IPS Students Win Commonwealth Essay Awards

November 20, 2009 – 1:30 pm

Three Island Pacific School students–Ashley, Sachie and Natalie–received commendations for their entries in the 2009 Commonwealth Essay Competition. The competition is split into four different age ‘Classes’. Ashley, Natalie, and Sachie competed in the ‘B Class’ for writers aged 14 & 15 years. They are 3 of 211 young Canadians recognized by the Commonwealth Society for their writing ability and creativity.

Winning a commendation is a great achievement. Each year, more than 50,000 students from 53 countries submit their work to Commonwealth Essay Competition, one of the largest writing competitions in the world. And each year fewer than one percent of the entries are given awards.

Established in 1883, the Competition seeks to encourage literacy, creativity and reflective thought; as well as promote the use of English and high standards in writing and education. Across the Commonwealth, the Competition generates huge amounts of good will, loyalty and enthusiasm. Prizes are awarded to the top essays in each age Class; while additional prizes are also available for essays tackling the Commonwealth Question or those written by disabled students. A further three levels of commendation are given to essays which are judged to be of an exemplary standard.

It was the first year that IPS entered the competition, and we are just as proud of the school as we are the individual students. We are a very small independent school, so proportionally speaking, we outperformed all the others.

The three girls, who wrote their papers last spring in their final term at IPS, are now pursuing enriched programs in Grade 10 in West Vancouver schools.

Click on these links to read Ashley’s, Natalie’s and Sachie’s papers.

Brad Ovenell-Carter, Assistant Head of School