CLUB NAVIGATOR
🚨SD5/SD6 public-school students, click here to apply for a club🚨
Purcell Collegiate School (PCS) sponsors a suite of extra-curricular clubs and activities designed and fostered to create a range of experiential learning opportunities on par with those available only in large, metropolitan cities.
The clubs are open to PCS and local public-school students, ensuring a broad cross-section of participants who share the same interests and goals. The roster of potential clubs for a given school year may include but is not limited to:
- Aviation
- Sustainability
- Robotics
- Ktunaxa Language and Culture
- Civil Engineering
- Social Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Criminology/Forensic Science
- Chinese Language and Culture
- Coding
- Vocal Choir (Glee Club)
- Sports Medicine
- Film Production
- Latin
- Habitat For Humanity
- Musical Theatre
- Pre-Medicine
- Entrepreneurship
- Model United Nations
Club leaders/teachers will be subject-matter experts with tangible lessons, activities, and projects for interested and aspiring students. PCS students who participate in three clubs each year will earn a Club Navigator badge for their college admission portfolio.
For a list of clubs on offer for the 2023-24 school year, please see the summary information below. Interested in becoming a club leader and/or have an idea for a club? Email us with a proposal!
“The crowning fortune of a man is to be born to some pursuit which finds him employment and happiness, whether it be to make baskets, or broadswords, or canals, or statues, or songs.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
CLUB ROSTER (2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR*)
Each week, on two nights per week, students at Purcell Collegiate participate in various clubs that are provided as part of their regular fees. These clubs are also open to Canadian students in the public-school system free of charge per an application process. Club spaces are assigned roughly as follows: 10 spaces to PCS students and 10 spaces to local students. This ensures a vibrant cohort of engaged learners from a broad cross-section of Canadian and international students.
These clubs continue for 8-10 weeks after which time students can rotate into a new club experience. To view the list of clubs and a description of what students will learn, please see below.
Trimester 1: October 3 – November 30 | Trimester 2: December 5 – February 8 | Trimester 3: February 13 – April 18
INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY
Julie-Anne Davies | Trimester 1
In this club, students will learn a wide range of skills that will enable them to thoroughly understand their camera, find their own creative photographic style and accumulate a unique portfolio of images. During this opportunity, they will learn the fundamentals of exposure, composition, natural and on-camera lighting, photographing subjects, landscapes and even the night skies.
They will be given weekly assignments and will receive constructive feedback on their progress at the start of each weekly session. Along the way, they will examine key components of visual storytelling and will have the opportunity to showcase their new skills and images with a final creative project and/or exhibit.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH INNOVATION
Brett Price | Trimester 2
Through participating in this club, students will learn the basics of starting and running your own business. Students will explore topics such as:
- Identifying opportunities and generating ideas
- Conducting market research and validating customer needs
- Developing a business model and a value proposition
- Creating a business plan and a pitch deck (for partners, investors, lenders)
- Financing your venture and managing cash flow
- Marketing your product or service and building a brand
- Managing operations and risks
- Evaluating your performance and learning from feedback
During the club, students will also have the opportunity to work on a group project where students will design and launch a mini-business within our school and/or our community. By the end of this course, students will have gained valuable skills and knowledge that will help them begin the journey to become a successful entrepreneur!
CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Mallin Xiaobei Jiang | Trimester 1
The Chinese Language and Culture Club offers experiential learning opportunities for its community members. Students will develop essential Chinese linguistic skills and enhance their cultural knowledge and appreciation for traditional and contemporary Chinese culture.
Students will enjoy a number of enriching activities such as cuisine tasting, festivals celebrations, music, arts and crafts, as well as games. Through their involvement with team building activities and social events they will engage learning and practice communication skills in a fun and authentic environment.
From time to time, various guest speakers will participate to share in-depth knowledge and insights into different aspects of Chinese culture and society.
Bonus: participation in this club may include the opportunity to travel to China at Spring Break to visit PCS’s sister school in Guangdong.
AVIATION DYNAMICS
Rob McInnis | Trimester 1
Students will learn about many aspects related to aviation. History of aviation as well as communication, weather, safety, various types of aircraft, environmental impacts, careers as well as business, medical and military use of aircraft will all be explored. During this opportunity students will also get to tour the local international airport and learn about airport operations that support aviation.
Each week students will be given some assignments and examine key aspects of aviation as well as various types of aircraft to gain a further understanding of what aviation involves. During the club they will be exposed to new skills and understanding that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives into adulthood.
By the end of this club, students will have gained valuable insights into the role and skills of an aviator by increasing their knowledge of aviation dynamics!
INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURE
George Berry | Trimester 3
Club description coming soon!
KTUNAXA LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Club Leader TBD | Trimester 2
Club description coming soon!
* The final roster of clubs for each trimester is subject to enrollment numbers at Purcell Collegiate School (PCS). PCS reserves the right to postpone or cancel clubs, if/as necessary.
