There were plenty of orange shirts in the gymnasium when this Grade 4 class at Herald School played dodge ball on Friday.--NEWS PHOTO SAMANTHA JOHNSON
reporter@medicinehatnews.com
Each year, Herald School approaches Orange Shirt Day in different ways. While last year they held large scale assemblies, this year it has been scaled down with each teacher deciding how best to present the information to students. This has allowed them the flexibility of spreading lessons out over the entire week.
Acting principal Blair Lukacs explained, “Orange Shirt Day is a nice opportunity to point at a day, and there’s the community element to it, (but) the work in the classroom extends across the year. Our teachers this week have been digging in with their classes around story, culture and pieces around Truth and Reconciliation at the developmental or age level of the kids. As teachers become more comfortable pulling stories and resources, they are able to present to their students at the age level that makes sense.”
By approaching the topic at the classroom levels, it allows teachers to focus on individual student’s questions as well as connecting the lessons to the curriculum. “Lots of the social curriculum and humanities pieces tie in really nicely,” stated Lukacs. “Students really connect to the stories.”
The idea is taking large-scale days, such as Sept. 30, and rallying around it.
“The residential school piece is a key part of today, but we know the Truth and Reconciliation Commission would have recommendations for schools that extend across the year.”
Teachers are figuring out how to intentionally embed in lessons those pieces that celebrate culture, recognize injustices of the past and allow students who identify as First Nations, Metis, Inuit opportunities to share their stories, too, which the school is seeing more of. Students are coming to school excited to share what they’ve learned about their culture.
“When the classes were creating their own land acknowledgments,” explained Lukacs, “a little girl with a Cree background wanted to make sure that was included in the acknowledgement, so it was personalized in that way.”
Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation lessons and events were held across the division this week.
Cody Edwards, director of student programming, wrote by email, “As one of our universal goals, Medicine Hat Public School Division is committed to Truth and Reconciliation. We honour Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a time to connect, reflect and reconcile. Our team is proud to deliver this work throughout the year, integrating First Nations, Metis and Inuit teachings into all areas of learning, through presentations about the circle of courage, blanket exercise, residential schools and much more. We learn from the rich FNMI history, stories and cultural teachings to create meaningful educational experiences and a deeper understanding. By wearing an orange shirt we recognize the experience of those who went to residential schools, to honour them, and show a collective commitment to reconcili-action.
“Every child matters.”
