Students become adept at crafting analytical and descriptive academic papers, creative writing and poetry. These skills are valuable, but the true treasure lies in the path we tread to get there. The voices of Shakespeare, the Romantic Poets, and those long-lost storytellers that gave us Beowulf speak directly to our hearts in English class and a tremour of recognition runs through us. They, too, quest for truth, challenge authority, and struggle to negotiate their relationships. They, too, were born with a cry and with the stamp of their times pressing upon them. With curiosity, we look to see how they felt and acted as they took up the material of their world, then turned around and gave it shape. These writers share our struggles and we feel accompanied and supported; we too will shape our world.

We know that science at Island Oak “works”, not only because students have produced award-winning projects, but because parents tell us that students take action at home to positively impact their health. Everything taught in science is in the context of the student's daily life. Curiosity is encouraged and questions are integrated into the lively, open class discussions, making chemistry and biology personally relevant and empowering students to make informed, intelligent choices. What does nutrition do? How does the body react chemically? How can I put what the doctor said at the last medical visit into context? Studying through multiple learning channels including hands-on experiences, discussion, artwork, reflection and writing about their observations in their own words translates to high levels of retention.

History and Geography fan the flames of students' curiosity as we explore some of their most pressing questions: Where in the world am I? How did we get this way? Why? What does it mean? We study the BC curriculum, discovering World and Canadian Geography and History, including First Nations History, then we go further to encompass the Waldorf curriculum with its wealth of Ancient History, Medieval History, and the History of Revolutions. Throughout, we emphasize the biographies of individuals so that history becomes personal, meaningful, and memorable. Students develop a personally significant annual presentation that features an essay, a visual component, and a talk, culminating in a major presentation for the extended school community in grade 12.

Math and Physics at Island Oak aim to equip learners as critical thinkers to act in today’s economic, environmental and social climate. Real world, current issues around interest rates, currency values, world economics, global warming and the environment are investigated in depth. All students study the highest academic mathematics so that they can enter the university and program of their choice, but the program strives to go beyond this to enable learners to operate with wisdom in the contemporary world, no matter what their career paths will be.

Plays, theatre games, short scenes and improvisation are crucial aspects of Waldorf education because they build self-knowledge and confidence. Every year, each grade gives entertaining performances before peers and parents. Year by year the confidence grows, and by Grade 12 students are ready to select and perform a full-length modern play for the wider community; definitely a highlight of the final year.

Dance and Eurythmy blocks develop agility and fluid movement and rotate with blocks of singing, percussion, guitar and other music performance units. In English class students develop clarity and beauty of speech through choral speaking and reader’s theatre.

Visual art class provides a rotating roster of specialists so that students learn Figure Drawing, Acrylic Painting, Stone Sculpture, and more, directly from practicing artists. In addition, the history of art, architecture, music and literature grounds the students in an understanding of the development of human consciousness.

At Island Oak we are lucky to be in a beautiful part of the world where we have easy access to nature's playground. We take advantage of the skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and nordic ski opportunities at Mount Washington, and surf-kayaking at Tofino. The whole school goes out to explore the natural surroundings a couple times a year. For example, at the beginning of each year we go camping together so that everyone can get to know each other in a different context than at school. We enjoy archery and skating, and play basketball, badminton, curling, soccer and many other games.

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