Maxwell International School
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Maxwell International School is a co-ed institution located on Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, Canada. It offers boarding students and day students instruction from grades 7-12. Its educational philosophy is based on the principles of the Bahá'í Faith. Students attend from all over the world.
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[edit] History
Maxwell International School was established in 1988 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada in honour of May and William Sutherland Maxwell, two of the earliest Bahá’ís in Canada.
The school was given its name by May and William Sutherland Maxwell, two early Baha'is from Canada. Sutherland Maxwell was one of Canada's premier architects in the late 19th century and was responsible for many buildings. The Château Frontenac in Quebec was one he and his brother worked on while Shrine of the Bab, Haifa, Israel was his last design.
In 1988 the school was opened with guest of honour Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum (Mary Maxwell, daughter of May and Sutherland) and wife of the Baha’i faith's guardian Shoghi Effendi. A tree was planted in dedication to the opening of the school.
In the early 2006-2007 school year, the school board decided to drop "Bahá'í" from its name. It is now referred to "Maxwell International School".
[edit] Learning Program
Maxwell provides an accredited academic program for grades 7–12, leading to Canadian high school graduation certification.
Learning programs include a spiritual view of humanity, a use of practical, integrative, theme-based projects, the encouragement of creative and artistic expression, and the use of service learning.The average student/teacher ratio is about 9 to 1, and two computer labs with high-speed Internet connections support the curriculum.
[edit] Special Programs
Maxwell offers English as a Second Language programs aimed at students from non-English speaking countries. The ESL or English as a second language program allows its students to learn in an academic environment while using practical application in everyday life.
The Maxwell Dance Workshop uses the dynamics of dance, music and drama to propose insight and solutions to many of the critical issues challenging today's young people.
Established at Maxwell International Bahá’í School in 1989 as a non-profit, educational, performing arts program, the Workshop performs for thousands of children, youth and adults in schools, colleges, universities and community events. The performers are students from grades 7 through 12 who come from diverse countries, religious and cultural backgrounds. Among numerous dance performances by Maxwell Youth Workshop are those in many communities of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, the Northwest Territories, the United States, South America, Israel, Spain and most recently in Belfast, Northern Ireland with the formation of the dance group ‘Lights of Unity’.
