Shawnigan Lake School | News & updates

Canadian Universities Event Comes to Shawnigan

9/29/2023

Shawnigan students had the opportunity to connect with post-secondary institutions from coast to coast on Tuesday when the School hosted the Canadian Universities Event.

Nearly 50 universities, including some of the top schools in Canada, set up tables in the new gym, and students were able to ask questions and learn about what Canadian universities have to offer as they plan for life after their Shawnigan Journey.

Students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 were invited to attend, and a few eager Grade 9s dropped by the event as well. The first hour of the three-hour session was also open to students from other schools in the area, which drew another several hundred students.

Shawnigan Student Wins International Policy Award

9/29/2023

A Shawnigan student has emerged as a rising star in the field of global policy-making after winning a prestigious competition run by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for European Policy Analysis.

During the summer, Grade 11 student Desi S. submitted a paper to CEPA’s Policy Pitching Competition, which was open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 26. Her submission, which focused on the threats to global supply chains with particular consideration for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was announced as the overall winner of the competition this month. As the winner, Desi had the opportunity to take part in the 2023 CEPA Forum this week, with the theme of “Winning the War. Winning the Peace.” On September 26, CEPA released Desi’s virtual conversation with Stephen J. Hadley, a former US National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush. Moderated by Maggie Miller, a cybersecurity reporter for Politico, Desi and Mr. Hadley discussed the subject of Desi’s paper, as well as the challenges and opportunities for the next generation of national security policy-makers.

Close Encounters of the Bird Kind

9/22/2023

Environmental Science 11 students got an up-close lesson about ecology and the wildlife of Vancouver Island this week when The Raptors — a conservation centre for birds of prey located north of Duncan — paid a visit to campus.

Ms. Ali Ballantyne’s class has been studying food webs, trophic levels and ecology, and she felt that an encounter with some birds from The Raptors would help give the students some direct interaction with key part of the food web, contribute to their sense of place, and provide them with a memorable experience as part of their Shawnigan Journey. It was also an opportunity for students to see some career and volunteer options they may not have considered.

Inter-House Competition Kicks Off

9/22/2023

One of the most important traditions at Shawnigan kicked off for the year as students packed the fields for Inter-House Volleyball on Sunday, September 10 and Inter-House Track and Field on September 17.

Inter-House competition is woven into the fabric of the Shawnigan Journey, uniting Houses as teams in friendly battle against one another, and bringing the School together for a series of spirited events over the course of the school year.

“Generally, inter-House is a community builder,” said Mr. Matt Clinton-Baker, Assistant Head – Student Life. “It’s a really good representation of what makes Shawnigan special, with the whole school doing the same thing at the same time.”

Making Choices at the 360 Fair

9/15/2023

There was something for everyone in the Quad last Friday.

360 is Shawnigan’s co-curricular after-school program, and the annual 360 Fair gave students an opportunity to check out this year’s offerings — 31 in all — before deciding what option they want to pursue.

360 operates separately from regular classes, but is a vital part of the Shawnigan Journey that helps the School develop well-rounded individuals. It started with a focus on fine arts, but has evolved over the decades to include a wide range of activities, from Astronomy Imaging & Outreach and Grassroots Service to Homework Helpers and Search & Rescue.