Island Pacific School

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Island Pacific School

"Learning. To make a difference"
Location
Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada
Information
Religious affiliation None
Principal Ted Spear
Funding type Independent
Grades 6-9
Established 1995
Enrollment 65 (as of 2013)

Island Pacific School (IPS) is an IB World middle school serving grades 6 to 9. It is located on Bowen Island, British Columbia. IPS is a small school with only 50-70 students enrolled. It has a maximum class size of eighteen.

Programs

IPS students participate in a wide range of academic, artistic and recreational pursuits designed to foster critical inquiry, community engagement and leadership.[1]

Academics

The academic curriculum at IPS is enriched for every student to include practical reasoning, philosophy & ethics[2] and creative arts.

IPS follows the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) - a rigorous curriculum that builds on the inquiry-based IB Primary Years Program. Students study five academic courses (English, French, Humanities, Science and Mathematics) with an emphasis on interdisciplinary connections and critical thinking. All subjects are taught by specialist teachers, and all subjects meet or exceed Ministry of Education guidelines.[3]

A Masterworks extended project and public oral defense is compulsory for Grade 9 students.[4] Some students at every grade receive additional learning support through a program that helps them develop improved time management, organizational and study skills.[5]

AIM French language learning

The French language program at IPS centres on a highly effective approach to second language acquisition called the Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM). AIM classes integrate kinesthetic, visual and auditory elements into French language instruction in ways that appeal to different kinds of students who have different kinds of learning styles. Assigning specific gestures to French words helps students see, feel and hear the language in ways not possible through approaches that are more traditionally thematic in nature.[6]

Outdoor pursuits

Expeditions in the fall, winter and spring terms have the entire school involved in challenging outdoor educational pursuits such as backpacking, cross-country skiing and ocean kayaking. These expeditions provide physical and mental challenges intended to bring out the best in individuals and the groups in which they work and play; challenges that call on the values on which IPS is founded: wisdom, courage and integrity. Students and staff also have a chance to get to know one another informally, outside the classroom.[7]

Excursions

Students at every grade participate in monthly excursions that have a cultural, curricular or activity-based focus. These outings are meant to give students academic, cultural and fun experiences they could not get within the confines of a regular classroom setting.[8]

Community service

The community and service program at IPS is designed to focus on local, provincial and global initiatives. Once a month, students dedicate an afternoon to help out a local Bowen Island organization or not-for-profit group.[9]

Musical

Students collaborate across the grades to create an annual musical. This optional event allows students to pursue their creative talents in writing, music, acting, dance, production (lighting and music) and stage craft.[10]

House system

The house system groups students across grades to enable mentoring, encourage collaboration on projects and facilitate stewardship that includes cleaning the school. Student leaders within each house help plan and organize fund raising and other community service initiatives. As well, each house hosts two school lunches per year that have house members devise a lunch theme and plan games & entertainment for the entire school. Students are divided into one of four cross-grade houses: Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Orion and Pleiades.[11]

History

Dr. Ted Spear established the Renaissance II Liberal Education Society in 1984 with the goal of improving the educational practices adopted within contemporary schools. He wanted to revitalize the theory and practice of a liberal education he felt was missing in the educational experience of most students. He believed that a “liberal education enabled a person to free themselves from both the ignorance and superstitions of one’s own time”. Dr. Spear was interested in cultivating in students “the very best of what it meant to be a human being.”

The Renaissance II Liberal Education Society, in turn, founded Island Pacific School in 1995. It began as an independent middle school for students in Grades 7-9 and its principal mission was steeped in Renaissance II ideology. There were 14 students enrolled in the first year. Dr. Spear then created the Institute of Liberal Education in 2001 as a way for Island Pacific School faculty members to explore the theory and practice of a liberal education. Conducted as Tuesday afternoon seminars right in the school, the IPS group began with a survey of the philosophy of liberal education and then moved toward curriculum development and implementation within the context of a middle school. These kinds of professional conversations engaged teaching faculty with pedagogical issues unique to middle school culture.

Today the school continues to operate as an independent society, distinct from the Renaissance II Liberal Education Society. Called the Island Pacific School Society, the school’s governance structure has been made substantially more transparent, inclusive, and democratic as part of strategic plan to sustain the school for future generations of young people.[12]

Affiliations & Accreditations

IPS is an accredited, co-ed International Baccalaureate World School and is affiliated with the following institutions:[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  2. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved January 6, 2014. 
  3. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  4. ↑ "Island Pacific School". 
  5. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved January 6, 2014. 
  6. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  7. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved January 6, 2014. 
  8. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved January 6, 2014. 
  9. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved January 6, 2014. 
  10. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved January 6, 2014. 
  11. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved January 6, 2014. 
  12. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved January 6, 2014. 
  13. ↑ "Island Pacific School". Retrieved January 6, 2014. 

External links

Secondary schools
Primary or elementary schools
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