GROWTH & Evolution
Ivy Compass , Crofton House School ’ s signature program , is designed to equip students with the values and skills necessary to navigate challenges and change in a complex world . Since 2014 , the Ivy Compass program has been woven throughout CHS , putting students at the centre of their learning by giving them spaces to become socially and environmentally responsible leaders .
Ivy Compass starts in the Junior School , opening students up to new perspectives of themselves and their world . In the Senior School , students are supported as they apply these new perspectives and put their ideas into action .
Ivy Compass has four quadrants — North , East , South and West — dedicated to age-appropriate experiential learning . These quadrants help develop a strong sense of self , foster environmental stewardship , help students become socially responsible citizens and provide opportunities for students to engage in the community .
Those key foundational pieces , built by the program ’ s initiating teachers and staff , still ring true . “ A group of staff came up with the vision , and the idea still carries through today ,” said
Ms Huhn , Coordinator , Experiential Learning ( Ivy Compass program ), Senior School . “ Ivy Compass wouldn ’ t exist if it wasn ’ t for the brilliance of those individuals who came up with the program .”
In June 2021 , the Senior School Ivy Compass program started to make an evolutionary step forward , surveying students and staff to see how it could expand . Feedback is also taken in after every Ivy Day throughout the school year . Today , although the program ’ s core values remain the same , the focus on leadership and citizenship has evolved to meet the interests of today ’ s Senior School students as indicated in those surveys — particularly around social justice .
“ The voices of the students and staff have driven the shift in some of the goals for the program ,” Ms Huhn said . Ms Huhn and Ms Wilson , Assistant Coordinator , Experiential Learning , Senior School , were brought together in the 2021 – 2022 school year to create a formalized Ivy Compass program team in the Senior School to move those new ideas forward .
It ’ s a shift that students have definitely noticed . “ The Ivy Compass program , and the current direction it ’ s going in , is one part of the School that students have a lot of say in ,” said Grade 11 student Annabel . “ I think that ’ s so unique — focusing on student feedback and planning to improve well-being , to make it engaging for us and to educate us in the ways that we find enjoyable .”
“ Teachers have been taking student feedback , and the days are planned based on what that specific grade wants to do . That ’ s my favourite part of the program — that it ’ s studentoriented ,” said Lucy , Prefect of Ivy Compass and Grade 12 student . “ We know that the teachers want our feedback because they want to improve the program .”
As the program prefect , Lucy is also a direct connection to the student body and another vehicle for students to have their voices heard about the program . In the role , Lucy attended every Ivy Day in the Senior School and supported the planning of over half of the activities .
The West Quadrant supports students in becoming socially responsible citizens . This quadrant is where the most expansion has occurred , with a strong focus on social justice .
“ Students want to talk about sexual orientation and gender identity ( SOGI ), and to learn more about Indigenous knowledge and education . They want to learn how to have tough conversations with people who think differently ,” Ms Huhn said .
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