Kyle Slavin
Kyle Slavin is the school's storyteller. Through words and photos, he shares with the community all the amazing things that happen on campus.
Introducing Director of Advancement John Rolfe
Meet Mr. John Rolfe, our incoming Director of Advancement
Sun Shine
The new Sun Centre student commons and dining hall is at the heart of student life and community
Brown Hall Upgrades Bring New Opportunities
The school's former dining hall underwent a seismic upgrade this school year, which brings with it the creation of newfound space for our community
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Richard Brambley
Meet Mr. Richard Brambley, our incoming Director of Middle School, in this SMUS Teacher Feature
The Winner of The Best School Year Ever 2019 is…
Find out who won The Best School Year Ever contest and a scholarship to SMUS for the 2019-20 school year
Behind the Scenes of Seussical the SMUSical
We chat with some of the talented young performers in this year's Middle School musical, Seussical
The Lasting Impact of Financial Assistance
Financial assistance helps bring amazing students to SMUS, and a SMUS education has a lasting impact on their lives
SMUS in the News: Aysha Emmerson ’18 to Attend UN Session on Status of...
Alumnus Aysha Emmerson '18 was recently selected by Zonta International to attend the the 63rd Session of the Commission of the Status of Women
Behind the Scenes of Mamma Mia!
We sit down with the four talented students playing the lead roles in this year's Senior School musical, Mamma Mia!
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. David Enns
Middle School band teacher – and director of Seussical – Mr. David Enns is highlighted in our latest Teacher Feature
Thank You for the Music: Previewing Mamma Mia!
Cast members in our upcoming Senior School musical, Mamma Mia!, reflect on their time performing in the show
Students reflect on Global Play Day
On February 8, students at the Junior School celebrated Global Play Day. Global Play Day is an opportunity for the Junior School to highlight...
The Next Generation of City Planners
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2018 issue of School Ties.
by Kyle Slavin
If you were given the challenge of redesigning an important urban space,...
Introducing Chief Financial Officer Rita Lord
Meet Rita Lord, the new Chief Financial Officer at St. Michaels University School
Student Q&A: Grade 8 Leadership Conference
We chat with Grade 8 student Neil P. about his experience as one of the student organizers of the Grade 8 Leadership Conference
Walk Around SMUS in Our New Virtual Campus Tour
Tour around St. Michaels University School using our newly updated Virtual Campus Tour
Photo Gallery: Middle School Students Shine at Science Fair
Middle School students presented their research and findings at the annual Science Fair this week
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mrs. Laura Keziere
Ms. Laura Keziere, who has been teaching at SMUS since 1984, is highlighted in our latest Teacher Feature
How Our Community Supports Students in the Classroom
Many projects at SMUS that support student learning in the classroom would not be possible without the support of the Annual Appeal
An Interview With Mr. Xavier Abrioux ’76
An extended interview with Mr. Xavier Abrioux '76 from the Winter 2018 edition of School Ties
SMUS in the News: Students Win Seed Money to Improve Quality of Life in...
A group of SMUS students was named a finalist in the South Island Prosperity Project's Future Innovator Challenge
SMUS in the News: Callum Montgomery ’15 Selected Fourth in MLS SuperDraft
Callum Montgomery '14 was selected fourth in the MLS SuperDraft and is off to play soccer for FC Dallas
The Hidden Benefits of SMUS’s Career Day
Career Day offers much more for students than simply learning about a career you're interested in
SMUS in the News: Ashley Stobbart ’98 Halfway Through Around-the-World Sailing Trip
Ashley Stobbart '98 and husband Ben Brehmer have spent the last four years sailing around the world – and they're only halfway there
The Top 11 @YourSMUS Instagram Posts of 2018
We highlight the 11 most popular @yourSMUS Instagram posts of the past 365 days!
Primary Students Share ‘Holiday Memories’ in Concert
Junior School students reflect on the recent Primary Concert that celebrated the holiday season through song and dance
SMUS in the News: An In-Depth Interview with Stewart Butterfield ’91
Alumnus Stewart Butterfield '91 sits down for an interview on his strategies for motivating employees, why philosophy helps him be a better leader and more
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Megan Blackey
Middle School teacher Ms. Megan Blackey is now in her second year at SMUS. She is originally from Chilliwack and was raised in the...
Helping Our Head of School Provide Opportunities
Head of School Mark Turner reflects on the Annual Appeal and how it impacts every student and every opportunity
Carol Service Brings the SMUS Community Together
The SMUS community gathers for the annual Carol Service to enjoy choir performances and thoughtful messages about the holiday season
The Next Generation of Engaged, Informed Citizens
Students in AP Comparative Government and Politics use real-world example to understand the value of being informed citizens
Middle School Math Rooms Get Learning Upgrades
Classroom renovations featuring flexible furniture and whiteboard walls help support learning Middle School math
Grade 10 Students Brew Up a Unique Coffee Project
Business students and Grade 10 experiential students work together to roast, market and sell coffee beans
SMUS in the News: Diya Courty-Stephens ’19 Wins Philanthropy Award
November 16, 2018
Diya Courty-Stephens '19
CTV Vancouver Island
Teenage trio aims to help save two global problems at once
Victoria News
Local leaders of all ages honoured at...
There’s More to Math Class Than Solving Equations
Math at the Junior School is all about teaching the fundamentals so students learn and understand how to problem-solve
SMUS in the News: Quinn Ngawati ’17 in Demand for Canadian Rugby Teams
The future possibilities in 2017 grad Quinn Ngawati's rugby career are outlined by the Canadian Press
Lest We Forget: Remembrance Day 2018
The SMUS community gathered to celebrate Remembrance Day and honour the men and women who fought for our country
SMUS in the News: Anna Mollenhauer ’17 Named Field Hockey Player of the Year
Anna Mollenhauer '17 was named U SPORTS Canada's field hockey Player of the Year
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Chris Bateman
Mr. Chris Bateman, Head of Visual Art and Design, is highlighted in our latest SMUS Teacher Feature
Personalized Learning: Middle School Art Gets A Creative Redesign
Visual Arts at the Middle School gets a creative redesign to allow for personalized learning for each artist
Talking Peanut Butter with Business Students
Jill Van Gyn, a former SMUS student and entrepreneur, spoke to our Business Education 10 class
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Gordon Chan
Junior School teacher Mr. Gordon Chan is highlighted in the latest SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Kristina Bergman ’97 is a Trailblazer in Seattle’s Tech Industry
Seattle Business magazine features Kristina Bergman in a series highlighting women who are trailblazers in their profession
SMUS in the News: Grade 3 Student’s ‘Levidrome’ Pitch Still Going Strong
One year after first pitching his word 'levidrome', Grade 3 student Levi continues to push to get the term added to the dictionary
Grade 12 Student Wins Youth Philanthropy Award
Student Diya Courty-Stephens is nominated for a philanthropy award for starting an organization that aims to reduce food waste
What is School Spirit?
The Prefect Council enlists students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 – and our Head of School – to define 'school spirit' at SMUS
SMUS in the News: Junior School Student Inspires Orange Shirt Day Action
The Oak Bay News highlights Orange Shirt Day at the Junior School, spearheaded by one of our Grade 4 students
Portrait of the Learner: Helping Students Find Balance in Their Busy Lives
Middle School students learn the importance of finding balance in their lives to help set them up for academic success
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Reagan Daly
Teacher, houseparent and Head of Experiential Education, Mr. Reagan Daly is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
Athletics Week in Review: September 27
Soccer, field hockey, volleyball, cross country and squash are highlighted in the latest Athletics Week in Review
New Junior School Playscape Emphasizes Imagination
Upgrades to the SMUS Junior School playscape this summer highlight the importance of "open-ended", imaginative play
Meet our 2018-19 Head Girl and Head Boy
Meet Morgan Warner and Ewan Halliday, elected Head Boy and Head Girl for the 2018-19 school year at St. Michaels University School
SMUS in the News: Grand Opening of the Sun Centre
The grand opening of the Sun Centre dining hall and student commons is featured in the Saanich News
Sun Centre Grand Opening Kicks Off the New School Year
The Sun Centre, our new dining hall and student commons, has its grand opening to mark the start of the 2018-19 school year
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Kate Knight
Ms. Kate Knight was recently named Interim Director of the Middle School for the 2018-2019 school year.
Kate was born in Penetanguishene, Ontario and raised...
SMUS in the News: Mr. Mark Turner Arrives at SMUS
Head of School Mr. Mark Turner speaks with the Saanich News about his arrival to SMUS
SMUS in the News: Aysha Emmerson ’18 Shares Her Secrets to Success
Aysha Emmerson '18 talks with the Vancouver Sun and offers her advice to help high school students achieve success
SMUS in the News: Harvard-Bound Aysha Emmerson ’18 Earns Zonta Scholarships
2018 grad Aysha Emmerson talks to the Saanich News about her Zonta International scholarship and her work in the community
SMUS in the News: Stewart Butterfield – The Tech Boss Who Grew Up Without...
June 25, 2018
BBC Business
Stewart Butterfield '91
The $5bn tech boss who grew up without electricity
Congratulations to the Class of 2018!
Congratulations to the Class of 2018! Valedictorian Dalal Tubeishat shares her thoughts on behalf of the SMUS graduates
2018 Middle School Closing Ceremonies
Watch the full Middle School Closing Ceremonies that marks the end of the 2017-2018 school year
SMUS in the News: Simon Ibell ’96 Honoured by NBA Owner Mark Cuban
June 7, 2018
Times Colonist
Simon Ibell '96
NBA owner honours Simon Ibell with $250,000 donation
(photo courtesy of Times Colonist)
CONTEST: Shoot Video of Life at SMUS and Win!
Want to win one of five Amazon gift cards? We want Senior School students to share their videos that show what it's like to be a SMUS student
Spring Break Exchange: Ecuador
Two Senior School students write about their exciting exchange trip to Quito, Ecuador during Spring Break.
Introducing Our New Alumni Relations Officer
We are pleased to introduce Denise Rees, our new Alumni Relations Officer
SMUS in the News: Andrew Battershill ’06 Talks About His New Novel
Andrew Battershill '06 sits down with The Globe and Mail to talk about his new crime novel, Marry, Bang, Kill.
SMUS in the News: Steve Nash ’92 Voted into Basketball Hall of Fame
SMUS alum Steve Nash '92 is one of the inductees to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2018
And The Winner of The Best School Year Ever Is…
Find out who won The Best School Year Ever full-year boarding scholarship to St. Michaels University School for the 2018-2019 school year.
SMUS in the News: Anna Mollenhauer ’17 Receives Inaugural UVic Carmen Kirkness Award
Field hockey athlete Anna Mollenhauer '17 receives the inaugural Carmen Kirkness Award for exemplifying courage, humility, heart, hard work and loyalty
Catching Up With the Con Artists
Meet Mark Finamore and Will Barry – the two SMUS students playing con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. in 'Catch Me If You Can - The Musical'
SMUS in the News: Senior School Musical ‘Catch Me If You Can’
The Saanich News chats with a couple of members of the cast of the Senior School musical, Catch Me If You Can
Catching Up with the Cast of Catch Me If You Can
Meet a few of the talented students performing onstage in this year's Senior School musical, Catch Me If You Can – running March 1-3 at the McPherson Playhouse
SMUS in the News: Let’s All Say ‘Levidrome’!
The Times Colonist highlights the continued push to get Grade 2 student Levi Budd's word 'levidrome' into the dictionary
SMUS in the News: Sam Kahn ’17 Bound for Ireland with Canada U19 Rugby...
Alumnus Sam Kahn '17 is named to the Canada U19 rugby team that will play in Ireland
Reflecting on a Great Grade 8 Leadership Conference
Middle School student Sophia H. writes about the experience of organizing and taking part in the Grade 8 leadership conference
Grade 2 Students Give Back With Souper Bowls
Grade 2 students bought a bowl and visited Fired Up! to paint their one-of-a-kind dish, which will be donated and used at the Souper Bowls of Hope.
Bob the Builder
We look back at the legacy of recently retired Head of School Bob Snowden, after serving 22 years in the leadership role at St. Michaels University School
SMUS in the News: Rugby Players Help Castaway Wanderers Win U18 Title
SMUS athletes helped the Castaway Wanderers U18 rugby team win the provincial title
SMUS in the News: Callum Montgomery ’15 Earns Soccer All-Region Honours
Alumnus Callum Montgomery '15 earns all-region honours while playing soccer for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
SMUS in the News: Oxford Responds to Grade 1 Wordsmith’s ‘Levidrome’ Quest
A rundown of the latest news stories highlight Grade 2 student Levi's quest to get the word 'levidrome' added to the dictionary
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Amy Stark
Middle School Humanities teacher Ms. Amy Stark is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Student’s “Levidrome” Pitch Gains Momentum with William Shatner, Urban Dictionary...
Grade 2 SMUS student Levi's progress to get 'levidrome' into the dictionary is chronicled in a series of Oak Bay News articles
Author Kenneth Oppel ’85 Named 2017 Distinguished Alumnus
Author Kenneth Oppel '85 was the keynote speaker for our Founders and Scholars Day and he was also the recipient of the 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award
Why the Playground is an Important Classroom
We explore why the Junior School playground is an important classroom for children to develop skills that are hard to teach in a purely academic setting
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Andrew Murgatroyd
Senior School math teacher – and 2002 grad – Mr. Andrew Murgatroyd is highlighted in this week's Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Michael Baart ’14, Anna Mollenhauer ’17 Named Canada West Second...
Alums and current UVic athletes Michael Baart '14 (soccer) and Anna Mollenhauer '17 (field hockey) were named the second stars of the week by Canada West
SMUS in the News: Grade 2 Student Pitches ‘Levidrome’ as a New Word
A Grade 2 SMUS student wants to get 'levidrome' into the dictionary. The Times Colonist highlights the definition and story of how levidrome came to be
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mrs. Beth Johnston
Chemistry teacher Mrs. Beth Johnston is highlighted in this week's Teacher Feature. She's also opening up her classroom as part of Fall Spark Open House on Oct. 20
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mrs. Sarah Donatelli
Middle School teacher Mrs. Sarah Donatelli is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
Grade 10 Students Sail Aboard the Pacific Swift (VIDEO)
Climb aboard the Pacific Swift with Grade 10 students who are learning outside the classroom! Watch them talk about their outdoor ed sailing experience
SMUS in the News: Simon Ibell ’96 Remembered at Vikes Championship Breakfast
The Times Colonist highlights the annual UVic Vikes breakfast, where teacher and coach Ian Hyde-Lay delivered the keynote address on behalf of and in memory of alumnus Simon Ibell
The Best School Year Ever is Back and Bigger Than Ever!
This year The Best School Year Ever® contest is awarding 20 boarding scholarships to high school students from North America
Grade 6s Head to Camp Thunderbird for Outdoor Education Trip
Grade 6 students Damon and Michael write about their fun outdoor education trip to Camp Thunderbird
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Eliot Anderson
Mr. Eliot Anderson, Director of the Senior School, is highlighted in the latest SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Adrian Hof and Alexa Matthews Golf Alongside PGA Greats
Grade 12 athlete Adrian Hof and Alexa Matthews join PGA golfer (and two-time Masters champion) Bernhard Langer at the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Kathryn Humphries
Junior School music teacher Ms. Kathryn Humphries is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Gwendolen O’Connor ’12 Talks Recovering from a Stroke
Alumnus Gwendolen O'Connor talks to the Goldstream News Gazette about the road to recovery after having a stroke before the start of her Grade 11 year at SMUS
SMUS in the News: SMUS Shortlisted for Prism Award for Coaching
The Saanich News highlights SMUS being named a finalist for the International Coach Federation's Prism Award
New Spaces at SMUS
Students and teachers returned to St. Michaels University School this week to find some big changes had occurred over the summer.
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mrs. Shannon Williams
Middle School teacher Mrs. Shannon Williams is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
#SMUSSelfie Instagram Contest: Meet Your Prefect Council
The first week back at school is the perfect time to make new friends. That's why we're running the #SMUSSelfie Instagram contest with the SMUS Prefect Council
SMUS in the News: Ewan Halliday and Matthias Hoenisch Battle For Yukon Tennis Title
Boarding students Ewan Halliday and Matthias Hoenisch were the last two standing in the men's single competition at the Yukon Tennis Championships
SMUS Named as Finalist for International Executive Coaching Award
St. Michaels University School was named a finalist for the international Prism Award, awarded by the International Coach Federation
SMUS in the News: SMUS Alumni Help B.C. U19 Boys Capture Canadian Rugby Championship...
SMUS alumni Aidan Cole, Lucas De Vries and Jonas Robinson represent B.C. on the U19 team at the Canadian Rugby Championship
A Celebration of Life for Simon Ibell
The SMUS community gathered together to celebrate Simon Ibell's life, his accomplishments and his legacy.
SMUS in the News: Ian Hyde-Lay to Represent Simon Ibell ’96 as Vikes Keynote...
SMUS basketball coach Ian Hyde-Lay will represent the late Simon Ibell as the keynote speaker at the University of Victoria Vikes breakfast in September
SMUS in the News: Quinn Ngawati ’17 Makes Wolfpack Debut
Quinn Ngawati '17 made his rugby league debut this weekend for the Toronto Wolfpack in a 62-10 win over the Gloucestershire All Golds
SMUS in the News: Quinn Ngawati ’17 Could Make Pro Rugby League Debut
The National Post highlights 2017 grad Quinn Ngawati, and the potential for him to make his pro rugby league career debut this weekend with the Toronto Wolfpack
Middle School Project Envisions Sustainable Urban Spaces
by Julie Harris
This term, Grade 6 students collaborated on a real-world interdisciplinary project to redesign an urban space to meet the sustainability challenges of...
Grade 8 Students Create ‘Les Caravanes Gastronomiques’
At lunchtime one day last week, our Grade 8 students opened for business their own "caravanes gastronomiques" a.k.a. food trucks! This year, the Grade...
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Bob Snowden
Head of School Mr. Bob Snowden, who retires at the end of this school year, is highlighted in the SMUS Teacher Feature
“Best Exploratory Ever” Pairs Middle Schoolers with Local Seniors
"I don’t know if there will ever be something at school that will impact me the way this did." Middle School students reflect on a unique partnership they made with residents at a local seniors home
Grade 10 Students Depart for Experiential Learning Pursuits
Grade 10 students head out on 'the pursuit' to immerse themselves in real-world activities and environments for experiential learning
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Lindy Van Alstine
Middle School science teacher Ms. Lindy Van Alstine, who retires this year after 26 years at SMUS, is featured in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
Dream Big Stories: Ms. Bernadette Abrioux
Math is a tough subject. It's the one students tend to struggle with the most. But Senior School math teacher Ms. Bernadette Abrioux feels she...
SMUS in the News: SMUS Rugby Takes Provincial AA Three-Peat
June 3, 2017
Varsity Letters
1st XV Rugby Team
SMUS play for fallen alum, top Brentwood College for B.C. AA three-peat
SMUS in the News: SMUS Students Bridge the Generations with Seniors
The Saanich News highlights a wonderful community project that connected our Middle School Exploratory students with seniors at a local retirement home
SMUS in the News: SMUS Bids Farewell to Bob Snowden
The Saanich News writes about Head of School Bob Snowden's retirement after 22 years at SMUS
SMUS in the News: Simon Ibell ’96 Passes Away
Media coverage of the passing of Simon Ibell '96
SMUS in the News: SMUS Makes Provincial Tennis Finals
The Yukon News interviews two SMUS boarding students about their roles on the SMUS tennis team, which reached the provincials finals last week
Grade 5 Students Stage Tale As Old As Time
The SMUSpaper sits down with Grade 5 students who are ready to perform "Beauty and the Beast Jr." this week at the McPherson Playhouse
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Emily Deslaurier
Junior School French teacher Ms. Emily Deslaurier is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Actor/Writer Corey Large ’93 Making a Splash Down Under
Corey Large '93 talks to the Times Colonist about his latest film project, In Like Flynn, a biopic about screen legend Errol Flynn
SMUS in the News: Russell Brown ’83 Talks Life as a Supreme Court Justice
The Globe and Mail features alumnus Russell Brown '83 and talks to him about his life as a Supreme Court justice
Young Singers Rock Out for Choral Concert
Grade 4-8 students took to the stage for a Choral Concert this week that was more like a rock show than a choir performance
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Andy Rodford
Mr. Andy Rodford, Director of the Senior School and next year's Acting Head of School, is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Pro Rugby Career Beckons for Quinn Ngawati ’17
2017 grad Quinn Ngawati, who will play rugby next year with the Toronto Wolfpack, is featured by Varsity Letters
Dream Big Stories: Mr. Duncan Frater
Choir teacher Mr. Duncan Frater talks firsthand about how the Dream Big annual fund helps students do more of what they love: the arts
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Mark Turner
Our newly introduced Head of School Mr. Mark Turner is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
Sun Centre Construction on Track for Spring 2018 Opening
Watch a time-lapse of the Sun Centre construction project. Our new dining hall and student commons is beginning to take shape
SMUS in the News: Students Participate in Mock Provincial Election
CTV Vancouver Island talks to Senior School students participating in a mock election ahead of the official B.C. election
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Dariol Haydock
Middle School assistant director Ms. Dariol Haydock is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS Announces Mr. Mark Turner as New Head of School
St. Michaels University School is pleased to announce Mr. Mark Turner has been appointed as the new Head of School.
Why Facebook Doesn’t Replace Your High School Reunion
Here's 10 reasons why a high school reunion – or in our case Alumni Weekend – is an experience that a Facebook friendship will never replace
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Evan Fryer
Senior School math teacher, Senior boys soccer coach and Barnacle houseparent, Mr. Evan Fryer leads a very busy life inside and outside of SMUS.
Since...
SMUS in the News: Grade 8 Digital Detox and Ms. Lee’s ‘Talking With Strangers’...
Ms. Tanya Lee and her Grade 8 Communication Skills class are featured on Chek News
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Matt Keil
Grade 5 teacher Mr. Matt Keil is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS Talks Event Builds Student and Community “Connections”
Senior School students share what they learned from organizing and experiencing the inaugural SMUS Talks event
Dream Big Stories: Ms. Nikki Kaufmann
Ms. Nikki Kaufmann talks about how SMUS's annual Dream Big fund has a direct impact on the school's athletics program and student population
SMUS in the News: Blue Jags Eye Another Rugby Title
The Times Colonist features the Senior boys rugby team and their quest for another B.C. boys rugby title
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Alex Cecill
Senior School art teacher Ms. Alex Cecill is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
GALLERY: Junior School Students Photograph Health and Wellness Week
Check out the gallery of photos taken by Kindergarten to Grade 5 students during Health and Wellness Week at the Junior School
SMUS in the News: Jeff Marshall ’87 Talks ‘Body Break’ Program at Saskatoon School
April 7, 2017
CBC News
Jeff Marshall '87
School program encourages students to hit the gym when struggling to concentrate
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Zyoji Jackson
Middle School teacher and senior houseparent Mr. Zyoji Jackson is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Tessa Pihl ’14 Sets Sights on Feature Film Career
Alumnus Tessa Pihl '14 sits down with the Kelowna Daily Courier to talk about her acting career
SMUS in the News: Jamison Schulz-Franco ’17 Recognized as “Future 15” Award Recipient
Grade 12 student Jamison Schulz-Franco is recognized by UniversityHub.ca as one of their "Future 15" award recipients
SMUS in the News: Quinn Ngawati ’17 Among the Pack
Grade 12 student Quinn Ngawati, recently named to the Toronto Wolfpack rugby league team, is featured by Kiwi League Central
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Mike Jackson
Senior School science teacher Mr. Mike Jackson is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory Closes Its Doors
The SMUSpaper sits down with five students who played varying roles – from Oompa Loompas to stagehands – in the Middle School musical, Willy Wonka
The Best School Year Ever: “What is Your Dream?”
"It's always just been a dream of mine to go to boarding school." Find out who is the winner of a full-year boarding scholarship to St. Michaels University School
Grade 4 Student Becomes Principal for a Day
Grade 4 student Mr. Wil Woods becomes Principal for a Day at SMUS, and tries to ensure all students have a fun day, too
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Alison Galloway
Grade 3 teacher Ms. Alison Galloway is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Mia Roberts ’16 Named Rookie Basketball Player of the Year
Alum Mia Roberts '16 is named PACWEST Rookie of the Year for her first year playing basketball as a Camosun Charger
Willy Wonka: Golden Ticket Holders Talk Middle School Musical
The SMUSpaper sits down with the young actors taking a tour of the chocolate factory in the Middle School's musical presentation of Willy Wonka
SMUS in the News: Natasha Kis-Toth ’18 at World Cup Fencing in Richmond
February 22, 2017
Richmond News
Natasha Kis-Toth '18
The Pulse: En Garde
SMUS in the News: Ragtime’s Message Still Rings True
Saanich News promos the Senior School production of Ragtime, and the important message the show presents
Curtain Call: Meet Ragtime’s Coalhouse Walker Jr.
The SMUSpaper sits down with the two students playing Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the Senior School musical, Ragtime
The Best School Year Ever 2017 Finalists Are…
We are excited to introduce you to the five finalists of The Best School Year Ever contest
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Amanda Chen
Middle School Humanities and Mandarin teacher Ms. Amanda Chen is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
Lieutenant Governor of B.C. Visits the SMUS Junior School
The Lieutenant Governor of B.C. visited our Junior School and took
Dream Big Stories: Ms. Susan Vachon
Ms. Susan Vachon talks about how SMUS's annual Dream Big fund has a direct impact on the education students receive – in this case Learning Resources
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Susan MacDonald
Senior School English teacher Ms. Susan MacDonald is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Symons Family Helps Mark BMO Bicentennial in Oak Bay
"When Michael [Symons] was going through some family boxes, he came across a special half-penny Bank of Montreal token from 1844, which he gifted to the BMO branch."
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Jennifer Leyh
Grade 1 teacher Ms. Jennifer Leyh is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
AP Students Map Their Family’s Migration History
AP Human Geography students learn about migration by researching and mapping their family histories
SMUS in the News: Fuailefau ’10 and McCloskey ’10 at Wellington Sevens
Alumni Mike Fuailefau ’10 and Luke McCloskey '10 help Canada to a fourth-place finish at the 2017 Wellington Sevens tournament
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. George Floyd
Middle School science and technology teacher Mr. George Floyd is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
Grade 8 Students Ask, “What is Your Weird?”
Grade 8 student organizers of the Accepting 2 Connecting leadership conference highlight the importance of "embracing your weird" and accepting everyone for who they are
Reflections on a Service Day for Project Somos
Students Aysha Emmerson and Dalal Tubeishat spoke in Chapel this week about Project Somos, a charity in Guatemala that helps single and widowed mothers and their children
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Peter Butterfield
Choir teacher and boarding houseparent Mr. Peter Butterfield is covered in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Trailer Released for Documentary on Jelena Mrdjenovich ’00
Jelena Mrdjenovich '00 '00 is the subject of a new documentary "Jelena - The Film" that will be released in March
Digital Detox: Challenging Students to Unplug for the Weekend
"I just can't imagine living without my phone for a weekend." Middle School students and teachers lock their phones away for a digital detox
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Becky Anderson
Ms. Becky Anderson, Director of the Junior School, is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Marvin Nicholson ’89 Pegs President Barack Obama as Groomsman
Alum Marvin Nicholson '89 and his new wife Helen Pajcic recently got married, with U.S. President Barack Obama as one of Nicholson's groomsmen
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. David Kerr
Senior School teacher Mr. David Kerr is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Ann Makosinski ’15 Talks Forbes 30 Under 30 List
Ann Makosinski '15 talks with CBC, CTV and the Times Colonist about being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list
SMUS in the News: Toronto Wolfpack See Quinn Ngawati ’17 As One to Watch
Grade 12 student Quinn Ngawati – who earned himself a rugby league contract recently – is featured in the Ottawa Citizen
SMUS in the News: Ann Makosinski ’15 Named to Forbes 30 Under 30
Ann Makosinski '15, founder of Makotronics Entreprises, is named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 List
SMUS in the News: Jamison Schulz-Franco ’17 Leads the Way on Field and Court
Grade 12 student Jamison Schulz-Franco is featured on Chek News in the lead-up to the inaugural Passion Sports UVic Alumni Basketball Tournament
SMUS in the News: Quinn Ngawati ’17 Earns Pro Rugby League Deal
Grade 12 athlete Quinn Ngawati recently earned himself a contract to play rugby with the Toronto Wolfpack, Canada's newest pro rugby team
SMUS in the News: Quinn Ngawati ’17 Chasing English Rugby League Dream
December 17, 2016
The Province
Quinn Ngawati '17
Victoria teen Quinn Ngawati chasing English rugby league dream
Dream Big Stories: Rev. Keven Fletcher
Rev. Keven Fletcher talks about how SMUS's annual Dream Big fund has a direct impact on the education students receive – in this case character education
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Shona Lazin
Kindergarten teacher Ms. Shona Lazin is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
Putting the “Service” in Christmas Carol Service
Our annual Christmas Carol Service brings the community together for a beautiful evening of music and student reflections
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Sarah Beeston
Ms. Sarah Beeston, a SMUS alumnus, is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
GALLERY: SMUS Community Comes Together for Christmas
Students and staff gathered together to celebrate Christmas, sing some carols, have some laughs and enjoy the holiday season
SMUS in the News: Singer Anj Djearam ’23 Wins Conservatory Gold
December 1, 2016
Peninsula News Review
Anj Djearam '23
North Saanich girl gets gold medal from Royal Conservatory of Music
(photo courtesy of Peninsula News Review)
SMUS in the News: Quinn Ngawati ’17 Selected as Finalist for Pro Rugby Team
Grade 12 student Quinn Ngawati has been selected as a finalist to play for the Toronto Wolfpack, a new pro rugby team
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Mike Danskin
Middle School teacher – and SMUS lifer – Mr. Mike Danskin is highlighted in this week's Teacher Feature
Grade 4 String Musicians Make Their Public Debut
After just three months of learning music, our talented young strings musicians took the stage this week and showed off their skills
SMUS in the News: Jasper Johnston ’16 Shares 100 Days of Harvard
Jasper Johnston '16 has taken to Instagram using the moniker @100DaysofHarvard to visually document his first 100 days at the university
Grade 10 Students Reflect on Experiential Opportunities
Three students write about their experiences so far in the unique Grade 10 experiential program
SMUS in the News: Blue Jags Take AA Soccer Title
The Senior boys soccer team's provincial AA victory is covered in the Times Colonist and Saanich News
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Kevin Cook
Mr. Kevin Cook, our Director of Service, is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
At Home With Boarders Without Borders
Our annual Boarders Without Borders event sees boarding students invited into local homes for a home-cooked meal and an authentic Canadian experience
SMUS in the News: Jake Wilmott ’15 Begins Basketball Journey at Camosun
November 18, 2016
Chek News
Jake Wilmott '15
Local High School Champ begins College basketball Grind
(photo courtesy of Chek News)
Grade 12s Return to Junior School for Lifers Assembly
Our Class of 2017 includes 19 Lifers – students who've been at SMUS since Kindergarten or Grade 1.
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Jennifer Fisher
Junior School strings teacher Ms. Jennifer Fisher is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Senior Boys Punch Ticket to Colonist Cup Final
November 17, 2016
Times Colonist
Senior boys soccer team
SMUS, Reynolds punch tickets to Colonist Cup final
Remembrance Day: Stand in Silence and Remember
The St. Michaels University School community came together on Nov. 10 to mark Remembrance Day
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Nancy Mollenhauer
Middle School teacher Ms. Nancy Mollenhauer is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
WANTED: (Even More) Amazing High School Students
We're well aware of it: The Best School Year Ever® contest is a little corny. But we're OK with that – because we know that this opportunity changes students’ lives.
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Ruth McGhee
Ms. Ruth McGhee is no stranger to the SMUS neighbourhood. She was born and raised in Victoria, and her childhood home was three houses down...
SMUS in the News: Nancy Mollenhauer Inducted into Victoria Sports Hall of Fame
Middle School teacher Nancy Mollenhauer is inducted into the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame.
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Marcelle Kitengie
Junior School teacher Mr. Marcelle Kitengie is highlighted in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
GALLERY (Oct. 22-28): Family Fall Fest, Togas and Motocross Racing!
Across our school in all areas – athletics, academics, arts and more – our students were very busy these past seven days.
SMUS in the News: Inside Steve Nash’s Fútbol Fascination
Sports Illustrated sits down with Steve Nash '92 to chat about his love of soccer
Middle School Lends a Hand and Enjoys Community Service
Our Grade 6-8 students headed into our community this week to engage in meaningful service work as part of our annual Community Service Day
SMUS in the News: Grade 11 Student Tony Liu Fundraising for Our Place
Grade 11 student Tony Liu is organizing a tennis event for October 22 to raise money for Our Place Society
Junior School Runners Cap Off a Great Cross-Country Season
The sound of feet splashing through puddles, the smell of damp grass, the splatter of un-washable mud stains on SMUS sports T-shirts can only...
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Adrian French
Get to know Director of Learning Mr. Adrian French in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Shawn Zhang
Get to know SMUS's newest Middle and Senior School Mandarin teacher, Mr. Shawn Zhang, in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
GALLERY (Oct. 7-14): Seattle Trip, Cross-Country, Sculpting and More!
It was a short school week this week, thanks to the Thanksgiving long weekend.
A large group of boarding students travelled to Seattle for the long weekend to...
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Dave Hlannon
Get to know SMUS's Director of Educational Technology, Mr. Dave Hlannon, in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Tawnya Mullen
Get to know Kindergarten teacher Ms. Tawnya Mullen in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
“There’s No Such Thing as a Born Leader”
At St. Michaels University School, we believe the idea of the born leader is a myth. What we do believe is leadership is a skill all students can learn.
SMUS in the News: Gareth Rees ’85 Meets Prince William… Again
September 27, 2016
Gareth Rees '85
CTV Vancouver Island
BC rugby legend who coached Prince William meets him again
Times Colonist
The coach and his princely protégé
(photo courtesy of...
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Jordan Tessarolo
From studying biochemistry to playing in a professional ultimate frisbee league, get to know Senior School math teacher Mr. Jordan Tessarolo in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
GALLERY (Sept. 19-23): Terry Fox Run, Outdoor Ed, Volleyball and More!
Here are a handful of photos from the week of Sept. 19-23 at St. Michaels University School.
Digital Detox: Why Students Need to Unplug and Go Outdoors
"When we can do a five-day outdoor education trip and build in time away from technology, we're seeing that it’s really valuable for students."
SMUS Teacher Feature: Ms. Crystal Vaughan
Get to know Middle School counsellor Ms. Crystal Vaughan in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
GALLERY: Faces and Fun from the First Week Back at School
Here are a handful of photos from all of the fun events that kicked off the 2016-17 school year
SMUS Teacher Feature: Mr. Eric Donatelli
Get to know physics teacher Mr. Eric Donatelli in this week's SMUS Teacher Feature
SMUS in the News: Callum Montgomery ’15 Named Conference USA Player of the Week
September 7, 2016
University of North Carolina
Callum Montgomery '15
Sunol-Rojas and Montgomery Earn C-USA Weekly Honors
6 Tips for New Boarding Students – from Veteran Boarders
The six Grade 12 students elected Heads of our boarding houses offer advice to new boarding students
SMUS in the News: SMUS Rocks Out with Musical Theatre Camp
August 23, 2016
Saanich News
Summer Musical Theatre Academy
SMUS rocks out with musical theatre camp
(photo courtesy of Saanich News)
SMUS in the News: Sailor Max Gallant ’14 is Tokyo Dreaming
August 11, 2016
Oak Bay News
Max Gallant '14
RVYC sailor is Tokyo dreaming
SMUS in the News: Sarah Donald ’90 On Stage at The Belfry
August 10, 2016
Oak Bay News
Sarah Donald '90
Modern motherhood on stage
SMUS in the News: Bruce Kuklinski as Rugby Citing Commissioner for Rio Olympics
August 8, 2016
Bruce Kuklinski
Chek News
Game On! – July 31, 2016 (skip to 8:35)
Saanich News
St. Michaels athletics coach will referee at Olympics
Times Colonist
Victorians play key roles...
SMUS in the News: Geographer Chris Darimont ’92 Researches Coastal Wolves
August 3, 2016
National Geographic
Chris Darimont '92
Meet the rare swimming wolves that eat seafood
(photo courtesy of National Geographic)
SMUS in the News: Film Camp Puts Focus on Kids
July 29, 2016
Saanich News
SMUS's Education Extension: Shoot the Right Stuff
Film camp puts focus on kids
(photo courtesy of Saanich News)
Teacher Bruce Kuklinski Sets His ‘Cites’ on Rio Olympic Rugby
Middle School teacher Bruce Kuklinski heads to Rio de Janeiro to work as a citing commissioner for Olympic rugby sevens games
SMUS in the News: An Excerpt from Steven Price’s Novel ‘By Gaslight’
July 22, 2016
The Globe & Mail
Steven Price '94
Summer Reading: An excerpt from Steven Price's new novel By Gaslight
SMUS in the News: Zoe Lott ’19 and Hampton Little League Heads to Nationals
July 20, 2016
Zoe Lott '19
Times Colonist
Hampton Little League softball stars take aim at national title
Chek News
Hampton girls get set for Canadian Championships
SMUS in the News: Callum Montgomery ’15 Named Highlanders Player of the Year
July 17, 2016
Times Colonist
Callum Montgomery '15
Highlanders finish season with a draw
SMUS in the News: Sarah Hagkull ’16 to Row for University of Tulsa
July 14, 2016
University of Tulsa
Sarah Hagkull '16
Tulsa Rowing Adds Three to 2016-17 Roster
SMUS in the News: Feeding Our Future Program Helps Low-Income Youth in Victoria
July 15, 2016
Sodexo's Feeding Our Future program
Victoria News
Program helps feed youth from low-income families in Victoria
CTV Vancouver Island
July 14 – CTV News at 6...
SMUS in the News: SMUS Students Win Nanaimo Parklet Contest
July 13, 2016
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC)
Fo Wu and Jasmine Yu '17
Nanaimo parklets leave lasting impact
SMUS in the News: Singer/Songwriter Fintan O’Brien Raising Money for Youth Arts Camp
July 14, 2016
Victoria News
Fintan O'Brien '14
Young singer/songwriter raising funds for music camp
SMUS Goes Greek
Earlier this summer, a group of Grade 8 (soon-to-be Grade 9) students headed around the world to visit Greece. The students were all members of...
The Graduating Class of 2016
Congratulations to the Class of 2016.
We are proud to add 151 names to the ever-growing list of SMUS alumni, as the graduating class officially...
2016 Middle School Closing Ceremonies
The annual Middle School Closing Ceremonies is a highlight of the school year – albeit held on the very last day of the year...
2016 Senior School Closing Ceremonies
On Friday afternoon, the Senior School Closing Ceremonies were held, marking the official end of the school year for the Grade 9-11 students. Among...
2016 Junior School Closing Ceremonies
For the youngest at our school, summer vacation started Thursday after each of the Kindergarten to Grade 5 students proudly crossed the stage, waved to...
SMUS in the News: Sean Lider ’16 is a Giving Grad
June 14, 2016
Saanich News
Sean Lider '16
Giving grad
SMUS in the News: Ryan Hindson ’17 a Standout in B.C. High School Basketball
June 10, 2016
Yukon News
Ryan Hindson '17
Whitehorse’s Ryan Hindson a standout in B.C. high school basketball
Innovation Hour is “Personalized Learning at Its Best”
What is your passion? Every student at SMUS has a different answer to that question. For some their passion lies somewhere in the realm of arts or...
Reflections from the Outgoing Head Girl and Head Boy
This week, our graduating Head Girl (Sarah Jones) and Head Boy (Jasper Johnston) led their final assembly and passed the Prefect Council torch on...
SMUS in the News: Callum Montgomery ’15 Anchors the Victoria Highlanders
June 10, 2016
Times Colonist
Callum Montgomery '15
Highlanders hope to stymie front-running Foothills FC
SMUS in the News: Grade 4 Students Explore the ‘Emerald Forest’
June 8, 2016
CTV Vancouver Island
Fish Eye Project presents The Emerald Forest (clip starts at 20:20)
SMUS in the News: Grade 11 Students Have Designs on Parklet Competition
June 8, 2016
Saanich News
Fo Wu and Jasmine Yu '17
St. Michaels students have designs on parklet competition
Grade 5 Opera “Die Fledermaus” Hits the McPherson Stage
The story of Die Fledermaus can be a bit confusing, so to prepare you for the Grade 5 opera (running Thursday and Friday at...
Experiential Learning: Was Mr. Buckingham Murdered?
Was it Mr. Jackson in the lunch room with the knife? Or was it Professor Plum in the laboratory with the lead pipe?
It's early Monday...
SMUS in the News: Blue Jags Repeat as Provincial AA Rugby Champions
May 28, 2016
The Province
1st XV Rugby
B.C. High School rugby results
Grade 3 Students Become Poetry Pros
Poetry, as the Grade 3 students in Mr. Brandon Hawes' class have learned this term, is much more than just putting pen to paper. There's the...
SMUS in the News: Small Voices Tackle Big Show (Grade 5 Opera)
May 26, 2016
Monday Magazine
Grade 5 Opera "Die Fledermaus"
Small voices tackle big show (p. 31)
https://issuu.com/blackpress/docs/i20160526074301142/31
Athletics Week in Review: May 19
Some major hardware was up for grabs on a number of fronts, as local playoff action finished in advance of the Island and provincial championships.
Golf
At...
Walk for Water Promotes Global Awareness at the Junior School
"If I suddenly said you couldn't drink the tap water, you couldn’t get any clean water, does anybody know where you would go for...
SMUS in the News: Travel App Puts Designer Oliver Brooks ’10 on Global Map
May 17, 2016
Times Colonist
Oliver Brooks '10
Travel app puts local designer on global map
SMUS in the News: Ryan Totz ’16 Wins Four-Year Scholarship to UNC Chapel Hill
May 17, 2016
Saanich News
Ryan Totz '16
St. Michaels student wins prestigious scholarship
SMUS in the News: Blue Jags find a way to Island soccer gold
May 18, 2016
Times Colonist
Senior girls soccer
SMUS Blue Jags find a way to Island soccer gold
French Speakers Head Downtown for The Amazing Race
French students at the Middle School are learning about places, towns and how to effectively navigate a city using directions, so what better way to...
Grade 4 Students Try Their Hand at 3D Printing
The mechanical buzz of the 3D printer moving back and forth is what first catches their attention. Then once the students see (and learn...
Grade 9 Outdoor Trips are a “Challenging” Way to Push Yourself
Last week, all of our Grade 9 students headed out to various corners of the province to participate in outdoor trips that pushed them out...
SMUS in the News: Blue Jags blast Barbs in Howard Russell Cup
May 13, 2016
Times Colonist
1st XV Rugby
Blue Jags blast Barbs in Howard Russell Cup
SMUS in the News: Victoria Teacher Works with Disney Illustrator to Create Children’s Book
May 8, 2016
CBC News
Teacher Dorothy Hawes
Ogopogo Odyssey': Victoria teacher works with Disney illustrator to create children's book
Teacher Dorothy Hawes’ Children’s Book Comes Full Circle at SMUS
If it hadn't been for a couple "serendipitous" moments courtesy of St. Michaels University School, English teacher Dorothy Hawes likely wouldn't be celebrating the launch of her children's...
Grade 6 Students Look to Solve Issues of Urbanization
As part of their City 2020 final project, Grade 6 Humanities students were presented with a driving question: “As urban planners, how can we...
Celebrating 10 Years Since Grade 5 Opera Debut
It's been a decade since 11-year-old Lindon Carter stood onstage at the McPherson Playhouse in SMUS's first-ever Grade 5 opera, Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus.
"That was a...
SMUS in the News: Kosovo Duty Highlights Decades-Long Career for Rick Anthony
May 2, 2016
Oak Bay News
Rick Anthony '81
Kosovo duty highlights decades-long career
Grade 7 Students Perform Shakespeare in the Park
The 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death was an appropriate backdrop for the Humanities 7 students to bring the magic of The Bard's words...
Eggs-periential Learning 2.0: Ducklings Hatch at the Junior School
On the heels of the recent exciting news that our Grade 2 classes successfully hatched a trio of baby chicks, we're proud to announce...
Alumni Weekend is a Celebration for the Whole Community
Don't be fooled by the name – Alumni Weekend is a celebration of (and for) our entire community, not just students who've graduated already.
Alumni Weekend is...
SMUS in the News: Documentarian Focuses Project on University School ‘Old Boy’
March 9, 2016
Delta Optimist
Sidney Rich (University School Old Boy)
Delta filmmaker to tell 'Rich' story
Kindergarten Students Learn to Measure with Senior School Buddies
It's always a special occasion when our Junior School students visit the Senior School campus for some hands-on learning, and that was especially true...
Brain Awareness Week: An Active Brain Keeps It Healthy and Well
Our annual Brain Awareness Week – now in its fourth year! – is a time for our community of students, parents and staff to...
Middle School Band Clinics Offer Unique Learning Opportunities
Middle School musicians performed in the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival this week. For many of the Grade 6-8 students it was their first opportunity...
Eggs-periential Learning: Grade 2 Classes Welcome Baby Chicks
Mr. Giggles, Cottonball and Fluffy are the three newest members of our Grade 2 population, after the trio of baby chicks hatched in class Tuesday...
Running Club Highlights Fun Fitness in Non-Competitive Environment
Even before the sun rises, a large group of Junior School students is spending three mornings a week getting a fun fitness session in before classes...
Middle School Artists on Display
Middle School students have spent the last few months putting their creative and artistic talents to work on a variety of projects. Now on...
SMUS in the News: New Documentary Features Dr. Bri Budlovsky ’04
April 8, 2016
Dr. Bri Budlovksy (née Bentzon) '04
Oak Bay News
Doc. features Oak Bay-raised doc
Times Colonist
Former Oak Bay woman now a doctor in hospital reality...
SMUS in the News: Kindergartener Receives Special Community Award
Tate Parker, Kindergarten student
April 1, 2016
CHEK News
Blanket BC Society gives Community Service Award to "Sleeping Bag Tate"
Victoria News
Five-year-old recognized for helping his community
SMUS in the News: Will Barry Wins The Best School Year Ever Contest
CBC News
March 28, 2015
Will Barry, Winner of the 2016-17 BSYE Contest
Rothesay student wins 1 year scholarship at St. Michaels University School in B.C.
SMUS in the News: Could Stewart Butterfield’s Slack Change the Way You Work?
The Guardian
March 25, 2016
Stewart Butterfield '91
Beyond email: could startup Slack change the way you work?
SMUS in the News: Graeme Hyde-Lay ’15 Wins High School Athlete of the Year...
Sport BC
March 14, 2016
Graeme Hyde-Lay '15
Sport BC Announces 2016 Athlete of the Year Awards
(photo courtesy of Sport BC)
SMUS in the News: Delphine Ji ’16 Becomes a Gene Researcher for a Week
Prince George Citizen
March 15, 2016
Delphine Ji '16
Federal grant for mushroom research at UNBC
(photo courtesy of the Prince George Citizen)
SMUS in the News: Blue Jags Will Arrive No. 1 in 2017
The Province
March 16, 2016
2A PRE-SEASON HOOPS: Before their time in 2016, SMUS Blue Jags will arrive No. 1 in ’17
SMUS in the News: Jelena Mrdjenovich ’00 Re-Claims World Featherweight Titles
March 12, 2016
Edmonton Journal
Jelena Mrdjenovich '00
Jelena Mrdjenovich re-claims world featherweight titles with 10-round, unanimous decision over Edith Matthysse
SMUS in the News: Senior Boys Basketball at the 2016 B.C. AA Tournament
March 12 & 13, 2016
The Province
Jags, Cavs to collide for BC 2A hoops title
Epic first-half defence the key to stopping SMUS
SMUS in the News: Mike Fuailefau ’10 at the Inaugural Canada Sevens Rugby Event
Times Colonist
March 14, 2016
Mike Fuailefau '10
Bowl title has Canadian Sevens oozing with confidence
Senior Girls Rugby Team Readies for Spring Debut
While the rugby season doesn't typically get under way until the spring, a group of SMUS students have been on the pitch since early...
Middle School Musicians, Singers Perform “Melodies in March” Concert
As a way to showcase all they've learned so far in their musical education at SMUS, our Middle School music students – choir, band...
Olympic Values, History Celebrated at the Junior School
Grade 5 students at the Junior School, under the leadership and guidance of Mr. Gary Barber, spent the last 10 weeks researching, studying and learning all things Olympic...
Middle Schoolers Make a Lasting Difference on Community Service Day
Last Friday, the entire Middle School spent the day out of the classroom and lent a helping hand in the community. Community Service Day at...
Grade 2 Arctic Studies Culminate in Inuit Games Celebration
All term, the Grade 2 classes have been studying the Arctic and the traditional ways of life of the Inuit people. From lessons on...
SMUS in the News: Lelia Hoube ’17 Reports for the CBC
CBC's Jeun'info C.-B.
March 2, 2016
Lelia Hoube '17
Pour la sauvegarde de la langue squamish (scroll down to the second to last video)
SMUS in the News: Senior Girls Basketball Coach Lindsay Brooke Talks Provincials
Times Colonist
March 2, 2016
Senior girls basketball
Island's top girls basketball teams begin chase for provincial titles
SMUS in the News: Mike Fuailefau ’10 Talks About ‘Unreal’ Canada Sevens Rugby Event
Times Colonist
March 1, 2016
Mike Fuailefau '10
New rugby CEO takes charge of Langford-based Canadian teams
REVIEW: Opening Night of The Phantom of the Opera
The SMUS production of The Phantom of the Opera premiered on Thursday, February 25. The opening night cast starred Ajay Parikh-Friese as the infamous...
Robotics Club Takes Home Lego Trophies After Competition
Remember the days when you would sit in class, anxious to get home so you could keep building your latest Lego creation? Well, now...
Young English Students Become Published Authors
Two Grade 8 students will soon be able to put "published author" on their list of accomplishments, as both were named finalists in Polar...
Behind the Mask: Meet the Phantom of the Opera
Tonight the Senior School production of The Phantom of the Opera debuts to a nearly sold-out crowd at the McPherson Playhouse. For months, students,...
SMUS in the News: The Phantom of the Opera Production
February 24, 2016
Senior School production of The Phantom of the Opera
Saanich News
St. Michaels students stage Phantom of the Opera at McPherson
Shaw TV
(see video above)
Athletics Week in Review: February 24
The hoped-for basketball "dream weekend" never quite materialized, as SMUS suffered a series of close defeats in playoff action.
First, the Senior girls took part...
Students Cram for World Scholar’s Cup Competition
A group of nine Middle School students will test their mettle this weekend as St. Michaels University School participates in the World Scholar's Cup...
Grade 5 Students Connect History and Outdoor Education
Last Thursday, our Grade 5 students went to Mount Doug Park to learn more about First Nations people. Taking them to Mount Doug was...
Phantom Performers: Meet SMUS’s Two Viscount Raouls
The clock is ticking, and we are now less than one week away from the debut of the Senior School musical, The Phantom of...
Phantom Performers: Meet SMUS’s Two Christine Daaés
After months of hard work, long rehearsals and dedication, the Senior School musical production of The Phantom of the Opera debuts at the McPherson...
Valentines and Virtues at the Junior School
Valentine's Day at the Junior School is a wonderful day to highlight friendship and how much we care about one another. So it makes...
French Students Compete in Concours d’Art Oratoire
Months of hard work by nearly 200 French-speaking Middle School students culminated in the first two rounds of the recent Concours d'Art Oratoire. For...
Learning Through Play at the Junior School
A few minutes before sending his Grade 5 class out to play, Mr. Matt Kiel asked them a question: What is the point of play?
Students were...
Higher Learning and Life: A Look at Our Grade 10 Experiential Program
This September the school took a big step forward in offering a Grade 10 experiential program that blends into everyday classes, applies the lessons...
SMUS in the News: Lelia Houbé ’17 Talks Aboriginal Youth Saving Their Language (en...
CBC Radio: Jeun'info
February 4, 2016
Lelia Houbé '19
Lelia talks (in French) about Aboriginal youth trying to save their language
Mia Roberts: Overcoming Injury with Commitment and Leadership
Mia Roberts, like many SMUS athletes, is a multi-sport student; soccer in the spring, field hockey in the fall and basketball in the winter....
Grade 8 Student Brings Harry Potter Magic into the Classroom
The Middle School will soon be transformed into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, thanks to the passion and ingenuity of a Grade 8 student.
Jenna S....
Grade 3s Develop Fine Motor Skills in Quilting Club
Quilting may not necessarily seem like the kind of skill that a 21st-century learner would want to develop. It's a really low-tech and finicky process,...
SMUS in the News: Bhupinder Dulku ’09 Wins Business Competition at World Economic Forum
University of Victoria
January 24, 2016
Bhupinder Dulku '09
MBA team wins Corporate Knights’ Business for a Better World case competition... again!
SMUS in the News: Luke McCloskey ’10 to Make Rugby Sevens Series Debut
Luke McCloskey '10
January 22, 2016
Rugby Canada
McCloskey and Berna set to make Sevens Series Debuts
Times Colonist
McCloskey eager for National Rugby 7s spotlight
SMUS Head Boy Talks “Excellence” at the Junior School
On Friday, SMUS Head Boy Jasper Johnston visited the Junior School and spoke during assembly. He spoke from the heart to the K-5 students...
Grade 8s Ready to Host Inspiring Leadership Conference
Grade 8 students are walking the talk next week, as they put their passion for leadership into action by organizing and hosting a leadership conference...
Young Swimming Club Athletes Dive In To Swim Jamboree
On Monday, the Grade 4 and 5 members of the Junior School swimming club participated in the ISEA Swim Jamboree at Saanich Commonwealth Place. The...
Syrian Refugees Talk Family, Compassion With SMUS Students
by Liza Weymar and Radha Raina, Grade 9 students
Last week in Modern Studies 9, our class had the fortune of meeting two Syrian refugees...
SMUS in the News: Economist Leslie Preston ’95 Talks 2016 Predictions
January 19, 2016
The National on CBC
Leslie Preston '95
Bottom Line | What's Ahead for 2016?
SMUS in the News: Graeme Hyde-Lay ’15 Named Finalist for Athlete of the Year
Sport B.C.
January 19, 2016
Graeme Hyde-Lay '15
Sport B.C. 50th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards Finalists Announced
B.C. Curriculum Changes Reaffirm SMUS’s Technological Vision
by Ms. Maureen Hann, education technology specialist
In December, SMUS students participated in the Hour of Code, a worldwide initiative aimed at introducing school-aged children to...
SMUS in the News: Ann Makosinski ’15 at TedXTeen in London
January 18, 2016
Ann Makosinski '15
Teenage inventor uses TEDx Teen talk to call on young people to ditch their smartphones (The Independent)
Everything You Missed From...
Students Walk All Over Canada to Learn About Country’s History
What is in the humongous black tube? That was the mystery Grade 4 social studies students faced when they returned to SMUS after their winter holiday.
Before...
Exploratory: Freedom to Try Something New Without Being Graded!
Once every couple of days in the Middle School timetable, all students in Grades 6 through 8 step outside of the traditional classroom setting...
Taylor Rankin ’99 Inspires Students to Play Outside of the Box
SMUS alumnus Taylor Rankin and his violin Leroy returned to SMUS this week to work with our Senior School strings students on improvisation and...
SMUS in the News: Bill Greenwell Courtside as Steve Nash ’92 Honoured
December 25, 2015
Cowichan Valley Citizen
Bill Greenwell (former basketball coach), Steve Nash '92
Former coach is courtside as Steve Nash honoured
SMUS in the News: Steve Nash ’92 Named to B.C. Sports Hall of Fame
December 10, 2015
The Province
Steve Nash '92
Making an NBA superstar: The oral history of Steve Nash and SMUS's 1992 B.C. high school hoops championship
SMUS in the News: Ann Makosinski ’15 Comes Home After Busy Semester at UBC
December 12, 2015
The Province
Ann Makosinski '15
Acclaimed UBC student inventor swapping jet-setting life for quiet Victoria family Christmas
SMUS Community Gathers for Fun Christmas Celebration
As with any family, the holiday season just doesn't feel complete unless everyone gathers together for some fun and merriment. And at SMUS, that...
Law 12 Students Head to Court for Mock Trials
by Mr. Bruce Maxwell
The two Grade 12 Law classes participated in mock trials this week. One class experienced firsthand a criminal case, while the other had a civil...
Primary Students Spread Christmas Cheer at Concert
In what is probably the most adorable show of the Christmas season, our Junior School played host this week to two performances of the...
Music, Reflections Bring Christmas Carol Service to Life
Against the backdrop of the majestic Christ Church Cathedral, our annual Christmas Carol Service is a wonderful way for our school community to assemble and get into...
‘Tis the Season for Service Learning at the Junior School
Student leaders at our Junior School are busy like elves, collecting money and items as part of a variety of fundraising drives to make...
Middle School Dojo: Earn a Black Belt in Band Karate
While many people view karate as a martial art, it's rooted in the greater concept of self-improvement on a physical, mental and spiritual level....
SMUS in the News: Ajay Parikh-Friese ’16 Returns to the Belfry Stage in...
Oak Bay News
December 3, 2015
Ajay Parikh-Friese '16
Oak Bay teen returns to the Belfry stage
SMUS in the News: Kindergartener Tate Parker Collecting Sleeping Bags
November 30, 2015
Tate Parker (Kindergarten, Class of 2028)
Victoria Kindergartener collects sleeping bags for homeless (CBC)
Fairfield boy collecting sleeping bags for homeless (Victoria News)
Kindergartener giving away...
Grade 2 Students Learn Real-World Math With Hands-On Lesson
Fifteen or 20 years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find a math teacher who hadn't told their class at some point during a conversation...
Math 10 Students Use Trigonometry to Solve a Crime
A newscaster (very much resembling math teacher Mr. Steve Bates) comes on the television to deliver breaking news.
"At precisely 7:47 this morning, Mr. Andy...
Grade 1 Students Shoot For the Moon by Learning Through Discovery
Whoever first said, "Kids say the darnedest things" must have taught young students. When you're educating kids at that age, what adults consider to be...
Grade 7 and 8 Students Put Strings Skills on Display
One of the most remarkable aspects of a SMUS education is the introduction to music at an early age. Students pick up their first...
Montreal Model UN Symposium Leaves a Lasting Impression
by Tayte Gossling, Grade 10
Last week, 16 SMUS students travelled to Ottawa and Montreal, under the supervision of Mr. Goodman and Ms. Knight, for the...
SMUS in the News: Hedvika Suchankova ’15 Named Squash Player of the Week
Dickinson College Athletics
November 19, 2015
Hedvika Suchankova '15
Suchankova Named Harrow Sports Player of the Week
SMUS in the News: Ann Makosinski Just Keeps on Inventing
Victoria News
November 10, 2015
Ann Makosinski '15
After Google, after graduation, Ann Makosinski just keeps on inventing
SMUS in the News: Senior Boys Soccer Wins Island Title
Times Colonist
November 12, 2015
Blue Jags bag another Island AA boys Soccer title
Blue Jags eye third straight Colonist Cup
Never Forget: Remembrance Day at the Middle and Senior Schools
May 8th of this year marked 100 years since University School founder Capt. Robert Harvey's death as a prisoner of war in a German...
Honour and Remembrance at the Junior School
Heartfelt poetry, recitations, storytelling and music is how our Junior School students honoured Remembrance Day this week. The Tuesday morning service was a touching tribute...
SMUS in the News: Dawit Workie ’13 Guides Dartmouth as Unconventional Flyhalf
The Dartmouth
Nov. 6, 2015
Dawit Workie '13
Dawit Workie guides Big Green as unconventional flyhalf
Grade 5 String Orchestra Performs at Junior School
On Friday morning, Grade 5 students brandished their bows – the musical tool, not the arrow-shooting weapon – to serenade classmates, teachers, parents and grandparents...
New Squash Team Teaches Young Athletes the Spirit of Competition
The squash program at the Middle School expanded this year to give up-and-coming athletes more opportunities to learn and play. For years, Grade 6-8 students have played...
Genius Hour Inspires Students to Explore Their Passions
"We did it! We failed a couple of times but that's OK." That reflective comment, written by a pair of Grade 3 students, is tacked...
‘SMUS Reads’ Event Brings Community Together Around Literacy
At the start of the school year, every Middle School student was gifted a book. And not a math textbook or a dense history...
SMUS in the News: Jessica Harvey ’08 Studying Parrot Populations in Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands Government TV
October 26, 2015
Jessica Harvey '08
Cayman Parrot Survey Spotlight
SMUS in the News: Olivia de Goede ’09 Has Been Great for the UBC...
Vancouver Sun
October 26, 2015
Olivia de Goede '09
de Goede has been great for the T-Birds
We Day Inspires Students to Be Leaders, Difference-Makers
Members of the Middle School Free the Children club returned to campus on Thursday ready to make change. The 27 Grade 8 students (plus a...
Author Visits Brings Reading Excitement to Junior School
by Diana Nason, Junior School teacher/librarian
At the Junior School, we work hard to maintain a culture of reading. This means that reading for pleasure...
SMUS in the News: Mike Pyke Retires from Australian Football
Sydney Swans
October 16, 2015
Mike Pyke '02
Mike Pyke's remarkable career ends
Grade 4 Classes Explore Their World Using Maps
At the Senior School, Ms. Kirsten Davel is well known for her geography expertise and for championing GIS mapping (geographic information system) as a fun and unique...
#SMUSStyle Instagram Contest: Show Us Your Knot-Tying Skills
Our students' return from the Thanksgiving long weekend marks a change in the school's dress code – summer dress is out, and our regular uniforms come back to...
Grade 5 Students Share Insight into Qualities of Leadership
Last week, each of our Grade 5 students bravely stood up in front of the whole school (plus a large crowd of proud parents)...
Middle School Tech Students Get Behind the Wheel of a Race Car
Last week, students participating in the Middle School's technology exploratory visited a very interesting workplace: VRX Advanced Simulators, located in the industrial park by Victoria...
‘We Need Students to Understand the Impact of Politics’
With the federal election less than two weeks away, the SMUS Review asked some of our politics and history teachers to write about why it's important to...
SMUS in the News: Ann Makosinski ’15 Appears on The Tonight Show Again
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
October 6, 2015
Ann Makosinski '15 appears on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (for the second time) to show...
Junior School Virtues Come to Life at Camp Pringle
To help develop some important skills: teamwork, respect, communication and cooperation, Grade 4 and 5 students each recently spent a day at Camp Pringle...
Grade 8 Students Learn at Leadership Camp
Last weekend, six Grade 8 SMUS students (along with Mr. Jackson) travelled to Ontario to participate in the CAIS Middle School Leadership Conference
More than...
Tour de Rock Team Rolls in to SMUS
by Kyle Slavin, SMUS Review blog editor
This week the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team finished their 1,100-km ride down Vancouver Island, but...
Junior School Students Lead Delicious Leadership Initiative
At St. Michaels University School, the leadership program is based on the understanding that every student is a leader and each child is involved...
Junior School Celebrates New Students at Welcoming Assembly
Last Friday, the Junior School ceremoniously welcomed all our new students to the school with an address from Head of School Mr. Bob Snowden,...
Exploratory is All About Your Passions and Trying Something New
The Exploratory program at the Middle School gives students in Grades 6 through 8 a chance to try new things, pursue their passions or...
New Head Girl and Head Boy Aim to Strengthen Cross-Campus Community
We may only be a couple of weeks into school, but some students – Sarah Jones and Jasper Johnston, in particular – have been thinking...
Grade 6 Outdoor Ed Trips Underscore Inclusiveness and Risk-Taking
To start the year on the right foot for our new Middle School students, we sent our Grade 6 classes on Outdoor Education experiences...
Kindergartners Choose What They’re Most Excited About This School Year
Do you remember your first days of Kindergarten? After a day or two of realizing just how awesome it is getting to learn and...
Clubs and Councils are a Great Way to Get Involved
One of best ways to jump in head first at the Senior School is by joining a new club or council; getting involved in something...
SMUS in the News: Steve Nash Set to Enter Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor
Sept. 13, 2015
Northeast Valley News
Steve Nash '92 and coach Ian Hyde-Lay
Steve Nash Set to Enter Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor
Taking ‘Appropriate Risks’ to Make for a Great School Year
When Mr. Andy Rodford (Director of the Senior School) addressed students this week at the opening day assembly, he encouraged students to take "appropriate risks" over...
A Joyful Return to the Junior School
Students were all smiles (okay, a couple of them were a little sad to say bye to mom and dad) to return to the...
Middle School Library Gets Upgrade for 21st-Century Learning
Libraries aren’t what they used to be – just ask Middle School teacher-librarian Ms. Sarah Craig.
“Well, in classic libraries there was no talking, no...
Professional Development: The Teachers Become The Students
Before students come back to campus ready for school, members of our Junior, Middle and Senior School faculty arrived ready and eager to learn....
The SMUS Chapel: Reworking Space for Our Growing Community
More than half a century ago the school community came together to do something extraordinary: build the Chapel.
In the early 1960s, the school –...
‘Band Geeks’ Heads to Victoria Fringe Festival
Students from SMUS and a handful of other Greater Victoria schools returned to class a little earlier than most of their classmates this summer, all for...
SMUS in the News: Nancy Mollenhauer’s Athletic Achievements Recognized at UVic
CHEK News
August 26, 2015
Nancy Mollenhauer
New Walk of Excellence at University of Victoria's Athletics Complex
Grace Thomas Represents Canada at World Squash Tournament
In the world of squash, Nicol David, Ramy Ashour, Raneem El Weleily and Nick Matthew are all household names.
And before each one of them...
SMUS Musician Shines in ‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Symphony Performance
POP QUIZ: Which talented musician performed to a screaming crowd of more than 40,000 British Columbians this past long weekend?
a) Taylor Swift
b) SMUS student Ben...
Student Travellers Return from Service and Culture Trip to Greece
Learning about Greece from a classroom is interesting; learning about the Mediterranean country and its rich history by actually travelling there is unforgettable.
Last school year, Middle...
Sodexo and SMUS Help Feed Hungry Children This Summer
St. Michaels University School and Sodexo, the food service organization that runs Brown Hall, have partnered up once again this summer to fill a hunger gap in Greater...
‘This Has Been The Best School Year Ever!’
Last September, Santiago Mazoy, Alessandra Massa and Silke Kuhn began their school year at St. Michaels University School. The three finalists in our inaugural...
SMUS in the News: Paul Almond’s SMUS-Filmed "Ups and Downs"
June 19, 2015
Times Colonist
Tim Williams '83; Andrew Sabiston '82; Leslie Hope '82; Nick Etheridge '61; Santiago Garcia de Leaniz '82; Colin Skinner (former drama...
Congratulations to the Class of 2015!
An excerpt from a speech by Eva Grant, co-valedictorian
When I was going through the college application process last fall – and can I get...
Senior Students Celebrate School Year’s End
As the school year comes to an end, students and staff alike take the time to think back to September and reflect on all...
Leavers’ Chapel Marks Last Days for Grade 12 Students
Before the Class of 2015 finishes at SMUS, the Grade 12 students were treated to their final chapel service. Weekly chapel is always a...
AP Students Get Behind-The-Scenes Tour of B.C. Legislature
by Olivia Roberts, Grade 11
On June 1, all three AP Comparative Government and Politics classes went on a field trip to visit the British...
2015 Athletic Awards
by Lindsay Brooke, Athletic Director
The 2014-15 school year has simply been the finest ever in SMUS sporting history. Pride of place goes to the athletes and coaches...
Grade 5 Students Grow Out of the Junior School
This year's Grade 5 class enjoyed its final days at the Junior School this week. After spending the school year as the oldest students...
Lifers Look Back on 13 Years at SMUS
September 5, 2002. Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" was sitting atop the charts, kids everywhere were anxiously awaiting the release of the second Harry Potter movie,...
Grade 8 Students Anticipate Life at the Senior School
School is nearly out for the summer at the Middle School. For the Grade 8 students, that means their final days at the Middle...
SMUS in the News: Liz Fenje ’09 Chosen for Pan Am Games Rowing Team
Rowing Canada
June 2, 2015
Liz Fenje '09
Canadian Rowing team nominated for Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games
SMUS in the News: Mike Pyke ’02 Plays 100 AFL Games for Sydney Swans
June 4, 2015
Sydney Morning Herald
Mike Pyke '02
The lucky break Mike Pyke needed to reach 100 AFT games for Sydney
Aspiring Young Fashion Designer Wins National Student Design Contest
For someone who only recently took an active interest in the fashion world, Kiko Wu is very quickly making her talents known.
The Grade 11 student...
Grade 3 Students Embrace Their Inner Poets
Grade 3 students have been learning the basics of writing poetry all term. Each week, as they learn more and more about poetry, they create...
SMUS’s Club Hub: Middle School WEB Leaders
SMUS students have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities that interest them. We offer more than 100 fun and rewarding clubs or councils that provide students...
Weekend Garden Party to Fundraise for All-Girls’ School in Malawi
by Becky Anderson, Director of Leadership
Our school is committed to learning, leading and serving. These themes are woven through all aspects of life at...
Going Around the World with Grade 6 Humanities Students
Grade 6 students took classmates and parents on a trip Around the World in 80 Minutes this week. The annual Humanities project sees students working...
SMUS in the News: Chris Hadfield’s SMUS Chat
Retired astronaut Chris Hadfield's digital visit to SMUS on Monday (May 25) piqued the interest of some of our local media. Two great stories, courtesy of...
12 Graduating SMUS Athletes Moving on to Play at Post-Secondary Level
It's been a banner year so far for SMUS athletes – and the year isn't over! Since the school year started, SMUS has taken...
Astronaut Chris Hadfield Talks Space, Music and Education with SMUS Students
Astronaut Chris Hadfield became the unofficial ambassador of science to the universe in 2013 when he took command of the International Space Station and gained international attention...
Museum Trip Makes First Nations Lessons Come Alive
The Royal BC Museum, right in our own backyard, is a treasure trove of our province's rich history and a great educational resource. That is why...
SMUS’s Club Hub: Prefect Assembly
SMUS students have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities that interest them. We offer more than 100 fun and rewarding clubs or councils that provide students...
19 SMUS Grads Earn Dogwood Scholarship for Extra-Curricular Excellence
Nineteen Grade 12 students were recently announced as recipients of a $1,000 Dogwood District Award, recognizing their excellence in non-academic work.
The awards, which recognize achievement...
Middle School Donations Help Educate Youth Halfway Around the World
A library, like a yard, sometimes needs a good weeding (but for very different reasons). Unlike unwanted garden trimmings though, books that are no longer...
Building Sweet Friendships on Service Outings to Care Home
by Kathleen Cook, Assistant Director of the Junior School
As a part of a school-wide commitment to external community service for all the students at...
Students Deliver at French, English Public Speaking Competitions
Trophy shelves are a little heavier this month for a number of talented SMUS students who spoke their way to a fantastic finish at...
SMUS’s Club Hub: 30 Hour Famine Club
SMUS students have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities that interest them. We offer more than 100 fun and rewarding clubs or councils that provide students...
Grade 12 Student Composes a Personal SMUS Musical Journey
The journey that is high school is unique and very personal for every student. Most don't express that full experience in a public forum; offering up something tangible that...
Junior School Celebrates Being Environmentally Friendly
Kindergarten and Grade 5 classes are trying to make the world a little greener by drawing environmentally friendly messages on Thrifty Foods paper grocery bags....
SMUS in the News: Luke McCloskey ’10
Rugby Canada
May 7, 2015
Luke McCloskey '10
University All-Stars announced for Langford Sevens
SMUS Students Sell Prayer Flags to Raise Money for Nepal
Grade 8 students Georgia Haydock, left, and Anna Considine hang handmade prayer flags in the lobby of the Middle School.
If there's one thing that...
SMUS in the News: Brian Im, Kieran Large and Callum Montgomery ’15
Times Colonist
May 3, 2015
Brian Im '15, Kieran Large '15, Callum Montgomery '15
New dawn for Highlanders
SMUS in the News: Chris Considine ’70
Calgary Herald
April 29, 2015
Chris Considine '70
Consul general of Nepal worries about rescue efforts amid heavy rain
Donate to the relief efforts in Nepal by visiting...
Young Artists Put Works on Display at ISA Art Show
SMUS students in Kindergarten to Grade 8 hung their hard work and dedication for all to see, at an art show last weekend hosted...
SMUS’s Club Hub: Photo Club
SMUS students have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities that interest them. We offer more than 100 fun and rewarding clubs or councils that provide students...
Relive Your Glory Years at Alumni Weekend
by Jason Penaluna '91, SMUS Alumni Association trustee
We are just one day away from the kick-off to Alumni Weekend 2015 (May 1-2)! SMUS is so excited to...
Middle School Explorers Set Out For Weekend Camp Experience
by Matthew, Grade 8
I love cities. I admire places such as Hong Kong and New York for their pace, skyscrapers and for how urban...
Spring Break Service Trip: China/Vietnam – Part II
by Lucas Simpson, Grade 10
After a ferry ride, several bus rides, a 13.5-hour flight, another two-hour flight, and hours of layovers, we finally arrived...
SMUS in the News: Lynn Lyons’ Brain Awareness Week Talk at SMUS
Times Colonist
April 25, 2015
Let kids feel uncertainty, learn to solve problems, author says
Watch the full video of Lynn Lyons' talk at SMUS on SMUStube.
SMUS in the News: Kieran Large ’15
Kelowna Now
April 25, 2015
Kieran Large '15
UBC-Okanagan Heat score Victoria midfielder for upcoming soccer season
SMUS in the News: Andrew Sabiston ’82 and Timothy Williams ‘ 83
Times Colonist
April 25, 2015
Andrew Sabiston '82 and Tim Williams '83
Victoria pair's Napoleon going to New York
Kindergarten Students Lead Their Parents Around School
Kindergarten students were all excited to take their parents around the school this week, demonstrating to them what they've learned this year and showing off some wonderful...
Badminton Players Have a Smashing Good Time
by George Floyd, coach
Badminton season for Middle School started on the first day of classes right after our Spring Break. Drawing on a pool...
SMUS’s Club Hub: Sustainability and Outdoor Council
SMUS students have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities that interest them. We offer more than 100 fun and rewarding clubs or councils that provide students...
Cross-Campus Strings Show Highlights Musicians of All Ages
by Darin Steinkey
Some people are surprised to hear that SMUS students begin learning to play stringed instruments in Grade 4. The real surprise, to...
Grade 12 Student Uses Science Fair Project to Offer a Helping Hand
As 3D printers grow in availability around the world, so too will affordable 3D-printed products. And one of the more innovative and life-changing devices that makers...
Spring Break Service Trip: China/Vietnam – Part I
This week, Sara Owen-Flood and Derry Li each wrote about their Spring Break trip for a Model UN Conference in China; and for a week-long service opportunity at...
SMUS in the News: Jason Scully and Graeme Hyde-Lay ’15
University of Victoria Vikes
April 16, 2015
Graeme Hyde-Lay '15, Jason Scully '15
Top Island recruits to bolster Vikes men's basketball for 2015-16
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Times Colonist
April 19, 2015
Jason Scully...
SMUS in the News: A Conversation With Stewart Butterfield
The New York Times
April 16, 2015
Stewart Butterfield '91
Is Slack really worth $2.8 billion? A conversation with Stewart Butterfield
Brain Awareness Week: Junior School Inquiries
Junior School students spent Brain Awareness Week learning about the brain during daily assemblies and through in-class inquiries. Our youngest students are full of great...
Brain Awareness Week: Middle School Learns About Brain Injuries
A visit from UVic's Let's Talk Science outreach team was one of the big highlights of Brain Awareness Week at the Middle School. Not...
Brain Awareness Week: Staying Stress-Free at the Senior School
Brain Awareness Week at the Senior School is always fun and educational, with lots of activities to do and see. From terrific and insightful...
Spring Break Service Trip: Mexico
by Christian Okiring, Grade 10
A service trip is an opportunity to discover something about the world and about yourself. My service trip to San...
SMUS’s Club Hub: Reach for the Top
SMUS students have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities that interest them. We offer more than 100 fun and rewarding clubs or councils that provide students...
Brain Awareness Week: Moving Bodies, Active Brains
by Tanya de Hoog, Junior School program specialist
On Tuesday, Junior School teaching faculty welcomed guest speaker Colleen Politano, a highly respected and longtime Victoria...
SMUS in the News: Ann Makosinski’s Latest Invention
Global BC
April 11, 2015
Ann Makosinski '15
Saanich teen's newest invention can use hot coffee to power devices
SMUS in the News: Nicole Bunyan ’11; Jeremy Bagshaw ’10
Princeton Tigers
April 7, 2015
Nicole Bunyan '11 (squash)
Princeton Claims National Best Five All-Americas, Including 1st Team Trio
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Times Colonist and Saanich News
April 4, 2015
Jeremy Bagshaw '10...
Spring Break Service Trip: Kenya
by Amy Bodine, Grade 12
Author Pat Conroy wrote: “Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again...
Middle School Students Gain Worldly Views at Model UN
Do you know what the German government's stance on drone use is? What about Finland's? Or the Philippines'? If you're curious, just ask the...
Blue Jags Lose the Boot to Oak Bay in Tight Rugby Match
In what will go down as one of the most exciting games in Boot Game history, Oak Bay roared back from a large deficit to...
Back to School, Back to Learning the Virtues: Compassion
by Tessa Lloyd, Junior School counsellor
Compassion, according to German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, is the “basis of morality.” If kindness is an act, compassion is...
SMUS in the News: Mike Fuailefau Named to Tokyo 7s Dream Team
The Province
April 5, 2015
Mike Fuailefau '10
Tokyo 7s: Canada upsets New Zealand, rumbles to season-high 4th place finish
SMUS in the News: Mike Fuailefau and Canada Rugby Team Reaches Semis at Hong...
Times Colonist
March 29, 2015
Mike Fuailefau '10
Canada makes Bowl semis at Hong Kong semis
Student’s Connection to Vanuatu Strengthened By Natural Disaster
It was just last summer that Grade 9 student Finn Goodyear and his family were on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu. There, they stayed...
SMUS’s Club Hub: Math Challengers
SMUS students have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities that interest them. We offer more than 100 fun and rewarding clubs or councils that provide students...
The Wizard of Oz Comes to a Close
It took a lot of brains, heart and courage from everyone involved to stage such a big production, and after more than half a year of...
SMUS Students Earn Perfect Scores on Advanced Placement Exams
Grade 12 student Nick Scholz and 2014 grad Jennifer Park achieved something quite rare last year.
The two students are among only 285 in the world to...
Model UN Competitions Are Fun and Rewarding Experiences
by Jonathan Mostovoy, Grade 12
Last weekend I attended the Canadian High School Model United Nations (CAHSMUN) in downtown Vancouver. Being a veteran at these types...
Grade 4 Students Teach Mindfulness at the Senior School
by Ms. Heather Sandquist
Mindfulness has become an integral part of many of the classes at the Junior School. A number of teachers incorporate various...
SMUS in the News: Slack, the App That May Finally Sink Email
New York Times
March 11, 2015
Stewart Butterfield '91
Slack, the Office Messaging App That May Finally Sink Email
Talented SMUS Athlete Represents BC at Canada Winter Games
by Grace Thomas
Competing in the 2015 Canada Winter Games was one of the best experiences of my life.
I started playing squash about five years ago....
Students Make Meaningful Connections to Local Charities
A trio of students earned $5,000 for the Bridges for Women Society last week as part of a service project in their Planning 10...
Junior School Students Demonstrate Their Learning in a Personal Way
by Nancy Richards, Director of the Junior School
During the final two weeks of Term Two each year, Junior School students turn the traditional parent...
Best School Year Ever: And the Winner is…
It happened again. SMUS launched its second Best School Year Ever contest in October 2014 with the tagline: "Wanted: One amazing high school student." What...
Dancing Down the Yellow Brick Road
The Middle School's three-night musical, The Wizard of Oz, kicked off last night in a great and powerful way. Audiences left the McPherson Playhouse...
SMUS’s Club Hub: Buddy Reading Club
SMUS students have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities that interest them. We offer more than 100 fun and rewarding clubs or councils that provide students...
Grade 8 Girls End Basketball Season on High Note
by Coaches Lisa Hyde-Lay and Charles Ford
The SMUS Grade 8 girls basketball team enjoyed a very successful season this year. In the Victoria Middle...
100 Days of Learning and Service at the Junior School
It's been 100 school days since the first bell rang in September at our Junior School. Since that time, our youngest have grown as...
Pink Shirt Day a Big Piece of the Kindness Puzzle at SMUS
It wasn't just the cherry blossoms, blooming flowers and Legally Blonde posters showing off their pink pride this week at SMUS, our students also donned...
SMUS’s Club Hub: Outdoor Leadership
SMUS students have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities that interest them. We offer more than 100 fun and rewarding clubs or councils that provide students...
Beyond the Blonde: Meet SMUS’s Lead Actors
After months of hard work, our Senior School presentation of Legally Blonde: the Musical opens tonight! Students, staff, parents and volunteers have been at it...
Grade 1 and 11 Students Become Fairy Tale Heroes
Once upon a time there lived a group of young princes and princesses learning about fairy tales in their Grade 1 class. Her Royal Highness the...
Hands-On Learning Through Exploration
Our Middle School Exploratory Program is a great way for students to expand their interests; where the thrill of learning something new becomes priority...
SMUS’s Club Hub: Admissions Ambassadors
SMUS students have access to a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities that interest them. We offer more than 100 fun and rewarding clubs or councils that provide students...
Meet the Best School Year Ever Finalists
The SMUS campus has been buzzing with Best School Year Ever chatter for months now. We launched the 2015-16 scholarship contest in late October,...
Beyond the Blonde: Senior School Musical Behind the Scenes
by Kyus Hicks, Grade 12
Since watching Guys and Dolls while visiting the school in Grade 9, I knew that I wanted to be a...
Junior School Students Look Forward to a Musical Experience
After months of practicing dance routines, memorizing song lyrics and skits, and run-throughs of That's Entertainment!, the Junior School is proud to present the...
Young String Musicians Head Over the Rainbow to Oz
Beyond the enchanting story and colourful characters, The Wizard of Oz is perhaps best known for its iconic music. "Over the Rainbow", "We're Off...
Grade 5 Students Rise to the Challenge of Staging a Musical
Putting on a school musical is never just a walk in the park. They're always a lot of fun and very rewarding, whether you're...
From Surviving to Thriving: Grade 8 Students Shine as Leaders
Last Friday, Grade 8 students from Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland descended on SMUS to participate in a unique, student-organized leadership conference, From...
Spreading the Word About the Life-Changing Value of Service Trips
Every week, students attend Chapel for an opportunity to talk about leadership, character and belief. It's also a venue for students to report back...
Senior Boys AA South Islands Basketball Tournament 2015
Thursday, February 19th, 2015
#
Time
Location
Team 1
Score
Team 2
Score
1
5:30 PM
Double Gym
Lambrick Park
92
Gulf Islands
63
Friday, February 20th
#
Time
Location
Team 1
Score
Team 2
Score
2
2:00 PM
Double Gym
SMUS
61
Shawnigan
41
3
3:45 PM
Double Gym
Brentwood
53
Lambrick Park
58
Saturday, February 21st
#
Time
Location
Team 1
Score
Team 2
Score
4
12:30 PM
Double...
Experience the SMUS Community at Open House: February 20
by Paul Leslie, Director of Admissions
The SMUS Open House is an opportunity for families to visit our Junior, Middle and Senior school campuses and get...
Marine Biology and Philanthropy: A Visit to the Vancouver Aquarium
Grade 4 students headed across the water this week for a memorable visit to the Vancouver Aquarium.
This field trip was more than just a...
Middle School is Off to See the Wizard
Follow the yellow brick road from the Middle School and it'll lead you on stage at the McPherson Playhouse, where in just over a...
Squashing the Competition: A Mid-Season Review
by Chris Hanebury, coach
The 2014-15 SMUS squash season started with a number of amazing results. In November, four members of the team traveled to...
Transformed Grade 10 Program Opens Doors to a World of Experiences
On Tuesday, we hosted our Course Information Evening to provide insight and information to parents and students about the programs SMUS has to offer in the coming...
Pitch Perfect: Large Ensembles Concert
If there's one thing that's certain about attending a SMUS concert, it's that your ears are always in for an outstanding auditory smorgasbord. From...
Grade 8 Girls Serve Up Competitive Volleyball Season
by Brady Doland, coach
The Grade 8 girls volleyball season started off swiftly, with 26 girls committing to team try outs. After three tryout sessions, coaches...
Junior School Students Go Crazy for Science!
by Nina Duffus, Grade 2 teacher
It may not be the most common of career paths, but there are now 49 young sleuths at the...
Project-Based Learning: Grade 8 Students Turn Injustice into Service
Hard-working Grade 8 students had a financial incentive to do their best this week, as they became legitimate human rights advocates in an attempt to...
Learning and the Brain: Executive Functions Part III
"It's impossible." "It's too hard." "I want to give up." "I don't think I can do it."
Do any of those sound familiar? All of us,...
SMUS Broadens Its Technological Scope
by Denise Lamarche, Director of Academics
One hour is all it takes to introduce children of all ages to coding and get them excited about...
A New Year, A New Virtue: Purposefulness
by Tessa Lloyd, Junior School counsellor
When we utter the wish “Happy New Year!” are we imagining happiness occurs by luck or by design? One...
Athletics in Review: January 13
Much has occurred on the basketball front since the last Week In Review blog post.
The Junior boys, in the Oak Bay Invitational in December, played extremely...
11-Year-Old Takes Over Junior School as Principal for a Day
If ever Junior School director Nancy Richards needs a day off, she now knows she can put her trust in an 11-year-old to hold...
SMUS Filmmakers Get Red Carpet Treatment at the Victoria Film Festival
What do three SMUS students have in common with world-famous directors Martin Scorsese, Frederick Wiseman and Lone Scherfig? They all have films selected to...
Happy SMUS Year! Looking Back at 2014
As is customary for most people at this time of year, the first days of January is a time for reflection; looking back at the previous 365...
Welcoming Winter with Artwork
The students at the Junior school celebrated winter through their art before they left for winter break!
The Grade 5 students made snowflakes out of...
Young Hearts Help Buy Farm Animals for Christmas
While most Canadians, at some point in their childhood, probably rifled through the Sears Wish Book in search of the perfect Christmas present, the students at...
Primary Students Jingle All The Way Onstage
To cap off the holiday season, our Junior School hosted its annual Primary Christmas Concert this week, much to the delight of proud parents...
Treasured Boarding Experiences are a Hot Commodity
This is the final part in a series of candid blogs written by our 2014-15 Best School Year Ever winners on the Good, the Bad and the Surprising of their boarding...
The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer is Singing Loud for All to Hear
Every family has Christmas traditions. For the SMUS family, our tradition is a very large gathering (everyone from Kindergarten to Grade 12 comes together)...
Middle School Band Students Exude Christmas Cheer
A concert leading up to Christmas doesn't have to simply include traditional holiday music to make it a great show, and our Middle School band students...
A Whale of a Book Sale
by Tanya de Hoog
On Thursday, December 4, Grade 4 students hosted a book sale to raise funds in support of the Adopt a Killer...
How to Win the Best School Year Ever Contest
With the deadline to enter our Best School Year Ever video contest fast approaching, we want to help boost your chances of winning the once-in-a-lifetime...
SMUS in the News: Best School Year Ever
Saanich News
December 6, 2014
Saanich's St. Michaels University School lures top students with unique competition
Carol Service Brings Reflections on the Holiday Season
Our annual Carol Service is a joyous opportunity for members of the SMUS community to gather and reflect on what the holiday season means to...
Grade 4 Musicians Make Live Performance Debut
Playing a stringed, bowed instrument is no cake walk. It takes a lot of practice to get the technique correct, and a lot of...
Boarding Community is Full of Good Surprises
This is the fourth part in a series of candid blogs written by our 2014-15 Best School Year Ever winners on the Good, the Bad and the Surprising of their boarding...
SMUS in the News: SMUS Takes Aim at Another Provincial Basketball Title
Times Colonist
December 2, 2014
SMUS, Lambrick Park take aim another provincial basketball title
Global Issues Are Everyone’s Responsibility
by Livia Newman, Grade 10
One hundred and three students, teachers and parents took time out of their busy schedules last Friday to attend the...
The Challenges of Living as a Boarder
This is the third part in a series of candid blogs written by our 2014-15 Best School Year Ever winners on the Good, the Bad and the Surprising of their boarding...
Small Ensembles: Small on Numbers, Big on Talent
Each year the Small Ensembles Concert, the first major event of the music season, offers students the opportunity to perform in front of an...
Exploratory Camping Trip Leaves Lifelong Memories
by Zyoji Jackson, Middle School teacher
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” – William Shakespeare.
While I cannot assume exactly what Mr. Shakespeare had in...
Grade 5 Students Bow and Pluck to Make Beautiful Music
Even the most famous rock stars get butterflies in their stomachs before they go onstage and put on a memorable show. But when our Grade 5 students...
A Francophone Adaptation of Goldilocks in Outer Space
This week 70 Grade 6 students performed their way into our hearts with a terrific French-only adaptation of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. In...
Building Lasting Friendships is Intrinsic to Boarding Life
This is the second part in a series of candid blogs written by our 2014-15 Best School Year Ever winners on the Good, the Bad and the Surprising of their boarding...
Gold Medal Victory for Senior Boys Soccer Team at Provincials
With ISA, Colonist Cup and Island trophies already on the mantel, the Senior boys soccer team traveled to Burnaby November 17-19 to compete in the BC AA Championship.
A...
Celebrating Basketball with the SMUS Community
The 2014-2015 basketball season gets underway Saturday, November 22 with a Celebration of SMUS Basketball, a full day's worth of games featuring SMUS athletes from...
SMUS Students Recognized for Leadership in Philanthropy
On Tuesday, students from our Junior and Senior Schools were recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals during the National Philanthropy Day Awards ceremony at...
Bonjour, Montréal! Middle School Soccer Competes in Quebec
Words and photos by Xavier Abrioux
A few weeks ago, 15 of our Middle School boys travelled to Montreal to compete in the CAIS U13...
Middle School Choir Joins Victoria Symphony to Remember World Wars
From the balcony of the majestic Royal Theatre, as Maestra Tania Miller conducts her Victoria Symphony on the stage below, the melodic voices of...
A Lesson in Baking, Math and Altruism
The sweet smell of fresh gingerbread cookie dough filled the hallways of our Senior School this week, as Grade 2 students rolled up their...
Vibrant Boarding Community is My Second Family
This is the first part in a series of candid blogs written by our 2014-15 Best School Year Ever winners on the Good, the Bad and the...
SMUS in the News: Steven Price Scores International Book Deal
Times Colonist
November 13, 2014
Steven Price '94
Victoria writer Steven Price scores international book deal
2014 Senior Girls Volleyball Islands Championships
Tournament dates: November 14-15, 2014
SEEDING/POOLS
SEED
TEAM
POOL #
SEED
TEAM
POOL#
1
Ladysmith
A1
2
Brentwood
B1
3
SMUS
A2
4
GNS
B2
5
Kwalikum
A3
6
Woodlands
B3
7
PCS
A4
8
St. Andrews
B4
GAME SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY NOV 14th
Time
Single Gym
RESULT
Featured Court
RESULT
12:00
Ladysmith v PCS
2-0
SMUS v Kwalikum
2-0
1:15
GNS v Woodlands
0-2
Brentwood v St. Andrews
2-0
2:30
Ladysmith v Kwalikum
2-0
PCS v SMUS
1-2
3:45
GNS v St. Andrews
2-1
Brentwood v Woodlands
2-0
5:00
Ladysmith v SMUS
2-0
Kwalikum...
Remembrance Day is a Time for Honouring and Understanding
On Wednesday, our Junior School hosted its annual Remembrance Day service, featuring beautiful songs, evocative poetry and rich storytelling. Every year, our Head of...
Remembrance Day: We Need to Remember
Remembrance Day at SMUS is steeped in tradition as a way to honour those who served our country; those members of our community –...
SMUS in the News: Stewart Butterfield’s Startup Surpasses $1-Billion Valuation
The Globe and Mail
October 31, 2014
Stewart Butterfield '91
Productivity startup surpasses $1-billion valuation
Happy Halloween!
Fuelled by tons of fun activities (and maybe a little bit of candy), Halloween at SMUS is always a great event!
The festivities kicked off...
"Howdy partner!" Barn Dance Strengthens SMUS Community
Barn dances have long been associated with socializing and community-building. And that's no different at SMUS, as our Junior School hosted its annual Barn...
Alumnus Gareth Rees, Teacher Nancy Mollenhauer Enter Halls of Fame
Gareth Rees ’85 made Canadian history last week, becoming the first rugby player ever to be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
The rugby...
SMUS in the News: Steve Nash’s Drive Made Him a Legend
Steve Nash '92
October 24, 2014
ESPN
Steve Nash's drive made him a legend
Chek News
Steve Nash leaves a legacy for Canadian basketball
CTV Vancouver Island
Is Steve Nash's NBA career...
SMUS Distinguished Alumnus: Melissa Sawyer
This week, Melissa Sawyer '94, the recipient of the 2014 SMUS Distinguished Alumnus Award visited the school to speak with students about her life and...
Open House: 10 Good Things about the Junior School
Kathleen Cook, Assistant Director of the Junior School
On Friday, October 24 the Junior School welcomed many visitors to the Open House. As a part...
