Thursday, October 29, 2009

H.J. Cambie Site Visit


The Steering Committee visited H.J. Cambie Secondary on October 20th. Built in 1995, the new H.J. Cambie campus is part of a larger structure that houses the popular East Richmond Community Centre. We entered the school through the community center wing with a large reception area and displays of school art projects. This area offers Daycare, Dance instruction and recreation area with Pool table, Pingpong tables and fitness centre along with a large gym that is shared with the school. We arrived at the Rotunda social hub with a cafeteria opened for break and lunch.

The main entrance to the school has the office on the right and library on the left. The library is two stories with the research, resource are on the main floor and space for computers, instruction or private study area located in the loft. Large windows line that front entrance from the Library to display new books, resources and student work.

The office area has main entrance and one window that is not used at all. All desks face the main reception desk. Teacher mailboxes are located along the wall at the back of the office. Staff feel this generates unnecessary traffic to the office. The principals and vice-principals offices are down the hall. The principal felt it was to removed from the main office area. The main office connects with the counseling, Learning Resource program and medical room. A freight room is also in this are with an exterior entrance for delivery and shelves for storage. Secured room for student records, the general consensus by staff is the hallway space in the counseling area is a waste of space and work, meeting area should be larger.

Current enrollment is 940 the school was designed for 1200, prior to the new school being built the population reached 1400.The community center coordinators meets monthly with administration to schedule events. The Rotunda has a stage area with curtains, the stage is small, acoustics are poor in the Rotunda area. Administrator would have like a theatre, music, drama department is small, limited storage area for instruments and props.

WiFi is available throughout the school, mini notebooks are common for students to own and use. All classrooms are wider rather than longer, they all have large windows facing interior of building. Staff opinions vary, security concerns have been expressed. Lockers alternate between full and 1/2 full lockers are reserved for grade 12 students however this does not always work out well and limits the number of lockers. The technology department is home to Metal work and wood work programs electrical outlets are extended from the ceiling.

All classrooms provide private work offices for teaching staff and a couple rooms have large sliding doors that lead to the hallway. Teachers in these rooms admit to never using them.
Honeywell installed the heating/cooling system and they have experienced continuous problems with the system. H.J. Cambie offers a First Responder Career Prep program that works directly with paramedics so assist student medical needs. Washrooms are small with only 3 stalls, paper dispensers are not conveniently located at the exit.

Art department has large electrical doors to the outside with caged areas to work in. H.J. Cambie has full use of Tennis Courts, Soccer Field, Football Field, and Baseball Diamond. School has two gyms, one can be divided into two, shared use of the community center gym. Small weight room on upper level. Main gym has mechanical bleachers that store easily and do not restrict gym space. Change rooms for both girls and boys are very small. Exterior door students can exit to fields.

Staff room was large, located on upper level. All walking traffic must pass through Rotunda, some staff would like an alternate route around the exterior of the classrooms for foot traffic. Hallways are wide and students appear to move easily during block rotation.
To see more photos of H.J. Cambie, click here

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