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ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

ACADEMIC HONOUR ROLL
Students who have an average above 85% at the end of the academic year, are eligible for Academic Honour Roll. Students with an average above 90% receive Honour Roll with distinction.

The Honour Roll is calculated on the following: 1) 5 subjects, including English 2) semestered and tri-semestered courses are considered collectively and 3) a student’s best fine arts or PE course is included.

FOUNDERS’ DAY AWARDS
These awards recognize students entering Grade 12 who have demonstrated significant effort, excellence and outstanding promise in their Grade 11 year at York House School in one of the following areas: Fine Arts, English, Languages, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science and Athletics. These prizes are presented on Founders’ Day in September.

PRIZEGIVING
York House School endeavours to recognize student achievement and excellence in academic, athletic, fine arts, leadership, and community service pursuits. With the exception of the Founders’ Awards and Governor General’s Bronze Medal, Grade 8-12 students are acknowledged at our year-end Prizegiving Ceremonies in June.

New Girls’ Award for Top Academics and Good Citizenship: Recognizes a new student in Grade 8 who, in the opinion of teachers, have demonstrated outstanding academic promise and good citizenship in their initial year at York House.

English Rhetoric Prize: Recognizes a student who has consistently displayed excellence in the development of written argument throughout her Grade 12 year in English. With a sophisticated understanding of the nuances involved in the use of rhetorical devices, the student who earns this award has composed a variety of essays that reveal a high level of aptitude in the area of persuasive writing.

English Literature Prize: Recognizes a student who has consistently displayed excellence in the development of literary analyses throughout her Grade 11 or Grade 12 year in English. Revealing thoughtfulness, creativity, and imagination, the student who earns this award has conducted outstanding critical readings of a wide variety of texts in all literary genres.

Eve Hunnings English Creative Writing Prize: Recognizes a student who has consistently displayed excellence in the development of creative compositions throughout her Grade 11 or Grade 12 year in English. Through crafting outstanding poetry, fiction, and non-fiction pieces, the student who earns this award has revealed both an aptitude and passion for the written word.

Lianne McLean Math Award: Recognizes the top mathematics scholar in Grades 8, and 9.

Dr. Daniel Koo Award in Math & Science: Recognizes the top Grade 11 student in each of the following subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry.

Science Council of B.C. Award: Recognizes a single student who excels in more than one science.

Journalism Award: The purpose of the Journalism Award is to recognize a student who, through the study and practice of journalism, has made a significant difference in her own life, the lives of others and the York House School community. She has also been an exemplary leader to her journalism class, providing fair and motivating advice throughout the production of the Blackwatch newspaper.

Harris Law Scholarship: Recognizes a single student who best exemplifies the spirit of a true scholar in that field.

Salsbury Foundation Award for Canadian History: Recognizes scholarly achievement in essay writing by a Grade 10 or 11 student on the subject of Canadian History with particular emphasis on the French in Canada.

New Canadian Graduate Excellence Award: Recognizes a student who has entered York House from a non-English speaking foreign country and who, in the opinion of her teachers, has demonstrated excellence in academics and citizenship.

Book Prizes for Senior Courses: Recognizes students who, in the opinion of senior teachers, best exemplify the spirit of a true scholar in that field.

Caldwell Family Pursuit of a Dream Award: Awarded to a student who, in her years at York House, has discovered an interest, has made it her passion, and is poised to pursue a dream with confidence.

Board of Governors Award: Recognizes a single student at every grade who is outstanding in her pursuit of academic scholarship, leadership, and citizenship and is involved in extra-curricular activities at the school. Recipients of this award also receive an Academic Achievement Pin and are considered to be among the top scholars within their respective grade.

The Governor General’s Bronze Medal: Awarded to the top York House scholar in Grade 12 as determined by final year-end marks that are reported to the school in mid July by the Ministry. The recipient of this prize is recognized at ‘The Founders Day Assembly,’ which is held in September.

FINE ARTS ACHIEVEMENT

Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts:
Recognizes a single student in every grade who has excelled in the pursuit of artistic achievement in the visual arts. The recipients of this award have created an outstanding body of work that displays exceptional skill and have also demonstrated a willingness to explore new media and image development. Recipients also receive Arts Achievement Pins.

Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts: Recognizes a single student in every grade who has pursued excellence in the dramatic arts. Recipients also receive Arts Achievement Pins.

Award for Excellence in Music: Recognizes a single student in every grade who has pursued excellence in the instrumental and/or choral programs. Recipients also receive Arts Achievement Pins.

Award for Excellence in Textiles: Recognizes a single student in every grade who has pursued excellence in textiles. Recipients also receive Arts Achievement Pins.

Junior Drama Award: Recognizes a Junior student (Grades 7-9) who has consistently demonstrated superior performance skills and creativity in interpreting character roles, both in classroom drama and in extra-curricular productions.

Senior Drama Award: Recognizes a Senior student (Grades 10-12) who has consistently demonstrated superior performance skills and creativity in interpreting character roles, both in classroom drama and in extra-curricular productions.

Junior Technical Theatre Award: Recognizes a Junior student (Grades 7-9) who has demonstrated an outstanding level of contribution in one or more of the technical areas of play production including stage crew, lighting, sound, props, set construction, set painting, make-up, hair and costumes.

Senior Technical Theatre Award: Recognizes a Senior student (Grades 10-12) who has demonstrated an outstanding level of contribution in one or more of the technical areas of play production including stage crew, lighting, sound, props, set construction, set painting, make-up, hair and costumes.

Talent Trophy: Awarded to a single student who has participated in a variety of the performing arts including drama, music, and/or choir and shown exceptional talent.

Alisa & Heidi Kramer Award: Recognizes ­outstanding promise and ability in the performing arts, which can include musical theatre, dramatic performance, and musicality.

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT

Junior PE Effort & Progress:
Awarded to a student in Grades 8-9 who consistently strives to achieve her personal best in the pursuit of athletic skills and personal fitness.

Senior PE Effort & Progress:
Awarded to a student in Grades 10-12 who consistently strives to achieve her personal best in the pursuit of athletic skills and personal fitness.

Grade ‘Athlete of the Year’:
Awarded to students at every grade for their outstanding participation, achievement, and commitment to York House athletics.

Junior ‘Athlete of the Year’:
Awarded to a single student in Grades 8-10 who has demonstrated outstanding achievement, participation, commitment, and leadership in athletics.

Senior ‘Athlete of the Year’:
Awarded to a single student in Grades 11-12 who has demonstrated outstanding achievement, participation, commitment, and leadership in athletics.

LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP & SERVICE ACHIEVEMENT

Parent Association Citizenship Awards: Awarded to a student who:

• demonstrates adherence to the York House School Code of Ethics as published
• represents the school well by her deportment, uniform, participation, attendance and punctuality
• is respectful and courteous
• has a good service record for the current school year.

Parent Association Citizenship Trophy:

Awarded to a student who currently:

• demonstrates adherence to the York House School Code of Ethics as published
• represents the school well by her deportment, uniform, participation, attendance and punctuality
• is respectful and courteous
• has a good service record for the current school year
• has demonstrated such characteristics through out her time in the Senior School or shown a considerable improvement during that time.

Library Prize: Awarded to a Grade 9 student who shows the greatest interest in, and who is most committed to, helping out in the library.

The Sherry Robson Taylor Spirit Award: Created by the Alumnae Association, this award goes to a student in Grades 8-10 who, in the opinion of her peers, emulates Sherry (Robson) Taylor’s (‘73) enthusiasm, energy and love of York House and who participates in a variety of activities within the school.

Senior Spirit Trophy: Awarded to the student who shows wholehearted participation in life of the school, energy and enthusiasm.

The Joan Sorenson Award: Presented in memory of Joan Sorenson, a Grade 11 student who was killed in a car accident during the Easter Weekend of 1963. Her class donated a trophy wishing it to be awarded annually to a Grade 11 student who loves the school and who involves herself in a number of endeavours for the overall good of the school. The Grade 11 class determines the recipient of this special award.

House Trophy: Awarded to one of the four official house teams for its collective spirit, enthusiasm, and commitment to community service throughout the year.

Bruce Hicks Service Award: For public service in the community.

Diamond Abramowich Family Award for Community Service: For service in the community.

Student Initiative Award: Sponsored by the Tognetti family, this award recognizes a student who has demonstrated significant and outstanding initiative, either in or out of school, in raising awareness to support a cause.

Nelles Head Girl’s Book Prize: Awarded to the Head Girl in recognition of her demonstrated initiative, enthusiasm, and commitment in acting as a student leader and ambassador for York House. It is made possible through the generosity of Mrs. Sheila (Weir) Nelles – the Head Girl of the graduating class of 1944.

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