changes throughout its history.[3]

Originally, Richmond High served grades 9 to 11 only (graduation was grade 11 at that time). The first major change occurred in 1937 with the addition of grades 8 and 9 to the school. The school was renamed "Richmond Junior-Senior High School" to reflect the change.

In 1952, Richmond Junior-Senior High School moved to its current location at the intersection of Minoru Blvd (then Foster Road) and Granville Avenue. It was also then converted back to a senior high school, offering programs for grades 11 and 12 students only. Its name was changed to "Richmond Senior High School". The old facility on Cambie was renamed "Cambie Junior High School" and served grades 7 through 10.

In 1996, all Richmond secondary schools were converted to full spectrum grade 8–12 schools. Those schools had formerly been either senior (grades 11–12) or junior high schools (grades 8–10). Richmond High was then renamed "Richmond Secondary School".

In the early 2000s, construction of a $16.6 million replacement building began on the school's grass field.[4] The new building opened on 5 January 2004. That same year, the 50-year-old previous building was demolished and replaced with artificial turf.[5]

Curriculum and notable programs

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International Baccalaureate Programme

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Richmond Secondary School has been an IB World School since July 1984 and is the only school in Richmond to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.[2][6]

As of 2018/2019, the following IB courses are offered:[7]

  • English A1 HL
  • French B HL/SL
  • Mandarin B HL/SL
  • Japanese B HL/SL
  • Spanish B HL/SL
  • Geography HL/SL
  • History HL
  • Digital Society HL/SL
  • Business Management HL/SL
  • Chemistry HL/SL
  • Biology HL/SL
  • Physics HL/SL
  • Mathematics AA HL/SL
  • Theatre Arts HL
  • Visual Arts HL/SL
  • Music HL/SL
  • Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
  • Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
  • Extended Essay (EE)

Global Perspectives Program

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Richmond Secondary offers the Global Perspectives Program for Grade 12 students. Founded by former RHS teacher Ken Lorenz in 1995, in the Global Perspectives course students embark on humanitarian trips to provide aid for those in developing countries. The Global Perspectives team of 2012/2013 assisted the Samoa government in repairing damages caused by the 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami. This represented the 19th annual project since the programme's conception.[8]

AVID program

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Richmond Secondary is one of the first schools in Canada to offer the AVID program (Advancement Via Individual Determination) to grade 9–12 students.[9] The AVID program is an academic support program that prepares students for post-secondary education and enrollment, started in 1980 at Clairemont High School in San Diego.

Pre-employment and career-prep programs

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Richmond Secondary offers courses and programs designed to prepare students for life beyond high school and the workforce. In addition to applied skills elective courses such as drafting and CAD, woodworks, metal fabrication, and automotives, students may choose to enroll in the pre-employment program. This program combines academics and work experience to help students develop skills necessary for the job market.[7]

Richmond Secondary also hosts the school district's only student chef training program. Student-trainees prepare meals and desserts in the school's full kitchen which are served during breakfast and lunch hours.[7] Richmond Secondary also has a well-equipped metal and woodworking shop, theatre, and music room.[10]

RSS also hosts the "Colt Young Parent Program", a program designed to meet the needs of pregnant and parenting teenagers.[11]

Athletics

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Richmond Secondary offers athletic teams for students including basketball, cross country, soccer, volleyball, swimming, golf, badminton, Ultimate Frisbee, table tennis, and track and field.

Basketball

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The Richmond High basketball team were perennial provincial championship contenders in the 1980s and 90s under BC Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, coach Bill Disbrow.[12][13] Disbrow's program and the teams he worked with have been viewed as the best in Canada during the 80s and 90s.[14][15][16][17] Richmond High has won a record five BC AAA Provincial Championships and produced five BC MVPs, 25 All-stars, and many players who have played in the NCAA and on the Canada national men's basketball team.[citation needed]

Richmond Secondary BC AAA Basketball Provincial Championship Games[18]
Year Winning Team Losing Team
1975 North Delta Huskies 72 Richmond Colts 57
1979 Burnaby South Rebels 65 Richmond Colts 47
1984 Steveston Packers 84 Richmond Colts 59
1985 Richmond Colts 74 Centennial Centaurs 61
1987 Richmond Colts 75 MEI Eagles 70
1988 Richmond Colts 99 Seaquam Seahawks 80
1990 North Delta Huskies 75 Richmond Colts 66
1991 Richmond Colts 94 Burnaby Central Wildcats 78
1994 Terry Fox Ravens 73 Richmond Colts 66
1998 Richmond Colts 76 Vancouver College Fighting Irish 66

RHS ties Vancouver College and Oak Bay High School for most number of BC provincial championships won.[19]

Football

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Richmond High also boasted a strong football team throughout the 1980s and 90s. The football program at Richmond Secondary ended in 2000 due to a shortage of players.[citation needed]

Richmond Secondary BC AAA Football Provincial Championship Games[20]
Year Winning Team Losing Team
1976 Richmond Colts 3 Notre Dame Jugglers 0
1983 Kamloops Red Devils 13 Richmond Colts 12
1987 Notre Dame Jugglers 40 Richmond Colts 6
1996 Richmond Colts 25 Vancouver College Fighting Irish 22
1997 Richmond Colts 43 Mouat Hawks 7
1998 Richmond Colts 27 STMC Knights 20

Ultimate Frisbee

The team has lasted for many years. But when two coaches from Vancouver joined the program in 2009, the team started to become a powerhouse. The program produced many junior national and world level players. Richmond High ended up with consecutive wins in cities and a 4th-place finish in Tier 1 provincials ('14),[21] marking the highest standing of a Richmond School in provincials until 2016.[citation needed]

Richmond Secondary City Championship Games[22]
Year Round Winning Team Losing Team
2004 Quarter Hugh Boyd W Richmond High L
2005 Final J N Burnett W Richmond High L
2006 Semi Steveston-London 13 Richmond High 9
2007 Final Steveston-London W Richmond High L
2008 Quarter J N Burnett 12 Richmond High 8
2009 Final McMath W Richmond High L
2010 Final Hugh McRoberts W Richmond High L
2011 Final McMath W Richmond High L
2013 Final McMath W Richmond High L
2014 Final McMath W Richmond High L
2015 Semi A.R. MacNeill 9 Richmond High 6
2016 Final Hugh McRoberts 11 Richmond High 10

Demographics

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Richmond Secondary School is notable for its racial diversity and its large Asian population. As of the 2009–2010 school year, 54.8% of students listed Chinese (either Mandarin, Cantonese, or a local dialect), and 72.3% of students reported a language other than English as the primary language used at home.[23] While unusual for a North American school, the city of Richmond has the highest percentage of immigrants of any city in Canada.[24]

Richmond High's feeder schools are Samuel Brighouse Elementary School, William Douglas Ferris Elementary School, and Blundell Elementary School.[25]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Richmond Secondary: Contextual Information — Student Enrolment Over Time". B.C. Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b Richmond School District – Secondary Options Archived 17 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Sd38.bc.ca (2009-02-05). Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  3. ^ "The Early Years – Richmond Secondary School". City of Richmond BC Archives – Richmond School. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  4. ^ "School District Budget — SD 38 Richmond" (PDF). BC Ministry of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  5. ^ "School History". Richmond Secondary School. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  6. ^ International Baccalaureate Archived 15 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Ibo.org. Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  7. ^ a b c "Program Planning" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  8. ^ Samoa ’13 « Global Perspectives Canada[permanent dead link]. Globalperspectivescanada.com. Retrieved on 28 April 2012.
  9. ^ BC Ministry of Education – Advancement Via Individual Determination Archived 2 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Bced.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  10. ^ "Secondary Schools" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  11. ^ "Colt Young Parent Program | Richmond Secondary School". rhs.sd38.bc.ca. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  12. ^ Tsumara, Howard (21 February 2015). "Bill Disbrow: Former players paint the portrait of ultra-successful Colts, Irish, Saints hoops coach". The Province. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  13. ^ Tsumara, Howard (22 February 2015). "Bill Boys Are Back! And this time, Disbrow's former players pay it forward as hoop coaches". Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  14. ^ "What are the greatest dynasties in B.C. high school boys basketball history?". Times Colonist. 8 March 2024. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  15. ^ Tsumura, Howard. (2009-04-16) Super Colts coach Disbrow among 10 inducted in Basketball B.C.'s Hall of Fame 2009 class – Howie's High School Hamper Archived 8 July 2012 at archive.today. Communities.canada.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  16. ^ Coaches Corner : Bill Disbrow Archived 15 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine. DRIVE Basketball. Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  17. ^ Coaching legend heads 2009 hall of fame class[permanent dead link]. Delta-optimist.com (2009-04-24). Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  18. ^ British Columbia High School Boys Basketball Association (Design, Hosting, Registration & Administration tools by esportsdeskpro.com) Archived 10 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Bcboysbasketball.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  19. ^ Vancouver, The. (2008-03-08) Hoop dreams: The best of B.C Archived 25 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Canada.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  20. ^ [1] Archived 28 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ "BC High School Ultimate Championships (BCHSUC)". BC Ultimate. 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  22. ^ "Richmond Secondary Sports - Powered By esportsdesk.com". www.esportsdesk.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  23. ^ "Student stats" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  24. ^ Richmond has highest percentage of immigrants in Canada Archived 27 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Canada.com (2007-12-05). Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  25. ^ "RSS Boundary | Richmond Secondary School". rhs.sd38.bc.ca. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  26. ^ Awards keep coming for Richmond rower[permanent dead link]. Richmond-news.com (2009-01-09). Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  27. ^ Former Colt standout headed to the hall[permanent dead link]. Richmond-news.com (2009-04-10). Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  28. ^ Gary F – Google Profile. Google.com (2010-10-18). Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  29. ^ Los Angeles Xtreme Roster: Bobby Singh Archived 2 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine. All-xfl.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  30. ^ Net – Version 5.0 – Ryan Stiles: He's A Seriously Funny Actor Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Ryan Stiles. Retrieved on 2010-12-15.
  31. ^ Leung, Valerie. "Messages pour in for Richmond alumnus, astronaut who passed away". Richmond News. Richmond News. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
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