Templeton Secondary School


Templeton Secondary School is a public secondary school located in the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood on the east side of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Its student teams won the SmartAsk competition in 2004, the Junior Reach For The Top provincial championships in 2015 and finished 3rd at the Senior provincial Reach For The Top championships in 2017. The team ranked 6th at the 2017 National tournament. It has also won many awards for drama productions and for student films. Templeton is known for its successful theatre and film programs, regarded as one of the best in British Columbia, its Culinary Arts Program, and its STEM program.

Students

As of 2015, Templeton has approximately 800 students. The student population is a multicultural student body with approximately two-thirds of the students reporting a language other than English as their first language. Over forty languages and dialects are spoken. Of all secondary schools in Vancouver, Templeton has the highest percentage of students born in Canada according to 2010 school district data. Approximately one third of the students report that Chinese is the language spoken at home. First Nations students comprise six percent of the school population. Templeton students span the spectrum of academic abilities, from gifted learners to those with learning difficulties. There is a program for students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and/or autism.

History

Templeton Junior High opened in the fall of 1927, with H. B. Fitch as the first Principal. The name of the school is from William Templeton, a former mayor of Vancouver.
The school's motto, "Pro Bono Omnium", which translates as "For The Good Of All", was chosen in 1927 by Mr. Fitch, the staff, and the students. In 1956, Grade 10 students were added, and in 1963, Grade 11 students were added. In 1964, the first Grade 12 students entered Templeton and it became Templeton Secondary School. In the early 1960s, a science and home economics wing was added, along with a new gymnasium. By 1970, a new library was built. In 1975, the Templeton Park Pool was completed, along with playing fields, a track, tennis courts and sand pits.

Academics

Templeton has a stated goal of building knowledge, acceptance, empathy, and appreciation of Aboriginal peoples' histories. The school has a Sacred Room, a welcoming and comfortable space for all students that celebrates Aboriginal traditions and cultures.

In popular culture

performed in the auditorium for a lunch hour concert as a lead singer for Sweeney Todd in 1978.
Many Hollywood producers and directors have commented that Templeton Secondary School has been one of the best schools in which they have filmed, stating that the students are very respectful to the actors and crew during filming. At times, students are allowed to watch the filming as long as they are quiet on the set. Templeton has been used as a set for a number of productions and presently continues to act as one.