Academics
The rigour of Coast Mountain Academy’s academic program is rooted in innovative approaches to material and meaningful student experiences. Students are positioned to learn, and asked to demonstrate their learning, according to modern developments in educational theory; prioritizing a growth in compentency over repetition of content.
Project-based or inquiry-driven courses and student-centred instructional strategies are employed in both the Middle School and Senior School to create an energizing environment that emphasizes students’ self-awareness and ownership of their learning.
Notable features of the program at all grade levels include Physical & Health Education every day, interdisciplinary Humanities, student-centred Mathematics, and Outdoor Education; common elements that bind our community in a commitment to a rigorous, well-rounded, and unique education.
Mr. Evan Sharp
Director of Learning
Academic Program Features
Course Offerings
- Mathematics
- Physical & Health Education
- Humanities (blended course)
- English
- Social Studies
- French
- Science
- Engineering
- INQbator
- Entrepreneurship
- Career-Life Education
- LEAD (Leadership Expeditions for Academic Discovery)
- Applied Design Skills & Technology / Arts
- Foods
- Visual Arts
- Woodwork
Alumni Spotlight - Brooklyn, Class of 2017
We caught up with CMA graduate Brooklyn, who is completing her Bachelors of Science in Applied Animal Biology this year. She is contemplating a big decision, whether to take time off after graduation to figure out careers or go straight back to school for a Masters or Vet Tech program. Brooklyn tells us she is currently considering the rewards versus effort (like moving countries) for veterinary school and other career paths that would satisfy her just as much.
Powerlifting is also a huge part of Brooklyn’s life right now. She trains 4 days a week and represented CPU Team Canada this August in Arizona. Next the Olympics!
Alumni Spotlight - Leo, Class of 2018
Leo graduated from CMA in 2018, and is currently living in what he describes as a “funny old East Van apartment from the 40s.” This year Leo is finishing his BSc in Computer Science and Mathematics at UBC but plans to stay and pursue a graduate degree. Lately, much of his time is spent contributing to academic research, working on niche cutting-edge problems that Leo finds interesting and extremely rewarding.
At the moment Leo is working as a researcher in the Imager Lab tackling geometry problems as they relate to topics in computer graphics. Computer graphics is a particular research interest of his as it lies at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and visual art. One project he is working on is designing algorithms that construct 3D models from free-hand sketches.
Outside of this, Leo’s main hobby is still climbing. You can often find him in Squamish bouldering into the night on weekdays and sport climbing for the day on the weekend. In his words “I definitely wouldn’t be able to stay as motivated with work without an outlet in the outdoors like climbing.
Guest Blog - Marriott Basin LEAD Trip
Big thanks to grade 9 student Dori for writing this guest blog post about her recent LEAD trip:
For the grade 9 start of the year LEAD trip, we were on a backpacking trip for 3 days, 2 nights in the Alpines of Marriott Basin, where the Wendy Thompson hut lies. This trip was such a wonderful experience full of joy, laughter, and goofiness along the way.
We ascended upwards towards the forest, it was rainy, cold and muddy. Along the way, there were obstacles such as huge puddles, and logs along the raging fast flowing rivers that we had to walk across. Then we finally reached the alpine after hiking around 6km. The alpine is a hauntingly beautiful place, where mist clings to ancient trees and shadows dancing among damp, glistening leaves. It felt magical, with the nature surrounding us, breathing in the scent of moss and earth. We had to tread through muddy ground, and large slippery boulders that made the hike challenging. After an arduous hike over treacherous boulders, we finally reached the sanctuary of the hut. By then, we were all soaked and tired, we immediately dropped our things off and huddled around the fire pit for warmth. In our cozy retreat, we savored in the rich hot chocolate while enjoying the warming presence of all our peers. We all squeezed into the bunk beds, with the boys crammed onto the top bunks and the girls snuggled up on the bottom bunks. Even though it was squishy, everyone was grateful for not having to sleep outside in the snow, and being able to be cozy in the hut.
After a long night of snores, laughter, and the distant sounds of soft raindrops. We woke up to someone yelling out “IT’S SNOWING!” and we all sat up at the same time, looking out the window and seeing around 5cm of snow. Excitedly, we all quickly made breakfast and chatted with our friends while we packed for the day hike. We split up into two groups, one was a short hike, and one was a long hike. On the short hike, we walked slowly around the alpine landscape, enjoying the breathtaking views we were seeing along the way. Then we walked down, by then, the snow had turned into rain and was slowly flooding the trails. We cautiously navigated through the trails back to our hut, despite the discomfort and wetness along the way, we all powered back through to the hut. Returning to the hut, the shorter hiking group arrived first, and we began crafting bracelets together. Soon after, the longer hiking group returned, and we all gathered to prepare dinner together. After Dinner, snow began to fall once more. Most of us went out for an exciting snowball fight right beside the hut. Snow was flying in all directions, leaving anyone vulnerable to an unexpected hit—whether in the face, back, or legs. By the end of the day, everyone was super tired and worn out and immediately fell asleep the moment the lights went out.
A huge thank you to Mr. Rich, Ms Alonzo, and our two wonderful guides, Kai and Brett, who were there with us. It takes a lot to organize a camping trip, let alone also taking care of 26 kids at the same time. The teachers and guides truly excelled in guiding us through the camping trip, making it a memorable and exciting experience. Their dedication and leadership brought the adventure to life in the most wonderful way. Finally, I would like to shout out every single individual that went on this trip, anyone who powered through injuries, sickness, and the discomforts along the way.
The trip was an amazing experience, full of adventure and unexpected moments. It’s hard to believe so much happened in just three days; it felt like both a long journey and a quick blink. Thank you, Grade 9s, for another fantastic and unforgettable Lead trip that we will keep in our hearts forever.
Here are a few photos from our adventure, enjoy!
Alumni Spotlight - Alex Class of 2019
Every week for the month of October we will shine a spotlight on one of CMA’s amazing Alumni to see what they are up to these days.
Today we catch up with Alex who graduated from CMA in 2019. She is now completing her last Co-Op work placement through the University of Victoria’s Mechanical Engineering Program. Alex is working in Squamish with Sea to Sky Energy Solutions, a small company that operates run-of-river hydro power projects and designs devices to help increase production.
Alex will graduate this January and is planning to travel for 6 months before returning to a full-time position with this same company.
Congratulations to Alex who has accomplished so much since CMA graduation in June 2019. Enjoy your travels!
Guest Blog - Elfin Lakes LEAD Trip
Big thanks to grade 8 student Hudson for providing this guest blog post:
The Elfin Lakes LEAD trip was an incredible experience for our grade 8 class. So much happened, it’s hard to believe it was only three days.
The weather was absolutely perfect for our hike into the campsite on the first day. With our full packs, the climb into Garibaldi Provincial Park was challenging, but the views were stunning. We stopped for lunch at the Red Heather Hut, which was a very welcome break. Food tastes so good on a hike! Thankfully the good weather continued for setting up camp, and we went to bed dry and warm.
We woke up to rain, but we still had a great day. Our class split up into two groups: a group that would hike to the Gargoyles; and a group that would hike to Ring Creek. The Gargoyles hike was difficult, especially because the rain was coming down on us hard and was flooding the trails. It was like a fun little puzzle figuring out how to navigate around the waterflow. At the top, we stopped for a moment to enjoy the clouds and fog, which felt mystical. This hike was definitely a highlight of the trip.
After the day’s torrential rain, we enjoyed a nice evening in the Elfin Lakes Shelter, which had become our main base of operations and our savior from the weather. Everyone celebrated the final night of the trip by engaging in fun activities and games led by the teachers. We enjoyed card games with Ms. Chambers, made cool bracelets with Ms.
Ribas, competed in intense rounds of trivia with Mr. I, and played more games for candy with Ms. Fendrick. We were super grateful to be able to sleep in the shelter and dry our clothes that night, as all of our equipment and tents were soaked from the day’s rain.
I would like to shout out all of the teachers and our rockstar guide Matt for making this trip possible and for helping us sort out any problems we had along the way. Thanks to the parents who shuttled us, and a special thank-you to the parent who brought Timbits for everyone, that was a really nice thing to do.
In conclusion, this trip was a great way to start the 8th grade year, and really got my classmates and me looking forward to future LEAD trips.
Here are some photos from our trip, enjoy!
CMA Bus from Whistler
Did you know that CMA runs a bus between Whistler and our campus in Squamish? Many parents are surprised to find out that our school has a significant population of students who call Whistler home. They are even more surprised to find out that we pick each of them up from their neighbourhood in the morning and drop them off again after school.
Our bus driver, Jason Morrison has been with CMA for 8 years and is trusted member of staff. Here is what one Whistler parent had to say about CMA's Whistler bus service.
"The bus service provided by Coast Mountain Academy (CMA) allows our family the convenience of our child attending a private middle/high school in the Sea to Sky Corridor without the hassle of personally having to drive up and down the highway daily. The service is timely and safe and the bus driver, Jason, is professional and courteous and the kids love him! Our child looks at the bus time as their own private time on a personal shuttle - can do homework, have a snooze, be on the phone or chat with mates. And if our child has some other activity, they can choose another bus stop. CMA continues to exceed our expectations and our child who is in Grade 11, who has attended CMA since Grade 7, wouldn’t have it any other way!"
If you are interested in learning more about CMA please give us a call at 604-390-3262.
Welcome Ms. Jellema to CMA
The Coast Mountain Academy team is thrilled to welcome Ms. Elysia Jellema to the faculty team. She will teaching Math to both our grade 8 and grade 11 students, along with some senior science courses like Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Physics. She is a great fit with CMA’s mission to create an engaging and experiential learning environment at our school, as well as our desire to graduate conscientious global citizens. Here are a few words from Ms. Jellema:
I am thrilled to be joining CMA's incredible community. I am arriving at CMA from West Point Grey Academy in Vancouver (just like Mr. Hamilton). Prior to this I taught at the Internationella Engelska Skolan (Lund, Sweden) and Greenwood College School (Toronto, Canada). I believe that education needs to be experiential with a strong focus on growth-mindset, challenge, and character development. I look forward to sharing academic and wilderness adventures with you all!
Mme Oceane Labelle Joins CMA
Welcome Mr. Hamilton to CMA
We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Tom Hamilton to Coast Mountain Academy. He will be the new grade 7 homeroom teacher, STEM 7, and Math 9 teacher. Here are a few words from Mr. Hamilton:
I am coming to CMA from the vibrant environment of West Point Grey Academy in Vancouver. As a teacher, I always place the students' hearts and happiness at the centre of my approach. I believe that the classroom is a microcosm of society and that education is not just preparation for life, but life itself. I am thrilled to become a member of the CMA family and am excited to explore scientific and mathematical possibilities with the students, as well as embarking on some amazing adventures in nature.
Please help us make him feel welcome in his new classroom at CMA's middle school campus this September. See you all back at school in 23 days.
Guest Blog - Juan de Fuca LEAD Trip
Big thanks to grade 8 student, Maelle for providing this guest Blog post:
The Juan de Fuca hike was such an incredible trip filled with collaboration, bonding, memories and most importantly fun! Our grade 8 class has made so many core memories during the duration of our trip, but the one that stands out to us most is the last night. We had just hiked our longest day and were extremely exhausted but we all still had fun playing in the big crashing waves underneath the beautiful warm sun. At night we slept peacefully underneath the stars that stood out like lights in the sky, it was truly magical.
We would like to shout out Oisin for carrying Demetrious, his soccer ball, through thick and thin so we could enjoy hours of kick ball on the beach. Everyone was pleased with Oisin’s perseverance to carry the ball, and Carter's courageous swim to retrieve it after Mr. I kicked it into the ocean.
We will never forget the incredible waterfall that took our breath away. It was located inside a cave filled with moss and a gorgeous creek that acted as a pathway leading you up to the stunning waterfall. We all took showers in the freezing cold water to wash away all the dirt and salt that had accumulated during the week. This was one of the best highlights of the trip.
On our trip our class was broken up into three groups, we called these groups Pods. There was Mr I pod, Mr B pod and Mrs Davies pod. After two days on the trail everyone was eager to see which pod was the “best” so we created the pod Olympics. Each team was to compete in a series of competitions and by the end the team with the most points wins! The games consisted of shot put, rock stacking, penalty kick, cartwheels and a running race. In the end Mrs Davie’s group was declared the champions and the question of who the “best” pod was solved. That was definitely one of our favorite activities on the Juan de Fuca trail.
Overall this trip had such a big impact on each and every one of the grade eight students and we are so grateful for all the memories and experiences we created on this incredible trip.
We are Hiring 2 Teachers
French Teacher & Homeroom Teacher (Grade 7)
If you are a teacher with a talent for creating wonder in the classroom we invite you to consider CMA for the 2024/25 school year. The ideal candidates for these position would be teachers whose personal pedagogy trends towards experiential and interdisciplinary within active classrooms.
CMA Recognized as Top Fundraiser
We are so excited to announce that Coast Mountain Academy has made the “Top Fundraising Schools of 2023” list with the Terry Fox Foundation. Big thanks to all of our community members who helped make this happen. We can't wait to see how much we can raise in 2024!
Apply to CMA for Next Year
The admissions window is now open for students interested in attending CMA next year. We will be accepting new student applications until March 31st. After that time we will only consider applicants if there is space in their grade. For more information please visit coastmountainacademy.ca/apply
Last Coffee Talk event of the Year
Join us online for our last Coffee Talk event of this academic year! Interested parents can join from home or work to learn all about what makes our school unique, the application process, important deadlines, and much more. We always leave lots of time for questions as well. For more information please visit coastmountainacademy.ca/admissions or call us at 604-390-3262.
Learning Through Experience
Experiential learning is what we are all about here at CMA. A wonderful example of this learning took place in (and outside) our grade 7 class this past week. Students visited local water ways like the Mamquam River and Shannon Falls to deepen their learning around water basins. These student were then asked to demonstrate their learning by creating a model depicting the waterway of their choice. Have a look at the amazing models the students completed!
A Statement about Polarisation, Diversity and Inclusion, Protests, and Counter-Protests
Difficult topics are coming to the fore in the media right now about how schools work with students and how schools function in the community at a larger scale. I’d like to share my personal thinking on this as it bears upon our senior school environment and how I work with CMA students directly.
My thoughts below have been cut down to their most succinct form. Difficult topics are not well handled with simplistic or slogan-based thinking but neither do I have bandwidth at this time of the year to write a full essay on the topic. I’m seeking a compromise when it comes to brevity and I’m also leaving out particular elements where my thinking is still evolving…
Oppression has been and continues to be experienced by anyone in any community that is adequately different from some perceived norm. You can be oppressed for religious affiliations, gender expression, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, appearance, age, race, among many other things. The experiences of oppression range from bullying and name calling to actively being denied a particular quality of life or access to resources and to the health and economic effects suffered as a result of this lack of access.
That we oppress each other is not a trait of humanity we should be collectively proud of and it, among other traits, is something we need to grow out of as the dominant conscious beings on this planet.
The harms that arise from oppression are one of the features of our society that prevent its evolution and improvement. Those harms distract us from important growth. Our awareness of oppression is getting better yet we are having difficulty finding ways to meaningfully stop it.
One of the current means we have to stop oppression is to adopt the principles of diversity and inclusion as broadly as possible. Diversity means accepting different kinds of people and inclusion means acknowledging our necessary connection to everyone despite our differences. The principles themselves have myriad interpretations, some more productive than others, but in all cases, adopting these principles is among the challenges we must face.
The reason these principles are challenging to adopt is that they contest our habit of using differences to define and simplify others (She is not like me!) and our habit of deriving identity from the company we keep (I’m connected to these people but not those people!). They challenge our notion of belonging to a group and our notion of who the ‘other’ is that is excluded from a group. The adoption of principles like diversity and inclusion challenge us at our most basic biological level.
And so it is with great difficulty that we pursue these principles and their accompanying challenges. We can expect resistance to these ideas even as we incorporate them into our educational and hence, social fabric. We can expect difficulty in figuring out just how to incorporate the principles into a societal system that to some extent exists and functions despite their previous absence or perceived lack of relevance. Even before discussions of diversity and inclusion, we have seen tremendous societal advancement so why are these principles necessary now?
What we want in terms of education is for students to understand their responsibilities when it comes to the adoption of any new social principles whether they find themselves enthusiastic about that adoption or reticent.
If you are enthusiastic about a new principle, you need to define it carefully, you need to prioritise and plan the implementation of that principle in ways that lead to broad acceptance, you have to do the difficult work of building consensus, and you have to anticipate and listen to those who are less enthusiastic as well as express a willingness to make changes to your thinking in light of their concerns*. You have to admit that one thing you have in common with everyone is your ignorance on exactly what’s best for all.
If you resist the adoption of a new principle, you are responsible for expressing your concerns in a shared language and articulating existing societal strengths that you think are worth protecting**. You have to be open minded and express a capacity to engage in social experimentation in the face of the unknown. You have to admit that one thing you have in common with everyone is your ignorance on exactly what’s best for all.
That point of common ground, that none of us actually knows what will lead to the best outcomes for all, is the most humbling and most productive place to begin all our conversations. An underwriting premise of our educational offerings is that they prepare everyone for the necessary dialogue and diplomacy necessary for cultural evolution through the careful adoption of ever more humanitarian principles.
The worst-case outcome when adopting new principles in a community is the formation of camps who refuse to speak and harbor ill will toward each other. Education is one of the means by which this outcome is avoided and I ask that you join us in engaging these conversations respectfully, slowly, and with a sense of curiosity rather than certainty.
*Right now, we have parents wondering where their authority and autonomy in child raising bumps up against the responsibilities of public education. This is a real concern that cannot be written off as an extreme position.
**Right now, we know that young people face unnecessary and damaging difficulty in their lives relating to their gender identity and sexual orientation. Parents and educators want to help young people and this is a real concern that cannot be written off as an extreme position.
Meet A New CMA Teacher
CMA is thrilled to welcome Ms. Jamie Mowbray to the team for the 2023/24 academic year. This is what Ms. Mowbray had to say about joining CMA:
I am thrilled to be joining the CMA community after several years of teaching in Squamish. Born and raised in Ontario, I moved to Squamish 5 years ago to embark on my teaching career and to discover a community of nature enthusiasts. While in Ontario, I completed a joint Undergraduate Degree in Community Development and Business, followed by my Masters of Teaching. My research focused on weaving Indigenous Knowledge and Ways of Knowing into the classroom. My teaching pedagogy is informed by many diverse experiences; from working in remote First Nation communities, to guiding paddling trips at summer camp. My mission as an educator is to teach all students to live compassionately and in harmony with themselves, one another, and their environments. Outside of the classroom I’m also a yoga instructor and enjoy spending time in nature running, hiking, and skiing!
A Captivating Visit to BC's Legislative Assembly
The first Learning Standard in the Social Studies 10 Curricular Content list is “government, First Peoples governance, political institutions, and ideologies”. Coast Mountain Academy takes this as a clear sign that Grade 10 should be a year heavy on civics education! Although in the past Humanities 10 has had a strong civics component, with separate units on political theory and Canada’s governance institutions, the in-class activities lacked the experiential flare that we strive for in all our programming. This year, Mr. Sharp remedied this by introducing a new trip that would enliven Humanities 10 and provide a logical precursor to the annual Humanities 12 BC Supreme Court trip that students take years later. The Humanities 10 Provincial Parliament trip took advantage of the educational programming offered by the Legislature to give students a remarkable (and literal!) front-row seat to the democratic process they had been learning about all month. Their 4 week unit up to that point had covered topics from government jurisdictions and taxation, to the courts and the Canadian Charter, to the parliamentary system and legislative process. Emphasis, in general, is placed on recognizing the impact of government on our lives and what it is to live in a democratic society. Despite the long travel day to Victoria via Nanaimo, this year’s Grade 10 class was greeted in the capital with sunshine and a seasonal warm Spring breeze off the harbour. Following a rushed group lunch at Frankie’s Modern Diner, the class walked the three blocks to the Parliament affording them a stunning first-sight of the historic building and lawns. At the schools’ entrance, CMA was met by their tour guide ‘David’ and our local MLA (West Vancouver-Sea to Sky) Jordan Sturdy. Mr. Sturdy gave a warm welcome that included details about his role as our MLA and encouragement to connect any time as his constituents. CMA is grateful to Mr. Sturdy for taking time out of his lunch hour to meet us; as the afternoon session was soon to start! David took over at this point and began the tour there at the door with a comment about the Legislative building itself; the core of the structure having been designed by the same renowned architect, Francis Rattenbury, who worked on other notable Victoria landmarks like the Empress Hotel. Once inside the Parliament building, students were generally astonished by the formality of staff going about their business and the lavishness of the interior. Marble floors and pillars, ornate wall paintings and golden polished fixtures made every room and hallway feel like the seat of power in our province. Stops on our tour included the broadcast room, where Chamber proceedings are officially recorded and broadcast, stained glass-adorned hallways, rife with symbolism, and the upper and lower Rotunda, from which students were lucky enough to watch the Sergeant at Arms, bearing the silver and gold Mace of Parliament, lead the Speaker into the Chamber for the afternoon session. The pomp and circumstance for this simple twice-daily occurrence impressed on the class the element of tradition that governance institutions hold. This minor show was also the perfect precursor to David leading the way to the Gallery for the allotted time observing Chamber business. It was not coincidence that Mr. Sharp had booked the 1pm tour, since observation would coincide with Question Period; the confrontational and dynamic part of every day in Parliament, when the official Opposition has 30 minutes to grill the Government on any matter. Filling into the Gallery seats above the Chamber, students were pleasantly surprised to be waved and smiled at by MLAs below as Jordan Sturdy entered into the official record an introduction of CMA to the Assembly. While seated above, students heard the First Reading of a new bill (that has been in the news recently!) proposing harsh new penalties for the non-consensual sharing of intimate images; this got students’ attention quickly! When Question Period started, students were glued to the MLAs as they stood in turn to fire back and forth at one another over the issue of Health Canada-sanctioned research into the production of heroine and other safe-supply narcotics in BC. The debate had only just begun though, when the class was briskly informed by security personnel that it was already time to leave to make way for the next group. Out in the hall, disappointment at having the show cut short was boisterous to the point that the group was hushed by a page! Leaving the Parliament was bitter-sweet for the class with so much enthusiasm for the events observed. Who knew government business could be all sex and drugs? After a quick period of free time to explore the lawns and get an ice cream cone, the group mounted the bus for the long trip home. Luckily, everything in the Chamber is recorded in HD and available online, so the following day Humanities 10 was able to watch the rest of the debate and have the rhetorical maneuvering of the MLAs translated by Mr. Sharp blow-by-blow. All in all, the trip and follow-up was a huge success and an ideal finish to the course’s Government Studies unit. CMA intends to make this trip to Victoria an annual one. Thank you to students and parents this year for patience with the planning process of a new initiative!
The Creation of an Art Yurt
In the fall of 2021 a selection of CMA parents had a dream. This dream was geometric, and sort of resembled a pumpkin. They imagined swaths of children in this dream, paintbrushes in hand, lips stretched into gleeful grins, with creative messes all around. They dreamed of a yurt, dedicated to art, resting on the CMA campus. An art yurt, or Yart, for short.
A few months later CMAP - CMA’s wonderful parent association - launched a fundraising campaign to acquire the funds necessary to build such a structure. Almost immediately, they were successful in meeting their target due to a very generous family donation. Things were happening fast!
Luckily, covid-19 is a master of derailing plans and slowing down ordinary processes, and the winter of 21/22 wasn’t exempt from the pandemic’s grasp. The production of the yurt’s materials was delayed due to, you guessed it, “supply chain issues,” and as the unusually deep snowpack of that winter turned to grass and the flowers began to bloom, we waited. Finally, in early July, the yurt was ready for pick-up at its Langley warehouse.
Master builder Chris Miller had dutifully taken-on the responsibility of designing the deck that the yurt would sit on and overseeing the construction of the grand circle itself, and from day one he was fully committed and ready to go. On July 11th, 2022, Chris rolled-up to my house in his F-350 towing a 14’ trailer and off to the Fraser Valley we went. One gigantic game of Tetris later, and we were fully loaded and en route back to Squamish under the hot summer sun. With many helping hands at CMA’s middle school that afternoon, we unloaded the yurt materials into classrooms and promptly left for summer vacation. Actual construction would be an August problem.
6 weeks and a few adventures later, the build crew was ready to break ground. Our first task was to level the site that the deck would sit on. Naturally, we picked the hottest day of the century to shovel, rake, swing pick-axes, haul gravel, and man-handle 70 lb pier blocks into place. 3 months later my back is still sore from this traumatizing experience. But we got the job done, and in a few days we had a perfectly circular deck that the yurt could sit on.
This was the first photo taken of Yurt Construction. Preparing the site in the blazing heat…
Always heavily invested in helping CMA grow, here’s Mr. Sharp hard at work in the blazing sun
The Day 1 Construction Crew (from left to right): Chris Miller, Brett Logan, Ben Bakk, Evan Sharp, Gord Ahrens
By the end of Day 1 we had something that resembled a foundation…
Fiona Miller clearing the new path to Quest
"I turned up with Chloe and Penny and was put straight to work clearing a new trail to Quest that would avoid the yurt area. Weed whacking and pruning back the branches for the new trail, it felt like we were going to melt in the heat. Thanks to the construction crew for their hard work. I don’t know how they coped working as long and hard as they did in the hot sunshine day after day!!"
Fiona Miller
A family affair: Chloe (L) and Penny (R) Miller clearing the new path to Quest
Swinging the weather pendulum to the other side of the spectrum, we opted to begin framing the yurt a week later in cold monsoon weather. Tanktops were traded for Goretex as we readied ourselves for another epic building session. In retrospect, the initial step of framing a yurt is by far the most interesting: that is, you must get the circular ring that frames the central skylight into its final position: 20 feet up in the air, at the center of an imaginary circle - before anything else is done. We did this using a combination of scaffolding, extra 2X6s, and Mr. Ashbaugh’s height. Once the central ring was suspended in place, it was ready to accept the rafters, and after quickly unrolling the latticed walls and stringing the cable into place, the skeleton of the roof went up remarkably fast. During my travels in Mongolia, I once heard a rumour that a seasoned Mongolian family is able to assemble a full-size yurt in 45 minutes. Our Squamish crew wasn’t nearly that fast, but we made exciting progress none-the-less and had the framing of the yurt done in a day.
Day 2: Squamish-style deck framing…
By the end of Day 2 we had most of the deck framed
By the end of Day 2 we had most of the deck framed
"I recall that there came a point during the build where it made more sense to paint the floor than continue with construction. It was a hot afternoon and most of us had been at it since dawn. We were experiencing the kind of crew energy where the right comment can accidentally trigger a laughing fit that halts productivity. A pair of such comments were landed perfectly one after the other about a quarter the way into rolling paint across the plywood deck:"
Math teacher (with roller in hand): “Ak! Mr. B - I think we've started painting these sheets in the wrong direction. We're going to have to switch our orientation to go with the grain!”
Shop teacher (with roller in hand): “No problem as long as we don't paint ourselves into a corner…”
Humanities teacher (wisely leaning on a shovel in the shade): “Given that this thing is a circle, I don't think you two have any other choice!”
Court Ashbaugh
Day 3: With the first layer of plywood on, it was time to insulate the floor
Working in 40 degree heat, my face says it all. In the background, Mr. A + B sweep the deck before painting
The last day of construction was dedicated to the coverings. 200 pound sacks of heavy-duty vinyl that somehow need to be lifted through the central skylight opening before being rolled into place. I should mention that, by this point, our “volunteer labour pandemic” had spread throughout the community and there were now more hands on deck than ever. Students who live across the street had wandered over, curious to see what all the commotion was about; parents who were dropping by the school to find new uniform pieces for their children had turned their attentions westward and shown interest in what we were doing; even generic dog-walkers simply passing by had raised an eyebrow. All were put to work. With ratchet straps, rope, zip ties, and hooks, hands of all shapes and sizes wrestled the vinyl covering and insulation into place. Suddenly, we had a building, and while there was still the matter of servicing, furnishing, and supplying the space with art teaching materials to contend with, five days of sweat, splinters, and the highest levels of teamwork had raised a roof.
Having braved the heat, we opted for the polar opposite weather conditions to frame the actual yurt: pouring rain!
Mr. B stoked on the cedar rafters
Mr. A and Mr. Sharp in their happy place: Up 20 feet of scaffolding in the pouring rain!
“Building the yurt was like meeting up with your friends to engage in an adult version of Lego. I hope those lucky enough to play inside have as much fun!”
Gord Ahrens
We were all fairly lost reading the finer points of the instruction manual until Lori Grant came along…
There’s something special about having a central focal point, isn’t there?
Once we figured out our system, framing went quick
Senior student Will testing out the integrity of the window frame and making himself generally useful!
The view from the top
By the end of the 4th day we had something resembling a yurt
"I really enjoyed working with everyone on this project. Following Chris’ very strong and well-organized leadership, being able to show up and just work, this set-up was a great way to get to know the CMA teachers better. Evan, on the air gun, was a blocking master. On my second shift, Court and I worked together to complete some joisting."
"I really appreciate the CMA community. Although I played a very small role in the building of this yurt, it was a great way to feel involved and get to know everyone a bit better."
Ben Bakk
Mr. Logan and Will - “Sun Tanning”
Neige helping to get the insulation in place
Materials everywhere, sunny skies and moderate temperatures at last, we got the roof and walls secured in place on Day 5
By the end of day 5, we had a yurt!
“It was a pleasure to be involved throughout the yurt building project and seeing it come to fruition. From clearing the site and picking up the yurt package, to building the deck structure and fighting with the roof canvas to get it into position! Seeing it now completed and available for the CMA students to use is very satisfying. The joint input from both staff and parents who helped with the various stages of this project is part of what makes the CMA community special. Thanks to everyone for helping make this new space a reality for the benefit of all of our kids’ education"
Chris Miller
Building things yourself is inherently fun. Where before there was nothing, afterwards there is something beautiful that is more than the sum of its parts, because besides the finished product, when you build things yourself you gain experience, friendships, community, and stories - the verbal fabric that weaves us all together. Our 32’ Yart did all of these things for CMA, and I hope that this spirit of working towards a common, beautiful goal is felt by the students who create their own projects within its walls for years to come.
Submitted by Mr. Logan, Head of School
Thank You!
For giving up precious summer days to make this dream a reality, I’d like to thank the primary build crew: Chris Miller, Gord Ahrens, Ben Bakk, Evan Sharp, Court Ashbaugh, and Travis Busschaert. You guys are talented, resilient, dedicated, and creative. You rock at moving rocks.
For recognizing that the primary build crew would never be patient enough to read and understand the instructions ourselves, thank you Lori Grant. You took hold of the rudder at some critical times and as always, beautified the finished grounds in a perfect manner.
For tackling the thick Squamish bush and putting in a new public trail to access the university, thank you to Fiona Miller, as well as Christian Begin.
And finally, to our students who volunteered some of their last remaining days of summer to better the school that they’re the most important part of, thank you to Chloe Miller, Neige Begin, Archie Clarke, and Will Smart. You are all on your way to becoming inspired and conscientious citizens. Stay curious.
The Grade 7's using the Yurt to create Drum's
10 Years of Growth
Legend has it that the idea for Coast Mountain Academy started during a conversation between two of our founding board members, over a fine bottle of red wine, and that after finishing the bottle they went on to sign their names to it in an unbreakable vow to make their dream a reality. 2 years later, the school opened its doors for the first time with 15 students and a vision of what school could look like. And now, in our 10th year of operation, we’ve taken this founding educational vision and thoroughly field-tested it against the realities of running an independent school in the 21st century, the changing demographics of the Sea to Sky Corridor, public-sector teacher strikes, viral pandemics, and all the rest of the curveballs that come when working with youth.
Today, it’s a safe bet to send your child to CMA. Through a strong institutional desire to constantly improve we’ve expanded our academic and extracurricular offerings and refined our programs in a manner that has led to some noteworthy statistics, namely our 100% graduation rate and 90+% record of students receiving admission to their top-choice university. But in those first years, students and families had little else to believe in but the very ethos of the school. With no defined road map laid out before them, these students were true pioneers. The flavour of the week was E-words: Engagement, Experiential, and Enrichment. Our programming was geared towards these concepts and we were taking progressive educational ideas and putting them in action. At CMA, there was a sense that you could. Unlike other schools that staff had worked at, CMA had a grassroots desire to get students outside, blend disciplines in the pursuit of authentic experience, and create wonder that would last from womb to tomb. And the best part was, there were no pesky traditions standing in our way, preventing us from teaching the way that we had always wanted to.
Having a desire to teach outside the 4 walls of the classroom is one thing, but having a location completely suited to it cannot go unacknowledged. The Quest University campus has been an incredible home to CMA, providing our students and staff with endless opportunities for both on and off trail adventures, and a venue with which to explore local ecology, timeless geology, inspiring poetry, residential development, and of course, the niche that we as humans play in all of this, with only a short walk needed for full immersion in any of these domains. We also have had and continue to have the privilege of using the phenomenal Recplex and Cafeteria spaces, which greatly enhances our student’s day-to-day experience. But beyond the tall timbers, curious woodland creatures, torrential creeks, expansive vistas, and enticing turf fields that surround us there is something much harder to describe, and much more meaningful, about being where we are. You see, it takes a good many years in your life to even begin realizing the effect that an environment has had on you. Here, the seasons can be measured by the colour of the maple leaves and where the snow line is in the Tantalus Range. Here, there are distinct smells that distinguish the onset of winter from the onset of spring. Here, contemplating what this land, what all land, could have looked like before the rise of humanity is a totally normal thing to do as you stare over the verdant Squamish Valley, watching the glacial green river find its way to the ocean.
As we began graduating cohorts of students something unexpected occurred: our Alumni started coming back, with great regularity. Typically on or around Thanksgiving - the first break in the university year - we’d have a smattering of Alumni dropping-in on campus, saying hello to the teachers that had made such a big impact on their lives. And if we didn’t see them at Thanksgiving, then the Winter Holiday provided an excellent opportunity for Alumni to come and share some war stories from their first final exam season at University. It is this occurrence that I’m more proud of than any other; through all the ups and downs of the middle and high school years, through all the rainy hikes and forest walks, we’re creating an extremely well-bonded community here at CMA where our students will always feel at home. Give it another 10 years, and I’ll bet that CMA’s alumni will have started contributing in significant ways in the Sea to Sky Corridor and beyond.
These days, CMA is feeling a lot bigger than it used to, both in terms of population, number of classrooms, extracurricular opportunities, and school systems. In the spring of 2021, CMA’s board of directors made the decision to lease a wing of the academic building at Quest University to house our Senior School, which paved the way for “Double Cohorts” at the Middle School. This strategic and structural change has brought a significant wave of growth to our school, and we are making year-after-year progress towards our long-term student population goal of 240. Beyond the numbers, though, this growth is reflected in increased academic and extracurricular program options, increased social opportunity, and more teachers to build that special relationship with and learn from. Our idea with 240 is to have a school that is large enough to offer a diverse selection of peers, teams, and elective courses, but small enough to continue to offer our immersive, experiential programming and retain the most important aspect of what we do, which is build relationships that will last a lifetime. And while this is the plan moving forward, it’s important to acknowledge that the goal of any school should be to build an institution full of synergy. That is, a school experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. A school with a strong and palpable culture that can guide it through future pandemics, a changing climate, and any other tricks that the earth has up its sleeve. If we do our jobs right, this institution will stand for centuries, for generations, for longer than any single lifetime of anybody involved in it.
It is this mindset, learned from 10 years of growth, that I carry with me as I captain the ship. For it’s all too easy to sink into the mental trap of over-valuing the pieces of a school that can be written on paper: square footage, course lists, etc., instead of focusing on the things that make any institution special: the relationships that exist within its members, and the wonder that it creates.
Submitted by Mr. Logan, Head of School
Join CMA's Senior School
Contrary to popular belief, it is never too late to join CMA! Are you a grade 11 or 12 student (or a parent of one) who is looking for more from your high school? CMA's senior school is located in new facilities and our programming focuses on academic resilience, as well as character and confidence development. Did you know that 94% of all of our graduates have gotten into their first choice post-secondary program?
Spaces are still available for grade 11 and 12 students to start this September. Bursaries and scholarships are also available. Email [email protected] for more details.
Gambier Island Adventuring
Meet a CMA student
Meet CMA grade 12 student Eric! As a member of Coast Mountain Academy's High-Performance Program, Eric has a unique perspective and set of experiences. Hear what he has to say about learning within a smaller classroom and how CMA has supported him in reaching for his academic and competitive goals. Watch here: https://youtu.be/IUhyf_5mjsE
Interested in CMA for your child next year?
A great way to learn about CMA and our admissions process is to join in one of our virtual Coffee Talk events with Head of School, Mr. Logan, and Director of Admissions, Tracy Keeling. Our next event is Feb 17, 2022 from 10:30 - 11:30 am. For more information and to register please call CMA at 604-390-3262.
Book a Campus Tour
Are you interested in CMA for your child? The best way to learn about our school is to book a private campus tour with our Director of Admissions, Tracy Keeling. Tracy is happy to tour you and your family around the middle school campus, senior school campus, or both! Tours are available from 9 am to 4 pm, and in the evenings upon request. Please call the CMA office at 604-390-3262, or email [email protected] to book your tour.
CMA Holiday Auction - Open to Everyone
Did you know that CMA’s silent auction is open to everyone?
The CMA Holiday Social Fundraiser is a great way to complete your holiday shopping. Please go to our website and make your bid today. Winners can pick up items at CMA and in some cases, vouchers can be emailed.
https://trellis.org/2021cmawintersocial
Interested in CMA for your child next year?
A great way to learn about CMA and our admissions process is to join in one of our virtual Coffee Talk events with Head of School, Mr. Logan, and Director of Admissions, Tracy Keeling. Our next event is Nov 25, 2021 from 10:30 - 11:30 am. For more information and to register please call CMA at 604-390-3262.
CMA Is Growing Even More
A few months ago we announced the exciting news that CMA would be adding a second grade 7 class starting September 2021. Due to the ever-increasing demand for our middle school, we have decided to add a second grade 8 class as well!
Our students will continue to benefit from smaller class sizes but now get to enjoy a larger social group of kids their age as well.
We are now accepting new student applications to join our second grade 8 class starting in September 2021. If you are interested in applying please contact Tracy Keeling, Director of Admissions & Communications at [email protected]. You can also learn more about the admissions process and start an online application by visiting coastmountainacademy.ca/apply.
CMA is Growing
After an incredible year of growth and increased interest, we are thrilled to announce that Coast Mountain Academy will have two grade 7 classes for the first time ever this coming September. Big thanks to all of our families who continue to tell their friends, and friends of friends about our school.
Our teachers are already busy planning our programming for next year. We may be growing but we are all committed to delivering the same high-quality education that our families and students value. If you are interested in joining our school we still have room in our grade 7 classes for September 2021, we are currently on waitlist only for grade 8 & 9, we are close to full in grade 10, but have space in grade 11 & 12. For more information please call our Director of Admissions, Tracy Keeling at 604-390-3262 or email [email protected].
'Thinking Classroom' Mathematics
The mathematics program at CMA focuses on conceptual understanding and problem solving; with 'procedural' approaches as a last resort.
Students are provided opportunities to collaborate when problem-solving, going beyond procedures to explore mathematical concepts from different perspectives. Student-driven discussion and examples, hands-on activities, “what if” questions, numeric and geometric problems, and interdisciplinary projects provide multiple entry points to a topic, which provides multiple ways for students to develop the curricular competencies in mathematics. We believe that the most successful problem-solving happens when students can share different perspectives and approaches.
More about 'Thinking Classrooms' in BC Math Education
In the Senior School, Math learning targets two distinct kinds of development in students: abstract, rational, and constrained thinking and an independent learning disposition. In university and other formal learning environments, the confidence to learn some things on one’s own terms is liberating, empowering, and effective.
INQubator
The INQubator program at Coast Mountain Academy is an expression of the school's core academic philosophy that curiosity and wonder are the best teachers.
In grades 7-9, students take part in a year-long course to learn how to explore questions and projects of their own choosing. With the guidance of teachers, students practice refining their curiosities about the world into actionable learning exercises with practical goals and processes. These projects are free-form and not locked into traditional school subjects. Prime examples of student projects in the past have included:
- Motorized go-carts
- Language learning
- Fiction writing
- Business ventures
- Baking
- Soap-making
The work in these courses takes place both at school and at home, and culminates in a formal presentation to the school community about their planning and learning.
In grade 12 students continue the practice of inquiry-learning in Humanities, where they must design and complete three large projects by way of demonstrating learning in their chosen grade 12 Social Science course. The combination of student choice in selecting this course and their foci in it is the culmination of curiosity-learning since grade 7.
Online Gradebook
One of the most important aspects of creating self-aware students is ensuring that they know where they are on the journey of learning. While report cards have been traditionally focused on grades and performance, Coast Mountain Academy has leveraged current technology to expand the conventional report card into a continuous process of communication.
Faculty contribute assessment scores on an ongoing and timely basis to the MyCMA portal for parents and students to see. Both Formative and Evaluative scores and feedback for every course are presented so that students and parents can see trend in progress. This system leans heavily on CMA's Formative Assessment Model in order to capture students' efforts in a consistent and understandable way.
The ongoing availability of assessment scores means that parents can be more engaged in academic activity, student difficulties are identified sooner, and ultimately the Ministry-mandated formal reports can be a minimal snapshot of the communication occurring all the time.
Hybrid Timetable
Through years of development, Coast Mountain Academy implements an exciting 'hybrid' timetable that brings the best of different course-lengths and a varied weekly schedule to subjects that benefit from them.
Year-long "linear", semester, and trimester course-lengths are used in different subjects and grade levels to maximize opportunity for the learning activities that suit those subjects and ages best. At the same time, each grade levels' weekly schedule is carefully constructed to provide diversity, novelty, and a balanced academic load.
For example, Grades 7 and 8 begin the week with an extended Math block on Monday mornings for larger group problem-solving activities. Grade 12s have the option to do classes on Friday remotely. And Grades 7-9 have "Outdoor Connections" all afternoon on Fridays.
In the same vein, Interdisciplinary Humanities courses have a lot of material to cover while Career-Life Connections is most impactful when graduating students are preparing university applications in the Fall. Accordingly, Humanities has a daily course meeting throughout the year, while CLC meets three times a week in the first half of the year only. Meanwhile, to give all Middle School students broad exposure to several flavours of the Applied Design, Skills and Technologies courses (Woodworking, Music, Art), each ADST is a trimester long in Grades 7, 8, and 9.
The hybrid timetable also supports our frequent and varied reporting to parents so that student progress is always in view.
Formative Assessment Model
Coast Mountain Academy is proud to comprehensively implement the assessment approach promoted by the 2018 Ministry of Education curriculum redesign: a philosophy of classroom assessment that emphasizes student self-awareness and repeated efforts that lead to mastery.
Our "Formative Assessment Model" utilizes two different grade scales based on the type of coursework or activity being assessed:
- "Formative" work is given a score on the Formative Scale that encourages learning from weaknesses and failures to promotes resilience, confidence, and a growth-mindset towards learning.
- "Evaluative" work is given a score on the Evaluative Scale that informs the student (and parent!) on their degree of mastery. These scores lead to student's reported grades.
All scores are accompanied by feedback aimed at continued learning and student's ownership of their progress. Student scores and feedback are communicated through the MyCMA portal so that parents have access to timely information and student's can see all their scores in one place.
Click here to read more in-depth about the Formative Assessment Model in practice at CMA.
LEAD
Coast Mountain Academy's Leadership Expeditions for Academic Discovery has been a cornerstone of the school since its conception. Our situation in one of Canada's outdoor recreation meccas affords us remarkable access to an incredible diversity of activities with which to create meaningful student experiences.
Widely praised by alumni as the most significant aspect of their formal education, LEAD activities and trips are designed to achieve the follow ends:
- Unique and formative personal growth opportunities
- Diverse and authentic leadership situations
- Real-world environments for cross-curricular academics
(e.g. hike to a glacier and use geometry to approximate its volume) - Experience of hardship, individual resilience, and the elation of success
- Social development within CMA peer groups
- Personal bonds with faculty that enhance classroom learning
Trips follow a scaffolded experience plan that sees destinations and activities grow "from local to global", with the summative Senior trip being outside of North America. Activities over the course of six years at CMA include wilderness hiking and camping, sea kayaking, canoe tripping, ski touring, and potentially others.
Interdisciplinary Humanities
Coast Mountain Academy takes a 'blended' approach to the subjects traditionally labeled "English Language Arts" and "Social Studies". At all grade levels these subjects areas are taught in a single course over the entire year. In a nutshell:
We are going to use English to learn about Politics, Philosophy, and Economics so that we can cultivate a full understanding of History using the Arts and Drama.
In practice this looks like Social Studies topics being driven by literature, media criticism, and expressive creativity.
For example, the award-winning novel Three Day Road by Canadian author Joseph Boyden is the story of two young men, indigenous Residential School survivors, who go to fight for Canada in the trenches of WWI. The book's setting, characters, and events provide material and starting points for almost all of the learning outcomes in Grade 10 English and Socials.
PHE Every Day
Inspired by new research into the fields of neuroscience and educational psychology, Coast Mountain Academy teaches Physical & Health Education every morning. This routine of physical activity to start the day ensures that students head to the classroom ready to focus with an activated mind and body.
Taking advantage of the first-class facilities next door, CMA students have year-long programming in a university-sized gym or turf field; as well as periodic access to a fully equipped weight room, Crossfit gym, squash courts, and cardio equipment.
Virtual Coffee Talk - April 27th @ 10:30 am
Interested in CMA for your child or children next year?
- what makes our school unique
- the admissions process and deadlines for next academic year
- qualities we look for in our applicants
- admissions trends
Alumni Profile - Nic Beaulieu Class of '17
Nic is one of the original CMA students, starting with the school in its year of inception. In his 4 years at CMA he made an immense contribution to our school’s culture. He was a positive force on the trails, in the gym, and in the classroom, and holds the prestigious honour of being CMA’s first-ever Valedictorian. Nic is now studying Civil Engineering, Project Management at BCIT.
Q & A with Nic:
1) What made your education at CMA unique?
As a founding student my CMA experience was unique in many ways. I would say the most unique parts were the small school community, engaging learning, and the LEAD trips. The high teacher/student ratio at CMA means that you have to be engaged in every class. It is hard to be a “passenger” and slack off in the back of the class. The teacher/student ratio also meant that teachers had room to tailor certain exercises to work with individual students, keeping us all engaged.
The LEAD trips were especially unique to CMA. Canoeing the Yukon River was my favourite. Looking back on my highschool experience, a lot of my most fond memories came from these LEAD experiences. I enjoyed them so much I actually came back to help guide one after graduating! LEAD also taught me a lot about outdoor stewardship and brought me closer to my peers.
2) CMA Alumni seem to share a great bond even well after they've graduated. Why do you think this is?
Sharing a tight bond is a very accurate assessment of CMA Alumni relationships. There are probably 3 or 4 Alumni from my year and the year below me that I still talk to almost everyday (Leo and I were actually roommates for a semester last year) and I still touch base with almost everyone from my graduating class.
I think these close relationships form due to the small size of the school community and all of the unique experiences that we go through together. In a small school you are seeing your peers in almost every class which means you’re spending around 35 hours a week together. When you are spending that much time with your peers, you start to develop strong friendships. You also grow to respect and care about the people that you weren’t as close to initially, just by virtue of spending so much time together and going through so much together.
LEAD trips, especially, were a great way for students to bond. When you are in the backcountry with no one but your peers, the relationships you build in the classroom are further strengthened. As Alumni we have so many collective memories of both struggles and fun times from these trips that brought, and continue to bring, us together.
We wish Nic the best during his year of study and look forward to the next time we see him.
CMA Senior School Headed to the Yukon
Our senior students in grades 10, 11, and 12 will all be travelling to the Yukon (the land of the midnight sun) for their year-end LEAD trip. This incredible journey paddling down the Yukon River from Carmacks to Dawson City has been a highlight for many a CMA student. In fact, most of our Class of ‘20 alumni reference this particular trip as a highlight from their entire time at CMA. Lots of memorable moments are made on this gorgeous, and historical adventure.
Big shout out to all the seniors who took part in the training day on Alice Lake last week! All students demonstrated development in paddling technique and the weather cooperated to make it a beautiful day on the water. All this practice will certainly come in handy on the Yukon River.
Alumni Profile - Alex Broker Class of '19
Alex came to CMA for her grade 12 year after having recovered from a very serious injury. In a relatively short amount of time she made a huge impact as one of CMA’s most well-rounded students. Alex is now studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Victoria.
In Grade 10, I broke my back and had severe head trauma and neurological symptoms that took me away from everything in my life. It took me over a year to recover enough to go back to school on a semi-regular basis. My experiences during that time confirmed for me that there had to be another way or a different place for me to go to school. One where I could feel inspired. One where teachers were passionate about teaching and students were passionate about learning, and hopefully, where I could learn and be supported by my peers too. It felt like a lofty goal at the time but CMA definitely achieved that for me and I am very grateful for that. – Alex
Q & A with Alex:
1) How did CMA prepare you for university?
I think it is pretty hard to be prepared for university, no matter how many extra university-level courses you take. Although it definitely helps to have been exposed to some of the material in advance, the way we did at CMA. Definitely, the hardest thing to adapt to is the pressure and workload. CMA gave me some really important skills that I hadn’t really practiced at other schools. Most importantly, I actually had the opportunity to do some homework. It also let me practice problem-solving and critical thinking through projects and group discussions/workgroups. With the support of the teachers through those things, I was able to improve and gain confidence in figuring stuff out on my own. This turned out to be very important in university. It also taught me how to coexist with a group of, in general, educated, passionate, and opinionated people. My classmates didn’t always get along but seeing how everyone worked together or didn’t, prepared me more than I expected for group work with other engineers who always think they’re right. I also can’t imagine how different my life would have been without the network of friends and the experiences I gained through the LEAD program.
2) How did CMA help “ignite your spark” for adventure?
I think “ignite your spark” is a little dramatic. I already had a passion for adventure which was one of the big benefits of going to CMA in the first place. However, what CMA did do was introduce me to an environment where everyone else was at least as passionate as I was. Although I had hiked, biked, and paddled before, having a group of people to push and teach me allowed me to really enjoy and improve. I am very glad to have spent hours chasing after the cardio club in mountain biking and having them wait patiently at the bottom for me or show me the lines and encourage me to try new things. I am so happy to have met a group that reintroduced me to whitewater kayaking in a safe way. Because of that, we now have an ever-growing group of paddlers in Squamish, as well as in Victoria, that is mainly all CMA alumni.
We wish Alex the best during her year of study and look forward to the next time we cross paths on the trails or rivers.
Welcome Ms. Erin Paul!
The CMA team is thrilled to welcome Erin Paul to our school! She will be working with Ms. Moodie and be available to students as she completes the practicum portion of her Masters in Counselling. With a background in teaching Outdoor Education she has a passion for the natural world, exploring wild spaces, and building relationships.
In her counselling practice, Erin strives to be a positive role model for the students she supports through empathy and compassion.
When Erin’s not working with students you can find her enjoying every activity she can outdoors including mountain biking, kayaking, backcountry skiing, hiking, and canoeing.
Adventures in Art this Year to Date
Written by Ms. Marni Harris, CMA Art Teacher
It continues to be a pleasure and a privilege to guide 14 grade, 9-12 students, in art adventures in various mediums. In September, we started with drawing/sketching as the foundation of art of any form, with still life exercises, studio time, and discussions about the elements and principles of design. Students were asked to complete two sketches by early October and to incorporate the principles and elements discussed in their sketches.
Most students submitted sketches, photographs or computer designed images for selection for a CMA art exhibit, which is now up at a Table! (39149 Discovery Way) in Squamish. Thank you to CMA student Emalyn, for collecting and framing the pieces, to a generous soul who donated all the frames, and to Mr. Chang of a Table! who has kindly offered us the exhibit space for the whole school year. We plan to have three different exhibits there over the course of the school year. We will let you know when the exhibits are up so you can check them out.
In October, we explored the medium of sculpture. After a talk about sculpture, sculptors and the myriad of materials that can be used for this medium, students were asked to create their own imaginative pieces of sculpture using wire, wood, clay, aluminum mesh, or fabric. Two students continued to work on their 3D projects on blender. The students produced some engaging, playful, and original works during class studio time.
The photo above features a collaborative sculpture project as the students created a spirit nest. The inspiration came from Jayson Fann of spiritnestcreations.com. We used branches collected from the forest floor near CMA and plan to add to it over time.
We have been exploring with acrylic and watercolour paints for the month of November. We had a fun, collaborative pour painting project adventure (photos below) in mid-November. Students have also been working on their own paintings during studio time.
Having guest speakers is a big part of the art adventures program we are developing at CMA. We are eager for the students to learn what it takes to pursue creative work as a hobby and/or a career, discover techniques, intricate details about different mediums, to connect with, and be inspired by, creatives in the Sea-to-Sky community. We had five speakers in this term. Mural artist and adventurer Jessica Gilbert and British designer, Alex Fowkes, came to speak to the class about mural design, ideas, the mood board, colours, font, working with the client and natural elements. They designed and painted the mural on one of CMA’s shipping containers on campus, and they got a few enthusiastic students engaged in part of the painting process.
Guillaume Hammadi, who is a photographer and software designer, dropped in for a chat with the students who are working on photography. He spoke about photography and editing using the ipad and ipad pencil. Ryan and Kris Harris of Beacon Media Group in Whistler (beaconmediagroup.com) came to speak to the students about filmmaking, photography, entrepreneurship, persistence, determination, and the creative life. We plan to have artist Andy Anissimoff drop by for some inspiration (date tbd). He’s on board, but now has to find the time.
More campus art projects…
We plan to get more students involved in the painting of the picnic tables (flash colours) come the spring. We also hope to transform the now out-of-service bus (also pictured below) into a work/art space come the spring. We encourage any and all to help out with these two spring projects.
Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER – film screening Nov 28th
CMA is pleased to present a special screening of Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER.
Filmmaker and physician Dr. Delaney Ruston takes the conversation around screens and teens to the next level with Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience—a film that examines the science behind teen’s emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and most importantly, what can be done in our schools and homes to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age.
SCREENAGERS: Growing up in the Digital Age—Delany Ruston’s award-winning 2016 film—was the first feature documentary to explore the impact of screen technology on kids and offer parents and families proven solutions. Screened more than 8,000 times (and counting) to 4 million people in more than 70 countries, it has been featured on PBS NewsHour, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and more. What started as a personal story grew into a national movement, helping millions of youth and their families find their way in a world with instant access to screen time.
In Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER, we follow Delaney as she finds herself at a loss on how to help her own teens as they struggle with their emotional wellbeing. She sets out to understand these challenges in our current screen-filled society, and how we, as parents and educators, can empower teens to overcome mental health challenges and build emotional agility, communication savvy, and stress resilience.
We witness Delaney as she finds her way from ineffective parenting to much-improved strategies. We follow other personal stories of families from an array of backgrounds with a spectrum of emotional challenges. We also observe approaches in schools that provide strategies relevant beyond the classroom setting. Interwoven into the stories are surprising insights from brain researchers, psychologists, and thought leaders that reveal evidence-based ways to support mental wellness among our youth. The impact of social media and other screen time is incorporated in all the topics raised in Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER, how it may be impacting our teens’ mental health, and what we can do to help foster youth in the face of struggles.
Facts from Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER include:
- Since 2011, there has been a 59% increase in teens reporting depressive symptoms
- Scientific data shows that 2+ hours a day on social media correlates with a higher chance of having unhappy feelings
- Teens say their main way of coping with stress is to turn to a screen—this is concerning for many reasons and we need to ensure they have other coping skills
We encourage all parents and youth in Sea to Sky to attend this timely film screening event. This event is free and open to the public.
Quest University (Multi-purpose Room)
Thursday, November 28th
7 – 9 pm
For more information about the film and to view the trailer please visit https://www.screenagersmovie.com/nc-trailer
New Admissions Event – Coffee Talks
New this year! Come join the Head of School, Mike Slinger and the Director of Admissions & Communications, Tracy Keeling for a coffee and a chat. They will be ready to answer all your questions about CMA and the application process. This event is best suited for parents looking at CMA for the next academic year.
There will be an opportunity to take a campus tour, but please note teachers will not be available as they will be in class.
Please register for the Coffee Talk of your choice by emailing [email protected].
December 11, 2019 10 to 11:30 am
January 17, 2020 10 to 11:30 am
Scholarships Workshop – Oct 29th
CMA is thrilled to be bringing the amazing Brittany Palmer of Unlock Your Future back to Squamish.
At this engaging workshop, Brittany will lead students and parents through a step-by-step program for navigating the post-secondary scholarship process. Topics will include building your scholarship foundation and crafting a strong personal statement.
Contrary to popular belief, students do not need 95% averages or international achievements to win scholarships. Brittany will debunk common scholarship myths and break down the complete process.
Join us for this free event as part of the CMA Speaker Series:
Tuesday, October 29th
7:00 pm
Quest University (Multi-Purpose Room)
For more information on Brittany Palmer and Unlock Your Future please visit keytoscholarships.com.
CSI – CMA’s competency-based approach to scientific discovery
Have you heard about CSI at CMA? It was designed to explore the curricular competencies of science which are prevalent and required in disciplines like anatomy & physiology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics, among others. These competencies include things like:
– formulating a hypothesis and predicting an outcome,
– planing, selecting and using appropriate investigation methods like fieldwork to collect reliable data,
– evaluating methods and experimental conditions, including identifying sources of error or uncertainty, confounding variables, and possible alternative explanations and conclusions.
We believe CSI is not only innovative but also efficient, as all senior students will learn the essential skills of science common to all disciplines in Term 1 together.
CSI will run the entirety of Term 1, after which time students will then disperse into their grade-specific science courses for Terms 2 & 3 for a more focused study in their chosen science. At the very end of the school year, students will synthesize both the skills that they have gleaned from CSI and the content learned in their subjects to create a personalized, independent investigation.
Senior students have now been placed in cross-grade cohorts that will rotate through three interesting scientific explorations; cementing science inquiry, cedar & silviculture investigations, and creating invisible ink. So far, students and teachers have been enjoying great weather for their silviculture study!
Meet CMA’s newest faculty member…
We are very excited to welcome Ms. Rachel Chambers to the CMA faculty team! Ms. Chambers is originally from the UK but now calls BC and it’s majestic mountains home. She has a BA in Geography from Oxford University and Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Exeter University. Before leaving for Canada she worked at Cornwall’s top high school for four years as a Teacher of Geography and Head of Lower School. During this time, she led the school’s mountaineering club and qualified as a Duke of Edinburgh Award Assessor.
Ms. Chambers has worked for several years in the outdoor industry and has taught many sports including surfing, hiking, climbing and recently became a qualified snowboard instructor. She believes that education should be very much centered around interactions with the immediate world and that experiences offer the perfect in-depth learning opportunities.
From an early age, she felt the call of the outdoors and this influences many of her adventures. She has traveled to over thirty countries and particular highlights include backcountry expeditions in the Northern Territories, hiking in the Himalayas and taking her students to Iceland.
Being on her splitboard in the backcountry is her second home. While she eagerly awaits the return of Winter each year she can be found in the Whistler Bike Park.
CMA Valedictorian 2019
Big thanks to Cole Beaulieu, CMA Valedictorian 2019, for delivering a moving address at this year’s Graduation Ceremony held on June 20th at gorgeous Quest University. Your humour and heart-felt thanks were quite moving. For those who missed it, here is Cole’s valedictorian address:
You may not know me, but my name is Cole Beaulieu and after six years at Coast Mountain Academy I am standing here as valedictorian of my class. Today is the day we have all been waiting for – for the past twelve long years. For some of us years of hard work and perseverance got us here, for others, years of patient teachers and a healthy dose of luck and last minute cramming got us here. But no matter how we got here, we all did and today is the day we finally graduate.
Coast Mountain Academy has been the grounds for the good and the bad times and have undeniably shaped us into the people we are today, some of us may still have some growing to do but we are well on our way to becoming responsible, mature, contributing members of society that reflect the forces that shaped us here at CMA. When we look back on our time here; certain events are bound to jump out: Getting to see the breathtaking Garibaldi lake from the top of Panorama Ridge in grade 8, borrowing a book from a certain coastal field station, and more recently being completely out of breath with a pounding headache and an unbelievable view at 5000 meters just a week ago. There were the hot days sitting out on the picnic benches and the rainy ones where we all wished the school would invest in a roof. And we will always remember the work, the anxious waiting as we collected tests and assignments. The bad grades that made our hearts fall but motivated us to study harder and do better, and the good ones that put a smile on our faces and made us feel like we might just graduate some day. And today is that day!
Now, the time has come to thank everyone who have helped us along and those whom we never would have made it here without. First I want to thank the teachers. When people ask me if they should send their kids to CMA the first thing I tell them about is the teachers. The teachers have always had our best interests in mind through thick and thin, and even when we have been completely intolerable the teachers have been there for us and when I say intolerable I mean intolerable. As to make sure that everyone gets out before sunset I won’t go into every teacher that has ever taught us at CMA but I would like to talk about the teachers that have made our grade 12 year unforgettable. Mr. Bauck, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Logan, and Mr. B, you have been more than just teachers for us over the past year. You have been mentors and role models and have helped us navigate the maze of grade 12 math, english and science as well as life experience in and out of school, such as our amazing trip to Peru.
And a special thanks to Mr. Slinger, little known fact he didn’t have a single grey hair when he took the job and came into contact with the class of 2019. A perfect case in point as he patiently waited yesterday to review a speech that hadn’t been written yet. When I say Mr. Slinger will be happy to see us go it is not out of malice, but out of pride to see a group of ragtag individuals turned into the cohesive unit we are today.
As I move onto the parents, there are no words I can use to thank them in full. We would not be here without them, like literally not be here. It is said that it costs around 200,000 dollars to raise a child to the age of 18, and that doesn’t consider 12 years of private school tuition. Thankfully my parents don’t expect me to pay it all back but that only makes me more grateful. The debt to our parents goes so much deeper than that though, they were the ones who pushed us out the door when we didn’t want to, who offered us encouragement and threats in regards to marks, and who tolerated us through our highs and lows. Without you, we would never have made it here. Thank you all moms and dads.
And above all of that, there are my classmates. I can say that we know each other like we are family. From the first ever day of CMA planning uniforms with Noah, the only other founding student graduating today. To making unforgettable memories these past two weeks in Peru. This class is full of amazing individuals from world-class mountain bikers to veritable geniuses (and no Ian they are not the same person). We represent diversity in character that in many schools would have made community difficult but despite all odds, CMA managed the opposite and has bred a tight-knit community. Many of these friendships will last a lifetime and some of them will be refreshed at the reunions that are already being planned. This class is like a family, as much as we may fight and bicker at the end of the day we will always have each other’s backs.
For some of us high school was a breeze and will be a jewel to look back on for others it was a grind but this is the day we have all been working towards. As we exit the auditorium in the coming hours we will all leave with our heads held high knowing a chapter is coming to a close and a chapter will begin anew tomorrow. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Coast Mountain Academy class of 2019. Thank You.
Another 1st for CMA
On Thursday May 17th the graduating class of CMA were celebrated in style at our first ever grad formal and dinner. This uniquely CMA event brought students, parents, friends, teachers, staff, and Board together at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler for dinner, music, magic, storytelling, and some hilarious roasts.
More than one parent noted how special it was to have such an intimate event for a high school grad class – everyone together celebrating and wishing our 18 grads the best as they set out on their next adventure.
Congratulations to the students and parents of the CMA Class of 2019!
We are hiring!
Coast Mountain Academy is looking for qualified candidates to fill a senior school STEM faculty position. If you are a certified teacher, with an interdisciplinary approach to STEM courses, and a love of the outdoors, this position could be the right fit for you!
For more details please visit the job posting at: https://coastmounatin.wpengine.com/about/#work .
Good luck!
First ever CMA Model UN Conference a success!
After two days of lively debate, we have wrapped up the first-ever CMA Model UN Conference. Students represented their countries with pride and demonstrated the utmost respect, except for the odd assassination attempt!
What an incredible experience in research, public speaking, and politics for all involved.
Big thanks to our student organizers Sierra, Jacob, and Arthur.
Until next year…..
CMA application deadlines, tuition, and fees for next academic year…
As in years past, we are asking all applicants to submit their completed student application forms by January 31st to ensure they are considered in our first round of admission offers for the 2019/20 academic year. You still have a few weeks to get those applications submitted, for more details and the application form please visit our Apply to CMA webpage.
Our tuition and fees, as well as payment plan options, have changed for next academic year. To get acquainted with the costs of attending CMA and the payment options please visit our Tuition and Fees webpage.
Feel free to call the CMA office with any questions at 604-390-3262.
Community Christmas Care
From day one, giving back to our community has been part of the very ‘fabric’ of CMA! Our students and staff take an active role in many fundraising campaigns throughout the academic year, but none are as popular or embraced as dearly as the annual Community Christmas Care event. We are proud to announce that CMA has collectively donated over 500 toys and non-perishable food items, and over $500 in cash and gift cards this year. These donations will help fill Christmas Hampers for Squamish families in need this holiday season. Big congratulations to Sky Pilot House Team for raising the most, and representing us at the big wrap-up event with Mountain FM and McDonalds Squamish.
Tis the season!
Happy Holidays from all of us at CMA.
CMA Open House
Curious about what Coast Mountain Academy has to offer our students and families?
Join us for our 6th Annual Open House event on Saturday, November 24th from 10 am to 2 pm. Drop-in for the opportunity to meet all of our teachers and staff, take a campus tour with a CMA student and share a coffee with a CMA parent. This is a family-friendly event featuring fun activities for young and old.
No pre-registration is required. For more information please call CMA at 604-390-3262.
Highlights from a LEAD Trip ‘Newbie’
Early September Mr. Logan asked if I was interested in joining the House Team LEAD Trip to Garibaldi. I quickly said yes, but then the reality set in as I realized I had not done a multi-day trip in many years, in fact, 10 years! Well, I am so glad I pushed through the nervousness and took part as the experience was truly breath-taking and reminded me of what makes CMA such a special community.
The weather certainly was in our favour (sorry Skookum and Elaho – I know it was a different story for your teams). The scenery was beautiful and I did enjoy my daily hot chocolate, but the highlight for me was the kindness, compassion, and encouragement that a select few of our seniors repeatedly displayed for our newest and youngest students. On numerous occasions, I saw these seniors lightening younger student’s backpacks. On our last day, two senior students carried other student’s entire backpack along with their own! From cheering on our grade 7 students to tending cuts and scrapes these senior’s behaviour was genuinely heart-warming.
I encourage us all to remember the power of simple acts of kindness. What if we all behaved in this way? I will leave you with a quote below that really resonated with me…
Can’t wait for my next adventure!
Ms. Keeling
“Together we can change the world, one simple act of kindness at a time.” – Ron Hall
5 Tips for Managing Back to School Anxiety
There can be a lot of anxiety for both students and parents at this hectic time of year! CMA Counsellor, Ms. Melahnie Moodie shares some tips for managing anxiety below:
1) Eat 3 balanced meals a day ESPECIALLY breakfast. Studies show that balanced blood sugar levels and regular meals help your brain focus and your nervous system stay balanced.
2) Get into direct sunlight and move your body within 10 minutes of waking up.
3) Restful sleep, with screen-free time before bed, and do NOT reach for your phone first thing in the morning, give your brain and system at least 20 minutes before allowing the worlds distractions in.
4) Throughout the day when you see children getting antsy, tired or talkative get them moving. Studies show that brain breaks throughout the day help students learn better, listen more and helps balance their mind.
5) Leave room in your schedule for “Free Time”.
Our culture LOVES to have everything scheduled but children and adults all need time to have unstructured time, to relax if they need to, and to do whatever they need to do in the moment. Being able to listen to one’s body and emotions is one of the best gifts we can give to our children and is very beneficial for a healthy mental-emotional state.
CMA students and parents are invited to book time with Ms. Moodie to discuss anxiety and coping strategies. She is here to help! She can be reached for bookings at [email protected].
We are looking for a Director of Finance!
Are you looking for an exciting new opportunity to sink your teeth into? Well, the CMA team is looking to fill a new role – Director of Finance. Visit our employment page for all the details but do not wait too long – the position closes September 7, 2018. Check out the job posting here on our employment webpage.
It’s Not Too Late to Apply to CMA
At this time of year, it is common for our staff to get a frantic phone call or two with the same question “Is it too late to apply to CMA for September?” Great news, it is not too late, but we are only accepting applications for grade 8, 9, and 10. All other grades are on waitlist only.
If you are interested in CMA for September please contact our Director of Admissions, Tracy Keeling at [email protected] to let her know you intend to apply. Following that please complete the student application form and return it along with the admission fee and supporting documents as soon as possible. All final admission interviews for September start will be taking place on August 15th.
The student application form can be found here: Apply to CMA
Enjoy the summer sun,
The CMA Team
Another Year of LEAD Wraps Up this Week
What a year it has been for our LEAD (Leadership Expeditions for Academic Discovery) program! After a year of preparation and training, all of our students have completed their year-end LEAD Trips as of Sunday, June 17th. Big thanks to all the teachers and parent volunteers who made the following trips a reality for our students!
Stein Valley hiking and camping- grade 7 students
Marble Mountains hiking and camping – grade 8 students
Spring Island sea kayaking – grade 9 students
Juan de Fuca Trail hiking and camping – grade 10, 11, 12
Yukon River paddling and camping – grade 10, 11, 12
Ecuador service trip with Me to We – grade 10, 11, 12
For more on our LEAD program please visit https://coastmountainacademy.ca/academics/leadership-expeditions-for-academic-discovery-lead/
Science and more in the CMA S.T.E.M. Times
CMA Faculty, Mr. Ross Petersen has pulled together the first edition of the CMA S.T.E.M. Times. Ever wondered what our students are up to all day? Have a read to find out! Thank you to Mr. Petersen for all his efforts in the classroom to provide a stellar science program for our students, and for all his time spent putting this newsletter together!
New admission deadlines for 2018!
New for 2018: to be considered in our first round of admission offers we are asking all applicants to submit their CMA application and supporting documents by January 31, 2018. For all the details please visit coastmounatin.wpengine.com/admissions/#apply
Join us for CMA’s Open House!
Curious about Coast Mountain Academy? Families are invited to join CMA staff, faculty and families for our annual Open House on Saturday November 25th from 10am to 2pm here on campus. The event is family-friendly so bring the kids and grandparents if you like!
Guests can take part in campus tours lead by current CMA students, share a coffee or hot chocolate with current CMA parents, and learn more about our unique schedule and programs from our engaging team of teachers.
Day@CMA Dates for 2017/18 have been released!
Our signature Day@CMA events continue to be very popular! What better way to determine if Coast Mountain Academy is the school for you and your child then for them to come spend the day with us? Visiting students take all classes, breaks, and lunch with current students. They get to meet all the teachers and get a taste of what it is really like to be a CMA’er. Our line up of dates for the 2017/18 academic year include:
Thursday October 12, 2017
Wednesday November 15, 2017
Tuesday February 6, 2018
Thursday March 8, 2018
Wednesday April 11, 2018
Tuesday May 15, 2018
For more information please visit https://coastmounatin.wpengine.com/admissions/#apply
To register please call Tracy Keeling, Director of Admissions at 604-390-3262 or email [email protected]
From Ecuador with Love…
As part of CMA’s L.E.A.D. (Learning Expeditions for Academic Discovery) program, our senior students in grades 10 through 12 had the opportunity to join Me to We for a service trip to Ecuador. We just go this message from the Amazonian jungle and thought we would share it with you. Can’t wait to see the pictures!
Hola! From Ecuador.
We just wanted to send you a quick update to let you know how our trip is going. We welcomed your world changers at the airport in Quito, on our first night, and everyone arrived happy and healthy. The next day, bright and early we departed for the Amazon. After a very long ride with multiple stops we arrived at Minga Lodge. Minga Lodge is our accommodation that we are calling home for the days together.
So far everything is going well. We have started to talk about issues happening in our communities and around the world. We have also been talking about leadership skills and goals.
Today we had the opportunity to learn about lack of access to clean water here in Ecuador. We took a very short canoe ride across the Rio Napo to be greeted by Don Vargas. Don Vargas welcomed us to his farm and shared with us his life story, and the impacts of his family not having access to clean water.
We are looking forward to the next few days. Adios!
For more on Me to We please visit: https://www.metowe.com/volunteer-travel/
For more on CMA’s L.E.A.D. program please visit: https://coastmounatin.wpengine.com/academics/#lead
One last Day@CMA for the year!
CMA is hosting one more Day@CMA for this academic year! If you are a student currently enrolled in grade 6 through 11 and interested in learning more about our great school please join us on Tuesday May 16th. Visiting students take all classes, breaks and lunch with our current students. What better way to determine whether CMA is a good fit for you?
For more information please visit https://coastmounatin.wpengine.com/admissions/#apply.
Pre-registration is required, please call Tracy Keeling, Director of Admissions at 604-390-3262 for more information and registration.
Join the CMA Team – we are hiring!
Faculty – Middle School – Generalist (Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, French, PE, Career Education, Explorations)
We have an exciting opportunity for a new Faculty member for the 2017-2018 school year. We are seeking a dynamic and inspirational middle school level teacher who is both qualified and certified to teach in British Columbia. If you are looking for an opportunity to work in an innovative independent school, with a collaborative faculty, in one of the most beautiful locations in the province, this is the position for you.
As a middle school teacher at Coast Mountain Academy you will be part of a collaborative team of teachers that strive everyday to provide our grade 7 – 9 students the best learning environment possible. Our program requires teachers to be familiar with the new BC Curriculum, project based learning, inquiry, interdisciplinary studies and current assessment practices. Additionally, faculty members will be expected to provide enriched experiential education opportunities to bring the curriculum to life for the students. The successful candidate will also participate in our outdoor education and experiential education programs (some overnight and weekend requirements). Experience in outdoor activities is desirable.
To apply, please send a cover letter and CV by email with the Subject: “Posting 2017 – Teacher Name” to Mike Slinger, Head of School at [email protected]
Application Deadline: Sunday, April 30th, 2017
Exclusive Day@CMA for grade 6 students only!
Join us Wednesday April 19th for an exclusive Day@CMA for current grade 6 students in the Sea to Sky corridor.
As with every Day@CMA, participants get to experience our innovative approach to education by taking all classes, breaks, and lunch along side current CMA students. This day is special though, in that it is only for current grade 6 students. What better way to determine if CMA is a viable option for your grade 7 year?
CMA transportation is available free of charge on April 19th for participants who live in Whistler, West Vancouver, Bowen Island, and Furry Creek.
For more information please visit our Day@CMA information page here: https://coastmountainacademy.ca/admissions/day-cma/
CMA Ski Team places well at NSSRL Championships
Congratulations to the CMA ski team for their performance at the North Shore Schools Race League Championships (NSSRL). CMA grade 10 students Amanda and Caitlin raced in the Grand Slalom experienced division. Caitlin placed 14th of 46 racers with the best time of 1.00.41, and Amanda placed 17th with a best time of 1.04.23. Grade 7 students William and McKinley raced in the Slalom Novice division. William placed 2nd of 12 racers with a best time of 22.13, and McKinley placed 7th with a time of 23.54.
CMA team members displayed great sportsmanship at the races and we are proud of the way they represented our school. Great work Owls!
Parents as Preventers: Understanding and Responding to Teen Substance Use
Wednesday February 1, 2017
7:00 – 9:00pm
Quest University – Multi-Purpose Room
Join Coast Mountain Academy for this very important presentation by Robb McGirr. It is open to all parents, but will be of particular interest for parents of grade 7-10 students as this represents the highest risk period for first-use.
Robb McGirr is an Addictions Counsellor specializing in school-based prevention and early intervention. Robb has a long history with both schools and community groups having worked as a Port Moody Police Officer for 20 years, and a youth substance use prevention specialist for the last 11 years.
While Robb recognizes that the support provided to students at school is important, he does believe that the most effective prevention strategies start at home, with parents and families. During his presentation he will highlight:
- Drugs of choice: What are they? What are their risks?
- Understanding and responding to ‘first-use’ risks as your child transitions from middle school to highschool.
- Parental influence: How to support safe and healthy choices for your child.
- How to recognize and respond to a ‘drug-curious’ child.
- How to recognize and respond to a child who may be ‘drug-active’.
- Social Media: Where are your children getting their information?
For more information on Robb McGirr and Front-Line Prevention Services please visit www.frontlineprevention.com.
This event is free and open to the public. Hope you can join us!
E3 – Problem Solving with Gary Fitzpatrick, Q.C
On November 4th CMA took part in a Problem Solving E3 exercise that involved a learning activity with Gary Fitzpatrick, Q.C. Mediator of Fitzpatrick and Co. Gary’s work is in the area of dispute resolution and his career started in the court system as a lawyer and has moved into the realm of mediation.
Mr. Fitzpatrick presented a scenario to our students derived from a situation he would see in his workplace. Our students participated in a simulation role play that had them acting in parts as companies involved in a dispute and the mediator assigned to help the parties create a solution to the given problem. In this particular case the parties were companies with a similar product that had merged together in order to produce a higher quality product. As the project continued both parties were upset about how the product was evolving, and not meeting the expectations of the client. The students worked together to come up with a solution rather than a dissolution of the companies’ work together.
This simulation was great learning experience for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it demonstrated that the experiences that the students have in their various group work projects here at school are similar to scenarios that they will also encounter later in the workplace. The group work skills they practice now will be transferable for doing efficient work as they enter the workforce. Secondly, it introduced the students to different avenues of dispute resolution and gave students a picture of alternative careers in the field of justice. CMA is grateful for Gary’s time and expertise that he generously shared to enhance our learning.
Written by guest blogger: Ms. Alysa Patching, Co-ordinator of Innovation & Learning
CMA Open House – Saturday November 19th
Join the CMA team for our Annual Open House event on Saturday November 19th. Guests will enjoy; tours led by CMA students, personal introductions to our unique outdoor education program and INQubator program, and learn how we infuse technology into all of our learning. This is a family-friendly event, please drop-in anytime between 10am to 2pm.
How do we make report cards meaningful?
How Can We Make Reports & Assessments of Student Learning Meaningful to both Parent and Student Stakeholders?
On October 26th, CMA will be distributing a digital Interim Report to all of our parents via email. This report is one way to communicate with parents about their student’s learning in the classroom. Each report is a snapshot that describes a measurement of that child’s performance regarding the content in a particular subject at that point in the year. The first report ends up being a baseline from which progress is made. It is good educational practice (and mandated by the BC Ministry of Education) to report in a way to parents that is timely and responsive throughout the school year.
Every year we try to improve the quality and efficiency of our reporting process. Our intention is to communicate with families about their student’s learning in a way that reflects our care for the student, is personal to the student, and motivates the student to progress and take the next step forward. The ideal report is a piece of communication that includes all stakeholders in the student’s learning; teachers, student, and parent(s) or guardians. It should inform all parties of the student’s level of understanding, and give direction (as well as action) regarding how to best support student progress.
Head of School, Mike Slinger, has asked CMA Faculty to consider the question: How can we communicate timely and meaningful assessments of student learning to parents in a better way? This is an investigation we are taking on this year that will evolve as the year progresses. Parents can anticipate an invitation for their voice as stakeholders in the CMA system of reporting.
My upcoming blog post will be an overview of assessment as a part of the teaching process. If you’ve ever wondered about how a teacher goes about assessing student understanding, be sure to keep your eye open for it.
Submitted by guest blogger Ms. Alysa Patching, CMA Faculty and Co-ordinator of Learning & Innovation.
Love the Skin You’re In by Brie Mathers
This week we had body-image activist Brie Mathers visit our parent and student community. Brie is an activist whose work is focused on liberating youth from the messages driven by media about what qualities make someone attractive and lovable. She helps to deconstruct ideas influenced by the media’s focus on sexualized external beauty and highlights the beauty of inner strength, character, and brain power.
Last night Brie Spoke with the parents and gave some useful tips about having good conversations with your child about this topic. She recommends using teachable opportunities to have authentic conversations. For example when you are shopping, watching movies or commercials on TV, magazines that might be lying around your house, passing billboards when you are driving; you can prompt conversation by wondering about how the images are manipulated, what the message to the consumer is about masculinity or femininity, who wins from the message, who loses, and what are the alternatives.
Some great books and movies to stimulate conversations that she recommended were:
The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf
Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth about Guilty Pleasure TV Programming
I’m Like So Fat: Helping Your Teen Make Healthy Choices about Eating and Exercise in a Weight-Obsessed World by Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
The Body-Image Work Book by Thomas. F Cash
Documentaries:
MissRepresentation
The Mask You Live In
The True Cost
Big thanks to Brie for sharing her passion, recommendations, and message of love with us! For more on the amazing Brie Mathers please visit lovetheskinyourein.net.
Games as a learning tool
Students in Science 7 class have been studying geological time this past week. They were challenged to create board games that highlight key events in the evolution of life, and other important moments in geological time. Students came up with some creative, fun, and very informative games that we enjoyed playing in class.
“Love the Skin You’re In’ with Brie Mathers Oct 19th at 7pm
Join body image activist Brie Mathers for a dynamic multimedia presentation called ‘Love The Skin You’re In’. Through exposing the pitfalls of media influences, we invite those supporting the healthy development of young people to explore a powerful evening of education. It is guaranteed to be impactful, helping to reinforce or change the mindset of those who often feel society’s negative lure towards a single focus on sexualized external beauty. We will seek to discuss the difficulty of this ever changing culture where younger generations can feel they are swimming upstream if focusing on inner strength, character, and brain power. This evening will inspire parents to support their sons and daughters to find power in connection over looks-based comparison and competition.
“Love the Skin You’re In’
Wednesday October 19th
Quest University, 3200 University Blvd. Squamish
*Doors open at 6:30pm, presentation starts at 7pm.
**Please note that the presentation takes place in the Quest (MPR) Multi-Purpose Room located below the Quest Cafeteria.
***Admission is free, but donations for the Squamish Food Bank are welcome!
Problem Solving Fridays
A new initiative this year at CMA is Problem Solving Fridays. The purpose of this block is to come together and collaborate as multi-grade learning teams around problem solving activities. Students are learning to work in diverse groups while employing various problem solving skills. Over past couple weeks we have been working together to solve problems in the discipline of math. Students have used mathematical strategies such as looking for patterns, making charts and tables with data, guessing and checking, drawing pictures or models, acting out scenarios, solving simpler related problems, and working backwards. These strategies are extremely valuable as they transfer outside of the discipline of math.
This past Friday we worked with a problem called Marbles in a Box. Imagine a 3 dimensional Tic Tac Toe game. The students were to find out how many winning combinations there were. In a period of 30 minutes they were able to come up with several different strategies to present to their peers. CMA students were even able to develop a formula that transferred over as the box increased in dimension. Please see the pictures below for some examples of student explanations.
Many students are noting the advantage of working with people with a variety of experience and ways of thinking about things, but also the challenges. As we forge ahead we will continue to work on mathematical problems, but may also start to look at some challenges that cross into other domains. Hopefully we will even be presented with some ‘real world’ scenarios. Some of these scenarios will connect to our E3 activities. Perhaps you have a scenario in your workplace to present to our kids to do some creative problem solving around?
An example of some students transferring authentic problem solving activities into real world scenarios comes from some work done in School District 43’s Inquiry Hub. The students in this program noticed that the process of taking attendance was eating into their valuable learning time. A group decided they were going to develop an app so that students could sign in for the day with their phones so that they could eliminate cumbersome process and be more efficient with their time. A construction company heard about the app the students developed and felt that it could also be used in their workplace to record sign-in and working hours for their employees. The company ended up buying the app from the students and is now using it for this purpose. Wouldn’t it be awesome for some of our CMA students to be able to have such a meaningful and rewarding learning experience? If you have a workplace scenario you think our CMA students could take stake in please contact [email protected].
Inquiry Based Learning, Core Competencies, and the revised BC curriculum at CMA.
This upcoming year we will be doing a lot of school wide work in Inquiry Based Learning. One of the outcomes of this style of learning and teaching is the opportunity to develop and practice the 21st century skills that have been identified as the most important competencies for students to acquire in their schooling. The BC Ministry of Education articulates these skills in the new mandated curriculum as “Core Competencies”. These core competencies span and support the content of the learning in each subject area and have become a focus in the updated curriculum.
CMA teachers spent the day becoming familiar with these competencies and how they are woven into the revised curriculum. More professional development work will be done when it comes to recognizing how we are already addressing these competencies, new ways to infuse them into our practice and including them in student assessment. A description of the Core Competencies can be accessed at https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/competencies.
Guest Blogger – Ms. Alysa Patching, CMA Coordinator of Innovation and Learning
A Week to Build Community at CMA
As in years past, we started the academic year at Camp Summit. CMA students and faculty eat, live, and play together for 4 days straight. Our adventures at camp build trust, respect, and most of all a sense of community and friendship. What a way to launch the academic year and our uniquely CMA outdoor education program!
Website Renewal Completed
With our third year of operation a huge success, I was determined to spend some of my available time this Summer to finally update CMA’s website.
While our previous online presence was sufficient, it was much more oriented toward’s its original purpose: announcing to the world that CMA existed and what it would be. Now that we have been through a few years, put mileage on our buses, and graduated our first student, our website needed to better reflect the living community CMA has become.
After quite some effort and deliberation, therefore, I present to you CMA’s illustrious updated website! A new look and feel, some sought-after information tools (e.g. the prominent Google-powered School Calendar!), tighter social media integration, and a host of improvements on our end which will allow staff to make this an authoritative source of information for current and prospective families.
I invite you to use social media to give us feedback on the new site and to share it far and wide!
Mr. Slinger’s Kenya Adventure with Me to We
My wife Leanne and I had the opportunity to travel to the Maasai Mara in Kenya on an educator’s scouting trip with Free The Children and a group of 20 educators from all over North America. What an amazing trip it was on so many levels. I would like to share a few of my takeaways.
Free the Children works with communities in areas where the cycle of poverty is very evident. When the organization agrees to work with community leaders they do so with a framework of support to strengthen five pillars of community – Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, Health, Agriculture and Food Security, and Alternative Income and Livelihood. Establishing a foundation with these pillars is the beginning of breaking the cycle of poverty for these communities. You can read more about the pillars and why they are so important by clicking here.
For the sake of time I will just comment on our experiences with the education pillar while in Kenya. Where we were in the Maasai Mara was the village that Free The Children has been working in the longest (over 15 years). So, we had the opportunity to see the type of impacts the five pillars can have on a community over time. On our trip we visited a few schools that Free The Children has built – Emorijoi Primary School (Gr. K-8), Kisaruni School for Girls (Gr. 9-12) – and spent the better part of two days working at the build site for the Ngulot Mountainview All Boys Secondary School for Boys (Gr. 9-12) which will hopefully be open for classes in January of 2017.
Emorijoi was the first school we visited on our trip. We had an opportunity to tour the school and visit with the teachers and students. The first thing that struck us as we were walking down the long dirt road towards the school was that all of a sudden, these little kids dressed in their school uniforms started climbing through the barbed wire fence to run out and join us. They would run up to us with big smiles and laughter, say nothing, grab our hands and walk with us the rest of the way to the school. Once there, we started to speak and play with the students (English is the language taught and spoken at school). We had a great big soccer game on the field which was lots of fun, especially trying to dodge the cow pies and the cows!!
Kisaruni School for Girls was definitely one of the highlights. The visit really helped re-establish in me the importance of education and how much we take for granted in our society. The girls all begin classes at 5:00am and carry on with a packed learning schedule until 9:00pm. They then have some individual learning time until lights out at 10:00pm. However, many girls stay up with flashlights reading until late into the night. These girls respect and value education like no students I have ever seen before – the alternative for the them is to be married off by their parents in exchange for a dowry of goats or cattle. Yes, if not in school they would most likely be married and having kids at 14 years of age. The girls are all committed to their studies as they see education as a way for them to help their families and community.
Ngulot was another great experience as we were able to get our hands dirty helping to build the future high school that will allow boys in the community to carry on their education. We were given the task to dig the foundation of one of the school buildings so they would be able to pour the foundation. The trenches had to be 4 feet deep and all of them dug out with pick axes and shovels. One of the days we teamed up with a Free The Children youth group on the build site. It was great to chat with the students and hear their stories about how Free The Children has impacted them personally and what they have been working on to make a difference in the world themselves. Very powerful.
Below you will see a sampling of our photos from the trip. There are some photos from our school visits with the students, from the build site, one of me doing a water walk (another story in itself), Leanne and I with our Maasai Warrior guides and some local mamas, and a shot of the leopard we saw on our safari.
I am very excited for CMA to continue to develop a relationship with Free The Children and continue to build on our commitment as a school to community service locally, nationally and internationally. Our international service trip to Ecuador with Free The Children in June 2017 is going to be an incredible experience for our Gr. 10, 11 & 12’s that participate. If my trip to Kenya is an indication, I would expect that the global perspectives of all who participate will be transformed.
Yours in education,
Mr. Slinger