- Columbia International College
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Columbia International College Address 1003 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4P3, CanadaInformation Principal Mr. Ron Rambarran [1] School type Independent School, Co-educational School, University-Preparatory School, Day/Boarding School Grades 7-12,University Preparatory Founded 1979 Homepage http://www.cic-totalcare.com/ Columbia International College is the largest private boarding preparatory school in Canada, with an enrollment of more than 1,700 students from over 70 countries in the world. The school is located in Hamilton, Ontario, in the residential neighborhood of Westdale, near McMaster University and Mohawk College.
Columbia is a member of the Independent School Associations of Ontario (ISAO). The College is also registered with the Ministry of Education (Ontario)
Columbia has three residences that accommodate 1,200 students, and is planning to add another 400 beds by the spring of 2012. Its facilities also includes two teaching campuses, and an 700-acre (2.8 km2) outdoor education and leadership training center, Bark Lake, located in Haliburton County, Ontario, north of Toronto.
Contents
History
Founded in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1979, Columbia International College started off as a six-room university preparatory and ESL school on Mohawk Road West. The College was then known as Columbia Secondary School of Canada.
The school quickly outgrew its Mohawk Road location, prompting a move to 430 East 25th Street in 1981 and another move to 1029 Main Street West in 1985; by this time, Columbia had a student population of 300. Ten years later, in 1991, Columbia Secondary School officially changed its name to Columbia International College.
The 1990s saw great growth in Columbia’s facilities, academic programs and student population. The school’s steady climb in enrolment numbers resulted in a relocation to the Ainsliewood Campus in 2000. The school’s current home is an 11,200 square metre facility located at 1003 Main Street West.
Total Care Education System
Columbia has a unique system for educating international students, known as the Total Care Education System. Columbia’s Total Care comprises:
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- Total Learning
- Total Living
- Total Development
- Total Communication
The Total Care Education System is the brainchild of Columbia’s Executive Director, Clement Chan and the current school Principal, Ron Rambarran. Chan and Rambarran came to Canada as international students. Their experiences as foreign students gave them a personal understanding of the key challenges international students face and the elements necessary for a successful transition to studying in Canada. Hence they developed the Total Care Education System to take care of international students’ academic, social, emotional and physical needs while they are studying away from home.[2]
Academics
Columbia has 6 semesters: January, March, June, July, August and October.[3] These multiple semesters allow students to enroll throughout the year.
Academic Facilities
Columbia International College consists of:
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- 2 school buildings
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- Ainsliewood Building for academic/high school classes
- Maple Building for ESL classes and Junior Middle School curriculum
- Chemistry, Physics and Biology labs
- Modern language labs
- Computer Labs
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- 3 computer labs
- 2 instructional labs
- 1 open-access lab
- 2 TOEFL Testing labs
Official English Test Centre
In addition to its ESL and TOEFL preparation programs, Columbia is an Official Test Centre for:
Programs (Curriculum)
Columbia International College educates students from Grade 7 through to Grade 12. The school’s academic programs include:
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- University Transfer (AP)
- Pre-University
- High School (Grades 9 – 12)
- Junior Middle School (Grades 7 & 8)
- TOEFL Preparation
- SAT Preparation
- ESL (English as a Second Language)
- ESL Summer Camp
Summer Camp
Every summer Columbia holds an ESL Summer Camp for children aged 9–19. At the camp people learn English, take part in activities and visit Canadian landmarks and attractions. There are several programs available and each has its own highlights. Campers are looked after by staff called the “Green Team” and can take art, computer, sports and science classes at the camp as well.[8]
During the ESL Summer Camp campers have the opportunity to visit places all over Canada including but not limited to:
University Placement Office
Columbia’s University Placement Office, located in the Ainsliewood building, works closely with students and provides information on university application and admission requirements. The College’s University Placement Officers help students with university research, selection, and application.
University admission statistics (2009–2010 Graduates)[9]
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- 80% accepted to top 8 Canadian Universities
- CAD $2,000,000 received in University Entrance Scholarships
- 231 admitted to University of Toronto
- 192 admitted to University of Waterloo
University Partners
Columbia International College has University Partnerships with the following 10 Universities;
Dual Admission Partnerships
Columbia’s Dual Admission program guarantees students admission to their program of choice, at their desired university once they meet the minimum programs requirements[10]
The College’s Dual Admission Partners include:
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- University of Alberta
- York University
- Brock University
- Cape Breton University
- D’Youville University College (USA)
University Entrance Scholarships
Many of Columbia’s University Partners have designated University Entrance Scholarships for the graduates of the College. These universities include:
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- Acadia University
- University of Canberra
- University of Alberta
- University of London School of Pharmacy
- Brock University
- McMaster University
- University of Ontario Institute of Technology
- University of Waterloo
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- 4 designated $3,000 Entrance Scholarships for Columbia International College graduates [11]
Residences
Columbia International College currently has 3 residence buildings with approximately 1000 beds.
Linden Hall is an all-girls’ residence in downtown Hamilton. It has furnished double and triple rooms with private bathrooms.
Pine Hall is an all-boys’ residence situated in the Hamilton mountain area. It is within close proximity to Mohawk College and has double, triple and quad rooms with private or shared bathrooms.
Oak Hall, another boys’ residence, is located next to the Ainsliewood building, Columbia International College’s main campus. It has double or triple rooms with shared bathrooms.
Extracurricular Activities
Columbia’s Student Development Office assists students with their after-school schedules, organizing special events on campus and within the 3 residences. Extended student services such as club activities, weekend trips and excursions are also organized to facilitate student life.
Clubs and activities at Columbia International College include, but are not limited to:
Leadership
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- Peer Leaders
- Student Leaders
- Prefects
- Student Councillors
Arts & Crafts
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- Dance Club
- Newspaper Club
- Cheerleading Club
- Photography Club
- Art Club
- Chess Club
Community Service
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- Columbia Convenience
- Kiwanis
- Ronald McDonald House
- St. Peter’s Hospital
- War Child Canada
- Peer Tutoring
Athletics
Columbia has a range of sports and recreational programs in which students can participate.
Activities include:
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- Table Tennis
- Swimming
- Indoor Soccer
- Badminton
- Yoga
- Basketball
- Floor Hockey and more
For five straight years, Columbia International College has been awarded the
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- Canadian Intramural Recreation Association (CIRA) Ontario’s Outstanding Intramural Achievement Award for promoting CIRA Ontario’s motto of – Fun, Participation For All – (2004–2009) [12]
- Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE) Canada’s School Recognition Award for Quality Physical Education Program [13]
The Athletics Department runs
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- Basketball
- Soccer
- Badminton
- Floor Hockey
- Baseball
- Intramural Tournaments
- Varsity Team: Columbia Cougars
- Columbia Crew (Leadership in Athletics)
Leadership Training
To further enrich their extracurricular experience, students have the opportunity to receive outdoor education and leadership training at Columbia’s Bark Lake [14]
Leadership retreats at Bark Lake are offered by the College year round, with activities including but not limited to:
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- Archery
- Canoeing
- Snowshoeing
- Herbertisme and Low Ropes
- Certified High Ropes course
- Cross-country Skiing
- Ice-fishing
- Kayaking
- Beach Volleyball
- High Ropes Challenge Course
Columbia and Bark Lake’s collaboration and affiliation on leadership programs has allowed many of the College’s students to enjoy Canada’s landscape and ‘true Canadian wilderness’ through outdoor recreation activities.
The College promotes leadership and character development in the school curriculum as well as through leadership courses.
References
- ^ Ron Rambarran's bio and article
- ^ ASEP-Total-Care-System
- ^ School profile
- ^ TOEFL
- ^ MELAB
- ^ CAEL
- ^ Secondary School Admissions Test
- ^ Summer Camp Program features
- ^ University admission statistics
- ^ Dual Admission
- ^ University Entrance Scholarships
- ^ CIRA Ontario Outstanding Intramural Achievement Award
- ^ PHE Canada School Recognition Award for Quality Physical Education Program
- ^ Education in Canada
External links
Categories:- Educational institutions established in 1979
- High schools in Hamilton, Ontario
- Preparatory schools in Ontario
- Private schools in Ontario
- Middle schools in Hamilton, Ontario
- Boarding schools in Ontario
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