Our School
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School, home of the Lancers, is celebrating its 25 year anniversary at this location. The school's motto is “We Strive for the Highest”. We take pride in being dedicated to excellence in academics, athletics and being active in our community.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School is committed to providing a safe and stimulating learning environment for all students and staff. We believe it is the responsibility of each student to develop the attitudes and values which will foster respect and the pursuit of personal excellence. We teach critical thinking skills, provide authentic experiential learning opportunities, and use a cross-curricular approach to teaching and learning. Our graduates have productive work habits and can work with self-discipline, either individually or as a member of a team.
The school's Code of Behaviour is described by the motto “Wil Power.” “Wil Power” is based on:
- Respect for Self: Students are encouraged to gain self-awareness and self-confidence as they promote a positive self-image and feel pride in their accomplishments.
- Respect for Others: All members of the school community have a right to dignity, consideration, and respect.
- Respect for Property and the Environment: Display pride in our school by treating all property with care.
We are a community-based school in the growing community of Orleans. We are linked with the Ray Friel Recreation Complex, the Ottawa Public Library, the Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre, and the River Heights Children's Centre, making the school the hub of the community. Many students take advantage of the proximity of these facilities for their cooperative education placements and their volunteer community service hours.
Our Students
Sir Wilfrid Laurier has an enrollment of approximately 960 students with diverse ethno-cultural backgrounds that enhance our school culture. Our main elementary feeder schools are Avalon, Dunning-Foubert, Fallingbrook, Maple Ridge, and Trillium.
The majority of our graduates go on to post-secondary schools in Canada and the U.S.A
Fifty one percent of our 2016 graduates were accepted to university programs, twenty-five percent to college programs, twenty-four percent were prepared to go directly into the workforce. Forty-eight percent of our 2016 graduates were Ontario Scholars and were offered generous scholarships to schools of their choice.
The Student Council provides a voice for students to the Administration regarding policies and procedures. Student Council conducts numerous school spirit activities and events and provides leadership opportunities. Our two Leadership classes (Leadership & Peer Support and Recreational & Healthy Active Living) along with LINK Crew are actively involved in developing a wide variety of activities for students to make them feel welcomed and valued.
Our Staff
Our 85 dedicated staff members are committed to the academic success of our students by encouraging personal excellence, with a focus on classroom instruction techniques. In addition, enrichment activities such as guest presenters, community members and field trips enhance and enrich the Ontario curriculum.
The staff are experienced and well qualified in all subject areas. They participate in both in-school and out-of-school professional development. Sir Wil teachers are committed to the training of new teachers by supporting students from university faculties of education in their work placements. We are proud of the accomplishments of our staff.
Staff leadership is also evident in the generous contribution of personal time by staff. In addition, we have community volunteers who help support our strong extra-curricular activities. Sir Wil's spirit of giving is cultivated by the staff. The distinguished fundraising initiatives would not be possible without the leadership of our staff. Moreover, the staff provides several bursaries to deserving graduates to help them pursue post-secondary studies. The Sir Wil staff has always been a committed supporter of the United Way campaigns.
Our Community
Many of our graduates have benefited from the generosity of Chartwells/Compass Group Canada, YMCA/YWCA, and the Edith Wilson bequest through the Community Foundation of Ottawa, all of which have donated money for various scholarships. Sir Wilfrid Laurier is grateful to the Education Foundation, through the United Way, for their generous donation to our visual arts digital photography program. In addition, our staff and students support many charities that help the less fortunate both in our community and abroad such as: Toy Mountain; Holiday Hampers; Relay 4 Life; and Walk for Water.
Mission Statement
The school's Code of Behaviour is described by the motto “Wil Power.” Wil Power is based on:
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RESPECT FOR SELF: Students are encouraged to gain self-awareness and self-confidence as they promote a positive self-image and feel pride in their accomplishments.
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RESPECT FOR OTHERS: All members of the school community have a right to dignity, consideration, and respect.
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RESPECT FOR PROPERTY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Display pride in our school by treating all property with care.
Programs and Services
Academic Programs
A wide range of academic programs are offered at Sir Wilfrid Laurier. These programs provide our students with a strong foundation for further studies at university or college or for the world of work.
Some of our programs include:
- An outstanding Arts programs in Music, Drama and Visual Arts
- Core French and extensive French Immersion program consisting of 16 courses taught in the French language.
- A comprehensive Coop Education program which offers opportunities for some students to enrol in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.
- A wide range of Technology courses
- Endorsement certificates in French Immersion, Business Studies, and Technological Studies
- Certificates in Science, English, Construction, International Studies, Canadian Broadcast Media, Multimedia Designer, Robotics
- An unique Pre-Engineering program including Robotics
- Two Leadership courses: Leadership & Peer Support and Recreational & Healthy Active Living
- A LINK Crew course
- A Dual Credit opportunity with Algonquin College in the grade 12 Broadcasting course
- An opportunity to apply for a level one Auto Mechanic course at Algonquin College for grade 12 students
We offer the following Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs:
*Construction;
*Communication and Information Technology (either Broadcasting or Digital Media)
*Arts and Culture.
Successful completion of a High Skills Major Program results in a special red seal on the student's diploma. Students enrolled in a SHSM program attend the host school for one semester and return to their home school to complete their secondary school diploma requirements.
Special Education
The Learning Support Teachers (LST) at Sir Wilfrid Laurier work closely with all of the teaching staff to meet the specific needs of students by means of:
*regular classroom support following the IEP accommodations,
*the Learning Strategies course,
*monitoring by the Learning Support Teacher
*a homework assistance program,
*SEA training as needed.
The Blue Room offers students a supportive area in the building to get caught up on coursework, have a quiet place to complete evaluations, and as a place to use and borrow Chromebooks or laptop computers. .
We are pleased to include and to support the students in the Dual Support program in Sir Wil.
Athletics, Clubs and Activities
Sir Wilfrid Laurier has a strong interscholastic sports program. The Lancers compete in the National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association. From September to June, Sir Wil's student athletes proudly represent the school in a range of interscholastic sports: volleyball, basketball, football, ultimate, touch football, Nordic skiing, golf, swimming, badminton, curling, baseball, softball, track and field, cross country running, soccer, field hockey, and boys' and girls' ice hockey, golf, soccer, and tennis.
You Rock is a group of committed students and staff that work on building unity and acceptance of differences among people at Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Reach for the Top is a popular activity among our students. Our Free the Children group has been awarded the distinction as a lead “We School” in the Ottawa region.
Our dynamic music program consists of a Junior Band, Concert Band, two Jazz Bands, Vocal Connections, and a Guitar and Percussion Ensembles. Music students regularly perform in the community and participate in music festivals, massed bands and international travel.
Facilities and Resources
The school library is a full-service resource centre which facilitates class and individual research. In addition to computer labs for specific programs the school has a number of labs, which can be booked for both Macintosh and PC platforms. This year, we have designed two new learning spaces. One is The Tinker Studio which provides opportunities for creative crafts and artistic self-expressions. The other space is The Thinker Studio where students engage in creative engineering projects using a variety of manipulatives and resources. We are planning to create a MakerSpace on the main floor so that students can continue their creative passions using larger equipment.
In addition to the triple gym and weight room facilities of the school, students can access the facilities of the adjoining community recreation centre with a wave pool, fitness centre, ice rink, and meeting rooms.
All computer labs are equipped with projectors enabling increased use of multi-media technologies. We have a graphic media lab and a radio and television studio for the Communication Technologies program. Communication Technology students are offered experiential opportunities such as field trips and workshops at radio and/or television stations, audio and multi-video production companies, as well as with former graduates who are now working in areas of the industry.