News Archive

An outstanding competitive season for Shawnigan’s Robotics program may have ended without a trip to the VEX Robotics World Championship, but the teams still came away with several accomplishments to be proud of.

 

Shawnigan fielded five teams this year, including three standout crews that consistently made the playoffs at tournaments across Vancouver Island and collected multiple awards.

 

“The top teams performed really well, while the other teams could go to tournaments and have fun,” said Mr. Tim Stephens, the School’s Head of Science and one of the teachers who works with the Robotics program.

 

The game played in competition changes from year to year, and this year’s game, Push Back, had a “lower barrier to entry,” in Mr. Stephens’ words, which made it easier for more teams to participate and contend.

 

A lighthearted collaboration between multiple aspects of the Fine Arts department entertained students with a concert in a unique venue – usually known for being a quiet space – resulted in a high-calibre film, and will hopefully inspire similar projects in the near future.

 

Music fans might be familiar with NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, which has run for 18 years, featuring artists from across the spectrum of genres preforming stripped-down versions of their songs in the NPR office. Shawnigan now has its own spin on the beloved series thanks to a student-led project that combines music, film, and recording arts.

 

Grade 12 student and Academics and Music Prefect Rosa O. and music teacher Mr. Vince Hale are big fans of the series, and take every opportunity to watch the concerts. It was while fulfilling one of her Prefect tasks that she came up with the idea for Shawnigan’s version of the Tiny Desk Concert.

 

It may have been based on the 1989 Disney animated movie, but staging The Little Mermaid, Shawnigan’s 2026 School musical, was anything but colouring between the lines.

 

“It was an absolute beast of a show to produce,” said Ms. Mandy Bryant, who served as music director for The Little Mermaid, which ran at Victoria’s McPherson Playhouse for three nights and one afternoon from February 4 to 7. “There were many panicked moments, but we couldn’t be happier with how the kids came through.”

 

Ms. Bryant called The Little Mermaid the hardest show the current creative team of staff members has produced together. “The music is so complex,” she said. “The leads and ensemble have so much to learn. We didn’t expect The Little Mermaid to be monumental like it was.”

 

Shawnigan’s success at the Vancouver Model United Nations conference last weekend is a testament to the efforts of the student leaders who have taken ownership of the program.

 

The School sent 18 students to the conference, the 25th annual session of VMUN. The largest high school student-organized Model UN conference in North America, it attracted 1,500 students this year, divided into 20 committees. Three Shawnigan students came away with awards. Aven T., representing China in the World Meteorological Organisation, and Alan A., representing France in the International Atomic Energy Agency, both received the highly sought-after gavels presented to the Best Delegate in each committee, while Angelina Z., representing Burundi in the Disarmament and International Security Committee, earned an Honourable Mention.

 

“My experience at the 25th iteration of the Vancouver Model United Nations conference was a whirlwind of debate, honing my speaking skills, and forming new friendships that I have no doubt will last far beyond my time in Model UN,” Alan stated. “Representing France in the International Atomic Energy Agency allowed me to better my public speaking and debate skills, while growing my knowledge on current affairs. Having been in Model UN for two years, it has been a fulfilling 360 and beyond that, has helped my writing and presenting skills in all other facets of Shawnigan.”

 

Students had the unique opportunity last week to see the world through the eyes of an award-winning photographer and environmental artist and learn first-hand about the process and techniques that she employs, with some getting the opportunity to create immersive art alongside her.

 

Nikki Baxendale, a Shawnigan parent, artist and storyteller based in Vancouver, spent last week on campus as a short-term artist in residence, creating art and sharing her knowledge with students through an informative talk and a pair of workshops that explored the relationship between people, art, and the environment.

 

Mrs. Baxendale began the week by painting in Duke’s Café, giving students a chance to observe, engage, and interact with an artist at work.

 

“It was really wonderful to watch when she was in Duke’s,” said Ms. Emily Coolidge, Heimbecker Inspiration Chair for Experiential Education. “At first, there was some apprehension and curiosity on the part of the students, but they gradually started to approach her and ask questions. The place started to buzz.”

 

The sitzprobe is coming!

 

Not something to be feared, the sitzprobe is the first time that the cast of a musical rehearses together with the orchestra. In the case of Shawnigan’s production of The Little Mermaid, that consequential date is just over a week away.

 

“This is the moment when it really kicks into gear,” musical director Mr. Sal Interlandi says. “When they get into the McPherson Playhouse, that is another step. Each step brings more excitement.”

 

The musical version of The Little Mermaid is based on the 1989 Disney animated film, which was in turn based on an 1837 fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and falls in love with a human prince. The show opens on February 4, and the production is becoming more real with every rehearsal.

 

With an hour left to prepare their entry for the Zoom Film Festival, the team behind Shawnigan entry No Return (无归) had cut their footage down to a sleek seven and a half minutes. Unfortunately, that was still two and a half minutes more than the festival permits, leading to some tough decisions down the home stretch, and ultimately to an award nomination.

 

Hosted by West Vancouver’s Mulgrave School, the Zoom Festival gives students a mere 48 hours to write, direct and edit a five-minute film, resulting in a hectic and intense couple of days as well as a fantastic learning experience. Narrowing the scope, the students are emailed a specific prop and a theme via email immediately before the starting pistol fires. Then it’s off to work.

 

This year’s theme was “Can’t ever go back,” and the prop was a ticket. Films were created over an intense 48-hour span in October, and results were unveiled in December. Shawnigan submitted four films, three of which were finalists for awards: