30th Anniversary Party
1995 – 2025
Island Pacific School Turns 30: Celebrating Foundations & Futures
September 27, 2025
Time: 4:30pm-7:30pm
This September, Island Pacific School (IPS) is celebrating our 30th birthday – and everyone is invited to the party.
Since opening its doors in 1995, IPS has stayed true to a bold idea: middle school isn’t just a bridge to high school, it’s a foundation for life. Over three decades, the school has built a reputation for academic rigour balanced with something even more enduring – helping young people to step into the world with wisdom, courage, and integrity.
“Turning 30 is a big milestone,” says Brad Carter, Head of School. “It’s a moment to look back with gratitude, but also to look forward with energy and purpose. The world our students are stepping into is changing fast, and the values IPS was built on are more important now than ever.”
Then & Now
Those values show up in the full range of programs IPS has carefully developed, from the rigour of Masterworks, the Grade 9 capstone where students pursue a year-long independent project and defend their findings before an academic panel, to the demanding critical thinking and moral philosophy courses that teach students to reason clearly and debate real ethical questions, all the way to the seemingly light but deeply grounding ritual of Morning Stretch, where the whole school gathers each day to share news, celebrate wins and set the tone together.
The anniversary also marks the launch of Foundations & Futures, our commitment to strengthen what IPS does best while expanding new opportunities for students and the school community. It’s about grounding ourselves in the traditions and programs that have literally shaped a generation here, while stepping boldly into the changing and challenging world our young people will one day claim.
The 30th birthday celebration will bring together everyone who has been part of the IPS story – alumni, parents, staff, and supporters – alongside anyone curious to see what makes this small Bowen Island school one of the most remarkable middle schools around.
And because no milestone is complete without a proper party, the day will finish with hotdogs (both meat and veggie), birthday cake, face painting, and games for all ages.
Island Pacific School is a small, independent middle school on Bowen Island where students are challenged to grow, discover and thrive. With the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program at its core, IPS nurtures curiosity, character and confidence during their student’s most pivotal years.
