Good Morning,

 

It gives me great pleasure this morning to ask Mr. Robertson to present ties to a group of Grade 12s in the first round of Senior Academic Colours.

 

Before I do, I want to announce the current standings of the Academic Shield Competition, which makes up the Academic portion of the Inter-house Challenge and is worth more points than any other inter-house competition. This is the one award where every single one of you is contributing to your House. Each term, we use your academic average and effort average to give each person a score for their academic progress. We then average this across the House and compare the houses. After three terms, the Academic Shield is presented in June. The top houses for the first term are as follows. In the Boys competition – in second place: Duxbury House and in first place: Lonsdale’s House. In the Girls competition – in Second place: Groves’ House and first overall across both the girls and boys competitions: Kaye’s House.

 

Remember – each of you has a part to play in this Inter-house competition and it comes from your effort AND your average!

 

Now, onto my real purpose today – Academic Colours.

 

Colours are available at Shawnigan in 4 areas when you are a senior. Your House, each term of Sport, your Fine Art and, finally, your Academics. While each has its own criteria, in the end, the common thread across all four areas is your proficiency and leadership in that particular area, or more importantly, the contribution you have made in each to make it better by your presence.

 

What does that mean for your Academics?

 

First of all, we are not just rewarding the students with the top marks in the School. For a high average, you are placed on the Headmaster’s Honour Roll. As you know, each assessment we also award effort grades, so effort also come into play when your teachers nominate you for Academic Colours. But it’s not just that either, as strong effort grades earn you an invitation to Dean’s Dinner. So Academic Colours starts with both of these criteria – but is also a great deal more.

 

Colours nominees are put forward to Mr. Robertson after your teachers get together and discuss your contribution to your classes. Some of the questions we ask – which you can each ask yourselves right now – are: Is everything you do simply driven by the mark you get or do you show a love of learning? Are you a solitary learner in class who rarely opens your mouth or do you contribute in class and support your classmates in their learning? Do you work alone in the evenings in your House or are you the “go to” person when people need help because they know you are willing to give it? Are you a proactive learner that is on top of your work if you are away and attends tutorial when you miss a concept?

 

In other-words you take responsibility for your own learning and academic growth? Does your presence in a class help to make that class a more positive, productive learning environment? Are you a scholar?

 

So, how did you do with those questions? Colours are awarded at Shawnigan in grade 10 and 12, but your progress in other grades is also considered, so think about how you answered.

 

If you listen to the official citation from the Gold Book for Academic Colours, you will understand why we these are some of the questions that we ask.

 

"Academic Colours will be awarded to students who consistently demonstrate superior effort, achievement and leadership in their studies while also maintaining a commitment to the many other facets of the Shawnigan program. Showing genuine interest, working to potential and supporting classmates must be integral to the student’s approach. Generally, students have studied at Shawnigan for more than one year, and at the senior level, progress in both grade 11 and 12 may be considered."

 

So at this time I would like to ask Mr. Robertson to come forward to present Senior Academic Colours to the following students. Please come and accept your tie and congratulations.

 

Senior Academic Colours are awarded to: