A number of changes have occurred recently on the SelfDesign Learning Foundation Board of Directors. Sherry Elwood, who joined the board two years ago, has left to pursue other opportunities. We offer her our heartfelt thanks for her contributions to SelfDesign and wish her the best in her next endeavours. We are delighted to welcome two new members to the [...]
Interdisciplinary projects offer an incredible opportunity to simultaneously engage your kids in learning multiple subjects. An example of an interdisciplinary project is our Illustrate a Picture Book series where over the course of five sessions, kids will use writing, storytelling, design and art to create their very own picture book!
When Cass starts the Bachelor of Arts program in Digital Media Studies at Vancouver Island University this month, he already will have one of the four-year program’s courses under his belt. Cass commenced from SelfDesign in June. During grade 12, he took one of the program’s first-year-level courses as part of the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care’s dual-credit [...]
In 2021, when SelfDesign Education Assistant Meghan mentioned to colleague Talisha that she thought she had been the only person who had applied for the position in 2020, Talisha set her straight. “No. No, you weren’t,” Talisha said. “I know, because I applied for it, too.” Meghan, who commenced from SelfDesign as a learner in 2017, came into the role [...]
By River Meyer, SelfDesign Director of Organizational Learning and Culture This is the fifth article in a series exploring the SelfDesign philosophy. Actions speak more clearly than words Folk wisdom suggests that children learn more from watching how we live our lives than from listening to what we say. As the primary guiding adults for our children, our work is [...]
This fourth article in our series about SelfDesign philosophy explores how mutual respect makes possible the positive supportive relationships we need and thrive under with people, animals and the planet. Fostering mutual respect with our kids takes us on a journey of partnership.
Every fall, learners from grades 8 to 12 with SelfDesign Learning Community elect 10 of their peers to represent them on SelfDesign’s Learner Council. The main role of this group of elected learners is to be a voice for the school’s learner body and act as a bridge between learners and the school’s leadership and administration. Learners throughout the school [...]
When John finished grade 12 with SelfDesign journey last June, the 18-year-old had already achieved considerable skill in computer programming. That he was able to do so, he says, is largely due to the encouragement he experienced as a SelfDesign learner to explore his passions and interests as integral elements of his learning. “There’s so many opportunities that came out [...]
On October 30, 2022, 18-year-old Nicholas set a world record in the men's 200-metre freestyle S14 swimming event at the FINA [International Swimming Federation] World Cup preliminaries in Toronto. Three months earlier, he had set a Commonwealth Games record in the 200-m freestyle S14 Para swimming event in Birmingham, England. Those achievements followed a silver medal in the same event [...]
SelfDesign® Learning Community is all about supporting learners so that they can be successful in their learning and in meeting their learning goals. It’s what we do. It’s what we’re known for. It’s what sets us apart from many other schools. As part of that, SelfDesign Support Services arranges support for learners and their families who have been diagnosed with [...]
