Boarding Program
Students travel from across Vancouver Island, Canada, and the world to join us at St. John’s Academy. Our boarding community is a warm, close-knit family within a family, where students build independence, form lifelong friendships, and truly belong. Guided by dedicated dorm staff who are present, attentive, and genuinely invested in every student in their care, boarding at St. John’s Academy is designed to feel like home.
Our One School philosophy means that boarding students and day students are part of the same community from the very beginning, eating together, competing together, exploring together, and forming the kind of cross-cultural friendships that last long after graduation. Our Pack Partners program was created to bring our day and boarding students closer together outside of school hours, offering boarding students the opportunity to share a meal, family activity, or overnight visit with friends from school with parent and guardian approval.
Living and Learning on Campus
Our boarding facilities are designed to be comfortable and welcoming. Dorms and washrooms are separated by gender, and most students share rooms. Common rooms throughout the residence give students a place to socialize, with kitchen facilities available for snacks and gatherings. Meals are served in our dining hall, bringing the whole boarding community together around the table each day.
Beyond the Classroom
Each weekend, boarding students head off campus for excursions and adventures across Vancouver Island, including nature walks, cultural visits, shopping trips, and evenings out, proving a balanced and active lifestyle. Weekdays include structured study time, athletics, co-curricular activities, and plenty of space for students to make their own choices about how they spend their free time, building their independence and decision-making skills.
A Team That Cares
Every boarding student at St. John’s Academy is supported by a dedicated team of people who know them well. Each dorm is led by a Lead and Assistant Dorm Parent, with one on duty every evening and throughout the weekend, ensuring that students always have a trusted adult nearby. Our Residential Life Coordinator and our boarding staff work in close partnership with academic educators and our student services team to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Learning English
St. John’s Academy provides dedicated programming and support to help international students rapidly acquire English Language skills in an immersive environment, or hone their academic English skills if they are already bilingual. Our International Student Language Academy (ISLA) is a specialized and immersive learning environment with only 15 spaces available worldwide each year. Our admissions team is happy to help families determine which option is the right fit.
Life in Shawnigan Lake
For boarding students, life in Shawnigan Lake means waking up to the water, spending weekends on trails, and being part of a community that is quiet enough to feel safe and vibrant enough to feel full. The area around Shawnigan Lake and nearby Mill Bay offers opportunities for extra curricular activities, including dance studios, a community centre with gymnastics, boxing, and performing arts classes, and is characterized by the easy pace of small-town Vancouver Island life that gives students room to breathe and grow.
When students are ready for a change of scene, options are close at hand. Langford, just a short drive away, offers shopping, dining, and entertainment, making it a go-to destination for weekend outings and errands. Victoria, one of Canada’s most beloved cities, is easily reached for cultural experiences, restaurants, and events. Occasional excursions to Vancouver offer a taste of city life, world-class shopping, and entertainment.