News
Friday SOULo Time
Cultivating independence, initiative and leadership
Friday afternoons have been completely reimagined at Shawnigan with the introduction of student-led “SOULo” time as part of our new schedule. This exciting innovation gives students space on Friday afternoons to pursue diverse activities, and has been designed to give them more autonomy, spark initiative, and develop leadership.
Students are empowered to make decisions and are encouraged to design inclusive activities. They can choose to organize an independent activity, invite others to join them, or collaborate with others on the design and pursuit of their activity.
“Last term, we learned through SOUL Seeking [student-led inquiry-based projects] that when given the time and space, students will come up with amazing things,” shares Matt Clinton-Baker, Assistant Head – Student Life. “This was really the key to our new timetable’s SOULo time – giving students the space to follow their passions, explore, collaborate, get together and do cool things.”
The possibilities are endless. Students can pursue activities as varied as peer counselling, fundraising, kayaking, or intramural sports. They can request permission to use facilities they may not have the opportunity to use in their chosen academic, sport or 360 programs, such as the recording studio, climbing gym, or observatory. In the future, students will be permitted to organize supervised off-campus activities like ancient forest hikes, fishing trips or community service. Many Heads of House and other Grade 12 leaders took advantage of the first week of SOULo time by organizing activities to develop in-House relationships.
While the program is designed to be student-led, an adult can be invited in – and in some cases, they must be. All group activities must have an adult sponsor such as a teacher, House Director or Advisor. Depending on the level of risk, the adult may need to develop a risk management plan and be present when the students lead the SOULo activity. When not supporting student initiatives, staff will use this time to meet for professional development, provide tutorials, or gather for other meetings as necessary.
Thanks to the resounding success of last spring’s SOUL Seeking projects, we are confident that our students will use this time well to support their mental health, find new interests, pursue their passions and broaden their horizons.
Shawnigan Lake School is adhering to all COVID-19 guidelines released by the BC Ministries of Health and Education, including those regarding learning cohorts, physical distancing and mask-wearing when appropriate.
Back
Students are empowered to make decisions and are encouraged to design inclusive activities. They can choose to organize an independent activity, invite others to join them, or collaborate with others on the design and pursuit of their activity.
“Last term, we learned through SOUL Seeking [student-led inquiry-based projects] that when given the time and space, students will come up with amazing things,” shares Matt Clinton-Baker, Assistant Head – Student Life. “This was really the key to our new timetable’s SOULo time – giving students the space to follow their passions, explore, collaborate, get together and do cool things.”
The possibilities are endless. Students can pursue activities as varied as peer counselling, fundraising, kayaking, or intramural sports. They can request permission to use facilities they may not have the opportunity to use in their chosen academic, sport or 360 programs, such as the recording studio, climbing gym, or observatory. In the future, students will be permitted to organize supervised off-campus activities like ancient forest hikes, fishing trips or community service. Many Heads of House and other Grade 12 leaders took advantage of the first week of SOULo time by organizing activities to develop in-House relationships.
While the program is designed to be student-led, an adult can be invited in – and in some cases, they must be. All group activities must have an adult sponsor such as a teacher, House Director or Advisor. Depending on the level of risk, the adult may need to develop a risk management plan and be present when the students lead the SOULo activity. When not supporting student initiatives, staff will use this time to meet for professional development, provide tutorials, or gather for other meetings as necessary.
Thanks to the resounding success of last spring’s SOUL Seeking projects, we are confident that our students will use this time well to support their mental health, find new interests, pursue their passions and broaden their horizons.
Shawnigan Lake School is adhering to all COVID-19 guidelines released by the BC Ministries of Health and Education, including those regarding learning cohorts, physical distancing and mask-wearing when appropriate.
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 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
