More students have the opportunity to attend the enhanced education program at Island Pacific School thanks to recent significant donations made to the school’s bursary fund.
Investing in a transformative education
New donations are being used by the school to ensure children who stand to benefit the most from a transformative independent middle school can access it without worrying about financial constraints.
“We're going to continue to grow our bursary program. I’m pushing as hard as we can on that,” says the head of school, Brad Carter.
Carter encourages families to reach out directly. “Choosing an independent school is a significant commitment and we recognize that affordability can be a challenge. But education should be a meaningful opportunity, not just a transaction. We’re committed to working with families to make this experience possible,"
Means testing and bursary adjustments
To tailor to each family’s needs, Island Pacific School uses a third party system for each assessment. Through this method the school can adjust bursary amounts based on individual family income, net worth and financial needs.
Carter mentions there’s no set amount for each family before an assessment is done, but there’s no limit either. “If a family, you know, meets the means then they essentially come for a full ride on the tuition.”
Specialization in the middle years
According to Carter, there are few accredited Canadian schools focusing solely on grade 6-9 years. He describes this developmental period to be a critical and transformative one as it is when children step out of childhood onto the path toward adulthood.
“This time is so important that it needs to have its own special attention,” adds Carter. “Get it right in these years and you set a child up for high school and beyond.”
A part of the school’s approach includes its intentionally small size with a total maximum of 72 students. Every adult sees every child every day.
Island Pacific School also places strong emphasis on inquiry based learning, culminating in its capstone masterworks projects.
The aim of it all, says Carter, is to cultivate wisdom, courage and integrity, core values that serve a student well wherever they choose to go next
Community through commuting
Island Pacific School's location on Bowen Island removes students from the intense social pressures of city life, providing a buffer for students during their middle school years. And for North Shore students, who make up about a third of the school, the ferry crossing is an extra opportunity for connections and mentorship from the senior students.
“So we had one [new] student… he was incredibly shy and anxious and within a couple of weeks of taking the ferry, it's like he owned BC Ferries,” says Carter.
About Island Pacific School
Located on Bowen Island, Island Pacific School is an independent IB middle school dedicated to the development of wisdom, courage and integrity. For 30 years it has offered signature programs in a setting that fosters practical and moral reasoning.
