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THE OUR KIDS REPORT:
Shawnigan Lake School


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THE OUR KIDS REPORT:
Shawnigan Lake School
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School overview

Pages in this report:

  • Grades
    Gr. 8 — Gr. 12
  • Gender
    Coed
  • Class Size
    17 students
  • Tuition
    $38,000 to 94,500/year
  • Language of instruction
    English
  • Associations
    CAIS, ISABC, TABS
  • Enrolment
    90 day students, 460 boarding students
  • Curriculum
    Traditional
  • EBROCHURE
    N/A
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The big picture on Shawnigan Lake School

We summarized the school ourselves

Shawnigan was founded in 1916 with just six students and cast in the mold of the leading English grammar schools. Its direct model was Westminster School, whose history stretches back to 1179. As such, it provides, aesthetically at least, a contrast to Brentwood, which neighbours the school. Both, as well as Brookes to the south, have some of the most stunning campuses that you could hope to find. The setting of Vancouver Island simply adds to the luster. The founders of Shawnigan Lake felt that all of those things—buildings, vistas, space—were important aspects of learning, and that a school’s setting should be inspiriting. And, certainly, it is. What the campus might lose in terms of warm and cuddly, it gains in a sense of tradition, organization, and consistency. The centennial celebration included school founder C. W. Lonsdale’s 1932 Packard convertible, adding a touch of the Great Gatsby. Still, there is a nice mix of modernity as well, perhaps most obviously in Genius Hour, a program developed by Wendy Milne, assistant head of academics. It’s a cross-grade, cross-curricular program in which students are challenged with creating their own project and seeing it through to completion. The only provisos are that each project involve collaboration, have a clear guiding question, and involve research. All of that—cross-curricular, cross-grade, hands-on, collaborative—are hallmarks of the Shawnigan approach. And, in Genius Hour and beyond, the results are impressive. The student who will do best is one who is a self-starter, operating at the top of his or her peer group, and able to dive in, making the most of the breadth of opportunity provided.

We questioned the school adminstration

1. Who are you, as a school?

"Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Beginning in Grade 8, our unique Shawnigan Journey purposefully guides students through a distinct, unparalleled and bold educational experience. Through empowering involvement in unique experiential, service, academic, fine art and athletic programs, Shawnigan graduates have the capacity, compassion and courage required to create exceptional lives for themselves and others."

2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?

Information not yet available.

3. What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?

Information not yet available.

4. What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?

Information not yet available.

5. What type of student is a good fit for your school?

Information not yet available.

6. Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?

Information not yet available.

7. To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?

Information not yet available.

8. How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?

Information not yet available.

9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?

Information not yet available.

10. What might families find surprising about your school?

Information not yet available.

11. What improvements or changes has your school made recently?

Information not yet available.

12. How will your school change in the next 5 years?

Information not yet available.

 

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The OUR KIDS Report: Shawnigan Lake School
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