Victoria School of the Arts

Victoria School of the Arts (formerly Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts, and previously Victoria Composite High School) is a public school in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada operated by Edmonton Public Schools, offering students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 an International Baccalaureate aligned, arts-focused education, and is recognized as one of the top arts-focused schools in North America.[1][2]

Victoria School of the Arts
Address
10210 108 Avenue NW

Edmonton
,
Alberta
,
T5H 1A8

Canada
Coordinates53°33′13″N 113°29′46″W
Information
Former namesEdmonton High School, Victoria Composite High School, Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts
School typePublic K-12 Arts and IB
MottoInspiring Creativity
Established1911
School boardEdmonton Public Schools
Area trusteeWard C - Shelagh Dunn
PrincipalBrad Burns
Staff109
GradesK–12
Enrolment1,860
LanguageEnglish, French, Cree
Campus typeUrban
Colour(s)Red, white and black      
Team nameVictoria Phoenix
NewspaperThe Victoria Voice Newspaper thevictoriavoice.com
Budget$11,504,521 (2020-2021)
ProgramsInternational Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme.
Bus access  9   12   100S   134   151   560 
LRT access Kingsway/Royal Alex station
Websitevictoria.epsb.ca

About

Victoria School of the Arts is an International Baccalaureate World School, and offers the complete continuum of IB programmes for grades K-12: the only school in Canada to do so.[3] Victoria is also one of a handful of schools in Canada that offers the new International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme.[4][5] There are five programs students may pursue: Design and New Media, Visual Arts, Theatre, Dance, and Music. The arts are also integrated into academic classes within a framework of inquiry based learning.[6]

The school employs an entrance criteria based admissions system for all new K-9 students, and unlike other schools, students may not be grandfathered into the program. The application process has varied over time but it currently consists of: a student letter, parent/guardian letter, external reference and evaluation, and a group interview process. Applicants must also submit their most recent progress reports for evaluation. Applicants are then notified of their admission status before the deadline to choose their school in April, and unsuccessful applicants may apply again the next school year.[7][8] Senior High students are exempt from the application process and may register like any other school. Attempts in the past have been made to expand the entrance criteria based admissions system to grades 10–12, but were met with backlash from the community due to a lack of other Senior High schools in the area.[9]

Victoria School is home to one of the campuses of the Academy at King Edward, a district site for Senior High students who meet the criteria for Learning Strategies. Students enrolled at the Academy also take complimentary courses at Victoria School alongside their courses at the Academy.[10]

The school is home to the Edmonton Potters Guild,[11] and the Eva O. Howard Theatre, which is used extensively by the school and the community.[12]

History

The school built at this location in 1911 was known as Edmonton High School.[13] New buildings were constructed in the late 1940s and early 1950s which became known as Victoria Composite High School or "Vic Comp" for short.

In 1985, Bob Maskell took over the position of school principal with the intention of transforming the school from a vocational school with low enrolment and a bad reputation to a K-12 arts-based alternative school. He sold off the vocational equipment to finance large-scale renovations, and recruited a staff qualified in a broad range of arts disciplines. Victoria Composite High School was renamed Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts. Because of the work of Maskell, Victoria School of the Arts has become one of the top arts-focused schools in North America.[1][2]

In addition to its academic and arts programs, Victoria School is known for its cheer teams. The 1994 Large Squad team won the Suzutan World Cheerleading Championships in Nagoya, Japan.[14] Edmonton's Victoria School coed Cheer Team has won more than 200 cheerleading championship trophies, including 24 provincial and 25 city championships, and continues to compete in global competitions today. The National Cheerleaders Association USA Summer Camp trophy was renamed from the All-American Award to the Top Team Award as a result of the Victoria coed Team's many wins.[15]

Over the 1990s and 2000s, Victoria School expanded its offerings to include Junior High and Elementary programs in addition to its existing Senior High program to fulfill Maskell's vision of a complete continuum of arts programming.[16]

The Senior High Library was destroyed by a deliberately set fire in April 2007, costing over $3 million in damages. The perpetrator admitted to setting the fire in 2010—a 24-year-old male who was not one of the school's students.[17]

Victoria School underwent a major modernization that finished in 2011, which saw many wings demolished, replaced and/or retrofitted. Coinciding with its centennial and the completion of its modernization, the school renewed its logo, shortened its name to Victoria School of the Arts, and replaced the team name "Victoria Redmen" with "Victoria Athletics".[18]

In spring 2020, principal Brad Burns announced Victoria's new team name, the Victoria Phoenix, to replace Victoria Athletics in an effort to renew the school's alternative focus on athletics.

Arts

Victoria School plans a different Arts Season each year with a variety of events involving all five art forms, including Design and New Media, Visual Arts, Theatre, Dance, and Music. Every Arts Season is different, and while some events happen annually, most are unique to that year's season. Each season features an overarching theme that connects the various events together to form a cohesive program.[19] Previous Arts Season themes have been Taking Flight (2019-2020), ...Possibility... (2018-2019), Inspiration (2017-2018) and Resonance (2016-2017).

Theatre

Each year, a selection of work is performed at the school in the Eva O. Howard Theatre. Usually, two larger productions (one musical, one play) are featured as "Main Stage" shows. These plays or musicals are the largest events in the arts season at Victoria School. Large casts and week-long runs allow students to perform on the main stage in big productions, and satisfy the course requirements for either Theatre Performance 15, 25 and 35 or Musical Theatre 15, 25 and 35.[20]

In-timetable theatre courses are also offered: Drama 10, 20 and 30 are available to students with little to no dramatic experience, while Advanced Acting 15, 25 and 35 require an initial audition or a program recommendation. At the junior high level, Drama 7, 8 and 9 are also offered as options.[20][21]

Main Stage Performances

Each performance has different grade-level restrictions, with one per year typically being open to senior high (grades 10–12) students and one open to secondary (grades 7-12) students, with occasional performances only open to junior high (grades 7–9) students or students in grades 4-12.

Students are chosen for roles through a group audition process held in September every year in which every show in the season is cast. The cast lists for every ensemble throughout the year are posted in the last week of September.

Students are also able to gain experience in Technical Theatre by participating in the Main Stage Shows, with opportunities in lighting, sound, set, costume and makeup design, along with opportunities to act as Stage and Assistant Stage Manager.

List of Main Stage Performances

Note: plays without a link may be devised creations

Design and New Media

Victoria School offers unique courses in the study of Design, Digital Arts, and New Media. Courses available at Victoria at the Senior High level include Applied Graphic Arts 15, 25 and 35, Photography 25 and 35, Animation 25 and 35, and Media Creation 15, 25 and 35. Photography and Animation courses require Applied Graphic Arts 15 as a prerequisite. In addition, Visual Communications 7, 8 and 9 are also options available for Junior High Students.[20][21]

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts department offers Art (IB) 10, 20 and 30 and Ceramics 15, 25 and 35 to Senior High students in-timetable, while Drawing 15, 25 and 35, and Painting 15, 25 and 35 are also available out of timetable. Junior High students can choose Art 7, 8 and 9 as options.[20][21]

Music

Music options at Victoria School include Choral Music 10, 20 and 30, Instrumental Music 10, 20 and 30 and Guitar 10, 20 and 30 in-timetable. Concert Choir 10, 20 and 30, Vocal Jazz 15, 25 and 35 and Instrumental Jazz 15, 25 and 35 are all available to students after a successful audition. Junior High students have the option to take Instrumental Music 7, 8 and 9, and Choral Music 7, 8 and 9.[20][21]

Dance

A variety of Dance courses are offered to Senior High students, ranging from introductory to advanced levels. Dance (IB) 15, 25 and 35 are offered to students with little to no experience in dance. Dance (6Y) 15, 25, and 35, Dance Techniques 15, 25, and 35, Leaps and Bounds 15, 25 and 35, and Dance Xtreme 15, 25 and 35 are also options for students with previous experience and/or auditions. In Junior High, Dance 7, 8 and 9 are offered as introductory dance courses.[20][21]

Victoria Foundation for the Arts

The Victoria Foundation for the Arts, established in 1996, offers a variety of scholarships and awards to teachers and students of Victoria School of the Arts each year. $1 million over 385 scholarships and awards have been presented to students since its inception through 2019. Additionally, the Foundation funds student master classes, upgrades to the Eva O. Howard Theatre, and provides $5000 annually to the musical Main Stage production.[22][23]

The Foundation is run by the Victoria School Foundation Board, and operates an endowment fund through donations, with over 80 donors of $1000 or more.[24] Major donors can be seen on plaques outside of the Eva O. Howard Theatre.

Academics

Core Subjects

Victoria School of the Arts offers all of the standard Alberta Education courses, including English Language Arts, Social Studies, Aboriginal Studies, Mathematics, Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Physical Education.

English Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics and Biology also have IB streams, with most students opting for an IB Certificate rather than a full IB Diploma. Victoria is one of the only schools in Canada to offer the IB Career-Related Programme, which prepares students for the workplace through the in-depth study of careers in the arts. To meet the IB requirements for either the Career-Related Programme, or the full Diploma Programme, Global Perspectives on Professional Skills 25 and 35 (Career-Related) and Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS (Diploma) are available either in-timetable or out of timetable.[20]

Second Languages

French and Spanish are available as second-language options to both Junior and Senior High students. The French program requires students to enter in seventh grade, while Spanish offers entry points in seventh and tenth grade. French is also offered in an IB stream. New in the 2020–2021 school year, Cree is now offered at the Senior High level as an introduction to the language and culture.[20][21]

Leadership

Leadership 15, 25 and 35 are available to Senior High students who wish to join the Victoria School Leadership Team, which focuses on planning events, fundraising and supporting the school community. Notably, the Victoria Leadership Team will plan the annual Terry Fox/Clubs Day, Halloween celebration, Helping Hampers donation campaign, and bi-annual VIESTA event.[20] The separate Student Arts Leadership Team is responsible for the planning and execution of arts-related events, such as performances, gallery openings and the bi-annual Festival of the Arts.

Events

PlayWorks Festival

PlayWorks is a student directed one act festival that occurs every April. Students in Directing 35 go through a play selection process, hold group auditions and callbacks, run rehearsals, and have complete control over every aspect of their chosen play.

PlayWorks is open to actors in grade 8–12 and includes a wide variety of theatre pieces.

The Festival is adjudicated by a notable theatre professional who watches the shows and reflects on the work with the students. It has become an opportunity for the students to receive feedback from professionals, and making it a point not to judge or grade the work. In recent years, the adjudication has been the work of Scott Swan, a notable Canadian director whose work has been seen across the country.

Leaps and Bounds

An annual dance show featuring student choreographed work. This two night showcase has been a staple in Victoria's art season for decades, and is designed to satisfy the presentation component of the IB Dance program for the 20 and 30 level, as well as Composition 35. Composition teaches students the process of choreography. Each student develops a concept and from that develops a dance. The process has 5 main parts:

  • Concept development
  • Auditions
  • Rehearsals
  • Performance
  • Reflection

This class offers young choreographers a strong foundation in the task of creation. In Dance 20 IB, students work to create solo compositions, moving into choreographing for groups of dancers in the 30 level. Each student gains important artistic skills and experience through the process.

In addition, Leaps and Bounds 15, 25 and 35 are also a continuum of locally developed courses for dancers who participate in the process and perform in the show.

Festival of the Arts

In the spring of 2010, Victoria hosted the first ever 'Festival of the Arts' which brought together all three levels of school and all the different art disciplines in a large two-day celebration. Events were presented all over the school, allowing parents, students and staff to spend time taking in performances and looking at student work all over the school. This large-scale event was held a second time in the spring of 2011 and also served as the official opening of the newly renovated building and the celebration Victoria's centennial. A large event was held in the courtyard area of the school and was attended by The Mayor of Edmonton, Stephen Mandel as well as the Premier of Alberta, Ed Stelmach. The event also coincided with the 25th anniversary of the school becoming an arts school, so Bob Maskell spoke as well. The event concluded with a student-led flash mob.

The school announced that the event would be held every two years. Recently, two festivals were held in May/June 2016 and May/June 2018. The festival scheduled for May/June 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arthur Hiller Student Film Festival

The Arthur Hiller Student Film Festival, was named in honor of Arthur Hiller, an alumnus of the school. Mr. Hiller, a notable Hollywood director, has returned many times to share his wealth of knowledge and life experience with the students. As a thank you to Hiller, in 2007 the school named their annual student film festival after him. When the school asked Hiller if they could use his name for the festival, he wasn't sure. However, after hearing that students wanted to run and lead it, he was convinced. He agreed as long as the word "student" was in the festival name. He wanted it to be about the students, not him. In 2009, the festival featured a new element: a film making challenge in which two teams of students attempted to plan, shoot, edit and present a five-minute short in two hours. This challenge took place simultaneously with the annual film showcase. As the featured films were playing, backstage in the theater, two teams were busy shooting. The audience was kept in the loop through the use of a live feed. This version of the festival was entirely student-run as the goal of the festival was to show current students' work, and also to have alumni share work too, much like the way Hiller himself returned to share his knowledge with students. The festival was discontinued following the 2009 year, due primarily to a lack of support from staff. Plans to bring it back are being discussed but no formal plans have yet been announced.

VIESTA

VIESTA is an event held by Victoria School every second year in June, the years opposing the Festival of the Arts. The main goal of this event is to raise money for Victoria's sister school. At VIESTA, students have the opportunity to sell their creations, such as food, art, crafts or content to the rest of the school, and donate a minimum of 30% of the profit to the sister school. The event is accompanied by an indie stage, where students can perform.

In 2016, this event was held in conjunction with the Festival of the Arts. It was later announced that it would be held every other year, in opposition with the Festival of the Arts. The latest VIESTA was held in June 2019.

In 2015, the VIESTA event was put on hold due to a stabbing at the Royal Alexandra Hospital nearby with the suspect at large, triggering a lockdown.[25]

Building
Inner courtyard with playground

The school has a variety of facilities available to its students, including:

  • Two full-size gymnasiums
  • Fitness centre
  • Full-service cafeteria
  • Marguerite Trussler Library
  • Science labs
  • Three choral and band rooms
  • Four dance studios
  • Art gallery
  • Media labs
  • Audio studio
  • Eva O. Howard Theatre

The school underwent a major modernization that finished in 2011 which replaced large portions of the school. The newly built section was built on unoccupied space on the grounds to allow for phased demolition, and provided the school with a courtyard with an inner playground. Two sections remain from the reconstruction, one was completely renovated and repurposed, while the other was left untouched and maintains the look and feel of the old building, which includes the Eva O. Howard Theatre.

As part of the 1990s revitalization project the 150 wing of the school was painted with a series of murals depicting trees. The wing became known as "The Tree Hallway" among students and staff, which was just one of the many areas of the school with permanent art installations. Due to the reconstruction of the building in 2009, The Tree Hallway, along with many other murals and art in the old building were demolished.[26] Permanent art installations are slowly finding their way into the new building.

Eva O. Howard Theatre

The Eva O. Howard Theatre is a 685-seat proscenium theatre in the North 400 wing of the school. It was built in the 1949, but has been updated extensively throughout the years, and is used frequently by students at the school and members of the community.[12] It is named after Eva O. Howard, an English teacher at Victoria who developed one of the school's first theatre programs during the early 20th century.

Notable Alumni

References
  1. Vykydal, Jan (May 30, 2011). "Victoria school turns 100". Edmonton Examiner. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  2. Young, JoAnne (May 2001). "A System of Building Franchises". The School Administrator. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  3. "Find an IB World School". International Baccalaureate®. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  4. "Victoria School of the Arts". International Baccalaureate®. Retrieved 2019-09-13.
  5. "Do parents influence the choices of teen voters?". Edmonton Journal. January 20, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  6. "Arts". victoria.epsb.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  7. "Entrance Criteria Schools - Edmonton Public Schools". epsb.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  8. "Application Information Kindergarten - Grade 9". victoria.epsb.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  9. "Edmonton Public School Board nixes proposal to have auditions for high school students to be admitted to Victoria School of the Arts in Edmonton". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  10. "Principal's Message". academyatkingedward.epsb.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  11. "About Us". edmontonpottersguild. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  12. "Theatre Rental". victoria.epsb.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  13. "Victoria School". Edmonton's Architectural Heritage. Edmonton Historic Board. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  14. "Edmonton Eskimos Cheer Team: Coach/Choreographer: Dianne". CHED (AM). Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  15. "City's champions of cheer". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  16. "AASA | American Association of School Administrators". www.aasa.org. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  17. "Guilty plea in Victoria school arson | Edmonton | News | Edmonton Sun". 2015-09-24. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
  18. "'Inside, it bothered you': Edmonton school gets rid of Redmen sports logo". Global News. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  19. "Registration Over the Summer, School Supply Lists, Yellow Bus Application information for 2020-2021, Grades 10-12 High School Registration Process 2020-2021, CBC Report, Kindergarten , 2019-2020 Registration Information, Lunchroom Supervisors, Victoria School of the Arts Presents". victoria.epsb.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  20. "High School Course Book 2020-2021.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  21. "Grade 7-9 Option Selection 2019-2020.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  22. "About | VICTORIA SCHOOL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS". Victoria School Foun. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  23. "Foundation for the ArtsVictoria School". victoria.epsb.ca. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  24. "Donors | VICTORIA SCHOOL FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS". Victoria School Foun. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  25. Parrish, Julia (2015-06-05). "Lockdown at school lifted, search continues for assault suspect". Edmonton. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  26. "Construction now an art form at Victoria School". Edmonton Journal. October 3, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  27. "Who's Who – Arthur Roy Brown". FirstWorldWar.co. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  28. "Alumni". Victoria School of Visual and Performing Arts. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  29. Warrender, Susan (2003). Alberta Titans: From Rags to Riches During Alberta's Pioneer Days. Heritage House Publishing Co. ISBN 9781551539836. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  30. "City moving to honour Leslie Nielsen". iNews880. January 12, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  31. Brennan, Brian (December 13, 2001). "Broadway Joe was pillar of the Citadel". Business Edge. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  32. "Top 20 Canadian moments of 2008". National Post. April 2, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  33. "Victoria School Museum and Archives Society". Alberta Museums Association. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  34. "Josh Wingrove - White House Reporter, Bloomberg News". Ryerson University School of Journalism. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  35. "Adrienne Pan will host CBC Edmonton's drive home show, Radio Active". CBC Edmonton. Retrieved Sep 3, 2020.
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