The View Team—noun
1: A small group of ambitious, dedicated, and devilishly good looking young writers who exist under the tutelage of the distinguished Mr. Kingstone

2: A group of youth dedicated to the sharing of idea's and observations with both a Shawnigan spin and a wit sharper than Mr. Robertson's suits on a Saturday morning.

Hello and welcome to the View Team's main page, home to everything you ever needed to know about anything that has ever occurred anywhere (or your money back.) For those of you who are not yet entirely aware of what the View Team is/does I'm more than willing to take some time out of my day and explain more fully what we are. While the official description of the View Team does provide a pretty accurate representation of who we are, (devilishly good looking and exceedingly witty young writers/ highly revered English teacher with slightly fascist tendencies and a strange choice of hobbies) it doesn't quite probe into what you really need to know, the meat of the story if you will. The chewy centre to which I refer is comprised of the questions now screaming impatiently in the back of your mind; what we do, why we do it, and how in Zeus's name something this awesome got started.

What We Do And Why We Do It: The View Team was created as an avenue for young writers to explore and expand whatever talent or interests they may have had for the glorious sport that is creative/journalistic writing. The goal was for students to explore these interests through a Shawnigan perspective, serving as an out-of-class writing period/quasi student newspaper/soapbox for rather overopinionated youth. As noble as this all sounds (I assure you that we're a lot nobler than my writing skills—no matter how amazing—ever will be capable of describing) it is also a touch isolationist. What about everybody else? The View team is not only open to those of us on the Monday, Wednesday Fine Art shift, its open to everybody (and I suppose anything) that has any effect on Shawnigan and is willing to take some time to write and submit an article or idea. The point being (and I'll try to be as serious as possible while relaying it) that like any good newspaper, the View Team is meant to reflect the lives of those who read it, and while we're here to provide consistent additions to the paper, the goal of the paper is to portray your points of view, not just mine. - Kevin I.

The View Team would like to hear from readers and is happy to consider submissions from students, staff, and parents.

Official Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by The View Team (and occasional guest writers) do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the students and/or staff at Shawnigan Lake School.

For comments/suggestions, or to submit an article for consideration, email view@sls.bc.ca.

(Click on the links to read full articles below)

SPRING 2008 EDITION-------------------------------

February Love — With Valentine's Day fast receding, I can still only think of the Haddaway lyrics, "What is love?" A very simple question with a complex answer, the odds are that few of us know and fewer of us are searching. . . ..click to read more

Yodleodleodle — Glancing at the calendar, I distrust the numbers. Double digits in October! No Way! Non-Sequiter, you lie! I have given up ripping off the cute and mentally warping papers on my daily calendar, and so it is in fact January. Thrown off by my forgetfulness and inability to fully comprehend the satire of these cartoons, I am stunned that it is already 2008- a leap year in the Gregorian calendar and the year of the rat. . . ..click to read more

My Favourite Movie — What movie has had the largest in my life you ask? Well…that could be answered with several different selections depending on how you want to define impact: life changing? uplifting? motivational? . . ..click to read more

In Transition — We have come to cherish the rain that falls only during sport or, in the case of the summer months, only during the available tanning times. We have grown to relish the thought of a day with only three classes. . . ..click to read more

Rain — I don't think there is anything I hate more than rain. To me rain is the root of all evil; it's wet, it's cold and it has a mysterious ability to make anyone around it feel tired, miserable and
cranky. . . ..click to read more

January Time Warp — It is January, and nobody noticed. I feel like I am living in a time warp. Except, unlike the typical time warps, things are actually going in my favor. My fortune reads, "No obstacles will stand in the way of your success this month." I am obliged to believe it. I am unhindered by the obstacles, only challenges. Yes, things are going right, swell some would say. However, as quickly as I get in one of these flighty and optimistic moods, I remember to glance at "this day in history." . . . ..click to read more

Four Seasons: Winter — Back from Christmas break, the student body faces the hardest time of the year to stay positive. It is still bitterly cold, and day and night blend into one as Nature experiments with the shades of grey. Now and then the sky breaks out in rain, and, even rarer, will give a few blessed moments of sun. Fortunately, The Administration has noticed this, and has almost found the cure to this seasonal depression. . . ..click to read more

Rowing: Some Terminology Defined — Rowing: Technically the act of propelling a boat over a body of water by means of applying force to with an oar. In reality: Purest Heaven and Purest
Hell. . . ..click to read more

FALL 2007 EDITION-------------------------------

Welcome — Welcome to Shawnigan, where everyone knows your name. Or if they don't, they soon will. Whether you make it known through rugby, musical, your math mark, or any of the other endless ways Shawnigan has to offer, everyone here will have something to attach to your name. Don't let this get you nervous or obsessed with your image: be yourself. . . . click to read more

Day in the Life — I thought we needed a kindness injection. I woke up early to do yoga with my dwarf pal, Coin Finn. He always unleashes kindness. After each yoga session, he embraces his members and wishes me: Have a good day. Namaste. I agree. . . click to read more

Some Advice on Various Topics (poem) — In the eyes of the majority older is equivalent to righter. . . . click to read more

Metacognition: Thinking About Thinking — On dark, stormy nights when I'm cold and lonely in my bed, I often lay back and just think. I find that it is incredibly soothing; being able to explore the depths of my mind is something that I really, truly enjoy. . . . click to read more

Does Anyone Feel the Same? — I don't think I have ever had so much fun. I mean, I don't think I have ever more enjoyed watching a sporting event. At first I was bothered. I had, in fact, been forced to attend the match, half an island away; but soon, I saw no reason to be upset. I mean, how bad is my life? I get forced to watch girls' volleyball, so what? . . . click to read more

Cracking Ice in Pond Hockey (poem) — I am the tea-burned tongue on the night of eternal study. . . . click to read more

Up to the Catch — We were sitting on the water, bobbing like corks from the wake of the passing boats, and quietly looking inwards for some form of anxious relief. All around us boats were whizzing by and there we were, doing absolutely nothing, half-listening to our coxswain give us small words of encouragement . . . click to read more

Unfettered Fozzles of the World Confessed — I have this chair, you see. I don't know if it is appropriate to call it my chair, because it is really more my space, and I don't know if it is right for me to claim a space. In the library, a place I frequent more than most- say, about four to six hours each day, I know, it isn't natural- there is a place I do all my work . . . click to read more

Winter (poem) — Gray makes winter the longest month of the year . . . click to read more

To read Points of View 2006, click here.

To read Points of View 2005, click here.