St. Michaels University School (abbreviated SMUS[1]) is an independent day and boarding school in the municipality of Saanich, the largest and most populous municipality in the Capital Regional District and on Vancouver Island. Previous headmasters include Robert Snowden (1995-2017), David Penaluna (1988–94) and John Schaffter (1977–88).[2]
In 1906, University School was founded by Capt. R. V. Harvey, the Rev. W. W. Bolton and J. C. Barnacle. Four years later, in 1910, K. C. Symons founded St. Michael's School. St. Michael's School was unusual for its relatively large number of local day students for the period (as contrasted with University School's large number of boarders).
Facing financial difficulties and the death of its headmaster in 1970, University School merged with St. Michael's in 1971 to become St. Michaels University School. In 1973, the school began to enrol grade 1 and 2 students for the first time. In 1978, girls were accepted as day and boarding students in grades 10–12 for the first time,[3] and the school began the process of becoming fully coeducational in 1985. A major expansion of the campus also began in 1985.[4] In 1993, SMUS's boarding houses were renamed after the school's six founders: Bolton, Harvey, Winslow, Timmis, Symons, and Barnacle.[5]
There are currently six houses: The houses are named after the headmasters and founders of the school.
Barnacle
Bolton
Harvey
Timmis
Symons
Winslow
The Senior School houses are only for boarding students who become a member of one of the houses when starting at SMUS and it becomes their place of residence and community throughout their time at the school.
The average number of APs taken by SMUS students ranks first in the country across all schools as of 2012. The record for most APs taken and completed by a single student is 15. In terms of average mean grades, SMUS students achieved an average of 3.68, which was higher than the global average of 2.92. Of the 650 exams across 25 different AP subjects taken by 245 SMUS students, 81% of them received grades of three or higher on the five point scale, which was also higher than the worldwide rate of 59% achieving grades of three or higher.[6]
The motto of University School was "Mens sana in corpore sano," which means, "A healthy mind in a healthy body."[7] St. Michael's School had the motto "Nihil Magnum Nisi Bonum," or, "Nothing is great unless it is good."
The current motto of St. Michaels University School is "Vivat!", or "Long live the school!" This ties into the school's song, "Vivat - Universitas!", written by Capt. R. V. Harvey originally for University School. The school uses "Vivat!" when cheering on a team.
Mike Pyke – Former professional rugby union player with Edinburgh (Celtic League) and Montauban (French Top 14), currently professional Australian Rules Football Player with the Sydney Swans
Gareth Rees – Former captain of the Canadian national rugby union team[11]
^Lobel, Ben (5 January 2009). "How oil man Sam Malin spends his millions". growthbusiness.co.uk. Bonhill Group plc. Retrieved 11 July 2020. Less "out there" but equally random is Malin's award-winning collection of cacti.
