Student Life

Sedbergh School strives to educate the whole student.  This means that beyond our excellent academic programmes, our residential program offers a rich, challenging, and fulfilling set of experiences for students.  Life in a small, diverse community helps students develop personal and interpersonal skills like respect, communication, and co-operation.  The wide array of sports, activities, and trips offered at Sedbergh provides multiple opportunities for excitement, challenge, and growth.

See some of the acitvities that Sedbergh students take part in by viewing our Photo Gallery

SEDS vs BERGHS
A long-standing tradition at Sedbergh School has been the division of all students into two opposing teams, the SEDS and the BERGHS.  The intramural team competition concludes with the awarding of the Webster Trophy at Closing Ceremonies.

Each year, returning students remain on their respective teams and new students are assigned to a team.  Points are awarded for team sports as well as individual achievement in sports and academics.  Some of the major events are hockey, rugby, soccer, sports day, Homerun,  the Johannsen Ski Meet, Point-to-Point and Push.  The programme promotes healthy rivalry and school spirit.  It is also a great deal of fun. 

Special Events
There are a number of all-school special events that take place at Sedbergh School each year.  Most of these are long-standing traditions.

• Huts
  Each student spends at least four weekends per year at huts with his or her classmates and teachers.  These planned weekends are compulsory for all students and are a great way to practice self-reliance and independence. 
  
  
• Point-to-Point
  Point-to-Point is an annual cross-country run in which students and staff members run to the four peaks that surround our Valley.  This event is made interesting by the fact that there is no prescribed order for the run and no required route; participants use trails and run through the woods.  Students earn points for their intramural teams (Seds/Berghs) in this event.

• Homerun
  In this monthly cross-country event, students and staff members run a 3 kilometer loop through the forest around High Lake.  While emphasis is placed on effort, each student is timed and earns placement points for his or her intramural team (SEDS/BERGHS).

• Terry Fox 10 kilometer Run
  Every Spetember, students and staff members at Sedbergh School participate in a 10 kilometer run to recognize Terry Fox and raise money for cancer research.  Students are encouraged to do the run as quickly as possible, but participation is the most important part of this event.  The school sends a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society on behalf of the participants.

• Johannsen Ski Meet
  During his incredible lifetime, Herman “Jackrabbit” Smith Johannsen was a friend of Sedbergh School and an inspiration to the school.  When he skied into the valley, classes were cancelled and two days of ski events took place.  To honour Jackrabbit Johannsen and his love of skiing, Sedbergh continues this tradition in a modified form by holding a ski meet for two afternoons each year.  Student competitors challenge themselves and attempt to accumulate enough points in cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and “bushwhacking” events to win the Johannsen Trophy.
  

• Quinchee Night
  In late winter, usually around a full moon, the entire school participates in what has become known as Quinchee Night.  Students and staff members build and prepare a community of snow shelters (quinchees) in which they spend the night.  Quinchee building techniques are carefully explained beforehand and an award is offered to the best (warmest, most efficient, well-sited) snow shelter.

• Canadian Ski Marathon
  Since 1968, Sedbergh School has participated in the Canadian Ski Marathon (CSM).  This is a two-day, 160 kilometer, cross-country ski event which is divided into sections.  The whole school joins in and students and staff members try to ski as many sections as possible.  This is not a race, but rather an individual challenge.  Each student must complete one section per day; almost all students try for many more.  Some of our most experienced skiers manage all ten sections.  While individual pride and a feeling of accomplishment are the greatest rewards for this event, the CSM provides bronze, silver and gold medals in five different age categories.

Sports
The Sedbergh sports programme encourages students to participate in a variety of activities. We reward those students that challenge themselves. Our wide choice of sports activities vary with the seasons and include traditional and outdoor pursuit sports. Students select two sports activities each cycle, one for Monday and Wednesday, the other for Tuesday and Thursday.

Community Service
Sedbergh students try to serve our various communities throughout the year. With the assistance of a staff facilitator, this student-led committee is very active, allowing students to give their time, energy, and in some cases, resources to the surrounding community.

International Travel
Sedbergh School is a member of Round Square, an association of international schools dedicated the the ideals of Internationalism, Democracy. Environment, Adventure, Leadership, Service. Every year the Round Square organization has an international conference, which Sedbergh students attend. Last year, the students went to the conference in India with other students from 60 countries. Students also have the opportunity to go to the United States on hiking trips and other adventures.