Grade 8 Program

Starting at a new school can be a daunting experience, even for the most confident of kids – make it a boarding school and it can be even more so. It is certainly a decision that is not easy and sometimes it is the parents that struggle the most with it. By creating an experience that is a landing pad for our youngest students as they start at the School, we have developed a bespoke program that will ultimately be a launchpad to their journey at Shawnigan Lake School.

What initially started off as a short-term solution to the challenge of accommodating an influx of students in 2017, Stanton House, named after the first school nurse Eleanor Stanton who was at the School from 1918 to 1962, was established as the first boarding house dedicated to Grade 8 girls at Shawnigan. Fast forward to the present day where circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic saw the need to reduce the number of students in the boarding houses, leading to the decision to move the Grade 8 boys to a separate House. Levien House was born, named after Senior Master and colleague of Eleanor’s from 1920 through the 1930’s, Captain ‘Tiny" Levien.

Now, the Grade 8 program has evolved, with two Houses and specific programming designed exclusively for Grade 8s. Students coming to Shawnigan have a dedicated starting point, laying the foundation for their Shawnigan Journey. The program is shaping these young students by building their confidence, self-esteem, and curiosity and preparing them for their next four years at the School, while allowing them to stay young just a little bit longer. The nurturing environment offered in the Grade 8 Houses, overseen by compassionate, warm, welcoming and supportive staff, allows them to be themselves as they get used to life at boarding school.

The objective behind the Grade 8 program is twofold: to allow students to have a positive start at the School, surrounded by peers who are at the same stage mentally and emotionally, and to build and foster friendships that will stay with them as they split into the Grade 9-12 Houses after their first year. With a dedicated staff to nurture them as they adapt to life at the School, these students not only have more one-on-one attention due to smaller House sizes, they also have parental figures on-site to guide them in life skills, allowing for a softer learning experience.

The next phase in the evolution of the Grade 8 program is the construction of a new and pioneering co-educational boarding house, with two distinct wings. Students who are lucky enough to be the ones to experience this Shawnigan "first" will be part of a loving community where students from all walks of life will learn the values of humility, compassion, and community.

"Levien has been a wonderful experience for our son so far. He feels connected and included. It is helping him build confidence by learning all the many ways of Shawnigan in a safe and protected way, which is helping him get ready for next year. I am so grateful that he is able to build strong connections with all the Grade 8 boys before they get split up into the main Houses. We are very grateful for the care and interest that the House Director has shown in him. He's in good hands." –current parent of a Grade 8 student

Gaynor and Rhodri Samuel

Executive Director Admissions Senior Master & Director of Alumni Relations gsamuel@shawnigan.ca rsamuel@shawnigan.ca