Bodwell High School - Review #1

Prep: Every evening we have supervised study at 6:30 . It was mandatory. We all sat on our own separate tables in assigned seats in a big hall, and did our homework or study. We were not allowed to talk or use our phones or anything. Though this sounds really strict, its really good for your schoolwork, and senior year (our last year before our big exams) an awful lot of people start boarding just so that they can do prep. Day boarders (and normal day students) are not allowed up into the dorms.Dorms: We had communal dorms. I liked it because you get to spend a lot of time with your friends. It also teaches you tolerance, because you learn not to judge other people’s habits. There isn't really anywhere to go for alone time, but because everyone is in need of alone time sometimes, everyone’s really understanding and good about it if you just hide under your earphones and ignore them for a while. There are 4 of us in my dorm. Cosiness: We put up pictures and colourful bunting etc in the dorm and make it really homily.Boys: Genders do not ever venture into one another's territories. The boys are not allowed upstairs to the girls’ dorms, and the girls aren't allowed to the boys’ house. This rule is solid, and isn’t broken. I don’t think most people would be comfortable if random guys could just randomly enter our dorms.

I was the school Valedictorian Some of the best things that happened to me in Bodwell are: Immersive learning environment: Bodwell provided an immersive learning environment where I could focus entirely on my education without any distractions. Independent living skills: Bodwell gave the opportunity to develop independent living skills, which became beneficial for their future. Structured daily routine: Bodwell had structured daily routine that helped me develop discipline and time-management skills. Broad range of extracurricular activities

y advice for kids giong to boarding school would be Keep your space clean. This might seem fairly obvious, but if you don't keep your stuff clean, your roommates will hate you. By the way, it is guaranteed that you will have roommates.2: Connect with teachers. Teachers at boarding school are generally available for significant amounts of time outside of class: use this. It isn't a formality when they say "you can come to me for help on Tuesdays." Personally, I liked to go to check in with most of my teachers at least once a week to make sure that everything's good. For example, with my chemistry teacher every Tuesday I gave a short summary of what I learned in class. If I'm wrong, he corrected me and I stayed for longer. Otherwise, I do whatever else I was going to do. I find this very helpful for making sure that I understand the content of the class.Don't do anything stupid Mostly this is drugs.

I had a positive lifetime-changing experience at Bodwell High School. I believe it influenced most if not all of the decisions which ultimately led me to be where I am right now and honestly, I am grateful for that. Had I remained in my home country (Singapore) I would have not met half the potential of the lady I am today. The global friends I made, the dorm staff and not to forget the cafeteria crew really made my transition smooth and seamless. Going to Bodwell High School and meeting different people from different parts of the world really requires one to be willing to turn a new slate in life and mentality for data absorption because if not opportunity and lessons may pass you by as there is just a lot at one's disposal to grasp

Eat healthy. Keep junk at its minimal. There is a lot of Thai food places close to the school and offer healthy options . Try Pho noodles

Bodwell High School academic program follows the curriculum set forth by the BC Ministry of Education and Students who succeed in the program will receive a high school diploma (Dogwood Diploma) issued by the Ministry. The school ran on a trimester system with the third semester being optional for those requiring extra credits. Bodwell High School is a private co-educational boarding school offering grades 8 to 12. The class sizes were pretty small so understanding concepts was easier as a teacher would devote adequate time required per student in order to ensure everyone grasps the concepts. Most teachers had one class they specialized in teaching. The classwork, quizzes and tests prepared me well for my diploma, most of the work was covered in class I had to supplement a bit with personal study time but other than that I excelled in my final diploma examinations.

The athletics program at Bodwell plays a significant role with activities ranging from traditional team sports to individual pursuits like tennis. Students have access to facilities for football, cricket, swimming and more, which promote teamwork and physical fitness.

At Bodwell we were encouraged to explore our interests and talents. Students participated in music bands, drama clubs or art workshops. The school offered opportunities to engage with diverse interests, such as creative writing and language clubs, helping develop communication skills and cultural appreciation. Art exhibitions and theatrical performances are regular events, offering students the chance to showcase their creativity. Bodwell focuses on holistic development ensuring pupils can cultivate their passions, whether in music ensembles or debate teams, enhancing both academic and personal growth.

A lot of extracurriculars are offered at Bodwell High School such that I'm not able to mention all except the ones I was involved in. I'm sure there were well over 20 clubs and teams one could sign up for. I was in the Photography club with Mr. Griffin and it was quite exciting really because we would round all clubs while working. We would attend different clubs and sports events to cover the media.

Dorm life is a successful experience for many students including me. Living without parents is quite maturing. Living up to the standards and value systems imparted by parents independently is a test of maturity. For many adolescence is the testing ground for rules and regulations. I had exposure to others from different backgrounds which sometimes made me question myself about my values. Students were respectful of others. We understood that there are cultural differences among us. We did reserve weekends for socializing.There were house rules. There was a lights out time. Whatever the rules are,we ought to respect them. I learnt to live with others in harmony. I enjoyed decorating my room. Made it a place I want to be in. Obviously, i did this in conjunction with my roommate.

The Cafeteria was big enough to accommodate the whole school in one sitting. There was no preset sitting arrangements, anyone could sit and eat anywhere. Students used the same fob key to scan in meals and various options were available daily, enough to give various choices

Living in the dorm gave me time to take walks in the dog park every night just to wind down. Just a small walk and a small stone-throwing session by the north Vancouver shore overlooking the water would do the trick to resolve some ongoing dilemma. Transit was easily accessible and over the weekend we would get ferried downtown and North Quay. Everything was within reach, all amenities could be accessed within the hour.

To be honest, like any other normal person, I was very scared to move to such a place far away from home with people I had never met in my life. The first week of school was acceptable, my English was not fluent yet and I had to link up mostly with Russian-speaking students. After getting into "trouble" a few times for breaking the English-only Policy that was in play at the time, I decided I had to change a few dynamics. I started hanging out more with non-Russian-speaking students and bit by bit my English got better not to talk about the quality of life too as I had even more companions. I made new friends from around the world, and generally not much stress was ongoing on around as interaction was inevitable. People would talk and help each other where need be.