LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK
www.westislandcollege.ab.ca
7410 Blackfoot Trail SE Calgary, AB
Tel: 403.255.5300
2019 - 2020
LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK Table of Contents Overview/Purpose/Promise/Need 4 Premise of Curriculum/Program Overview
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Module A: Liberal Arts Courses
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Module B: Liberal Arts/Leadership Experiences
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Module C: Liberal Arts Clubs and Activities
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Module D: Enrichment Experiences
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Liberal Arts Institute Awards and Scholarships
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LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK
Liberal Arts Institute Co-ordinator Mrs. Nicole MacArthur nicolemacarthur@mywic.ca phone: 403.255.5300 fax: 403.252.1434
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Overview Liberal Arts includes academic course instruction intended to provide general knowledge comprising the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
Purpose To empower students by providing an approach to learning that offers a broader knowledge of the world while simultaneously preparing them to be successful at a post-secondary level.
Promise To provide a rigorous and relevant academic program while furthering study in the Liberal Arts with opportunities to connect with professionals in the Liberal Arts world.
Need Approximately 10-15 percent of the WIC graduating class has expressed an interest in the Liberal Arts field in post-secondary institutions. This is a niche that needs to be filled and enriched. This program is designed for those interested in:
Creative Writing History International Relations Journalism Law Philosophy Marketing/Advertising Archeologist Political Science Psychologist Public Relations
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LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK
Premise of Curriculum • Challenge students with relevant, rigorous, Liberal Arts focused content •
Offer students instrumental Liberal Arts leadership experience within the high school environment as well as the local community
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Afford students the opportunity to use information to critically analyze and synthesize ideas to solve problems
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Empower students with real-world experiences; the Liberal Arts Institute Certificate can also be used as a valuable portfolio addition to include on a résumé and post-secondary applications
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Guide students through the process of interviewing, drafting a résumé, referencing, library research and citation, all of which are essential to university preparation
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Provide an invaluable set of employability skills such as: thinking for oneself, communicating effectively, and developing a capacity for life-long learning
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Connect students to mentors within the Liberal Arts community Offer leadership and scholarship opportunities
Program Overview Students may start participating in the program in Grade 7 and will be required to meet a number of criteria in order to be eligible for the West Island College Liberal Arts Institute Certificate. The program consists of four modules: Module A: Liberal Arts Courses Module B: Liberal Arts and Leadership Experience Module C: Liberal Arts Clubs and Activities Module D: Enrichment Experiences
Global TV Site Visit
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Module A: Liberal Arts Courses There are nine courses offered to students from Grades 10 to 12. Students will be required to complete any three courses offered in order to be eligible for the Liberal Arts Institute Certificate; one of these courses must be an Advanced Placement (AP) course. Descriptions of the Liberal Arts courses are provided below.
World Religions 20/30 (6 Credits) In World Religions, students explore various philosophical approaches to faith in both historical and contemporary circumstances. They explore timeless metaphysical questions and are introduced to the basic tenets of major world religions. Through field trips and guest speakers, students gain exposure to a variety of faiths thereby broadening their worldview and gaining a more in-depth comprehension of many current political and social issues. Â
General Psychology 20/Experimental Psychology 30 (6 Credits) The objectives of Psychology 20 are designed to enable students to more fully understand the reasons that underlie behaviour. This course traces the historical schools of psychological thought and examines principles of learning, thinking, frustration and conflict, as well as behaviour disorders and their treatment. Experimental Psychology 30 builds on the knowledge gained in Psychology 20. Students will examine the history of experimental psychology, conditioning, personality, mental illness and development, and the application of psychology in our world.
AP Psychology 35 (3 Credits) The purpose of the AP course in Psychology is to give students an experience equivalent to that obtained in an undergraduate introductory psychology course. It is designed to continue and extend the systematic and scientific study of the behaviour and mental processes of human beings. Students will assess some of the different approaches adopted by psychologists, including the
Mock Trial Prepraration
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LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK
biological, behavioural, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic, and sociocultural perspectives. The course stresses critical thinking, reading, and writing within the context of scientific methodology and questioning.
International Politics 30 (3 Credits) The course is a study of comparative government and politics with a focus on international issues, policies, and current events. Model United Nations coursework will be supplemented through research and role-playing simulations. Additionally, this course will provide the necessary background for those who wish to challenge the Comparative Government and Politics Advanced Placement Exam. This course is recognized as a core course acceptable for university entrance by most faculties and universities.
AP European History 35 (3 Credits) This Advanced Placement course is the equivalent of a university-level introductory course which includes an examination of the political, social, economic, intellectual, cultural, and diplomatic history of modern Europe. Students without Western World History 30 are permitted to take this course, and receive credit for Western World History 30 if they decide not to write the AP exam. This course is accepted as core by virtually all universities in terms of university acceptance, and another indication of high level work on a university application.
Western World History 30 (3 credits) Western World History 30 is a course about the general narrative of European history from approximately 1450 to today. Students work with primary sources, and determine motivations and biases behind opinions at the time. Topics include the persecutions regarding witchcraft, individualism in art, religious reform, and discovery of new worlds. Expect to write essays that will help with Social 30 Source Analysis and to take part in impersonations and debates both involving many of the important figures from the Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, and Scientific Revolution. This course is used by many universities as a core course which can be used for most faculties in university entrance.
English 30-1 (5 Credits) English 30-1 is a required course for entrance to most university and college programs. In this course, a variety of mediums (poetry, graphic novel, visuals, short stories, Shakespearean play, modern drama, and novel) may be used to facilitate an understanding of how the English language is used to convey thoughts and emotions.
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English 35 AP (3 Credits) English 35 AP engages the students in the careful reading and critical analysis of literature. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes as well as elements such as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism and tone. Writing is an integral part of the course and assignments focus on the critical analysis of literature and include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays. Writing instruction includes attention to developing and organizing ideas in clear, coherent, and persuasive language.
Legal Studies Alberta Distance Learning Centre (ADLC) offers a variety of courses in the CTS legal studies stream. These courses show the influence, impact, and complexities of the legal system. Students may take any two of the following ADLC courses.
Private Law (1 credit) In this course, the law as it applies to the workplace, consumer issues, the buying and selling of goods and services and the rental market, will be studied.
Public Law (1 credit) The basic rights and responsibilities of Canadians as they specifically apply to youth and the law will be explored. Rights of minors, rights of students, and the Youth Criminal Justice Act will be studied.
Relationship Law (1 credit) Students will study what laws apply to families. The roles and responsibilities of federal and provincial governments in regards to issues such as marriage, divorce, child custody and wills will be applied.
Visit with Balfour Der, Q.C.
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LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK
Employment Law (1 credit) Explanations of paycheque deductions, vacation and overtime pay, fair dismissal, and harassment in the workplace as they relate to federal and provincial law will be integral to this course.
Business Law (1 credit) This course will have the student design a business venture while studying the laws related to starting a business, operating a business, and closing a business. Additionally, the student will become familiar with the criminal justice processes and the rights, roles and responsibilities of the participants in the system.
Module B: Liberal Arts and Leadership Experiences Michael Fullan identifies a number of global competencies for students in Deep Learning: Engage the World Change the World. The focus on the 6 C’s – character, citizenship, collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking is a movement away from set knowledge to the skills of entrepreneurship, creativity, and problem-solving, suggesting a new set of competencies is necessary to thrive in this accelerating world (Fullan, 2017, p. 16-17). Deep learning work has students tackling problems relevant to their life circumstances, immunizes and protects against social and emotional difficulties thus building positive mental health and resilience (Fullan, 2017, p. 22). Engaging students in authentic tasks that engage them deeply while providing meaningful ways to learn critical numeracy and literacy skills (Fullan, 2017, p. 24). There are a number of ways for students to gain Liberal Arts experience. Students will commit to experiences where they are involved in preparation, planning, implementation, and/or reflection. These opportunities are highly personal and students are expected to thoughtfully reflect on where and how they will participate. In order to achieve the Liberal Arts Institute Certificate, students must complete any two of the following activities in Section 1.
Section 1: Interaction with the Liberal Arts Community Students will benefit from these Liberal Arts opportunities by gaining: • Career exploration and interaction with professionals.
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Better understanding of the breadth and depth of Liberal Arts courses and professions. Observational internship — students take the opportunity to see first-hand how people in the Liberal Arts community interact
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Mentorship — students mentor with a member of the Liberal Arts community
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Off-site shadowing — students choose to shadow an individual actively involved in the community
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Career exploration — students can work with our Directors of PostSecondary Studies to gain more insight into what courses are required to enter a post-secondary institution’s Liberal Arts program
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Networking — students can connect with people in the community with similar interests
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Guest speakers — students will meet with professionals, WIC parents, and alumni who work in the Liberal Arts community
Calgary Courthouse Tour Students may choose to tour to the Calgary Courthouse. Site visits may include sitting in on a live court proceeding, meeting with a lawyer, touring the library and visiting a holding cell.
Calgary Speech Competitions Speech promotes activities in English and French in the areas of Language Arts, Drama, Social Studies, and Science throughout the province. The areas of critical thinking, research, analytical thought, public speaking, teamwork, leadership, and creativity are fostered through speech activities (ADSA,2018).
Up 97.7 Tour In this site visit, students will travel to the radio station to meet with team members, to learn more about how to prepare radio advertisements and to see how the world of communication works. The students may then be asked to create a 15-30 second radio advertisement for West Island College.
Global TV Studio Tour Students will visit the Global TV studio and meet with local journalism team members and receive a behind the scenes tour to learn more about this field of work. Students may watch a live showing of the midday news and then partake in a mock on-air reading of the top news stories of the day.
Calgary Herald Site Visit
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LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK
Boardroom Negotiations Experience Working alongside a few WIC Alumni, students will experience a real simulated boardroom negotiation. Students will learn the process of negotiations and will participate in a role-play in this activity.
Calgary Herald Tour Students will visit the Calgary Herald to meet with journalists to see how current events are reported on and witness the process of editing first hand.
Section 2: Participation in Leadership Opportunities Students may choose to engage in a number of various leadership camps or activities. Five formal leadership programs meet the requirement for the Liberal Arts Institute Certificate. In addition, student participation in WIC leadership roles such as WICAA, Student Council, and Prefect Board may also be recognized for its leadership experience. Other leadership experiences gained outside of the College may be recognized here, although these would be at the discretion of the Director of Learning & Innovation and the Liberal Arts Institute Co-ordinator. To achieve the Liberal Arts Institute Certificate, students must complete at least one formal leadership experience.
Sailing Education Adventures (S.E.A.) Students may participate in this five-day leadership program in Victoria, where they will gain an understanding of working as a team while learning to operate a sailing vessel.
Duke of Edinburgh Award This award was founded by Prince Philip in 1956 and now it operates in over 100 countries and boasts more than four million young participants. Students may participate in activities based on four program areas: community service, personal skill development, physical recreation, and adventurous journey. A minimum requirement is the Bronze Award.
Calgary Herald Site Visit
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Shad Valley It is an intense STEM-based program that focuses on academic learning through lectures, workshops, labs and group projects. SHAD is not like high school. The SHAD learning environment is very different: living in residence at one of our host university campuses away from home, students will be challenged to embrace and expand their understanding of science and its applications in real situations. SHAD challenges students to “think outside the box” and beyond what they have learned to-date at school. Developing engineering prototypes, applying scientific principles, coupled with understanding business when it comes to developing an idea from its inception, to its creation, to realization is a key part of the program.
CAIS Junior & Senior Student Leadership Conference Students may have the opportunity to attend the CAIS Student Leadership Conference. The Conference is designed for students by students. Every spring, approximately 130 Canadian independent school student leaders come together to develop their leadership skills, complete a service project, and liaise with likeminded leaders from Canada’s top schools.
Module C: Liberal Arts Clubs and Activities Students may participate in a variety of Liberal Arts clubs and activities that will be offered at the College. In order to receive the Liberal Arts Institute Certificate, students will need to participate in any four clubs over the course of their WIC career. Please note: the University 101 Seminar is required by all students.
University 101 (Mandatory) Grade 12 students will be required to attend this workshop. Students may attend a variety of different sessions at the University of Calgary that deal with topics such as references and citations, life and balance, résumés and interviews, networking with alumni, post-secondary planning, as well as budgeting and financial literacy.
Global Awareness Club (Grades 7 - 12) WIC’s Global Awareness Club is made up of students who are committed to bringing awareness to current global issues. Members of the club cultivate political awareness and educate for social justice in our school community.
Roots and Shoots (Grades 7 - 12) Jane Goodall founded this international organization to address issues of concern in the areas of environment, community and animal rights: “Roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem very weak, but to reach the light they can break through brick walls. Imagine that the brick walls are all the problems we have inflicted on our planet. Hundreds and thousands of roots and shoots, hundreds and thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls. You can change the world.”
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LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK
AP Comparative Government and Politics Prep Workshop (Grade 12) Advanced Placement Comparative Government is a study of political and economic systems focusing on how ideology is used in different governments around the world. To facilitate this learning, students who challenge the exam will study several key nations and will be encouraged to role-play and represent those nations’ ideologies through debate thereby building argument skills and understanding regarding key issues and current events.
Model United Nations (Grades 9 - 12) In the first semester, students prepare for the simulation of the United Nations, held at the University of Calgary in February. They do this by engaging in world issues debates, representing major countries, using Security Council and General Assembly formats. The team is selected from the club members to represent our chosen nations.
Newspaper (Grades 7 - 12) This is a student-run club which gives a voice to the student body. It is a place where students can voice their opinions, their ideas, and their ideals. This club exercises writing, editing and photography skills.
Debate (Grades 9 - 12) Debate is found in politics, courts of law, business, and general social contact. Therefore, the debate club exists in order to prepare students for the life experiences they may encounter.
Fictional Literature Society (Grades 7 - 12) The Fictional Literature Society is dedicated to the study and analysis of all types of classic and contemporary literature, poetry, and media. The six-member, student-led executive committee meets several times a semester to decide on text selection, group norms and policies, and overall student engagement.
CAIS Junior Leadership Conference
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Common Ground Club (Grades 7 - 12) This group is organized around the idea of no more wars of aggression; elimination of the militarization of police; and abolition of corrupt political and financial systems. Peaceful support for this ideology is facilitated through group meetings.
Creative Writing (Grades 10 - 12) Learn how to use plot, voice, theme, setting and characterization successfully. Gain valuable feedback on your writing and discuss excerpts from a selection of published stories.
Speech (Grades 7 - 12) Communication is of the utmost importance. Whether it be for a school presentation, a job interview, or just spending time with friends, you cannot hide from public speaking. This club will teach you how to speak well. You will learn how to prepare and organize so that when it is time for you to make a presentation your ideas and thoughts will flow naturally.
Philosophy Seminars (Grades 7 – 12) The Philosophy Seminars offer students a look at the metaphysical aspects of the universe through engaging discussion, pertinent videos, and thought-provoking activities. Topics may include the origins of life, time travel, the concept of infinity, lucid dreaming, and the afterlife.
Law Club (Grades 9 - 12) This club is designed to offer enrichment experiences for those students interested in the legal profession. Guest speakers may include lawyers, judges, WIC alumni, and students currently enrolled in the faculty of law program. Students will be provided with an overview of the various fields of law — corporate, criminal, charter, and family law.
Model UN
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LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK
History Seminars (Grades 9 - 12) These workshops are designed to offer a deeper analysis of key modern historical events. Topics may include pivotal events in World War I and II. An in-depth exploration of modern leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un may also be debated and discussed.
Moot Court (Grades 9 - 12) Students may have the opportunity to participate in a simulated court or arbitration proceeding. This experience may include drafting a memoranda and participating in an oral argument with fellow peers. WIC parents and/or alumni will facilitate this real world learning experience.
Calgary Court Centre Visit
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Module D: Enrichment Experiences Students may choose to participate in a variety of intensive Liberal Arts experiences.
ENCOUNTERS WITH CANADA — Ottawa ENCOUNTERS WITH CANADA (EWC) is a unique opportunity for Canadian teens to meet other young people from across the country. Spend an adventurefilled week in your nation’s capital. Check out future career options, discover your country, share your hopes and dreams. For 34 years, EWC has delivered a rich and varied, bilingual program. To date, more than 102,000 youth have lived the EWC experience.
Debate Camp Canada • • • • •
Themed visits to explore Arts and culture Democracy and youth International relations Journalism and communications
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Law and our justice system Medicine and health Science and ecology Science and technology Vimy’s coming of age Canada remembers
Debate Camp aims to empower students with the skills of effective communication and teamwork through the avenues of drama, speech and debate. The goal of our program is to create informed and articulate global citizens in a fun and exciting learning environment.
Debate Camp
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LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK
Liberal Arts Awards and Scholarships Creative Writing Award This award of excellence is given to the student who has, in the eyes of the English and French Departments, displayed the greatest talent for creative writing in both the official languages of Canada.TheJane McCoy Shield Donated by a former West Island College teacher and administrator, the Jane McCoy Shield recognizes the student who has achieved the highest combined mark in English 30 and English 35 AP.
The Hildt Family Shield The Hildt Family donated this award to celebrate the student who held the leading average in a combination of social studies and social science courses, and is pursuing social science in post-secondary education.
Jane McCoy Shield Presentation 2019
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Calgary Court House Mock Trial
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LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTE HANDBOOK
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Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Ready. Own Your Future
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