Four Strands Collingwood emphasizes a concept known as the Four Strands. The Four Strands are Academics, Athletics, Service, and the Arts. It is compulsory to participate in the Four Strands and many extracurricular activities are offered to fulfill the requirements. Students are recognized by awards known as grade colours and school colours if they excel in any of the four categories. All students participate in Academics, Arts, Athletics and Service, the fundamental components of The Four Strands which are essential to a good education and the growth of a well-rounded citizen. Collingwood Certificate The Collingwood Certificate program is a set of higher standards in addition to the BC Ministry of Education's requirements. The Collingwood Certificate program accompanies the unique Four Strands approach at Collingwood School. The Collingwood Certificate challenges students with respect to academic achievement, compulsory athletic participation, continued arts enrollment, participation in community service, the graduation portfolio, and overall citizenship at the school. Upon graduation, the Collingwood Certificate diploma is awarded to all those that meet the requirements. Debating & Public Speaking Collingwood has a highly successful debating and public speaking program, which has won dozens of provincial, national and international tournaments. The program's alumni include World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships champion Sarah Mortazavi (Grad '05) and two-time champion, Shakir Rahim (Grad '07). Additionally, each student (from Grade 1 to Grade 12) is required to write and present a persuasive speech, a humorous speech, or a dramatic monologue each year in the school's annual public speaking competition. The Morven campus has a Model United Nations club which attends multiple conferences in the Lower Mainland. In recent years they have travelled to Washington, D.C. and New York. Round Square Collingwood is a member of the international Round Square network of schools. "Round Square is a worldwide association of schools, which share a commitment, beyond academic excellence, to personal development and responsibility through service, challenge, adventure, and international understanding." It seeks to give every student a variety of academic, physical, cultural and spiritual experiences to enhance their global outlook. Collingwood annually sends students across the globe to Round Square International Service trips, to exotic destinations such as India, Belize, and Thailand. Projects include building homes and schools for communities to constructing a fresh water collection system in countries. There is also involvement in local service initiatives, such as Habitat for Humanity. Every year, Collingwood sends a delegation of both