St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary is a Catholic school, under the administration of CISVA (Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese) school board.
The school is co-educational, offering academic, fine arts, and business programs, as well as athletic, performing arts, and other extracurricular programs, for students from grades 8 to 12.
The school participates in sporting events under the name of the "Fighting Saints".
History The Sisters of the Child Jesus arrived in British Columbia in 1898 to do missionary work with the First Nations people of the North Shore and built St. Paul’s Indian Residential School. A variety of issues were reported over the years, including reports that the building was a "death-trap" and a "fire trap". The Truth And Reconciliation Commission spoke of rampant sexual, physical and emotional abuse towards the students.
Today there is a memorial statue for all of the students that attended St. Paul's Indian Residential School. In 1957, Archbishop William Mark Duke (also known as Iron Duke) approached the sisters to establish a high school on the North Shore. By 1959 the first students walked through the doors of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Independent School Status
St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary is classified as a Group 1 school under British Columbia's Independent School Act. It receives 50% funding from the Ministry of Education. The school receives no funding for capital costs. Overview of Independent Schools in British Columbia It is under charge of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver.
Feeder Parishes Christ the Redeemer (W. Vancouver) St. Anthony's (W. Vancouver) St. Edmund's (N. Vancouver) Holy Trinity (N. Vancouver) St. Pius X (N. Vancouver)
Academic performance
St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary is ranked by the Fraser Institute. In 2007, it was ranked 16th out of 298 Vancouver, lower mainland schools. The Fraser Institute - Report Cards - School Performance
99% of the students graduate and 75% of graduates enroll at post-secondary institutions immediately after graduation.
Provincial exam averages exceeds provincial norms and are higher than CISVA & Independent school averages.
Athletic performance All sports teams compete in the North Shore Secondary Schools Athletic Association (NSSSAA) against other secondary schools on the North Shore and Sea to Sky Region.https://www.esportsdesk.com/leagues/pick_league.cfm?clientID=8&leagueID=0
Both the varsity boys' and girls' basketball teams participate in the BC Catholic Basketball Championship, one of the largest tournaments in British Columbia.
School teams Soccer Volleyball Track and field Basketball Cross country Wrestling Golf Field hockey Gymnastics Swimming Rowing
Girls volleyball 2009/10 - B.C. Senior Provincial Champions 2009/10 - B.C. Catholic Champions 2009/10 - Lower Mainland 'AA' Champions 2009/10 - B.C. Junior Catholic Champions 2009/10 - Junior Girls Vancouver & District Champions 2009/10 - Juvenile Girls Vancouver & District Champions Ten time Top 10 finish 'AA" Provincial Championships Eight Time B.C. Catholic Champions Seven Time Juvenile Girls Vancouver & District Champions Ten Time Bantam Girls Vancouver & District Champions
Boys soccer 2008/09 - 10th Place 'AA' Provincial Championships Three Time 'A' Provincial Champions (1998, 2001, 2002) 2001/02 - Jr. Boys Vancouver Independent Schools Champions
Wrestling 2007/08 - 2nd Place Girls Vancouver & District 2007/08 - 2nd Place Jr. Boys & Girls North Shore Finals 2007/08 - Okangan Invitational Boys & Girls Champions 2005/06 - 5th Place 'AAA' Provincial Championships 2004/05 - 2nd Place 'AA' Provincial Championships 2003/04 - 2nd Place 'AA' Provincial Championships
Boys basketball Four Time 'A' Provincial Champions (1992, 1993, 1994, 2003) 1999/2000 - 'AA' Provincial Champions Four Time B.C. Catholic Champions Three Time Bantam Boys Vancouver & District Champions
Girls basketball 2007/08 - North Shore Division One Champions 2002, 2003, 2004 North Shore 'AA' Champions 1994/95 - BC Catholic Champions
Track and field 2004/05 - North Shore Overall Aggregate Champions 2004/05 - Junior Boys Vancouver & District Champions 2002/03 - North Shore Overall Aggregate Champions 2001/02 - Vancouver & District Champions
Golf 2005/06 - 7th Place 'AA' Provincial Championships 2003/04 - Lower Mainland 'AA' Champions
Artistic performance
St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary provides students with a variety of performing and non-performing arts.
Performing arts Visual arts Drama Art Band Photography Choir Music Yearbook
Notable alumni Mike Bernier - Politician"Saint Thomas Aquinas :: Alumni" Noel Callahan - Actor David Coles - Musician"The Playlist: Articulate hip-hopper is on track for 2011"
See also St. Paul’s Indian Residential School
References
External links St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary School Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese