Our Students
Borden is enriched by its perse ethno-cultural and multilingual population. Students attending Borden are from over 45 countries. Nearly one third of our students speak a language other than English in their homes. We celebrate in our persity and use this strength to promote acceptance and global citizenship. Elementary feeder schools include Greenbank Middle School, Frank Ryan Elementary School and Hillel Academy. Some students from outside our community attend Borden for our special programs. Typically, more than 88% of our graduates continue their studies at university or college.
Our Staff
Our 65 highly educated and committed teachers and 20 dedicated administrative and support personnel are the school’s foundational resources. SRB Staff draw from their wide range of interests to support both the learning environments of the classroom and extracurricular activities. Borden supports teacher education by hosting and mentoring a number of student teachers from Ontario universities.
Our Community
Parents and Community
The school is located in the heart of a well-established residential community which includes Arlington Woods, Centrepointe, Craig Henry and Graham Park. Housing in the area is primarily a mixture of single-family homes and rental townhouses. Most of our students live within walking distance of the school.
Sir Robert Borden High School works closely with students and parents and with the wider community to achieve our mission. The Sir Robert Borden School Council meets in our library on six Tuesdays during the school year at 7p.m. Details are available on the school website. Parental involvement is an invaluable resource in providing support and direction for our community school. Parent and community members also offer volunteer support of extracurricular activities such as student clubs and sports.
Mission Statement
The students and staff of Sir Robert Borden are dedicated to creating an environment in which learning is highly valued. Our goal is to inspire learning in all students while promoting well-being, creativity, critical thinking and leadership.
Programs and Services
Academic Programs
Most of our students take courses at the academic level and are on a pathway toward a post-secondary University or College education. SRB offers a complete academic program with enrichment courses in Science, English, and Math. An advanced placement (AP) course in Calculus is offered. We also provide opportunities for our students to follow other pathways. Examples of alternate pathways include: cooperative education, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, and OCDSB Focus Programs (house building, landscape & design, cabinet making, manufacturing & graphic design).
Students enrolled in French Immersion may complete the requirements for the Immersion Certificate. SRB also offers French proficiency testing through France's Ministry of National Education (DELF testing).
SRB offers an extensive Cooperative Education program wherein students earn credits and valuable workplace experience. Past placements have included: Ottawa Heart Institute, T.V., Italian Cuisine, automotive service, automotive body repair, architectural firms, emergency services, and event planning services. Other specialty programs include: International Languages, Outdoor Education, Fitness, Broad-based Technology, Computer Science, and Fine Arts. Borden is the site for two OCDSB Specialist High Skills Major programs: (1) Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services; and (2), Architectural Design. For college-bound students we typically offer 1 or 2 “Dual Credit” courses that students earn a college credit in addition to a high school credit for the same course. Complete 4-year programs offered from the Music Department include: traditional music, vocals, and keyboarding.
Sir Robert Borden has had a rich tradition of success and participation in curricular and extracurricular areas of Physical Education over the years. The school's curricular program offers students the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of courses in either English or Immersion French. Students can choose from regular Physical Education, Personal Fitness, Outdoor Education and Exercise Science programs. To complement these programs the school has invested heavily in upgrading the school's fitness center which is now second to none in the city.
Classroom Organization
Sir Robert Borden is a large semestered school with four 75 minute periods that provides flexibility in course offerings and credit attainment. Students in grades 9,10, and 11 take 8 credits per year. Senior students can slightly reduce their course workload as appropriate.
Every Friday, the entire school participates in DEAR (Drop Everything and Read). This program encourages reading proficiency and enjoyment - key traits of a lifelong learner.
SRB has school-wide wireless internet access and well equipped computer labs. Borden promotes the curriculum-directed use of student-based devices. SRB has five Smart boards (in Math & Social Science) and most classrooms are equipped with a digital projector. Elmo document cameras and Mobi Clicker technology are used in many classes.
Our Social Science Department encourages self-directed learning through Constructivist learning practices. This method of learning is used in all grade 10 history classes and is employed by several teachers in the department at all grade levels.
Special Education and ESL Programs
The Special Education team at SRB supports and serves students with varied learning needs. These students benefit from a continuum of services including in-class support, resource assistance, technology support, and learning strategies courses. Our school is one of three OCDSB sites with a Learning Disabilities Program. As well, we are home to 12 Autistic students integrated at various levels. Although SRB does not offer an ESL program, this year we hosted 30 international students from 9 countries wherein English is not a primary language.
Clubs and Activities
Student involvement is promoted by an active Students’ Council and the Athletic Association. We have a number of clubs in the school, including: Key Club now connected to Amnesty International, the Ski and Snowboard Clubs, Anime Club, AV Team, Fitness Club, B.A.S.E. (Borden Active Students for the Environment), Gay-Straight Alliance, the Dramatic Society, Jewish Culture Club, Christian Club, Jazz Band, Muslim Prayer Group, Multicultural Club, and Link Club. Our school also offers intramurals, a fitness club, archery club, yoga, and gym activities.
We promote active and healthy lifestyles through the LIVE-IT-UP program (sponsored by the City of Ottawa), an on-site Sexuality Clinic, and fitness-related programs.
Extracurricular athletics are offered in a wide variety of sports spanning 30 teams. With the help of dedicated coaches these teams have regularly been competitive and commonly make playoffs. Recently, Borden teams competed at OFSAA in baseball, tennis, cross- country, track, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, and badminton. Borden has developed a reputation as a basketball school; in the last eleven years, the school has represented the city 5 years at provincial championships.
Students have the opportunity to display their talents and achievements in drama productions, visual arts displays and music performances. An international travel and cultural experience is generally offered to students. In the past, students have traveled Ghana, Paris, Belize, New York and Ecuador.
Safe Schools Initiatives
At Sir Robert Borden, our aim is to create a positive school climate that is a safe and harmonious environment for learning. We base our school practices on the principles of character development, progressive discipline and restorative justice. We nurture the self- esteem and self-discipline of each student through shared responsibility of families, students, and staff. Other safe schools initiatives include: First Aid/CPR/AED Training, Self-Defense Training, Anti-Bullying Campaign, Character Development, Equity Committee, Diversity Club, Gay-Straight Alliance, and Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving. A positive school climate is also promoted through Student Council activities, our School Resource Officer, student assemblies and conferences, and an on-site Rideauwood counselor.
Facilities and Resources
The 650-seat John Henderson Auditorium at SRB is a focal point for special school related activities. A large library houses an extensive collection of books as well as additional computers for inpidual work and internet access. The library is open every day at 8:30 am and after school every day so students can complete research, homework, and assignments. The school’s well equipped music facility, fitness centre, new gym floor, and communications labs provide programs designed to meet the evolving needs of our students.