News Detail
360: Something for Everyone
Three brand new offerings were among nearly 30 options available for students to check out at last Friday’s 360 Fair in the Quad.
A huge part of the Shawnigan Journey, 360 is the School’s co-curricular arts and activities program. All students are required to enrol in a 360, but with so many options to choose from, there really is something to appeal to everyone’s interests. An experienced team of instructors guides students through sessions twice a week, with optional time on weekends. Some 360s last a full year, some last half the year, and some let students choose either a half or full year.
The program operates a little differently for Grade 8s. They can choose two 360s from a select list to start the year; the first one runs from September to November Break, and the second from November Break to Ski Week. After Ski Week, Grade 8s will be able to select from the entire 360 menu.
The 29 options are divided into four categories: performing arts, visual arts, applied technologies, and leadership and service.
“We are building a program that is preparing students for careers,” said Mr. Declan Bartlett, who is in his first year as 360 Director. “A lot of the programs are actually closely related to career paths. It is a sandbox for taking risks, and it’s not graded work, so it’s an amazing platform to learn and apply skills to real-life problems.
“Our overall goal is to provide a proving ground for collaboration, creative thinking, and critical thinking in a safe environment that will encourage students to take risks.”
One of the most popular 360s is the School musical. This year, the program will be performing Spamalot, the Monty Python musical based on the legend of King Arthur. One of the three new 360s, SceneWorks, will be creating the sets for this year’s musical, overseen by Mr. Bartlett himself. Students will get to imagine, design, and build the sets, combining creativity with workshop skills to make something they will get to see on stage as their peers perform.
Also new this year are AIX – AI Explorations of Creativity, and Remake Studio.
In AIX, led by Dr. Brad Necyk, students will explore artificial intelligence by creating images and video, with a focus on filmmaking and exploring new technologies as they emerge. C.A.S.E. (Communications, Art, Sciences and Entrepreneurship) is also aiming to provide financial support for AIX.
Under Ms. Sarah Goossens, Remake Studio will focus on sustainability-based design as students repurpose, upcycle, and salvage materials to make art, useful objects, and wearable accessories and jewelry. A service component will see the students share their products with disadvantaged members of the wider community.
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.
