News Archive

 

I want to start with a quick shout-out to The Rev, Jim Holland.

 

As The Head of School already mentioned, The Rev is at home recovering from surgery, but my hunch is that he will be watching this Chapel service online. I want him to know that we are thinking of him.

 

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome back our returning students after their summer break and to extend a huge welcome to the 171 new students and our new staff in Chapel today. 

 

For many of you, this is a new campus and new adventure. You will have been experiencing a range of emotions this week – anticipation and excitement with a little bit of nervousness thrown in.

 

Just remember that you are following in the footsteps of about 7,000 students over our 108-year history who have felt exactly the same way. As I said to the new parents on Tuesday, the plaque at the base of the Shawnigan stag near the front gates reminds us that it “will watch over all who enter these grounds.”

 

 

In Chapel, we often hear tales of the Rev’s cat, Peek-a-Boo.

 

I have to declare, at this point, that I am an out-and-out dog lover and avoid cats wherever possible. But wherever I go, cats inevitably follow me: brushing through my legs, jumping unexpectedly onto my lap – allergies abound. When we lived in the fjords of Norway, our daughter Poppy (then aged about four) asked Kathini from the back of the car if she could get a cat when Dad dies.

 

And I was also in the car!

 

Following on from an internal process for the appointment of the BE A JEDI (Belonging, Equity, Acceptance, and Justice – Embracing Diversity and Intersectionality) Chair, I am delighted to announce that Andrea Carballo has been appointed to this position at Shawnigan for the school year 2024-25.

 

As many of you will know, Andrea is passionate about diversity and inclusion and wants to make sure everyone at our school feels like they belong. She is a Costa Rican Brazilian who has lived in Costa Rica, Spain, the Dominican Republic, the US and Canada, speaks three languages, attended international schools, and is the parent of three multi-cultural children.

Andrea has been at Shawnigan since 2008 and firmly believes there are so many ideas and so many ways to grow as a School. With the support from the BE A JEDI Committee and with the upcoming publication of the CAIS Peer Report, Andrea plans to champion the commendations and act upon the recommendations in a way that calls upon everyone at Shawnigan to BE A JEDI.

 

Dear Grease cast and crew,

It was such an absolute joy to be in the McPherson Playhouse on Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10.

There was so much energy, imagination and creativity bubbling through the musical: the choreography of performers, the personality brought to each main character, the chemistry between the T-Birds and Pink Ladies in action and song, the live orchestra (with Mike G. on the drums!), the superbly conceived set and stagecraft, and much more.

It was a startling performance.

Dear Shawnigan Community,

It is with great excitement that I announce our upcoming Rugby Centenary at Shawnigan Lake School.

In 1928, Senior Master “Tiny” Levien recommended to our founding Headmaster, CW Lonsdale, that the School introduce rugby to its sports programming. We have never looked back.

With the introduction of the girls’ program in 1993, our Shawnigan rugby club has developed players who have gone onto university, provincial and national honours, with all players learning the values that underpin the game.

We plan for a year of celebration in 2028.