*This review is for the Lord Byng theater venue only, not for the school per se, FYI*…read more Yesterday I visited this school to attend a play being held in the theater auditorium. This school's been around for a long time (1925), so I'm surprised there aren't any reviews for this facility or venue! Overall, I was quite impressed with the features here, to accommodate a play production, especially since this is an older school (I've visited a few newer Vancouver schools, like Carson Graham Secondary in North Van, and their theater room is much larger and modern, with many more contemporary features for lighting and sound and a HUGE stage, but more commonly, I've seen MUCH less accommodating theater rooms in older Vancouver schools, where the stages are small and the sets and lighting features are incredibly antiquated - or nonexistent). The facility here at Lord Byng is older, yes, but everything worked and the auditorium was quite ample (not sure what the max occupancy is here but it was more than enough for the purposes of most school's drama departments and show-goers). I liked how there was a separate entrance for the theater "wing" off Crown Street, and there is a small lobby with a concession stand to buy snacks (nice!). The seats in the theater auditorium were comfortable, and the stage was fairly large and deep. Lighting and sound/acoustics were great. The only quibble I had with the actual theater concerned the banking or gradation of the rows of seats; they didn't seem engineered properly to maximize individuals' views of the stage. I think the seat rows should have been on more of a grade, as many of us in our party had semi-obstructed views due to the people seated in front of us (and they weren't that tall, either!). I had to crane my neck at times to see what was going on on stage. Other than that, this venue was great for a drama troupe to put on a production! Bonus: tons of free parking in the area. Can't beat that.

I think SSV is a very comfortable and friendly school. At first I'm shy but teachers helped me…read morerelax and encouraged me to speak. Before, I've never met such kind and nice teachers but in this school, i met them. So I am happy. I am satisfied with the class lessons because writing, speaking, reading, listening are studied. Giving me a lot of opportunities. The school is clean and there are a lot of computers. Everyday we have various activities we can attend with our friends. My friend graduated a month ago and her English skills improved a lot. Our teacher taught us a lot. Thank you Sol Schools Vancouver!

A foreign student wanna to make bad review of the highly respected school, eventhough that person…read morehas a very low level of English (see that review coment with foul words, grammar, vocabulary, etc...).

This school destroy the students and put them on lower levels it's too bad for the international…read morestudents please don't come if you new. I swear to god I was in another school in Vancouver and they put me on grade 10 regular on math here they put me as ELL 3 and the grade 10 regular was easy for me and that ELL is bullshits it's like the grade 5 and i'm 17 i talked to the couselair who should listen and help me he said i have no power and the teacher doesn't even respond.

Most of the structure of this former junior high school and later adult education centre has been…read moredemolished. A small office section for the District remains. The playing fields, particularly the grass field, are well maintained except for a couple of holes in the fence, where dogs and people can sneak onto the grass. (The grass field is open by reservation only and has a nice surface for rugby, soccer and softball.) The lighted compact gravel fields are sometimes used for youth soccer practice, but can get pretty soggy after heavy rains. Lots of people bring their dogs up to the gravel fields to play and roam off leash. There are some nice trails that lead down to and along McKay Creek, which dogs and people enjoy. I also appreciate the parking and the garbage bins where I can dispose of dog poo. Every dog owner I have met has been very friendly as are the fans who watch the sports.

My school day memories continue -- heading to 'Junior High School' years now…read more Part 2 -- John Norquay Elementary School, Vancouver, BC -- grade 7, plus, first semester of grade 8 - while waiting for Gladstone Secondary School to be ready to accommodate more 'Junior High School' level students. I arrived at 'John Norquay School' at age 11, to start grade 7, a touch after classes had already started in September that year (1951), and found myself getting the -- "heh class, we have a new student with us now" -- introduction treatment for the first couple of days! For a shy guy, being singled out like this was a little "yikes", a touch disturbing, but soon forgotten, and I was able to make friends, and settle in rather quickly. Wow! it was grade 7 - and with the classes being held in an elementary school, we were truly 'the' seniors there!! I recall having some fine, much-liked, and respected teachers while there, and some wonderful classmates, several of whom became long-lasting, close friends over many years ahead. Some personal memories: - location - on Slocan, just a couple of short blocks away from Kingsway - at the time, a vibrant shopping district of many small, retail stores, restaurants, goods & services -- a very short walk, almost directly 'up' from where I lived on Clarendon Street. - I was on 'half-shift' for the first part of grade 8 - playing 'yards' (a football-like game) in the playground before classes started in the afternoon was a fun activity. - "jawbreakers" (and other kinds of 'penny' candy), and bubble gum packets of baseball & hockey cards, purchased at the confection store across the street - and the trading of cards with friends, and classmates. - burgers & hot dogs at 'Harry's' (on Kingsway, a few shops up from Slocan) - well-known for his wonderful sauce, and tasty 'combo' (wiener + meat patty) burger. - found a grade 7 class photo (1952). I was at 'John Norquay' for an especially short time - relative to my total school years - but the school made for such big, and long-lasting memories! And although I changed schools, the district remained my home for the second semester of grade 8, and through grades 9 - 12. My only 'close' to visits to 'John Norquay School' since then, have been frequent drives by the school, either on the way to YVR, or restaurants on Kingsway, and other nearby areas. It has always looked as I recall, and has triggered many fond memories with each of these passing glances!

very good school very clean very good stuff and very professional teachers and everything really…read moreorganize highly recommended

Great school. It was very cool and noice. New building is cool. It is a little overcrowded but it…read moreis great. Noice curriculum. This is like the second review of this school or something

My experience at school and at home, from 1967-8 to 1976 was a nightmare. It's a miracle I lived to…read morebe a senior. I was tormented and sexually abused at home only to be bullied by students who called me names like Sybil', for the Sally Fields movie about a girl who was horrifically abused, like me, dismissed and even bullied by teachers who ignored my tear, and calling me selfish for crying. I'm writing this in hopes to find someone my brother had told about my sexual humiliation at the hands of my Narcissistic mother's boyfriend so that I can finally have closure, therapy and to move on. A witness. And to everyone who thought it was funny to sign a petition that says "If you hate Tammy Siple sign here", which caused me to snap and give the child who wrote it a goose egg, as her mother called it, by slamming her with the door while I made my escape, I forgive you.

I suspect it is a part of getting old, but I have sure been getting into moods of recalling…read morememories of past times lately. Bringing memories of my 'school days' to the fore, has been a fun, and challenging 'historical' adventure. Thought I would share some 'when' and 'where' of those years. Part 1 -- Hastings Elementary School, Vancouver, BC -- grades 1 through 6. I started grade 1 at age 5 (in 1945). At that time, I had to 'qualify' first, via an in-person test (I assume, designed and administered by the School Board), to be able to do so that September, as my 6'th birthday was not until December. I had not done, and never did any any kindergarten Yikes, I had to face a school test, and had not even got into a school as yet!! But yeah, all went well, and I passed!! And was off to 'Hastings School' to attend grade 1 that September. I remained a student there each year after, and completed grade 6 at age 11 (in 1951). Some personal memories: - walking to/from school each day, catching/absorbing the sights & sounds of my first 'hood' along the way - I lived on Turner Street, and had a few blocks to walk to school. - taking a large bag of 'marbles' (glass, agate, and otherwise), and playing various games centered around them, out in the playground during the early years there, was a fun thing to do. In the field, soccer was 'the' thing for the sports types. - had a big 'crush' on my grade 3 teacher! - found 1947 (grade 2) and 1949 (grade 4) class photos -- ouch!! 'Hastings Elementary School', located within what is now called the 'Hastings Sunrise' area of east Vancouver, provided my first taste of school -- and I really enjoyed my childhood years there.