News and Events at Island Oak High School

IOHS welcomes Gifty-Serbeh Dunn today to kick off International...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:32:21 -0800

IOHS welcomes Gifty-Serbeh Dunn today to kick off International Development Week. Gifty is the founder of Shea Butter Market and a board member at Partners for Prosperity, a Shawnigan Lake-based International NGO. Shea Butter Market purchases shea butter from a widows collective in Tapko, Ghana and creates products with it here in Canada. The widows are paid fairly and also recieve 2% of net proceeds.Gifty will be talking to the students about International Development, grassroot initiatives, and sustainable development. She’ll address what works, what doesn’t,and what we can do better. We thank Gifty and the BC Council for International Cooperation for their support.

International Valentine's Day Dinner

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:14:55 -0800

Classes 11 & 12 are producing an International Valentine’s Day Dinner on Sunday, Feb.12 at 5 pm. The dinner is partially sponsored by the BC Council for International Cooperation and the NGO, Partners for Prosperity. Enjoy international cuisine and live music. $15/ticket, $30/family of four

Island Oak is hosting the Cowichan Folk Guild Youth Jammers...

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:11:00 -0800

Island Oak is hosting the Cowichan Folk Guild Youth Jammers Coffee House on Saturday, Feb.4th at 7 pm (6:30 pm for performers). It’s an Open Mike evening with MC Bill Levity. Everyone who plays an instrument, sings, dances or recites poetry is welcome to come on out and share their talents! Just let the person at the door know you are a performer on the way in.
$5/individual, free for performers. Concession.

IOHS Students win CVAC Art Scholarships

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:34:48 -0800

IOHS students Forest Johnstone, Solveig Lampson, Amber-Lee Bartlett and Eilisha Huston-Schlegel have won arts scholarships through the Cowichan Valley Arts Council. The scholarship includes an initial art opening at Portals, the CVAC hub in the Island Savings Community Centre in Duncan, as well as mentoring, workshops, honourary CVAC memberships and places in the 24th annual Cowichan Valley Spring Arts Show.

IOHS Student's Art Selected by Queen Alexandra Foundation

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:54:00 -0800

IOHS Student Amber-Lee Barlett’s art was selected from an “overwhelming” quantity of submissions, to decorate the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children’s Jeneece Place, a residence for children and their families while children are undergoing treatment in Victoria. President and CEO of the Foundation, Ron Hewitt, welcomed and congratulated Amber-Lee personally when Amber-Lee and art teacher Simone Luckham delivered the painting. Amber-Lee has been invited to attend the Grand Opening of Jeneece Place on January 20, 2012. Our proudest congratulations to Amber-Lee.

Parsifal in Classes 11 & 12

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:11:00 -0800

Classes 11 & 12 are studying Parsifal and Medieval History with senior Faculty member Richard Tibbets this block.

New blocks begin Jan. 9th

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:31:00 -0800

We look forward to welcoming new students and old on January 9th. Grades 9 & 10 will be beginning a Chemistry block, with Grade 10 preparing for the provincial science exam on Jan. 26th. Grades 11 & 12 will have Drama for their main lesson.

Annette Lampson leads the IOHS choir at Sunrise Waldorf School...

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:14:00 -0800

Annette Lampson leads the IOHS choir at Sunrise Waldorf School Christmas Recital December 9, 2011.

Xmas Swags,Class 12 fundraiser

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:06:04 -0800

Christmas Swags
Class 12 is making Christmas Swags for $10/each. You can decorate your front door beautifully and economically, and support Class 12 and FINCA Canada at the same time. FINCA provides micro financing for projects in the developing world. Contact Island Oak to order, or just drop by between 8 am and 2:30 pm. For the same price, you can also make your own swags at Glenora Farm Christmas Fair on December 18th.

SCAD at IOHS

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:19:00 -0800

In a fast-changing world, it’s important for students to be aware of new career opportunities. Yesterday we had a visit from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) from Georgia, USA, a school preparing talented individuals for creative careers.

We learned about exciting new careers;for example, a brand-new degree in “Service Design”; the profession of designing customer experiences. The curriculum for the program is broad, encompassing such classes as psychology, anthropology, interior design and graphic design.

The school offers 41 programs; majors and minors can be mixed and matched for broader marketable skill sets. Students can travel between SCAD’s campuses at Atlanta, Savannah, Hong Kong and the south of France.

The representative was very interested in our Grade 12 project format because it encompasses many of the writing and presentation skills they foster at SCAD. She said students might consider using their Grade 12 projects as part of an application portfolio. As well, students are invited to get a head start with college credits by taking a SCAD course or two online while they are completing high school (time permitting of course!), or coming for 5-week summer school at SCAD to earn college credits in advance.

There is more information available at Island Oak, or go to SCAD’s website at http://www.scad.edu/

Scent of Balsam, glowing candles set in apples gradually...

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:45:00 -0800

Scent of Balsam, glowing candles set in apples gradually lighting up a beautiful spiral of greenery filling the floor of the room. Music—harp by Cherry Baines and flute by Jane Way, accompanied meditative spirallers from the public on Sunday. Alumni parents Lorna Lawson, Paul Ruszel, Jane Kalamakov, Vivi de Graff and Nadine Nelson provided the spiral event. On Monday morning the entire school population entered the darkened room and bit by bit lit it up with their apple-candles to the music of Chris Bertin and alumni parent Lee Masters.

Short, Sweet AGM

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:42:00 -0700

A Year of Rich Learning Experiences Over cookies and tea, we heard about the incredible array of events, cultural and outdoor adventure outings, and individual and community accomplishments that Island Oak students engaged in last year. And we got a glimpse of a similarly rich year of learning experiences ahead.

Balanced Operating Budget A balanced operating budget was presented and accepted.

BC Dogwood Diploma AND Waldorf Education: How Do They Balance? We heard about the way Island Oak meets and exceeds Ministry standards so that students have maximum choices after graduating, and are equipped to go on to the post-secondary institution of their choice. We heard about a track record of honours high school diplomas and high grades on Ministry exams. And we learned how Island Oak High School manages to deliver the valued B.C. Dogwood diploma and do it well, without sacrificing Waldorf philosophy in its curriculum and teaching methods. The first Waldorf school in Stuttgart, Germany balanced state requirements with Waldorf philosophy, and we continue to do so here in the service of our students.

If you missed this very interesting AGM, you are welcome to view the minutes in the office.

Feed the Hungry

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:36:36 -0700

It’s the week after Thanksgiving, when many of us were blessed with the abundance of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes as well as the good company of friends and family.
We are grateful for all that we are blessed with, and recognize that many are not so fortunate.
This week at Island Oak, we are collecting food and cash donations for the Farm Credit Canada Drive Away Hunger program. The food will be made available for hungry people in our community.
Please bring in your donations of packaged foods or cash by Thursday, October 13th.

“It is important for people to realize that we can make progress against world hunger, that world hunger is not hopeless. The worst enemy is apathy.” Reverend David Beckham.

The Flying Dutchman

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:28:00 -0700

25 students and adults went to see Pacific Opera Victoria’s production of The Flying Dutchman. Within the tiered interior of the Royal Theatre, the sets by Allan Stichbury and costumes by Nancy Bryant evoked the mystery of the Norwegian Fjords, while the voices of the singers filled the space from end to end, without microphones! The tale is a haunting, swashbuckling one with a spectral ship and a cursed seaman. “When Senta (Joni Henson) sang”, says a Grade 12 student, “I felt the whole note resonate through my body, especially my chest.”

Bard on the Beach Festival, Vancouver

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:21:00 -0700

As happens every year, the entire school population went over to Vancouver to enjoy “As You Like It” at the Bard on the Beach Festival. The trip went smoothly and everyone enjoyed it, even though it was a very long day in cars and on ferrys and city buses. Shakespearean English can be difficult to understand, particularly for students who are here to learn English, but the humour and high caliber acting let everyone understand what was happening. “The way they were acting,” says a grade 12 student, “and the way the scenes were moving helped tie the story together and let me watch it unfold.”

Hornby Island Trip

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:14:11 -0700

Every year starts off with a whole-school trip to somewhere beautiful on the West Coast. This year our trip was to Hornby Island, where the students did high ropes courses, kayaking, “the Leap of Faith”, and swimming in the ocean. “We got to meet everyone in the school”, said one student, “that’s good for me, because I’m new here.” While at the camp-out, some of the students made the experience extra-special by bringing their instruments and sharing their considerable musical talents.

Fired Up by Michaelmas

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:26:35 -0700

Our Michaelmas Festival on Sept. 29 was warm, friendly, and strengthening. Thanks to Gary Ward for telling us about the meaning and history of the Festival, and reminding us that as we go into the darkness of winter harvest may be drawing to a close, we still have lots of work to do. The warmth and fire of Michaelmas can generate the energy and the will to do the tasks that lie ahead.

We had a fantastic turnout, with alumni, alumni parents and friends of students as well as students and their families. Apples were pressed for cider, a great expanse of soups, breads and desserts were laid out and enjoyed, and songs were sung. Sarah Cabena, Suzanne Huston and Vivi de Graff of the Firekeepers Parent Association, along with back-up from Jacob and his sisters, created a beautiful atmosphere with pumpkins, corn stalks, flowers and candles. Annette Lampson and Richard Tibbets led singing. Jonas Huston built a fire and Regina Montag hauled her apple press up to the school. Thanks to Eilisha Huston, Gary Ward, Sarah Cabena, Brett, Greg and Noah Knights, Vivi de Graff, Suzanne Huston, Regina Montag and everyone else who helped clear up after the festival.

Heavenly Sounds at Island Oak

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:04:08 -0700

It’s Friday afternoon. What is that heavenly chorus? Every Friday, Annette Lampson limbers up the students at Island Oak High School with yogic stretches, runs their vocal chords up and down intricate ladders, then draws out the most wonderful, harmonius sounds in four-part harmony. You should hear it…you really should. You will hear it, no doubt, at our next family gathering.

Stefan Klocek, son of Dennis Klocek of Rudolf Steiner College,...

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:02:07 -0800

Stefan Klocek, son of Dennis Klocek of Rudolf Steiner College, is an alumnus of a California Waldorf school. He is the product of a family’s lifelong commitment to Waldorf Education. He is speaking about his ability to work in a technology field after his Waldorf education.

Encorp Recycling Program

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:01:00 -0700

Each year Island Oak enters into the annual recycling contest, which has been won 4 times and given us second place 3 times. We gather recyclable containers to return to the bottle depot for cash and credit in the contest. We gather these containers in three main ways:

1. we have bottle drives and go out and collect them in the community.

2. People bring them in to us and leave them at the school.

3. People take their own containers into the bottle depot, get the return-it money and a receipt, and then bring the receipt to Island Oak.

We are happy to have Sarah Cabena taking in the receipts and entering them into the computer for the contest. This is a great help as long-time supporter, Dian Dous has moved on to greener pastures after doing this for so many years.

So, if you have bottles, consider bringing them into the school or taking them into the Return-It Centre and bring us the receipt after you collect. Thanks!