Festive reflections

As the days get shorter and darker, Shawnigan staff and students have a constant bright reminder of the approaching festive season in the form of cheerful Christmas lights decorating the front of the main building and Kaye Gardens.

This year, the campus is abuzz with a shared sense of seasonal goodwill as new traditions, like the Christmas light-up, blend with old ones to imbue the final weeks of term with fresh energy and focus. This year, in addition to the annual Shawnigan’s Christmas dinner and chapel service for students and staff on Dec. 18, the school enjoyed welcoming local community members from the Cowichan Valley onto campus for an inaugural public carol service and dinner on Dec. 16.

With both the end of term and the end of the calendar year approaching, it is a natural point for Shawnigan students and staff to reflect on the successes, achievements, endeavors and expeditions that have taken place since Opening Day and recognize how much has been achieved and learned in a relatively short period.

Since the summer, Shawnigan has welcomed a new headmaster, a new Grade 8 class and a new cohort of Prep students, in addition to other fresh faces across Grades 9 to 12. For all of these individuals, Shawnigan has quickly become home, with myriad shared experiences, from daily meals in Marion Hall and regular chapel gatherings to adventurous camping expeditions, quickly helping to cement burgeoning friendships.

The Grade 8 class started their Shawnigan experience with a bonding trip to Horne Lake Caves and came together once again to present a recent, well-received performance of Elf: The Musical. Meanwhile, the Grade 9s had their own opportunity to connect as a class during a fall camping trip to Strathcona Provincial Park. Prep students have also enjoyed several exciting opportunities to explore B.C.’s natural splendor together with a rafting trip to Lytton and ski trip to Whistler.

In addition to outdoor adventures, trips grounded in politics, filmmaking and science have seen Shawnigan students engage in world-class youth conferences in international destinations as diverse as Montreal, Seattle and Kyoto, Japan.

Closer to home, Shawnigan has hosted a wide range of student, parent and alumni events, from the Model UN Global Goals Conference and VEX Robotics Tournament to Founder’s Day, our Parent Open House, the Shawnigan Junior Squash Open, Bantam and Midget Varsity hockey showcases, and the annual French exchange visit from Lycée Sacre Coeur.

Local community connections have also been at the forefront of student programming and activities, with Shawnigan students engaging in events such as the Terry Fox Run, the Great Shoreline Clean-up, the Tour de Rock, and the Run for the Cure. Shawnigan’s developing partnerships with local elementary and high schools and increasing focus on outreach in the community have also provided an enriching educational element while helping our students build meaningful and diverse connections and provide service and support to others.

With Christmas just around the corner, Shawnigan staff and students can all reflect with satisfaction on a busy and successful term and look forward to more growth and adventure in the new year.

Please visit our news archive for a more detailed review of first-term events and updates.