Masterworks Program
Can a 14-year-old be expected to conduct a public presentation similar to a TED talk? IPS students have been doing so for over 20 years through a program called Masterworks.
Our middle school curriculum recognizes the importance of independent study. Self-selected, self-directed, and self-presented, this Masterworks independent study project is compulsory for every Grade 9 student and marks a significant academic achievement at IPS.
Masterworks projects include big, guiding questions such as, “What is peace?”, “How to make a positive difference in the world?”, “Flying in Tune: Bridging the Gap Between Computers & Humans”, “Fruit of the Forbidden Tree: Power, Morality and Personal Choice” or “Growing North: Food Security in the Arctic”
Masterworks Project Requirements
The project requires that students:
+ Produce work that surpasses their previous accomplishments
+ Conduct in-depth research
+ Communicate their understanding to academic advisors and the general public in an oral presentation that also serves as a defense of their scholarly and creative pursuits
+ Critically reflect on input they receive throughout the school year by experts and mentors who serve as external committee members.
External Advisors
Students are mentored through the process by expert advisors—leaders in their respective fields—who act as external advisors.
Working collaboratively with IPS faculty, advisory committees guide Grade 9s through the Masterworks process that puts students at the centre of their learning and that provides a foundation for academic achievement.
Interested in becoming an external advisor? Contact us!
Project Topics
In past years, students have made documentary and animated films, created original works of art, written extensive research papers, written and published a novella, and built an actual boat. These middle school activities and projects reflect the uniqueness and interests of our individual students.
We love the diversity of projects the students come up with and, while each project is unique, what is common among them is that a highly focused level of scholarship, academic inquiry, and creativity underpin original questions asked by our students about the world in which they live. This diversity is reflected in our middle school curriculum.
2020 Masterworks Presentations
Livestreaming from the Island Pacific School YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/islandpacificschool
| Date & Time | Presentation | Presenter | Faculty Advisor | External Advisor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 8 9:00am |
The Identity Problems of Adoptees | Indra Sokol-Snyder | Jen Zdril | Martha Mendoza, Andrea Bastin |
| June 8 10:00am |
How to Save the World by Saving the Bees | Logan Clarke | Amanda Szabo |
Magali Chemali
|
| June 8 11:00am |
Off the Beatin’ Track- Instruments around the World | Jay Graham | Amanda Szabo | Liz Watson, Bob Doucette |
| June 8 1:00pm |
Howe Sound – Atl’ka7tsen Marine Ecosystem | Leila Nabavi | Megan McPhee | Bob Turner |
| June 8 2:00pm |
Born this Way or Made this Way? – Influences on Personality | Danae Jan | Pam Matthews | Karen Snyder |
| June 9 9:00am |
Teaching French as a Second Language | Jada Madeline Scott | Kari Marentette | Caroline Schrapff, Laura Meagher |
| June 9 10:00am |
The Future of Medicine | Hunter Stefani-Thompson | Pam Matthews | Dr Hugh Black, Dr. William Black |
| June 9 11:00am |
Undecided – Making Good Decisions | Rose Willis | Jen Henrichsen | Andrea Rayment, Karla Saruk |
| June 9 1:00pm |
Wolves in North America | Tobin Fayle | Kari Marentette | Sophie May Watts |
| June 9 2:00pm |
Catching Light – Evolutions in Chemistry | Colin McLean | Adrian van Lidth de Jeude | Harry Ross |
| June 10 9:00am |
Fairy Tales – Their Place in our Culture and in Child Development | Teagan Avery | Andrea Earle | Katalina Bernards, Simon James |
| June 10 10:00am |
Taking a Bite out of the Apple Empire | Sam Stringfellow | Jason English | David McCullum, Rick Stringfellow, Richard Kemble |
| June 10 11:00am |
Forming Social Bonds through Magic the Gathering | Trevor Hagglund | Jason English | Adam Ovenell-Carter |
| June 10 1:00pm |
Anxiety in Teens | Georgia Carter | Jen Henrichsen | Andrea McLennan, Sharon Selby |
| June 11 9:00am |
A Journey through West Coast Modern Architecture | Jacob Wiebe | Jen Henrichsen | Chris Lee |
| June 11 10:00am |
The Evolution of Style | Franny Heffelfinger | Adrian van Lidth de Jeude | Caroline Hurd, Liz Nankin |
| June 11 11:00am |
The Evolution of Sound in Film | Nicko Olson | Scott Herrington | Justin Aucoin, Adrian Juric |
| June 11 1:00pm |
Exploring the Process of Writing a Fantasy Novella | Ailsa Ross | Andrea Earle | Deb Blenkhorn |