#200 - 1490 W Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 4E8, Canada
50 Featherstone Ave, Markham, Ontario, L3S 2H4, Canada
#200 - 1490 W Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 4E8, Canada
50 Featherstone Ave, Markham, Ontario, L3S 2H4, Canada
2022
2004
40
289
8 to 12
9 to 12
Coed
Coed
Day
Day, Boarding
English
English
Science and technology
Academic
Progressive
Traditional, International Baccalaureate
15 to 20
6 to 15
In-class adaptations
In-class adaptations
$1 to $23,400
$8,000
$18,000
Yes
No
70%
0%
8 to 12
None
$8,000
$0
8
72
0%
93%
0%
90%
9, 10, 11, 12
Rolling
Rolling
Not available
Rolling
Yes: grades 8 - 12
No
No
No
information not available
information not available
Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST) is a tech-heavy high school where all teachers are PhDs and UBC professors. Learning is project-based and follows the B.C. curriculum at an accelerated rate in which both the sciences and humanities are taught at a challenging pace. Currently, the school is admitting Grade 8 and 9 students, with more grades, and computer science is taught from Grade 8. Fun is deeply woven into the programming, creating an environment where students are excited to learn. and learning new things is not the only metric for success—creating a learning environment where students are excited to learn is key. The school respects students’ capabilities and time, and it clearly communicates goals to each student and for each project. VISST has a flexible tuition model that accounts for each family’s financial situation and resources.
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NOIC was founded in 2004 in order to support international learners intending to enter post-secondary study in North America. The enrollment is relatively small, at just shy of 300, which is rightly a draw—students are known here, rather than lost in the shuffle as the might be at larger international institutions. It offers the Ontario Secondary School Diploma in conjunction with the IB Diploma Program, and has been an accredited IB school since 2015. The academic program is rigorous, as are the supports for students who are arriving from overseas and adapting, in some cases, to learning in an English language environment. The ideal student is one looking to learn in an international setting and intending to advance to post-secondary study.
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"Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST) is Vancouver's first & only dedicated STEM high school, offering the full BC curriculum with accelerated/enriched STEM taught via a mix of traditional methods and project based learning. VISST isn't just for the "math whiz" type -- you will find all sorts of students at our school, united by a shared curiosity and passion for learning. We believe science and technology fundamentals are important for any path our students might take after high school."
"NOIC ACADEMY is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Being a full-time, high end private boarding secondary school, it has offered the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) since 2004. In March, 2015, it was authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to become an IB World School, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). NOIC ACADEMY is co-inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Education and IBO."
"VISST is a reimagining of high school and differs from other schools in several ways. We ar a STEM school with enriched and accelerated STEM offerings, delivered by experts in our respective fields. VISST deeply values student buy-in and ownership. We include students in important decisions such as which teachers to hire. VISST staff are open and transparent with students, and avoid reinforcing power dynamics. Teachers and students are all just people, on a journey of self-improvement together."
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"Families are drawn to VISST for different reasons: the STEM curriculum, the way students are treated and respected, the project-based learning, the like-minded peers. One of VISST's key competitive advantages is our teachers. In BC, it is not required that a teacher have a degree in a subject in order to teach it. In contrast, VISST teachers are highly trained experts who buy into VISST's philosophy and values. We give our teachers the time and resources to shine and do their life's best work."
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"VISST's culture is sometimes underrated. In a word, we are a STEM school -- this features in our school's name, even. But in sentence, we are a STEM school with an utterly different school culture. At VISST students are first class citizens. Students call teachers by their first names, share social spaces with teachers, interview teacher candidates during hiring, and participate in school governance. Students truly feel a part of VISST, and in doing so they build justified self-confidence."
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"Some families think of VISST as a school for "math genius" types. While we do provide an excellent environment for students who excel in STEM subjects, VISST was created for a broader audience. We measure success by how much a student grows in 5 years, not by where they start or end up. All students at VISST enjoy STEM, are curious about it, and are capable of succeeding, but math doesn't have to be your strongest suit for you to attend and thrive at VISST. We also welcome "artsy" types!"
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Welcome to the Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST)! Before founding VISST, I was a computer science professor at UBC where I taught over 25 courses to thousands of students. At UBC I made two key observations. One, that university students are much more comfortable with well-defined short-term tasks than with ambiguity and long-term planning; this, I concluded, is likely a product of our current high school system. And two, I observed firsthand the insatiable demand for computer science at UBC and all universities around the world, which is well beyond our capacity to provide it. This is unfortunate, I felt, because kids are more than capable of learning computer science. Combining these observations with my teaching experience, I decided to create VISST along with a fantastic team. VISST is a non-profit high school in Vancouver that aims to address the struggles I observed in university students and the lack of computer science in high schools.
Our pedagogical approach is to combine project-based learning with rigorous fundamentals. The former builds teamwork skills, long-term planning, and comfort with ambiguity. The latter is an essential component to STEM excellence. An overarching theme of our educational philosophy is to have students interface with the real world as much as possible. Whether it is publishing an article, interpreting data from the news, or partnering with a community organization during a project, real-world experiences are motivating and educational. We would consider it a failure on our part if our students are left wondering, "Why am I learning this?"
We look forward to having you explore VISST. Welcome to the VISST community.
Welcome to NOIC Academy, a premier private secondary school where high standards, exceptional academic achievement and personalized programming are at the heart of our educational philosophy. At NOIC Academy, we believe in the power of mentoring and tailor-made programming. Our dedicated staff works closely with each student to understand their unique needs and strengths, providing personalized guidance and academic support to ensure their success and acceptance into highly respected international universities.
Traditional
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International Baccalaureate
Progressive (sometimes called "in- quiry-based") curricula attempt to place children's interests and ideas at the heart of the learning experience. Instead of lessons being driven by predetermined pathways, progressive curricula are often "emergent", with learning activities shaped by students' questions about the world. Instead of starting with academic concepts and then tying it to everyday experience, progressive methods begin with everyday experience and work back to an academic lesson. Teachers provide materials, experiences, tools and resources to help students investigate a topic or issue. Students are encouraged to explore, reflect on their findings, and discuss answers or solutions.
Traditional curricula tend to be very content-based and rooted in the core disciplines. It is a structured approach that involves the teacher delivering a unified curriculum through direct instruction. Students usually learn by observing and listening to their teacher, studying facts and concepts in textbooks, and completing both tests and written assignments - which challenge students to not only demonstrate their mastery of content but their ability to analyze and deconstruct it critically. Class discussions are also used to create critical dialogue around the content of the curriculum.
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Some private schools offer International Baccalaureate (IB) programming. The "Diploma Programme" is offered to students in the final two years of high school, while the "Primary Years Programme" (ages 3 to 12) and "Middle Years Programme" (ages 11 to 16) serve as preparation for the diploma program.
Our curriculum philosophy involves a mix of rigorous fundamentals with project-based learning. Projects provide an incredible opportunity for students to pursue their interests, practice teamwork, grapple with ambiguity, and go deeper when their curiosity tugs. On the other hand, we also believe in the value of structured learning to build up fundamental knowledge and skills through practice, continually pushing the boundaries of our students’ capabilities. Our courses, STEM and otherwise, will be delivered through this combination of techniques. We have found that, often, progressive education models come at the expense of rigor. However, there is no need for this tradeoff: a curriculum can be both progressive — incorporating methods like project-based learning, inquiry-based learning, emphasis on self-reflection and mindfulness, etc. — and also highly rigorous. We are aware that an entirely project-based approach may leave gaps in students' knowledge; thus we combine projects with methodical and structured learning to achieve the best of both worlds.
NOIC ACADEMY of both the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme (IBDP). Being a full-time, high end private boarding secondary school, it has offered the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) since 2004 with 667013 as its school code. In March, 2015, it was authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to become an IB World School, offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Its school license code is 049719. NOIC ACADEMY is co-inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Education and IBO.
Equal Balance
These math programs feature an equal balance of “Traditional” and “Discovery” methods.
These math programs feature an equal balance of “Traditional” and “Discovery” methods.
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Equal Balance
Science programs that balance expository and inquiry learning equally will likely have an equal blend of tests and experiments; direct, textbook-based instruction and student-centred projects.
Science programs that balance expository and inquiry learning equally will likely have an equal blend of tests and experiments; direct, textbook-based instruction and student-centred projects.
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Evolution as consensus theory
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
Evolution is not taught
Evolution as consensus theory
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories
Evolution is not taught
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Equal Balance
These literature programs draw in equal measure from “Traditional” and “Social Justice” programs.
These literature programs draw in equal measure from “Traditional” and “Social Justice” programs.
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Ancient lit
English lit
World (non-Western) lit
European (continental) lit
American lit
Canadian lit
Ancient lit
English lit
World (non-Western) lit
European (continental) lit
American lit
Canadian lit
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Equal Balance
These programs represent an equal balance between the perennialist and pragmatic approach to teaching the humanities and social sciences.
These programs represent an equal balance between the perennialist and pragmatic approach to teaching the humanities and social sciences.
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Equal Balance
These programs feature an equal blend of the audio-lingual and communicative styles of language instruction.
These programs feature an equal blend of the audio-lingual and communicative styles of language instruction.
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Hebrew
ESL
Spanish
Russian
Latin
Japanese
Italian
Greek
German
French
Chinese-Mandarin
Chinese-Cantonese
Hebrew
ESL
Spanish
Russian
Latin
Japanese
Italian
Greek
German
French
Chinese-Mandarin
Chinese-Cantonese
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Creative
Creative arts programs are studio-driven. While historical works and movements may still be taught to add context to the program, students mainly engage in making art (visual, musical, theatrical, etc). The goal is use the actual practice of art to help educate students’ emotions, cognition, and ethos.
Creative arts programs are studio-driven. While historical works and movements may still be taught to add context to the program, students mainly engage in making art (visual, musical, theatrical, etc). The goal is use the actual practice of art to help educate students’ emotions, cognition, and ethos.
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Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
Acting
Dance
Drama/Theatre
Graphic Design
Music
Visual Arts
Medium integration
A major effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy throughout the curriculum and in everything students do. Digital literacy is understood to be a fundamental skill in the 21st century: it therefore follows, the idea goes, that teachers should find ways to connect every lesson back to technology. Effort is made to ensure the use of technology is meaningful and advances students’ skills beyond what they would otherwise be from using computers outside the classroom.
Effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy through the curriculum. However, this is not a dominant focus.
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Web design
Robotics
Computer science
Web design
Robotics
Computer science
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Standard-enriched
The main curriculum accelerates beyond the pace of the provincial one; ALL students do the work of OLDER public-school peers in tangible and measurable ways. This accelerated pace is maintained by the teachers and school, (through textbook selection, topic selection, grading, assignment standards and expectations, etc).
Broadly-speaking, the main curriculum -- like that of most schools -- paces the provincially-outlined one. This pace is steady and set by the teachers and school. The curriculum might still be enriched in various ways: covering topics more in-depth and with more vigor than the provincial one, or covering a broader selection of topics.
VISST heavily incorporates project-based learning into the curriculum. During projects, students work at their own pace and can dive as deeply into a topic as their curiosity takes them. Outside of projects, VISST provides individualized instruction through small class sizes, expert teachers, and community mentors.
Students complete up to 3 courses per semester with 3 semesters from September to June each year. We support face to face learning with eLearning opportunities for students. We also offer summer school credit courses for students during July and August.
Rigorous
A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.
A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.
Students attend VISST because they are looking to challenge themselves. That said, a core value at VISST is balance. VISST students are not expected to sacrifice a good night's sleep due to homework. We want to make the most of students' high school experience, using time effectively, but we recognize the boundaries. We want our students to have both a great education and a happy childhood.
NOIC ACADEMY has very unique model for education offering a mentor / tutor program for every student as they begin their time at our school. While the education culture is rigorous, the model is very supportive with mentoring/ tutoring provided for one hour every day.
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"We honour and distinguish our brightest students, using them as examples for other students to follow."
Balanced
Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
Intellectual
The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."
Intellectual
The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."
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Balance is a key value at VISST. We view the purpose of school as beyond academics. The primary purpose of school is intellectual development, but school should also help students understand their passions and learn about career options; it should be a time of character development and personal growth; it should be a place where lifelong friendships are forged; and it should be fun! We keep all these purposes in mind when making decisions at VISST.
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CompetitiveComp. |
RecreationalRec. |
CompetitiveComp. |
RecreationalRec. |
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Badminton |
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Baseball |
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Basketball |
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Canoeing/Kayaking |
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Cricket |
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Cross-country skiing |
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Cycling |
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Downhill skiing |
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Equestrian |
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Fencing |
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Field Hockey |
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Figure Skating |
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Football |
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Golf |
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Gymnastics |
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Ice Hockey |
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Ice Skating |
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Lacrosse |
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Martial Arts |
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Mountain biking |
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Racquet Ball |
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Rowing |
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Rugby |
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Running |
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Sailing |
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Skateboarding |
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Snowboarding |
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Soccer |
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Softball |
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Squash |
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Swimming |
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Tennis |
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Track & Field |
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Volleyball |
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Weightlifting |
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Wrestling |
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Archery |
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Curling |
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Ultimate |
Ballet and Classical Ballet
Yoga
Yearbook
Student Council
Scouting
Science Club
School newspaper
Round Square
Robotics club
Radio club
Poetry/Literature club
Photography
Paintball
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Club
Online Magazine
Musical theatre/Opera
Math Club
Jazz Ensemble
Habitat for Humanity
Foreign Language Club
Environmental Club
Drama Club
Debate Club
Dance Club
Computer Club
Community Service
Choir
Chess Club
Band
Audiovisual Club
Astronomy Club
Art Club
Animation
Ballet and Classical Ballet
Yoga
Yearbook
Student Council
Scouting
Science Club
School newspaper
Round Square
Robotics club
Radio club
Poetry/Literature club
Photography
Paintball
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Club
Online Magazine
Musical theatre/Opera
Math Club
Jazz Ensemble
Habitat for Humanity
Foreign Language Club
Environmental Club
Drama Club
Debate Club
Dance Club
Computer Club
Community Service
Choir
Chess Club
Band
Audiovisual Club
Astronomy Club
Art Club
Animation
8 - 12
70%
0%
$8,000
$0
0%
90%
9, 10, 11, 12
Rolling
Rolling
Not available
Rolling
Yes: grades 8 - 12
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes: grades 9 - 12
Yes: grades 8 - 12
No
No
No
We are looking for students who want to be challenged and who demonstrate the potential to meet those challenges. A strong applicant will also demonstrate that they understand what VISST is about and that they would really like to be a part of this unique school and community. As a STEM school, we are looking for students with an interest in STEM, but this does not have to be your only interest! On the contrary, we welcome students with a broad range of interests; a diverse student body will enrich the experience for everyone. You will find that VISST innovates, and employs amazing teachers, in all subject areas.
See https://www.visst.ca/admissions for admissions information.
Transcript from student's previous school is mandatory with their application.
