Curricular Information
Ivy Compass Program
The Ivy Compass Program begins in Junior Kindergarten and culminates in Grade 12 . The development of the CHS student begins with intentional opportunities to grow beyond the curriculum . Students learn about themselves and their role in their communities , with the goals of developing personal growth , leadership and engaged citizenship . The Ivy Compass program enhances the curriculum by organizing enriching activities around the four cardinal points of the compass : north ( self-awareness and leadership ), south ( service learning and social responsibility ), east ( outdoor and environmental education ) and west ( world citizenship ). Through Ivy Compass , CHS students are able to discover and pursue their personal excellence .
Examples of Junior School Ivy Compass activities include outdoor education trips , gardening , taking part in leadership learning in roles such as House Captains , ECE and Assembly Captains , raising funds for organizations such as UNICEF and BC Children ’ s Hospital , participating in outdoor lessons , adopting and caring for catch basins around the school , and creating personal action projects .
Student Leadership
Student leadership in the Junior School focuses on the development of personal agency to make a difference in the school community , and extends into the local Vancouver community . By promoting school spirit , volunteering to help others , establishing environmental awareness and engaging in service learning , students learn the basics of empathy and how they can be a leader for change in small ways . They learn to observe a need in others and develop a strategy to execute a change . This may be a student opening a door for someone , helping a friend carry books , learning to take turns and share , tidying the school campus or connecting with alumnae for the School ’ s birthday . Grade 6 and 7 students are involved in more formal leadership learning , including in-class lessons , voluntary leadership roles as Ambassadors in a variety of areas , and positive role-modelling for younger students . Students are encouraged to see the many facets of leadership and recognize their personal strengths that they bring to their community . All Grade 7 students assume formal leadership responsibilities throughout the year .
Outdoor Education
Junior School students thrive with the experience of Outdoor Education . When young students establish a positive relationship with nature and outdoor spaces , they become adults who provide stewardship for the world of the future . Outdoor Education begins in Junior Kindergarten with gardening and outdoor exploration of the school campus including the Woods , and progresses throughout the grades to beach exploration , nature walks in local parks with Indigenous guides , salmon raising and release , and more . By Grade 3 , girls have their first overnight trip to the Cheakamus Centre . The Outdoor Education program culminates in Grade 7 with a three-night experience , including one night in tents , at Camp Fircom on Gambier Island .
Parent-Student Handbook 2023-2024 59