The Collège Saint-Charles-Garnier, founded by Jesuit fathers in 1635, is a private high school offering a generalist, balanced education for students between 12 and 17 years of age. After the five-year secondary school program, students are prepared for college and university studies in Canada and abroad. The Collège is not just a school; it is a whole way of life for students. Their personalities develop under the tutelage of teachers and grade supervisors. The students' academic education is complemented by after-school sports, and socio-cultural and community activities. Now, as always, the Collège Saint-Charles-Garnier continues to pursue high educational standards, in keeping with the Jesuit school tradition. It is of the utmost importance that the Collège offers students and their parents a warm and safe educational and social context. A team of professionals ensures that students are integrated into their personal, social, as well as academic lives. We pay special attention to intercultural differences, particularly during school focus groups. At Saint-Charles-Garnier, we plan your stay as if it were our own, with loving care and attention to detail!

The Collège is renowned for the quality of its science curriculum. Thanks to enriched study programs, graduates go on to further success at university and in their careers. The Collège also offers obligatory arts and music programs. Its musical ensembles and theatrical groups are known for their artistic achievements. Lastly, student leadership is particularly encouraged through community activities. This diversified educational program leads to the Saint-Charles-Garnier Diploma of Excellence. The Collège is also renowned for its French summer immersion program. The Collège's Ateliers de langues has been offering courses to Canadian and international students aged 14 to 18 for more than 30 years.

Lodging: International students attending the Collège during the regular school year live with host families and participate in their daily activities. These are rigorously chosen by Collège administrators. In many cases, one of the family's children already attends the Collège. In addition, we try to house the student in a neighbourhood near the Collège. Please note that the school is located only a few kilometres from downtown Quebec City and the city transportation service is safe and efficient. Full room and board is included in the total cost.

Extracurricular Activities: The Collège offers facilities for any number of sports, recreational, and physical education activities, including a 400-metre track, a football and soccer field, and tennis courts. Inside the Collège are two gymnasiums and a recreation area. Two sports programs are offered: group intramural sports are practiced daily, at lunchtime and after class; and inter-school sports are offered for boys and girls in basketball, badminton, soccer, rugby, football, and track and field.

After school activities bring together students who wish to participate in non-academic activities. The activities are organized by recreation staff and run by young coaches. For example: Junior and Senior Band; Computer Club; Stage Band; Electronics Club; Theatre Troupe; Outdoors Club; "Reach for the Top"; Track and Field Club; Chess Club; School Radio; Student Credit Union Lunch Club (hospital visits); and English Conversation Club.

Computer Lab: The Collège is equipped with networked multi-media Pentium computers running Windows 95. Besides scheduled computer courses, students may also use these for doing homework, e-mail, word-processing, document and image editing, and navigating the Internet.

Activities: The Jean-Paul-Tardif Auditorium seats 650 people. Its stage, complete with technical equipment, is ideal for plays and music concerts, as well as for showing films and hosting speakers. Students also have access to a dramatic arts room, an audio-visual studio, and a professional recording studio. The student lounge, with its student café, is occasionally used as a cabaret.

The Collège Saint-Charles-Garnier is accredited by the Council of Education Ministers, Canada (CMEC) for its summer second-language bursary programs. It is also a member of the Association québécoise des écoles de français (AQEF) and of the Council of Second Language Programs in Canada (CSLPC). More recently, the Collège began a reciprocal agreement with the Instituto tecnológico de estudios superiores de Monterrey (ITESM-prepa Monterrey) in Mexico. In Canada, the Collège administers an English summer immersion program in Victoria, British Columbia.

The Collège has participated in student exchange programs for over 30 years. We welcome students from all over Canada, as well as Mexico, Germany, and Australia, for stays ranging from one week to three months. Our students visit these countries for the same period of time. As well, the Program for French as a Second Language receives students from Canada, the United States, Latin America, Germany, and Spain for five weeks every summer. Supervision: International students are integrated into the class, which corresponds to their educational level. They must conform to certain standards of behaviour required by the Collège. In order to facilitate their integration into the school and the surrounding community, students dialogue regularly with those in charge of the international program; student needs, preoccupations, and comments are taken seriously and their progress both at school and in their new environment is carefully monitored. Supplemental French courses will be offered, as required.

The person in charge of international programs, Ms. Marie Godbout, receives visitors in groups or individually, by request. Visits on Saturdays are by appointment only. Visits during the month of July may be decreased, due to administrators' vacations.

The administrative framework of the Collège includes 2 directors, one for the junior high school (secondary 1 to 3) and one for the senior high school (secondary 4 and 5). The directors offer front-line support for students experiencing difficulties with schoolwork, personal life, or adapting to the school environment. Other professionals who assist the students are the pastoral (religious) advisor, recreational monitors, and a career counsellor. Those responsible for the international program are, of course, available at all times to meet with international students and to help them integrate both academically and socially. Diplomas: The fourth and fifth years of secondary education lead to the Secondary School Diploma awarded by the Ministry of Education and to the Saint-Charles-Garnier Diploma of Excellence, awarded to students who master the following: academic achievement; intercultural and linguistic achievement; cultural, artistic, and scientific achievement; health sciences and sports; and community involvement. All these aspects ensure that students receive a well-rounded, international education. After their secondary schooling, students are prepared to enter any field of study at a Canadian or international college or university.