Comox Valley School District 71 (CVSD71) - Highland Secondary School

Highland is located in the town of Comox and surrounded by sports fields, forests, and suburbs. Approximately 650 students from grade eight (8) to twelve (12) attend Highland each year. It is a “neighbourhood” school requiring little transportation time to and from an international student's homestay. A variety of school clubs and sports teams are available. Highland is divided into two school houses which are colour coded blue and gold. All academic courses leading to a BC graduation certificate are offered at Highland. This year Highland is pleased to be hosting 64 students in Grades 8-12 from 14 different countries around the world. Current international students represent Germany, Spain, Mexico, Taiwan, Korea, Austria, Japan, Brazil, Columbia, Nigeria, Thailand, Kenya, Chile, and China. While some students are just at Highland for a short-stay (1-3 months), most are here for a semester, a year, or through to graduation. The international students are encouraged to be involved in all aspects of the school, including extra-curricular activities such as sports teams, clubs, and drama productions. During their time in the Comox Valley, students are given the opportunity to take part in many field trips. These include whale watching trips to Tofino, day trips to Victoria, as well as hiking and skiing at Mt. Washington. While attending Highland students are placed with a host family in the Comox Valley. By living with a local family, students are able to get a true feel for the Canadian way of life. In return, the host family is given an opportunity to learn about another culture and build an international connection of their own. Why Highland Secondary School Course variety: Students at Highland have a wide selection of courses to choose from, including the Arts, Band & Music, Careers, English, Home Economics, Computers, French, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, and Technology Education. Highland also offers an iMaker Program for students passionate about coding, programming, technology, and robotics. The school operates on a linear schedule for grades 8-9 and a semester schedule for grades 10-12. Extracurricular activities: Highland is pleased to offer a number of clubs and activities for students to get involved with, including yearbook, environmental action team, beading circle, gardening club, choir, and robotics, to name just a few. Sports teams include volleyball, soccer, cross country, field hockey, aquatics, basketball, wrestling, ski and snowboarding, mountain bike, track and field, rugby, and golf.