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Capstone Projects
Grade 12s complete year-long projects
Grade 12 students across the province have worked diligently this school year on their Capstone Projects, a new element of the British Columbia curriculum. Part of Career Education 12 and a graduation requirement, Capstone Projects are at their core passion projects. They can take many different forms, as each will be unique to its creator.
Shawnigan’s inaugural Capstone program has been led by our University Guidance Office throughout the school year, with a year’s worth of work culminating in mid-June with student presentations.
Our students’ projects have been highly creative and wide-ranging in focus, with examples including research on the spread of pine beetles, writing a short story, developing coaching strategies for younger students, studying bio tech, and creating a personal highlight reel of performing arts involvement.
For many students, this process was a positive and formative experience. “By the time I was done, I was very proud,” shares grade 12 student Spencer N. “Not just because I had finished my video or was going to be graduating, but because I had been given the chance to reflect: to be thankful for where I have come from, to be confident in who I am now, and to affirm that there is still so much more for me to learn.”
This year’s Grade 12 class has shown great resiliency in not only piloting the program, but in doing so during a highly unusual year. “For many, the pandemic has changed or, in some cases, ended their plans,” shares Craig Brown, Head of Guidance. “However, the Capstone project is not about the completion but about the learning that takes place as part of the project.”
Remote learning altered the important final presentation element as well, with our original plan to hold two days of in-person presentations then re-imagined as Zoom meetings with Advisors. These presentation meetings turned out to be meaningful and inspiring conversations between students and their Advisors.
“I commend our students, and their Advisors, for taking on this new challenge and really setting the bar high for our younger students,” says Mr. Brown.
This year’s graduating class were true pioneers, and have set wonderful examples for students in younger grades – who will also benefit from SOUL Seeking, the inquiry-based program which ended the academic portion of our school year.
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Shawnigan’s inaugural Capstone program has been led by our University Guidance Office throughout the school year, with a year’s worth of work culminating in mid-June with student presentations.
Our students’ projects have been highly creative and wide-ranging in focus, with examples including research on the spread of pine beetles, writing a short story, developing coaching strategies for younger students, studying bio tech, and creating a personal highlight reel of performing arts involvement.
For many students, this process was a positive and formative experience. “By the time I was done, I was very proud,” shares grade 12 student Spencer N. “Not just because I had finished my video or was going to be graduating, but because I had been given the chance to reflect: to be thankful for where I have come from, to be confident in who I am now, and to affirm that there is still so much more for me to learn.”
This year’s Grade 12 class has shown great resiliency in not only piloting the program, but in doing so during a highly unusual year. “For many, the pandemic has changed or, in some cases, ended their plans,” shares Craig Brown, Head of Guidance. “However, the Capstone project is not about the completion but about the learning that takes place as part of the project.”
Remote learning altered the important final presentation element as well, with our original plan to hold two days of in-person presentations then re-imagined as Zoom meetings with Advisors. These presentation meetings turned out to be meaningful and inspiring conversations between students and their Advisors.
“I commend our students, and their Advisors, for taking on this new challenge and really setting the bar high for our younger students,” says Mr. Brown.
This year’s graduating class were true pioneers, and have set wonderful examples for students in younger grades – who will also benefit from SOUL Seeking, the inquiry-based program which ended the academic portion of our school year.
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 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
