With the help of a three-year grant from the Federal Government’s Department of Women and Gender Equality Canada, The Circle Education is expanding its Pass it On Boys program to Victoria in the fall. Students of the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry can enroll this September in the evidence-based program that empowers boys and young men to explore masculinity, build healthy relationships, and contribute to a more equal society.
Janine Fernandes-Hayden, executive director of The Circle Education, is excited by the expansion to and partnership with The Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry (PSII). “PSII is known for its innovative approach to learning, encouraging students to think creatively and explore new ideas. We’re excited to learn from them, as well as to expand our reach to help young men develop into confident, compassionate individuals who can make a positive impact in their communities.”
The Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry – founded by former SD64 superintendent Jeff Hopkins – is an inquiry-based high school that supports learning that comes from learners’ interests. “It is not a school where people attend classes and learn things just because teachers are teaching that lesson in that block on that day. It is a place where students come up with questions and, with the help of teachers, they figure out ways to research and explore those questions”, explains co-principal Jessica Asp. “It starts with the student at the center of their learning, as opposed to a teacher deciding on a student’s behalf what they should be learning.”
Asp sees the Pass it On program as a natural complement to PSII’s approach to education. At PSII, learning starts with what matters most: the unique qualities and values that make each student who they are. “Questions that come up for teenagers include: What is my place in the world? How can I be of service to other people? How do I fit into the community? How do I decide what is valuable to me? We see Pass it On as a way of looking at those valued human aspects very directly. It links back to the foundation of what we do here with learners.”
The Pass it On Boys program will be one of the micro-learning environments at PSII, which has a community of around 100 students. “We are excited about creating a dedicated group that gets to collaborate closely throughout the year,” Asp continues. “While we already have groups working together, I believe Pass it On will be different. It will allow learners to form a mini-community, one that is very supportive and will provide a place for participants to talk about or share things that they might not be as comfortable doing in the bigger community of our school. There is something unique to having a safe, caring community for boys. We are all individuals coming from slightly different places, but it is good to know for young people that there is a shared understanding or shared experience. We all need that.”
Pass it On Boys ran in 2024-2025 on Salt Spring Island for the fourth year. It is an after-school program for high school students that supports self-awareness and healthy relationships by creating a safe and trusted space for sharing, learning, and practicing important life skills.
