Love Science? Burnaby Schools Have You Covered!

As renowned American astronomer Carl Sagan once said, “Science is more than a body of knowledge. It is a way of thinking.” For students with a passion for science, Burnaby secondary schools offer the right components to take your interest and aptitude to the highest level. From AP and honours courses, to personalised learning programs, to modern lab facilities, Burnaby schools will inspire you to jump into scientific exploration.

Science Superstars Come From Burnaby Schools

William Shen of Burnaby North Secondary is a science superstar. The 17-year-old student is taking his passion for science to university early, and participating in Simon Fraser University’s Concurrent Student Program that allows high achieving students to take university-level courses whilst still attending high school! While he may choose SFU after graduation, Shen has already received early admission to Harvard University.

Burnaby’s AP and Honours Science Courses Offer In-Depth Instruction

AP courses are offered in Physics 12, Biology 12, and Chemistry 12, and, if a certain exam result is achieved, the student can gain university credit for that course. Honours courses in grades 8 through 11 are also offered, which are a requirement for students wishing to take AP courses in grade 12. Honours courses are open to students achieving grades in excess of 80%, and offer enriched coursework. 1,077 students in the Burnaby School District wrote AP exams in 2016.

AP Capstone Diploma Program

Burnaby North and Burnaby South Secondary Schools offer the AP Capstone Diploma Program – giving motivated students the opportunity to take their science study to the highest level in many subject areas, including chemistry, biology, physics 1 and physics 2 – as well as courses in math, computer science, and the humanities. This program consists of Seminar and Research components, with emphasis on oral competency (defending an argument), collaboration, and writing evidence-based arguments. Burnaby AP Capstone graduates have gone on to study at top universities, such as Princeton and Harvard.

Opportunities in Science Abound in Burnaby

There are science clubs in many schools, and Moscrop Secondary even has a science journal to contribute to! Students can take summer science programs at SFU to hone their interests, and get ahead in their learning. Competitions are also available to science enthusiasts. In 2013, Scott Xiao of Burnaby North Secondary won a bronze medal in the International Chemistry Olympiad in Hanoi, Vietnam. He was a silver medalist at the 2015 event, taking place in Azerbaijan. Scott went on to study at Harvard.

Is a Career in Health Care for You? Find Out with the Industry Connect Health Sciences Program

The Health Sciences Program at Moscrop Secondary is offered in conjunction with BCIT, and is open to students entering grades 11 and 12. Students will be exposed to advanced health sciences coursework in physiology and anatomy, along with chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus.

Whether students want to pursue an exciting career in technology, engineering, math, or health sciences, it all starts with innovative science programming in Burnaby schools!