for post-secondary studies, with the possibility of receiving post-secondary credit for transferable courses, and many of Churchill's IB graduates go on to study at the University of British Columbia. Prelude programme There is also an advanced academics programme for grade 10 students, with the name changed from 'Pre-IB' to 'Prelude' since 2016 due to it no longer being affiliated with the International Baccalaureate organization. Prelude is available for both French Immersion and English students currently attending Churchill Secondary. There is one class of French Immersion Prelude students and two classes of English Prelude students. The French Immersion students taking part in the Prelude program have their French Language and Literature, Sciences, Social Studies, and one additional class in French (sometimes called FICO, though the name often changes from year to year) as one group, with only the English classes shared with the non-French Immersion Prelude students. Other classes, such as electives and mathematics, are taken with the general school population. There will also be one new class of Spanish Prelude Students, starting in 2022. Ideal Mini School Ideal Mini School is a grade 8-12 mini school program with 129 students (2010). Synergy programme The Synergy programme is an advanced programme for students in grades 8 and 9 who have demonstrated academic excellence and wish to augment their learning through an enhanced curriculum. A portfolio and an entrance test are required for admission. The program aims to foster critical thinking as well as a sense of community. French immersion Secondary French immersion is for students continuing on from elementary French immersion. There are two types of French immersion programs in elementary school: regular "French immersion" and "late-immersion". "French immersion" refers to French immersion programs that begin at the kindergarten level, while "late-immersion" refers to French immersion programs that begin in the 2nd grade. Students can receive a Bilingual Graduation Certificate. Students in French immersion can also participate in the IB program and receive a bilingual IB diploma. Students participate yearly in a French speech arts competition and are categorized between anglophone and francophone. Science fair An annual school science fair is held at Churchill Secondary, and two hundred projects are chosen to represent the school at the Vancouver District Science Fair. Winners there move onto the Greater Vancouver Regional Science Fair, and then onto the Canada-Wide Science Fair. Athletics The school's mascot is a bulldog, as Sir Winston Churchill, for whom