“ Once you step out of school and actually take yourself outdoors , you definitely learn to go outside your comfort zone , to try new things and to appreciate everything that you have ,” Grade 11 student Annabel said of OE .
The Ivy Compass team supports those interests with diverse speakers and presentations . The 2021 – 2022 school year featured a performance of Qwalena : The Wild Woman Who Steals Children by Indigenous storytellers 3 Crows Productions for the Grade 8 class .
“ This was an extremely expressive performance ,” Grade 8 student Lily said of the interactive performance . “ It really engaged us , especially with the really fun ‘ jump scare ’ kind of stuff !”
Lily and her classmates acknowledged the power of having diverse speakers share their stories , rather than hearing about them from those who may not have that lived experience .
Further presenters included fourtime Olympian and mental health advocate Mercedes Nicoll ; writer , photographer and 2SLGBTQ + Muslim activist Samra Habib ; Afro-Indigenous two-spirit leader and activist Orene Askew ; founder and executive director of Women Leaders of Tomorrow Friba Rezayee ; and Ugandan-born Canadian educator and author of Don ’ t Label Me Irshad Manji .
“ I really enjoy the social justice issues that have been brought to Ivy ,” said Grade 11 student Annabel . “ It ’ s improved a lot , and it ’ s a lot more current and engaging for students .”
The West Quadrant works closely with the North Quadrant , which is led by Ms Kimmel , Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator , Senior School ( see page 28 ). The North Quadrant focuses on developing a strong sense of self — a topic addressed throughout Advisory classes and with ongoing support and encouragement from the Ivy Compass team .
“ We contribute to that social and emotional learning component by helping students discover passions through clubs , teams and wellness activities that we infuse into almost every Ivy Compass Day ,” said Ms Huhn .
In the East Quadrant , Outdoor Education ( OE ) is a substantial focus . It provides , as it has since the program ’ s inception , a vehicle for students to foster environmental stewardship . However , OE trip locations , scopes and sequences have shifted over the years .
In 2021 – 2022 , OE trips included staying overnight at Camp Summit in Squamish for Grade 8 – 9 students , camping at Camp Fircom on Gambier Island for Grade 10 students , camping in Squamish for Grade 11 students and whitewater rafting in Lytton for Grade 12 students . The Grade 11 OE class , which can be taken as an elective , hiked the Sunshine Coast Trail , cross-country skied at China Ridge Trails in Princeton and canoed in Powell River .
OE is also heavily driven by sustainability and considers Indigenous ways of knowing . “ We want to have an understanding of the land — including place-based education and what it means to learn here — so we can honour the land and its history ,” Ms Huhn said .
In the South Quadrant — Service Learning — the focus has moved from short-term community engagements to building long-term , purposeful relationships with partners like KidSafe , Women Leaders of Tomorrow , Adopt-a-Block programs and Crofton Manor . The service learning model now includes more CHS community members like the CHS Parents ’ Auxiliary , student body leadership , the Prefect of Ivy Compass and CHS staff .
In all , Ivy Compass in the Senior School has taken its next step forward with insight from students and staff — feedback that is ongoing as the Ivy Compass program continues to grow .
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