Frequently Asked Questions
About SMUS FAQs
Yes. All of our 123 teaching faculty have university degrees and almost half hold graduate degrees. Also, all subjects from kindergarten to Grade 12 are taught by subject specialists. Our distinguished staff includes winners of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence, award-winning authors, world-renowned experts and Olympians.
The full enrolment of the school is 930 students from K-12. The Junior School enrolls 152 students, the Middle School, 208 and the Senior School, 570. We have 250 boarders from 20 different countries in Grades 8-10. Our ESL program enrolls 42 students from Grades 8-10.
The school is more interested in helping to change thoughtless or irresponsible behaviour than in punishing by suspension or expulsion. However, in cases where warnings go unheeded or where there is a serious breach of school rules, students may be suspended or expelled. Serious offences include theft, bullying, drugs, smoking and alcohol.
St. Michaels University School is defined by its exceptional academic breadth, integrated leadership curriculum, international community, and outstanding arts, athletics and extracurricular opportunities.
Our students are committed to academic excellence and community involvement. Passionate leaders, skilled musicians, and innovative entrepreneurs are just some of the diverse types of students who thrive in the challenging SMUS environment.
One hundred percent of our graduates attend leading universities within Canada, the US and all over the world. Last year, almost one quarter of our students attended university outside of Canada. Universities accepting our graduates include Dalhousie, Harvard, McGill, Stanford, the University of St. Andrews and Yale.
Admissions Process FAQs
Entrance tests are required for all students applying for Grades 1-12, though tests vary between grades. Applicants to our ESL program often write additional tests.
Several of our past and current parents have volunteered to call, email or meet with potential families about their experience with SMUS. We can also connect students with peers and even arrange for them to spend a day at SMUS. The Admissions office can help connect you with anyone in our school community.
When the application process is complete, the admissions office is able to make an offer of entry for Grades 6-12. Day offers and wait pool decisions for Grades 6-12 are made after January of the year of entry. Boarding offers or wait-pool decisions are made within two weeks of the completion of the applications, regardless of the time of year. Kindergarten offers are made in mid-January of the year of entry, offers for Grades 4 and 5 in February and Grade 1 decisions in April.
Generally, the Admissions office admits 200 students a year, with day students entering kindergarten as well as Grades 4, 6, 8 and 9 and boarding students joining us in Grades 8-12. Occasionally, there are offers made in the remaining grades in order to fill spaces due to attrition.
Our wait pool is a group of candidates that we consider to be ready to join our school, but for whom we do not currently have space. If your child is in our wait pool, we will contact you if a space becomes available.
Yes. SMUS does not register students who are or will be 19 years of age or over in their graduating year.
Generally, the Admissions office admits 200 students a year, with day students entering kindergarten as well as Grades 4, 6, 8 and 9 and boarding students joining us in Grades 8-12. Occasionally, there are offers made in the remaining grades in order to fill spaces due to attrition.
In general, all applications should be submitted before the end of February of the year of entry. For example, if a student was hoping to begin at SMUS in September of 2011, their application should be received before March 1, 2011. If applying to ESL, the deadline would be February 28, 2011. Kindergarten applications must be received by December 15 of the year before entry, but it is highly recommended to apply earlier.
Boarding FAQs
Students can have a personal computer in their boarding residence after they finish their first semester of Grade 10, provided both their academic standing and standard of behavior are high. All Grade 11 and 12 students may have personal computers.
Boarding students are expected to return home or travel during Christmas and spring break. However, students can arrange home stays with other students and their families.
The school provides generous vacation time throughout the year. Students are expected to be present for all academic and examination days. Special permission to be absent during the academic days can only be granted by the Director of the school.
Yes. Boarding students are allowed to go home for the weekend provided they have the permission of their house parents. Typically, boarders cannot go home the first weekend of the school year and the weekends after longer holidays.
How much additional money a student will need depends on what they do outside of school hours. Typically, parents set up an allowance through the school that ranges from $15-30 a week. This is used to cover entertainment as well as off-campus meals.
Yes. The school sends a bus to the airport at set times on long weekends. We also have arranged for our local airport shuttle service, Akal Airporter, to pick up and drop off students on campus. Every Friday, the school runs a shuttle to the ferry terminal (Swartz Bay – Tsawwassen).
Almost every weekend, boarding students can partake in an array of activities. Last year, students went skiing and zip-lining, played laser tag and paintball, and went to attractions in town, such as movies or the Royal BC Museum.
Students meet their roommates when they arrive for school in September.
BC Medical coverage begins three months into the school year, if the application is approved. For the first three months of the year, either boarding services can set-up temporary private coverage or incoming boarders should arrive with private coverage for the interim months.
Financial FAQs
Neither the application fee nor the registration fee is refundable.
Yes. Applications for financial assistance are made using the services of Financial Aid for Student Tuition (FAST). See the Financial Assistance section under Affording SMUS for more information and for application deadlines.
Boarding fees cover the costs of living in residence, food, housecleaning, laundry services, House outings, transportation to school events, as well as travel to all-boarders outings. Fees also cover access to the on-campus fitness centre and gymnasium.
The average cost per month for a day student is $100/month, which covers campus shop purchases, on-campus meals and bus transportation. All additional expenses are optional, with transportation costs being between $20-$50/month and Brown Hall meals constant at $6 per meal. Average cost per month for a boarding student is $300/month,which covers phone, medical coverage and spending money. All students have optional expenses including international school trips, ski weekends, surfing weekends and concerts
Student Life FAQs
Yes. Many students challenge themselves with higher level courses as well as through our Advanced Placement program, which includes 24 subjects. Many of our Grade 12 students even take university classes while still at our school.
Yes. Most trips take place during Christmas vacation and Spring Break and focus on language, culture, service, athletics and music. Most years, the Middle School will offer two international trips and the Senior School will offer six to eight. This year, our students will be going to countries such as India, England and Kenya.
Our University Counselling Office has four full-time staff counsellors to assist all our Senior School students on their paths to post-secondary education. Each student creates their portfolio and plan for life after SMUS and the counsellors provide invaluable support and advice from beginning to the end of the process. 100% of our students are eligible to attend university upon graduation and they have expert help and guidance along the way.
All students have the option to join any team, club, or activity. In some cases, there are auditions and tryouts if space is limited. The Senior School offers over 60 clubs and 15 athletics teams throughout the year. The Middle School also has a wide variety of clubs and councils that are open to all students.
We want our prospective students to have the opportunity to meet with our current students. Our Student Ambassadors are students who have volunteered to welcome all applicants to the school. They can give you a campus tour during your visit or answer your questions through email or webinars. They are also around at receptions and admissions events such as Open House. Please contact the Admissions office if you would like to get in touch with a Student Ambassador.
The Senior School offers a variety of competitive and recreational sports throughout the year, depending on the time of year, grade and gender. See our athletics section for full details.
Each year, we admit over 200 students and as many as 30 will enter one grade. Many of our current students joined the school within the past few years and all students go out of their way to welcome our newcomers to the school. Compassion and support are a huge part of our school community.
