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The students’ gaze turns upward as they brace themselves, covering their ears and excitedly searching for the tiny red, white and navy planes against the stretch of blue sky. Suddenly the roar of the Snowbirds’ engines drown out the high-pitched cheers of the students and teachers, all 800 of them, gathered on the field.

At the beginning of each year, the Snowbirds fly over our school to honour the pilot whom we named it after, Captain Michael VandenBos. He was a Snowbird pilot from Whitby who unfortunately died in 1998. We now honor Michael VandenBos with our amazing sense of school spirit.

VandenBos is a wonderful school which allows every student to reach their fullest potential by offering them many opportunities, not only in the classroom but also in extracurricular activities. From basketball to choir, volleyball to chess club, there’s something for everyone at VandenBos.

We have a yearly musical and also offer lots of activities for younger students at lunch such as floor hockey, and “Whoopwhoop De Do Ball.”

VandenBos is a dual track school, offering both French Immersion and English programs. The teachers at VandenBos are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. They make it their No. 1 priority to help us achieve everything we possibly can. They offer the highest level of education by teaching in fun, fair and interesting ways.

Respect is important to everyone at VandenBos, as we want to make our school as friendly as possible. Every month we focus on new social goals and hold assemblies to celebrate the success of the most respectful students in each class. At VandenBos, we’re a family. VandenBos P.S.

Go Snowbirds Go!

Kirsten Hassall is a Grade 8 student at Captain Michael VandenBos Public School.
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Students dream big at Captain Michael VandenBos


May 26, 2007 By: Lesley Bovie

WHITBY -- At Captain Michael VandenBos Public School, students can’t wait for the first day of classes.

It’s become tradition that the entire school gathers on the front lawn as the Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform a flyby on their way home from the air show at the Canadian National Exhibition.

“That’s a big thrill,” says principal Herman Belmonte. “It’s become the biggest event for the school and neighbours. It sends shivers up your back.”

And every year, the event, which allows students to radio the lead pilot, is attended by the father of the fallen pilot, from whom the school gets its name.

His parents also present an annual memorial award to a student.

Captain Michael VandenBos, a Whitby native, was killed in 1998 during a training exercise just south of Moose Jaw, Sask. He was 29.

His passion for flying and life in general has set a standard for students. Tributes to his memory include “the hangar,” a.k.a. the school’s gymnasium.

Teachers also plan to rename the library, “the tower,” because of its glass ceiling.

Built in 2000, Captain Michael VandenBos P.S. has a staff of 45 teachers, two secretaries, five educational assistants and three custodians.

As for students, the school saw its numbers drop from a whopping 1,100 to the current 800 after the opening of nearby Williamsburg Public School this year. Two-thirds of students are enrolled in the French Immersion program. Numbers are still so large at Captain Michael VandenBos P.S. that often two and three assemblies are held on the same subject just to reach every student.

One of this year’s great successes was the boys’ reading club. Headed up by lead teacher Leslie Koubridis, the club grew its numbers by encouraging boys to read by building model cars and creating comic books -- things very meaningful to them.

Captain Michael VandenBos P.S. will also be represented at the Historica Fair in Ottawa, an event that seeks to revisit an historic event or significant person through a series of displays.

Home to Durham’s junior girls volleyball and basketball champions, Captain Michael VandenBos P.S. also hosts the Sensations, a travelling demonstration skipping team for Jump Rope for Heart in Durham. This May, about 40 students were involved in the production of Annie.

“You name it, we have it here -- from soccer to lacrosse -- every sport you could think of.

“We’ve got a great group of dedicated teachers who run this,” says vice-principal Susan Jasper.