About
SOUL Seeking
Last Friday, I found myself sitting with Teacher Paul Morris in the Biology Lab listening to our advisees present their SOUL Seeking projects.
We were simply blown away by the range of the projects: from fashion design to a skateboarding video, from fitness and nutrition to fishing fly patterns. We chose a Grade 12 student as the representative of our team to head into the semi-finals against others. She had coordinated a kindness campaign by encouraging students to write to veterans and pensioners during the pandemic.
We were simply blown away by the range of the projects: from fashion design to a skateboarding video, from fitness and nutrition to fishing fly patterns. We chose a Grade 12 student as the representative of our team to head into the semi-finals against others. She had coordinated a kindness campaign by encouraging students to write to veterans and pensioners during the pandemic.
The selection panel have now reduced the semi-finalists to 12 finalists. They will present this afternoon in Mitchell Hall to a panel of eight judges who will be applying the ICE criteria (Did you Inspire others? Create continuously? Embrace passions?)
I have listed those 12 finalists and their projects below to share with you the talent, imagination and range shown in their work.
Juniors
- Matt H. – Hitting 10,000+ listens on SoundCloud for his music remix
- Sissi L. – writing the first in a series of children’s books on managing emotions
- Harry M. & Audrey T. – Producing a music album
- Zakary R. – Building a motorized bike
Seniors
- Jimi A., Seamus D., Dominic P., Finn R. & Johnathan S. – Producing The Stag Report podcast
- Jerry C. – Writing a novel
- Martin G. – A compilation of over 100 films
- Nathan K. – Commissioning the Shawnigan Basketball Association
- Bea M. – Making sanitary napkins for Nepal
- Ella M. – Writing and recording two original songs
- Hannah S. – Making a prom dress from scratch
- Fiona Z. – Creating animation
When I first came to Shawnigan in 2018, I was struck by the lack of student initiatives coming to the Head’s Office. I remember distinctly receiving an email from the former Student Life Coordinator asking for staff and spouses to step forward to run sessions on health and wellness strategies for the younger students. I wrote straight back to ask why we were not inviting Grade 12s to step forward to lead and contribute to sessions, given their experience and insights!
At the heart of Project Future, our strategic plan, is the development of student autonomy and agency. The SOUL Seeking projects have exemplified student initiative and reminded us, as staff, to encourage and trust the students and allow them to lead in the exploration of their passions. It is sometimes harder for us as teachers to step back but the rewards are certainly greater if the students have taken ownership and learnt from the experience.
The students should be immensely proud of what they have achieved in the first year of SOUL Seeking. Our new timetable has created the space for this personal exploration for students in every grade, which in turn has given us an opportunity to deliver our mission of “Spark Minds, Kindle Hearts, Forge Futures.”
With this approach to independent learning, and with the staff as guides, I know that these students will take university and beyond by storm.
Richard D A Lamont
Headmaster
I have listed those 12 finalists and their projects below to share with you the talent, imagination and range shown in their work.
Juniors
- Matt H. – Hitting 10,000+ listens on SoundCloud for his music remix
- Sissi L. – writing the first in a series of children’s books on managing emotions
- Harry M. & Audrey T. – Producing a music album
- Zakary R. – Building a motorized bike
Seniors
- Jimi A., Seamus D., Dominic P., Finn R. & Johnathan S. – Producing The Stag Report podcast
- Jerry C. – Writing a novel
- Martin G. – A compilation of over 100 films
- Nathan K. – Commissioning the Shawnigan Basketball Association
- Bea M. – Making sanitary napkins for Nepal
- Ella M. – Writing and recording two original songs
- Hannah S. – Making a prom dress from scratch
- Fiona Z. – Creating animation
When I first came to Shawnigan in 2018, I was struck by the lack of student initiatives coming to the Head’s Office. I remember distinctly receiving an email from the former Student Life Coordinator asking for staff and spouses to step forward to run sessions on health and wellness strategies for the younger students. I wrote straight back to ask why we were not inviting Grade 12s to step forward to lead and contribute to sessions, given their experience and insights!
At the heart of Project Future, our strategic plan, is the development of student autonomy and agency. The SOUL Seeking projects have exemplified student initiative and reminded us, as staff, to encourage and trust the students and allow them to lead in the exploration of their passions. It is sometimes harder for us as teachers to step back but the rewards are certainly greater if the students have taken ownership and learnt from the experience.
The students should be immensely proud of what they have achieved in the first year of SOUL Seeking. Our new timetable has created the space for this personal exploration for students in every grade, which in turn has given us an opportunity to deliver our mission of “Spark Minds, Kindle Hearts, Forge Futures.”
With this approach to independent learning, and with the staff as guides, I know that these students will take university and beyond by storm.
Richard D A Lamont
Headmaster
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.
