SLS Now Archive
Academic Colours
The first Senior Academic Colours of the year were awarded in Chapel. The Colour citation was read by Ms Woollven, Registrar: Academic Colours will be awarded to students who consistently demonstrate superior effort, achievement, and leadership in their studies while also maintaining a commitment to the many other facets of the Shawnigan program. Showing genuine interest, working to potential, and supporting classmates must be integral to a recipient’s approach. Generally, students will have studied at the School for more than one year. Senior Colours are only awarded to grade twelve students and consideration is given to performance in both the grade eleven and twelve years.
Photo by Stephen Lane
Douglas Burnet Smith
Poet Douglas Burnet Smith visited Shawnigan this week to speak to the Writing 12 class. Smith, a professor at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, was in the area on a week-long promotional tour for his most recent work, Sister Prometheus: Discovering Marie Curie, a series of prose poems investigating the life of one of the greatest scientific minds of the 20th century. In his lecture/reading, he reminded students of the profound challenges Curie surmounted— including a childhood in Russian-occupied Poland and her gender in the male-dominated academies of Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries—on the way to winning Nobel prizes in both chemistry and physics. Later, Professor Smith spoke to one of the AP Literature classes and guided them through a complex reading of Robert Frost’s "Design." It was a great privilege for students to work with a writer of such accomplishment and a teacher of such personal grace and patience.
– Jay Connolly
Economics 12
Since the Economics 12 class has been making and selling sushi for a while now, the time came for us to show our true sushi prowess. We hosted an "Iron Chef" style competition between ourselves, competing to see who could claim the title of the Sushi Master. We were to produce a minimum of five rolls, of various types: Spicy Tuna, California Rolls, Veggie Rolls, and special B.C. Rolls made from candied salmon. We then presented them for scoring by our panel of judges, namely Mr. Dukelow and the esteemed members of the Shawnigan Lake School Catering staff.
The sushi was scored on taste, appearance, creativity, and arrangement, and while the battle was fierce and hotly contested, Takeshi B. and Krit K. came out on top, with the best sushi overall. Still, the real "battle" is out in the marketplace, where the two classes sell their delicious rolls to the student body, in competition with one and other. Currently, the two "companies" (Simple Sushi and Complicated Sushi) are neck-in-neck for sales, but we'll see how it all plays out in the end!
– Lisa Jane D.
Kaye's House — Trust and Friendship
Kaye's House was given the theme of trust and friendship for our Chapel presentation. We decided the best way to convey our message was through an activity and song. For the activity, we made an obstacle course and the grade 12's were blindfolded and led through by their little sisters. In the two weeks preceding the service, many nights were spent practicing. It was really nice to see all the girls commit and devote their time to coming together to make it all happen. The result was a presentation we were all pleased with and hopefully those watching enjoyed it!
– Samantha P., Head of Kaye’s House
Photos by Stephen Lane
Chapel Music
A Grade 9 student from Kaye’s House treated the School to a beautiful rendition of the 1st movement of Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata.” Surprisingly, she has only been taking piano lessons for a year and a half, although she did take four years of violin lessons prior to that. To master this beautiful classic in such a short period of time is a testament to her musical talent. Well done!
– Shannon Bryant, Director of Music
Photo by Stephen Lane
Cross-country Running
The cross-country team rolled out of bed bright and early Sunday morning for the second annual Cobble Hill 10 km. A fine showing by juniors and seniors saw everyone place in the top ten of their age categories. Medals go to the top three in the Island Series categories and were awarded to Logan R. who placed first in the M U20 category, Alana M. who placed 2nd in the W U20 category and Simone V. who finished 2nd in the W U16 category.
– Jim Kingstone, Coach
Photo by Leslie Smith
Bring on the Black and Gold!
We are ready for a Black & Gold weekend! Many of our athletes are playing important games this weekend, so the whole School dressed in our best black and gold to support them in their efforts. Go Shaw!
Graphic Design
The Grade 10 Graphic Design class travelled to Cowichan Woodwork, a local cabinet and sign manufacturing facility (cowichanwoodwork.com). Each student had prepared a digital file in Adobe Illustrator to use as the basis for a sign of their own design. Rather than only seeing their work in print or on-screen, this was a chance to see how digital files can manipulate sophisticated machinery either in creative art form or for mass manufacturing. After some classroom theory and an introduction to the computer numeric controlled machine (C.N.C.) the process began. Choosing appropriate bits as needed and constantly changing direction and speed the C.N.C. began to create the outline form of the signs. Students were just able to recognize their work after about 15 minutes and then, rather than standing around watching, we all headed to Mill Bay for lunch. A change is as good as a rest—it's always good to get off campus for a bit! Upon our return to Cowichan Woodwork there were about 15 minutes left of machine time, just right to see the final product evolve, tuck the signs under our arms, thank the owner and head back to set up a display of the work in the Main Foyer of the School.
– Gordon Smith, Graphic Design, Architectural Drafting
Model United Nations
While most Shawnigan students returned home for a break this past weekend, the Model United Nations club was hard at work (as ever!) attending the Vancouver Model United Nations. We arrived at the Marriott Pinnacle in downtown Vancouver, awed by the sight of buildings taller than two stories, streets full of cars, and people we had never seen before—alien sights to a Shawnigan student—but there was no time for sightseeing.
Immediately after arriving, we were all hard at work in our committee sessions, discussing world issues with students from a dozen different schools. There were big committees: the World Health Organization, DISEC, specialized committees like NATO and a historical simulation of the Korean War and, finally, the Security Council, the smallest, and arguably most intense committee.
Several hard days of diplomacy followed, with negotiations reaching fever pitch during Friday night’s “midnight crisis” simulation—a committee session from one until three in the morning! More remarkably, most of the Shawnigan delegation was able to drag themselves out of bed to the session, although a few slept through all the excitement.
On Sunday, we attended the closing ceremonies, and many Shawnigan students walked away with awards—best delegate, distinguished delegate, and honorary mention among them. Everyone left the conference with a sense of accomplishment and a sense of wanting to sleep for a week to recover. It’s all worth it, though, and as the VMUN motto goes: “diplomacy is not a spectator sport!”
– Lisa Jane D.
Art & Soul – Celebrating Shawnigan Artists
Will T. (class of 2010) has been serious about art since he was thirteen years old. Possessing excellent technical skills, he derives inspiration from personal experiences, the things he’s seen and the lives of his brothers and friends. While his artwork is quite graphic in nature, Will doesn’t subscribe to a particular style, preferring his work to be up for individual interpretation.
Will is not sure how his artwork will factor into his future, but intends to stay authentic to himself and to continue to creating work that is both honest and without compromise.
Will feels that Shawnigan Lake School provides an amazing facility for artists. Help is readily available and constructive criticism is always there for the taking.
– Carol Shaw
Change
In Chapel, a Grade 10 student from Lonsdale’s House spoke to us about change:
For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Ngabo, and for those of you that do know me, my name is either Engee, or Engine, or Ngabu, or Engabu or any other accidental nicknames in my ever-growing list of accidental nicknames. I’m a new student here, even though I don’t feel very new anymore considering that I’ve been studying at Shaw for a few months now. The topic I really wanted to share with you today was something I learned to appreciate over the winter holidays and now hopefully you will too: change. Now I’ll be honest with you, before this winter holiday, I hated anything that took me out of my comfort zone, change included. And I don’t even use the word hate that often, because as many of you know, I don’t hate; I detest. But before this event, I really, really loathed change. . . .
Masks!
A mask is an article normally worn on the face typically for protection, concealment, performance, or amusement. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes.
This week, the students in Mrs. Shaw’s Art 10 class have been designing and making their own personal masks. From the silly to the sublime, they promise to be an interesting reflection of the multitude of personalities in the class. Stay tuned for photos of the finished product.
– Story and photos by Carol Shaw
Polar Push!
The Grade Ten Round-Table organized Saturday’s “Polar Push” helping to raise money for the 2010 EDGE trip. Students paid a small fee for raffle tickets which were then drawn for the prize of pushing in our courageous volunteer teachers: The brothers Wilke, Jenny Ferris, Peter Yates, Erica Hamilton, Tim Coy, Paul Morris, Jean-Jacques Receveaux, Mark Hall (with Lizzie), Paul Klassen and Jim Kingstone.
Four of the Grade Ten Round-Table members showed their appreciation for the successful fundraising by jumping into the frigid lake themselves at the end of the “Push.”
Photos by Mia Bolton
Chapel Music
On Saturday, in Chapel, this Grade 12 Copeman’s boy entertained us with his performance of the song, "Lost in the Wilderness" from the musical, Children of Eden. It is always a privilege and a great pleasure to hear him sing in his warm and self-assured manner.
Dean's Dinner
170 students were invited to attend Dean's Dinner to reward their efforts in the First Term. Students were treated to a delicious steak dinner with potatoes au gratin and roasted vegetables, followed by individual strawberry chocolate parfaits. Mrs. Kingstone asked students, while they were eating and chatting with friends, to complete a survey on the current effort rating system.
– Wendy Woollven, Registrar
FROG Awards
"Fanatical Recycling's Our Goal!" — In fact, it's in our blood! While the whole school community embraces our comprehensive waste management program, it is the student body that determines its ultimate success. Each year, the Interhouse Recycling competition helps to provide that little added incentive to "do the right thing." With a whole crop of new students in September, each House is challenged to bring their new charges up to speed with their various compost/recycling/garbage systems in place. I have to say (and I know I speak for Mr. Forster, our Recycling Manager) that this year's efforts have been the best yet.
As for the competition . . . ? FROG Certificates are awarded to the top five Houses for their sorting expertise and this term's recipients were Kaye's, Strathcona, Duxbury, Renfrew South, and Groves'. The year-long chase for the coveted FROG Trophy has generated some heated competition, too. Front runners heading into Term 2 are Strathcona and Kaye's, with Duxbury hot on their heels. Exciting and green times are sure to lie ahead!
– Scott Noble, Environment Club
Surf's Up!
On an early morning in November, Mr. Klassen took a few boys surfing. They breakfasted at Tim Hortons and, knowing by then that the surf reports weren't positive, the boys kept their hopes up. “It ended up being an 'epic' day with near perfect waves, little wind and no crowds.” The group was made up of 3 Californians and 1 Mexican hosted by a Canadian surfer. They managed well and neoprene wetsuits made the cold water irrelevant. Mr. Klassen said that, “We were exhausted after two hours of paddling and surfing in the water. This was an outstanding day of living in the moment with a diverse group of kids coming from different parts of the continent that all touch the Pacific. As they say in Costa Rica, 'Pura Vida'.”