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Ivy Compass Program

Ivy Compass

Our signature program fosters personal growth, leadership and engaged citizenship through real-life experiences inside and outside the classroom and prepares girls to navigate life with confidence

Our unique Ivy Compass Program, offered from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, goes beyond the BC curriculum by integrating enriched learning opportunities that broaden girls’ horizons and deepen their understanding of the world and their role within it. Ivy Compass fosters curiosity and encourages girls to ask big questions and take purposeful action. 

All aspects of Ivy Compass are thoughtfully integrated into the curriculum across the whole school, putting girls at the centre of their learning by giving them the time, support and opportunities to discover their strengths and to become socially and environmentally responsible leaders. Through Ivy Compass, our girls get involved in the community outside of Crofton House School at an early age so when they graduate, they’re ready to make a difference.

The Journey

Like a compass, the Ivy Compass program has four directions. Each area exposes girls to age-appropriate experiences that guide them on their personal journey.


North

New Horizons

Developing a strong sense of self

East

Environmental Learning

Fostering environmental stewardship

South

Service Learning

Learning through community engagement 

West

World Citizenship

Becoming socially responsible citizens


Learning Beyond the Classroom

Many students participate in our Work Experience Program in Grades 10–12, with support from School staff. For one week, girls get to experience a profession they’re interested in, which helps them make informed decisions about their futures. Students have participated in work placements in a range of industries, from film to business to medical, and many go on to work with reputable organizations like Hootsuite or the BC Cancer Agency. 

Citizenship in Our Community

Throughout Junior School, girls take part in age-appropriate service projects in Vancouver to benefit other children in the wider community. Crofton House students have participated in projects with Canuck Place, UNICEF, the YWCA and local food banks.

Global Exchanges

Crofton House School offers a global exchange program designed to expose students to new perspectives, places and cultures. Girls can participate in fun, challenging and transformative exchanges as they practice independence, decision-making, social adaptability, resilience and courage. Exchanges take place in Australia, New Zealand, and London. 

Unique Experiences

Ivy Days are woven into the year for Grade 8 to 12 students. On these days, time is invested in learning valued by the School such as leadership, citizenship, service to others, and self-awareness and resilience. Students take part in hands-on activities on or off campus, like a Musqueam First Nations blanket exercise (pictured) representing the thousands of Indigenous children across Canada who were unwillingly taken from their homes and families and placed in residential schools.

Environmental Awareness

From Junior Kindergarten, girls are learning in the garden, exploring the Mini Woods and making connections between what they’re learning in the classroom and activities that develop a sense of agency in their community, such as participating in a fundraiser for a roof for a school in Africa or painting the storm drains around the school. 

“Ivy Compass teaches girls to be better citizens. Through volunteering and hands-on activities, like making food for people in need, it shows them that what you do to help has an impact.”

CHS Parent | Senior School