We've got SOUL

How Shawnigan has moved online
Shawnigan’s campus may be closed, but the School is still open.
 
As soon as it became clear that the School would be unable to reopen its Vancouver Island campus to students following March Break, a core team of education and administrative staff, with specialisms ranging from curriculum development and digital learning to IT and student life, pulled together to brainstorm a new way forward.  
 
The result of their creative hard work and technical expertise is a comprehensive online education program called SOUL—Shawnigan Online Unique Learning. SOUL represents Shawnigan’s community-driven commitment to bringing a holistic Shawnigan education to Shawnigan students, wherever they are in the world.
 
“The strength of the Shawnigan community is just that—community,” explains Headmaster Larry Lamont. “Therefore, the number one objective of SOUL is for us to continue to build and nurture our beloved community. We shall navigate the waters ahead with compassion, enthusiasm, optimism, good humour, the Shawnigan spirit – and, most of all, we shall navigate together.”
 
In a supportive online environment, just as in real life, Shawnigan students will continue to be offered a diverse and holistic curriculum that is positive and predictable and offers them connectedness and challenge. Teaching will be done primarily through conferencing software with a recorded version available through the school’s own online platform for students learning asynchronously in different time zones across the world.
 
Starting March 30, the new schedule will follow a consistent routine each week, with three classes per day, each built around a maximum of one hour of video instruction and 30 minutes of time for students to complete work. An extended lunch has been built into the schedule to facilitate screen-free time for students to relax and exercise. In addition to the regular class schedule, teachers are offering at least 4 hours of online tutorial time a week, while advisors will connect each week with their advisees to ensure each individual student benefits from continued one-to-one attention and connection.
 
“With the launch of SOUL, we’re stepping with confidence into a virtual term where our students will be offered curriculum, pastoral care, Shawnigan engagement, spiritual guidance and much more,” says Wendy Milne, Assistant Head – Academics. “It’s exciting to hear the many imaginative ideas that are being planned to ignite learning in our students.”
 
Many other aspects of community life will also continue online. Staff will continue to benefit from daily full-school meetings to remain connected and help the school’s transition to online life feel as seamless as possible. Meanwhile, the whole school will come together for the first virtual Black and Gold day on April 1.
 
House time will also form part of the weekly schedule to ensure continuity in pastoral care and social connectedness. House meetings are scheduled throughout the week and have already been resounding successes at the start of this week. House duty staff and grade 12s will continue to monitor the “House” in the evenings by being present on each House’s social media platform, so that questions can be asked of staff, chat can happen between students, or advice can be given, just as they would in normal circumstances.
 
Community time and Chapel will continue to ensure the continuation of our spiritual guidance and the uniqueness of Shawnigan in an online environment.
 
While Shawnigan’s educational and student life programming is now being transmitted through online platforms to students all over the world, the community feels closer than ever. Shawnigan’s values of conversation, compassion, community and courage are at the forefront, as ever, and will continue to be key in the weeks, and possibly months, ahead.
 
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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.