News
A Focus on Wellness
Shawnigan students took a day to focus on health of all kinds during the Day of Well-Being held all across campus on Sunday.
“The purpose was to give students the opportunity to participate in different holistic health practice,” said school counsellor Ms. Jenny Tully, who organized the event along with her fellow counsellors and students, including the mental health Prefects.
Participation in the activities was entirely voluntary, but about half the student population took part. Students were given a plethora of options to pick from, including massage therapy, reiki, a performance and visualization group, yoga on the docks, a sound journey and sound bath, music therapy guided by Grade 12 student Rosa O., and floral design and bouquet making at the Growing Dome.
A “Digital De-Docks,” where students could temporarily trade in their phones for ice cream and swim at the docks, proved especially popular on the hottest day of the year so far. About 50 students signed up for one-on-one appointments with counsellors or massage therapists.
“All of the rooms at the Well-Being Centre were full,” said Ms. Tully. “For some of the students, it was their first time there.”
The mental health Prefects were pleased to see so many of their peers taking part in the day and taking their well-being seriously.
“I think events like the Day of Well-Being are especially meaningful in a boarding school environment, where daily life can be intense and fast-paced,” said Dorje S. “Being away from family and balancing academics, athletics, and social commitments can make it easy to overlook mental and physical health.
“What made this event valuable was the opportunity it created for students to slow down, reconnect with themselves and their friends, and spend time with others in a more relaxed and supportive setting. It wasn’t just about taking a break from stress, but also about building a stronger sense of community and reminding ourselves of the importance of balance in our lives. Opportunities like this help students return to their routines feeling more grounded, focused, and supported.”
Maddy H. agreed.
“Well-being is an integral part of boarding schools like Shawnigan because students are far away from family members and constantly immersed in high-stress academics and sports,” she said. “This causes mental health and well-being to be pushed to the side sometimes, so we as students find events like this a fantastic way to de-stress and take a break in order to protect both our physical and mental health! Having activities easily accessible to students allows them a passive choice to de-stress rather than having to make an active one. These events ultimately lead to healthier relationships with ourselves and those around us.”
Ms. Tully noted that the Well-Being Centre has seen more visits from male students this year than in the past, which is a positive development.
“There has been a lot more student leadership as far as running programs and developing programs,” she said. “It’s great to see youth-led initiatives instead of just us telling them what to do.”
Monday night drop-in sessions at the Well-Being Centre, where students can enjoy root beer floats well decompressing, have been increasingly popular as well.
The focus on mental health did not end with the Day of Well-Being, as students were encouraged to decrease their screen time for the rest of the week, which is also Canadian Mental Health Week. Anyone who could prove a significant “digital detox” would be entered into a draw for a self-care party for themselves and three friends.
Students were also encouraged to create reels spreading mental health awareness, and send them to the @slsbelonging Instagram account with the hashtag #ShawniganCares.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 12 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
