Apple Distinguished School designation marks a milestone in Victoria
Glenlyon Norfolk School (GNS) in Victoria has been named an Apple Distinguished School for the 2025/26 to 2028/29 term, a distinction that places the independent school among a small group in Western Canada. The recognition reflects a sustained commitment to blending technology with hands-on learning, turning classrooms and field experiences into dynamic laboratories where students build critical skills for an ever-changing world.
GNS is the only school in Greater Victoria and one of just a handful across Western Canada to earn the designation this cycle. The award process is rigorous, involving site visits and an application that highlights how students and teachers integrate Apple technology into innovative teaching and learning workflows.
For Jon Hamlin, GNS’s director of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, the honor underscores the work of staff and students who continually push the boundaries. “We have a really great team here, with creative teachers and supportive administrators who encourage us to push the boundaries. This designation is validation of the work we’ve been doing over the past few years,” he said.
At the heart of GNS’s strategy is a deliberate use of devices—not as endpoints, but as tools that empower inquiry, collaboration and real-world exploration. While iPads and MacBooks are standard in classrooms, the school has designed experiences that move beyond “screens in a row.”
Field-ready learning: from the shoreline to the gym floor
One memorable example came on a field trip to the Sooke shoreline, where students didn’t merely collect seaweed. Armed with tablets, they photographed kelp, matched species against an online encyclopedia, and turned a beach outing into a hands-on science lab. The older project with the Royal BC Museum last year transformed an entire gym floor into a gigantic map of Canada. Tablets facilitated photographing and mapping, drones captured aerial views, and students translated those digital explorations into tangible models they built with their own hands.
Technology as a catalytic tool
Hamlin emphasizes that technology should amplify, not replace, hands-on learning. “We’re not just putting kids in front of devices all day. We’re using the tools outside, in the field, to enhance learning in ways that stick,” he said. The result is a culture where students engineer, explore and explain ideas with both digital precision and physical craft.
Global connections and a community of practice
The Apple Distinguished School designation also ties GNS to a global network of educators who share projects and ideas. Hamlin recalled attending a gathering in Orlando where teachers from around the world exchanged innovations. “It’s not about Apple giving us resources, it’s about being part of a community where we can learn from each other and bring those ideas home,” he said.
The momentum continues to build. A robotics program that began last year has quadrupled in size, while a film course developed in partnership with the Vancouver Film School lets students edit projects on MacBooks and Mac Studio computers. These programs exemplify the school’s philosophy: integrate powerful tools with creative thinking, and you prepare students to become the next generation of changemakers.
A shared mission and collective achievement
Head of School Chad Holtum frames the designation within GNS’s broader mission: to provide exceptional learning experiences that equip students with the skills, knowledge and mindset to thrive in an ever-changing world. With roughly 800 students from kindergarten to Grade 12, the award reflects a collaborative effort across teachers, administrators and students alike. Hamlin sums up the sentiment: “I may be leading some of these initiatives, but none of this would happen without teachers stepping up and trying new things. That’s what makes the difference.”
