Villanova College

• Year of foundation: 1999
• Location: King City, Ontario, Canada
• Age of students: 8+
• Number of students: 500+
• Language of instruction: English
• Type of education: private school.

Villanova College in King City, Ontario, is an independent Catholic school for boys and girls under the protectorate of an Augustinian convent in King City. It is the only educational institution in Canada to become a member of the Augustinian Association of Secondary Education and receive funding from the Augustinian Order.

Like other Catholic educational institutions, Villanova aims to provide all students with a strong spiritual and academic foundation, to teach them to make vital decisions with an emphasis on science and faith, preparing children for everyday life outside of school. For hundreds of years, Augustinian education has been valued for its focus on human dignity and respect for the contribution of each person to the improvement of the world, preparing students for leadership, embodying positive changes.

The history of the college is rooted in the rich history of religious education. The first schools of Augustinians on the continent appeared in the 40s of the XIX century. Villanova College began as a small group of independent teaching of children the Law of God and developed into one of the best and most promising educational institutions in Canada, offering academic programs for children and adolescents of different ages and levels of education.

In 1998, St Thomas Catholic School decided to open a branch in Villanova, and the following year the first set of schoolchildren sat at their desks, coinciding with the reform of secondary education in Ontario. At the same time, the college gained independence, and in 2000 moved to a new campus in Marileyke. Three years later, the school found a permanent home, but the development did not stop there - after the first new building for 14 classes, equipped with a dining room and a sports hall, several more facilities were opened, which significantly expanded the capabilities of the educational institution.

The House system is a long-standing British tradition, and schools in many countries have also adopted this practice, originally originated by boarding schools, where students ate, drank and slept in separate dormitories or buildings, which contributed to the establishment of closer horizontal ties.

Villanova College also has a system of Houses – it includes four houses, each of which is named after the saint revered by the Augustinians: St. Augustine, St. Monica, St. Nicholas and St. Rita. Houses participate in the annual competition for the school prize; the culmination of the competition is the annual Olympic Games between the faculties. At the head of each house is a dean, as well as headmen and prefects appointed from among high school students. Such a system helps to strengthen the sense of identity and belonging, gives opportunities for leadership and a sense of tradition.

The college was originally named after St. Thomas Thomas of Villanova, an Augustinian Spaniard born in Ciudada Real in 1488 and appointed Archbishop of Valencia in 1544. This outstanding figure successfully renewed his diocese and received the honorary nickname "Father of the Poor", since he transferred 2/3 of the income of his diocese to the needs of the poor. There are other Augustinian educational institutions named after this saint:

• Villanova College in Brisbane, Australia;
• Villanova Preparatory School in California;
• Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

All these educational institutions are completely independent and are not interconnected by anything other than the Augustan Charter.

International students are not provided with dormitory services, but students can use the help of a accommodation agency or find accommodation on their own. Upon request, the college also provides a list of accredited host families.

Villanova proclaims as her goal the education of comprehensively developed children, and the traditions of St. Augustine are aimed at the formation of personality in a comprehensive way - in terms of intelligence, mental component, physical, social and spiritual. This is possible through a combination of academic and extracurricular activities, formal and informal methods that form a unique educational environment.

Therefore, the college has prepared a wide range of extracurricular activities for its pets. Among the most popular clubs, programs, associations and initiatives are:

• Arts Club,
• Badminton Club,
• Chess Club,
• Debate Society,
• Society for Environment and Nature,
• Esports League,
• Hockey matches on Fridays,
• Game model of the court hearing,
• Climbing wall
• Musical theatre production,
• Ski Club,
• Strategic Board Games Club,
• Venture Innovations

Great importance is attached to the aesthetic side of the formation of personality, in college for students interested in music, dozens of possibilities are open, lying both in the vocal and instrumental plane. The basic curriculum also allows you to earn credits for instrumental music.

Other facilities include groups and choirs, as well as a theatre arts club. The participation of schoolchildren in the productions allows a look at the world. Each student can participate in productions regardless of the field in which – stage, script, technical or organizational – his talents are manifested.

Another direction is visual art. Teachers and guest masters help students develop their skills in creating works of art and their presentation, introducing them to classical works and new ideas, the process of creative search and experimentation. Starting in Grade 9, students can also earn fine arts credits.

• Academic rigor, which sets the vector of admission to the university for adolescents, the key to which is the outstanding experience of successful teachers, mentors, educators;
• Commitment to the ideals of the Catholic faith, encouraging one to improve in matters of religion both through lessons and outside the school;
• A combination of outstanding and dedicated educators, the values of the Order of St. Augustine, the love of learning, effective modern teaching and communication skills;
• A compact, safe and caring school community that builds friendships and collaborations between families, students and faculty on and off campus;
• Caring and attentive staff;
• Excellent classrooms, laboratories and other premises saturated with modern technological solutions.
• Strong programs of extracurricular activities, among which the most important are art and athletics.

The college's campus is located on 53 acres of land in King City, Ontario. The buildings are equipped with modern equipment that allows students to succeed, and teachers - to use modern multimedia content in teaching.

The advantageous location next to Toronto allows you to enjoy the benefits of the neighborhood with a large modern metropolis and at the same time enjoy your studies in the silence of the rural pastoral, among the picturesque forests, meadows and streams of one of the most beautiful corners of Canada.

Along with a magnificent library, numerous laboratories and modern classrooms, the college can offer its pets other infrastructure - sports, recreational, entertainment. On campus is the Villanova Sports Centre, one of the best sports facilities of any ontario high school, both public and independent.

This complex includes:

• 4 NCAA-compliant basketball courts;
• 3 volleyball courts;
• Modern fitness center;
• Running track for 200 meters;
• 12 badminton courts
• 4 spacious changing rooms;
• A grandstand for 400 spectators.

The total area of the building is over 4000 square meters, and the ceiling height exceeds 13 meters, which makes the center an ideal platform for sports competitions of various levels. Also on campus are two grass fields for rugby and football and Frankie De Gasperis high-end natural grass fields that meet the requirements of international top-class competitions.

For each student upon admission, a non-refundable payment of 3000 $CAD is made. This payment is considered a voluntary charitable contribution directed to the capital program for the development of the school. The payment is charged for the first and second child from the same family.

For the convenience of students, the college has organized six daily school bus routes connecting the campus with such localities as Aurora, Bolton, Caledon, King City, Kleinburg, Maple, Nobleton, Palgrave, Richmond Hill and Woodbridge. The cost of the transport program in both directions is 2850 $CAD per year.

For admission, applicants must provide the following documents:

• Completed application form and non-refundable registration fee = $150;
• Final annual report cards for the last three school years;
• Report card for the current academic year (if any);
• Copy of birth certificate or passport;
• Current photo of the applicant;
• Results of the Secondary School Entrance Examination (SSAT);
• Letters of recommendation from teachers or school principals.

Grades 4, 5, and 6 applicants must also take internal exams in math, language, and writing. Grades 7, 8, 9 must pass the High School Entrance Exam (SSAT) at school, home, or any authorized testing center.

Admission to the college is carried out on a competitive basis. The decision is made on the basis of an analysis of previous academic achievements, extracurricular activities, learning skills and attendance information, and the results of entrance exams.

The College offers applicants a variety of forms of support for students, entrants and graduates:

• Introductory scholarships addressed to new students entering grades 7 and 9. They are appointed on the basis of the results of entrance examinations, academic achievements in the previous school, behavior and diligence. The scholarship is awarded one-time, its amount is 2500 $CAD.
• The Beth Will and Terry Fox Scholarship is addressed to second-year students. It is awarded to boys and girls who have demonstrated during their first year of study unparalleled leadership qualities, academic performance and commitment to learning, sports and corporate values of the college. Amount – 2000 $CAD;
• Bernadette Ewan Scholarship for needy students who have shown exemplary study, academic performance, demonstrated outstanding achievements in the field of extracurricular activities, sports, art, discipline and strength of character.

In addition, a number of scholarships are offered for graduates:

• Villanova College Award for Theatre and Performing Arts,
• Villanova College Award for Fine Arts,
• Alumni Award for Merit and Scholarship,
• Catholic Student Award,
• Villanova Parents Association Award,
• Knights of Columbus Scholarship,
• Vito Giovannetti Memorial Scholarship,
• Carol Annibale Ovarian Cancer Foundation Award,
• Giuseppina Gurreri Memorial Prize,
• St. Joseph's Award for Academic Endurance,
• Sean MacDonald Memorial Prize and Fellowship,
• McDonald's Family Award,
• Livio Leonardelli Memorial Prize,
• Villanova College Academic Scholarships,
• President's Award for Academic Excellence,

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision