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Home  Education Lions Bay School The Lions Bay Scholars
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Written by Louis Peterson
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Tuesday, 15 September 2009 |
As I write, it is late August and many of our youth are heading to
school. Our twenty-two Grads of 2009 are beginning new adventures, as
are a similar number of pre-schoolers at the start of their educational
journeys. A chat with our Scholarship Winners about their "beginning
journey" has given me a snapshot about what is good and memorable about
Lions Bay for them, and where they hope the path forward will take
them.
Each step from home to playschool to kindergarten-to-grade 3 to
elementary school (4-7) to high school (8-12) represents a transition
in the educational journey. Each of these transitions provides
different interests, and opportunities for various extra-curricular
activities. The students tell me that for some of them, such changes to
the "comfort zone" are challenging, perhaps intimidating, while others
look forward to new adventures. Guiding, caring hands were there to
help along the way. Beginning Playschool and Kindergarten in Lions Bay,
they found a bright, spacious schoolroom and an open plan mix of
classes set against a forest background. Teachers were pleasant,
playtime in the outdoors or on the tennis court was important, and
friendships were made. School was a good place to be! In the summers
there was the Beach, the glorious Beach. At other times there were
visits to our local library. Gleneagles was larger, classes were held
in individual rooms, and there were greater opportunities for sports
and other activities. At high school, academics became a more serious
matter, and thoughts of "what next?" began to emerge. With entry into
the post-secondary phase, yet another transition for Ian Spencer,
Kellen Welch, Eric Berard, Steven Loppe, James Greville, Jackson
Chandler, Chantal Lyons-Stevenson and Linden Ligertwood is about to
begin. Brief snippets from our "chats" are given below, except for
Linden, who was not available at time of writing. The Lions Bay
Community Scholarship Foundation senda Best Wishes to all our new Grade
12 graduates, including those awarded scholarships.
Ian Spencer (Rockridge) is going to UVF (University College of the Fraser Valley), to begin introductory courses in physics and business. In school he played a "minor role" on the trumpet, but he particularly enjoyed hands-on experiments in physics and the breadth of 20th Century World History, while participating in rugby (playing for the Rockridge Ravens), soccer and hockey. In College, he plans to pursue his love of sports, continuing his passion for hockey that began in grade 4. Ian has spent much time over the summer in training on the ice as early as 6:00 am, and has his eyes set on playing for the Abbotsford Pilots or the Langley Chiefs in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League - let's hope that an athletic scholarship will be forthcoming.
Kellen Welch (West Vancouver Secondary) wants to become a doctor, an ambition going back as far as Grade 7, and perhaps catalyzed by memories of early childhood treatments among caring people at Children's Hospital. His enthusiasm for the Lions Bay environment, and his eagerness about school, are quite infectious, as he recounts his impatience to move from one phase to the next - what was there not to like? Even being banned from retrieving the all the Easter Eggs at the Easter Egg Hunt bonanza is now a source of some amusement! Kellen's school marks were always good, especially in Biology and Physics. This was balanced by his considerable interest in other activities, including captaining a West Vancouver Minor Hockey team (14-17 age group), taking courses to fulfill a Lifeguarding/ First Aid Certification, working at the West Vancouver Aquatic Centre and at Ambleside Beach, and at the Lions Bay Store for two years. He put his First Aid knowledge to good use at two recent car accidents on the Upper Levels highway, and on one occasion to rescue an endangered swimmer at Ambleside. Kellen has registered in the B.A. program at the UBC Okanagan Campus in Kelowna, living in residence and planning to work part time at the Kelowna Community Pool. He will likely spend some time on the ski slopes of Big White.
Eric Berard (Rockridge) mentions that he liked History and PE in high school, graduating with Honours (Distinction), but he prefers to talk about his substantial extra curricular sporting activities. He was introduced to wrestling by none other than his older sister! Track & Field and rugby provided additional physical outlets, both in and out of school. In addition, Eric played for the Capilano Rugby Club in the Provincial Regional Championships, in the sport where he keeps up his training and hopes to continue at University. During the summer he worked at the Boathouse restaurant in Horseshoe Bay ("Sorry - I can't give you a discount!") and did yard work wherever he could get it. Now he will be at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, commencing a four-year commerce program, and sharing a "quad room" in residence.
Steven Loppe (Rockridge) is the first winner of the newly endowed Norman Kirby Scholarship in Lions Bay. A strong science student, taking Enriched Maths and Calculus as well as all three of Chemistry, Physics and Biology, Steven found time to qualify for the Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross in swimming, prior to obtaining the National Lifeguarding Service Award. He volunteered in the Lions Bay Backyard Swim Program and worked at the Lions Bay Cafe for two years. With his interest in technology, Steven is heading to UBC, probably to study Computing Engineering while living in residence. He hopes to be earning some income whenever time from study allows, perhaps lifeguarding at the UBC pool, and as a swim teacher after he completes his Water Safety Instructor Certificate. The Co-op Program provided by UBC Engineering is attractive to Steven, as an opportunity to gain work experience with different companies during summer employment sessions.
James Greville (Collingwood) is this year's winner of the long established Curly Stewart Memorial Scholarship. He began pre-school in Lions Bay, but continued all of his K-12 years at Collingwood High School. He recalls how this early move away from immediate friends generated some reluctance on his part ("Why me?"), but clearly the "transition" has served him well. James complements his overall graduation requirements with Advanced Placement credentials in Chemistry, Physics and English Composition. For extra curricular pursuits there were "lots", including a curious juxtaposition of interests in Rugby and Acting. He played for the school rugby team in Australia in Grades 10 and 12, and his acting saw performances in "Witness for the Prosecution" and "Any Number can Die". He served as Camp Counsellor in the school program on Keats Island, and enjoyed helping out at Spring Fair events. James is moving into residence at McGill University in Montreal, where he begins a broad Social Sciences program that may lead into Political Science or ultimately into a graduate program in Law School. Classes will be "large", but one of particular interest to James is a Philosophy seminar course, limited to 25 students, on "The World of Chemistry - Drugs". He plans to continue playing rugby on an intra-mural team.
Jackson Chandler (Rockridge) recalls his debut as Santa Claus in "The Mice before Christmas) in Grade 2 in Lions Bay, from where he proceeded cautiously to Gleneagles and then to Rockridge. After settling in periods, he says he liked a spectrum of Arts, Social Studies projects, Maths, Geography, Physics, and PE. He played the trumpet in school recitals at Gleneagles and rugby on the Rockridge school team. Outside of school in sports he played soccer until grade 5, and baseball and hockey all the way through grade 12. He taught skating at weekends at the West Van Ice Rink, and over the summer he was employed at the Boathouse restaurant in Horseshoe Bay. Jackson is entering the first year Business Program at UBC, perhaps leading to a focus on Marketing and Finance.
Chantal Lyons-Stevenson (Sentinel) started pre-school in Lions Bay but entered the French Immersion program at Pauline Johnson Elementary School for grades 1-7, followed by the French Immersion program at Sentinel Secondary School for grades 8-12. She recalls the fun of local Easter Egg Hunts, the opening of the new colourful Playscape at the Beach, and social events such as our Canada Day celebration. Her academic credentials are exemplary, attested by a Grade Point Average of 95%, and Advanced Placement credits in French, English and 3-Dimensional Art. The latter is a highly innovative option, requiring considerable imagination and originality. Chantal produced an intriguing portfolio representing Sculptures of Dancers, emphasizing the grace of human movement. As extra curricular activities, Chantal has stayed the course through Sparks to Brownies to Girl Guides to Pathfinder, as well as continuing evening Dance lessons during high school (after getting home at 10:00 pm, "it was difficult to get started next day!"). In grade 12 Chantal and a fellow student choreographed the school play, Beauty and the Beast. She now moves into residence at UBC. In addition to the LBCSF award, she holds a UBC President's Entrance Scholarship, a Canadian Parents for French Scholarship, and a BC Provincial Scholarship. She hopes to major in English Literature. Her Advanced Placement achievements are assessed as equivalent to almost one full university academic year, allowing her to enter the second year in some courses. She hopes to continue her interest in Dancing.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 23 October 2009 )
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