Every year, the Grade 9 students at Island Pacific School complete a compulsory masterworks project on a topic of personal interest to them. Students research their projects extensively, write an extended paper, and defend their work at a public presentation in June. For many students, masterworks is the seminal academic remembrance of their middle school experience.
Students are supported in the masterworks process by an advisory committee that consists of one IPS faculty member and two external advisers. The advisory committee meets five times throughout the school year to review the student's work-in-progress and to offer suggestions, guidance and support. Members of the advisory panel attend their student's presentation and public defense in June. Although every student submits a final paper relating to their topic of interest, the final product may take different forms, for example, a documentary film, an original composition or the building of a boat. The school is now looking for external advisers to sit on the advisory committees.
The questions that are asked by students this year are:
What is the process that the Vancouver Aquarium has for rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing abandoned seal pups and is this program successful?
What is the future of girls in refugee camps and how can I help to improve it?
How can I, through visual art, raise awareness about bird of prey conservation and rescue?
How can I sail a laser sailboat using the physical elements of the boat as well as technical skills and understanding to produce maximum speed and efficiency while minimizing drag?
What are the planning, technical and leadership aspects involved in a search and rescue mission?
Can I make a cookbook with family recipes and pictures that tells the story of my family history?
How have codes and ciphers been used over time?
Can I tell a story while creating emotion with film?
External advisers typically have either specific expertise or a keen general interest in the topic being investigated. If you are interested in helping, please contact Jennifer Henrichsen by email at [email protected].
For more about Island Pacific School, and the masterworks program, please visit our website at www.islandpacific.org.
