A Living River of Learning: Cortes Island Academy Showcase 2025-2026

Students at Cortes Island Academy wrapped up the semester by sharing their learning with families and community members during their annual showcase at Mansons Hall.

The event, titled Message in a Bottle, marked the academy’s fourth year of place-based, student-centred learning. Guests were invited to move through the space and experience student work in many forms, including art, writing, film and sound.

Over the semester, students explored big questions about nature, time and responsibility. Their learning was shaped by Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane and A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. Through these texts, students looked closely at how people are connected to the natural world and how stories influence the way we understand our place within it.

For the showcase, Mansons Hall was transformed into a flowing river space. Visitors followed a winding path through the hall, passing student poetry, paintings, clay work and science reflections. Soft lighting, fabric and sound helped create the feeling of moving water.

Along the way, guests listened to student-produced podcasts, watched short films and explored collaborative art displays. One of the evening’s most memorable moments was a live performance where students shared spoken-word reflections on identity, memory and belonging while seated in kayaks and canoes inside the hall.

The showcase gave students a meaningful way to share their learning beyond the classroom. It also gave families and community members a clear sense of how local experiences and real-world issues are woven into the academy’s program.

Looking ahead, Cortes Island Academy is preparing for a new learning focus next year. The upcoming program, Underground Media, will explore hidden networks in nature, culture and communication. Students will study mycelial networks in science, take part in documentary film projects and experiment with art forms such as collage, screen printing and zine-making.

As the academy closes its fourth year, staff expressed their appreciation for the students, families, Elders, mentors, artists and community partners who continue to support the program. Cortes Island Academy remains focused on nurturing curious, creative learners who are deeply connected to their community and the world around them.