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What to consider when trying to find
the right educational fit for your child P6
ENROLMENT INNOVATION More parents are turning to private Why smaller learning institutions Private academies as safety concerns over are well equipped to navigate Schools virus arise at public schools P4 the COVID-19 crisis P2
FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 | GLOBEANDMAIL.COM Usg in technology to enrich the online learning experience
MARJO JOHNE
ing’s College School stu- dents who returned to the Kclassroom this fall found an unfamiliar cylindrical object with owl-like eyes sitting atop their teacher’s desk. “It’s a ‘Meeting Owl’ video-con- ferencing device with a 360-de- gree camera for a panoramic view of the entire classroom, and with asmartboard that displays imag- es of the kids at home,” says Sand- ra Donovan, director of admis- sions at King’s College in Caledon, Ont., northwest of Toronto. “This way everyone can feel connected, wherever they are.” Like many other educators in the country, King’s College turn- ed to technology when COVID-19 forced students to stay home af- ter March break. As they looked at various video-conferencing op- tions, the administrators and teachers at King’s wondered how they could continue to deliver on the school’s promise of enriched, immersive learning. It was a challenge faced by Sacred Heart School of Halifax teacher Meredith Wilson, centre, stands with the school’s head boy, Jaden Lawen, and head girl Amelia many other private schools, Wallworth. The two students gave a speech on the first day of school, to set the tone for a year focused on anti-racism and social justice. which typically teach in settings DARREN CALABRESE/THE GLOBE AND MAIL that provide richer experiences. Some schools, for instance, boast classrooms on farms or in a forest. One school, Class Afloat in Lu- nenburg, N.S., teaches students Staff, students lead the charge aboard a tall ship that sails to about 20 ports in four continents over two semesters. How can even the most sophis- addressing social-justice issues ticated technology match these rich, unique learning environ- ments? Schools aim to improve how they are teaching, discussing anti-racism It can’t, says Tom Lupton, di- rector of teaching and learning at Shawnigan Lake School on Van- couver Island, B.C. That’s why LINDSAY JONES ing on building a more anti-racist commu- school in Maple Ridge, B.C. Grade 11 and 12 educators need to find ways to nity at Sacred Heart School of Halifax – business and management teacher Dan make their technology-enabled part of the societal movement happening Tao initiated a Zoom discussion about di- programs engaging for students t was early June when fury over the po- across the country and in many schools as versity this past spring after seeing hatred who already spend much of their lice killings of George Floyd and people are becoming increasingly more against Asian Canadians and Americans free time in front of a computer Breonna Taylor in the United States aware of systemic racism after the killings related to the novel coronavirus pandem- screen. Iand Chantel Moore in Canada un- of Mr. Floyd, Ms. Taylor and Ms. Moore. ic. Students talked about incidents in the “We got very creative,” says Mr. leashed a wave of vigils and demonstra- Ms. Wilson spearheaded a new anti-rac- community, such as the racist graffiti Lupton, whose boarding school tions in cities across North America. ism committee at school, meeting over scrawled on the side of Vancouver’s Chi- houses students from Grade 8 to In Halifax – a city with the oldest Black Zoom throughout the summer to create a nese Cultural Centre and how to handle 12. population in Canada – hundreds gath- new anti-racist policy, a reading and re- and de-escalate racism. Without the immediate, per- ered in a downtown square for a Black source list for teachers, a new victim- After the killing of Mr. Floyd, Grade 12 sonal connections afforded by in- Lives Matter protest on June 5. centred approach to resolving racial con- student Oliver Gao, who joined the Zoom person classes, teachers held Meredith Wilson, a teacher from Sacred flict, and updated its dress code to allow for discussion, realized a regular social justice their students’ interest by work- Heart School of Halifax, an independent more culturally specific clothing such as club was needed so students could discuss ing new content into their cours- school, was there. As she marched toward do-rags. Black Lives Matter and how to create a es. Mr. Lupton used Google Maps’ the steps of the Halifax Regional Police The committee also decided on an anti- more anti-racist society. “Over the years, street view function to lead a vir- Headquarters, listening to the powerful racist theme for the 2020-21 school year: the general trend has been to not talk tual tour of Venice, Italy, during words of local Black youth activist Kate building an anti-racist culture through di- about [racism] and hope that it goes away, European history class, while MacDonald, something changed in her. versity, equity and inclusion. but through our discussion groups we’ve physical-education teachers set “[MacDonald] said ‘White people can “We’re looking at our own internal bias- realized that that’s the opposite of what we up webcams for exercise and come out here and chant our slogans, take es and doing work around that,” says Ms. should be doing,” he says. “By not doing dance classes. pictures for your Facebook page, but you Wilson, who teaches English as an addi- that we’re not letting vulnerable voices The school also offered extra don’t get to go home and sit on your sofa tional language for Grades 3 through 12. speak up.” activities through a program after this is done,’”Ms. Wilson says. “That “We all have them. It’s uncomfortable … In light of systemic racism in the news called SOUL – short for Shawni- really spoke to me. I was like ‘Oh my gosh, I but it’s just part of what has to be done.” and police killings of Black and Indigenous gan Online Unique Learning. One really need to use my privilege to do some- Discussion about racism and world people, some schools have also already teacher played host to French thing.’” events has also had an impact at Meadow- made changes to the curriculum. cooking classes through Zoom. Since that day, Ms. Wilson began work- ridge School, a not-for-profit independent SOCIAL JUSTICE, P5 TECHNOLOGY, P5
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P2 PRIVATE SCHOOLS G THE GLOBE AND MAIL | FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER 25, 2020
How smaller schools set the stage for innovation
Fresh ideas can find their footing in intimate and progressive classrooms
JULIETTE BAXTER academic growth.” By empowering students to choose what and how they learn, t Unisus, an independent strategies such as responsive school in British Colum- scheduling, which is implement- Abia’s Okanagan Valley, Dr. edatUnisus,canbeexplored.Ital- Tosca Killoran is navigating the lows students to self-direct time ripple effect of the COVID-19 cri- in their schedule to engage in sis. Before the pandemic, the their own passion project, con- school was guided by a philoso- tent or curriculum. phy that includes multigrade and In this context, the teacher’s cross-curriculum teamwork and role fundamentally shifts from access to cutting-edge technolo- being a lecturer to a guide who en- giesincludingaugmentedandvir- courages the student to ask ques- tual realities. tions and discover their personal Today, health and safety proto- interests. cols have forced the senior princi- “Having small classrooms of 14 pal to rework the school’s path to- students is amazing. In that way, ward progress. teachers can track and look at ev- With 126 students from Kinder- ery child’s learning develop- garten to Grade 11, the school, ment,” Dr. Killoran says. which opened its doors in 2018, Summit Micro School person- has swiftly made changes for the alizes education with project- new school year. It put rolling based learning (PBL), a popular casters on tables with plexiglass approach that requires students dividers so students can move to solve a challenge within a real- around a classroom and collabo- world scenario and provides rate. Every grade is encouraged to room for individual growth. The come together and brainstorm George Lucas Educational Foun- outside in a safe and physically dation reports that PBL improves distant manner on the school’s the long-term retention of con- picturesque grounds. tent, helps students perform bet- Within its hands-on entrepre- ter on tests and boosts problem- neurship program, students are Amanda Dervaitis, founder and principal of Summit Micro School, helps students with the editing of their haiku solving, collaboration skills and creating products and services poetry in the school’s outdoor classroom setting in Toronto on Sept. 14. GLENN LOWSON/THE GLOBE AND MAIL attitudes toward learning. that solve community challenges For Ms. Dervaitis, however, per- presented by the pandemic. Dur- based on their skill development. ly and responsively. “We have the sense of agency,” says Ms. Dervai- sonalization and innovation goes ing lockdown, students were It’s a bold strategy that didn’t get agency and autonomy to be really tis. beyond the curriculum of her tasked with a design challenge of approval by stakeholders last nimble. We learn what works and In light of the COVID-19 crisis, one-room school. Summit’s small their own making. The results in- year, however Unisus’s ability to what doesn’t and then develop teaching a sense of leadership and student body means having the cluded masks made with input explore the option is key. our programs from there,” she balance in an uncertain world is capacity to meet the different from local medical and design ex- “We have wiggle room within says. vital. “We have to prioritize well needs of every child and their par- perts, and health and safety vid- regulations to play with ideas and As a result, she can bring fresh being in this whole scenario,” says ents’ hectic lives, whether its facil- eos that were scripted and record- get feedback. Together with our concepts such as futurism into Dr. Joanne Foster, an education itating communication that ac- ed from scratch. student, parent and teacher bod- the curriculum, which Summit is consultant and author of ABCs of commodates a parent’s busy “As Unisus is a small and inde- ies, we can innovate report cards pioneering in an elementary Raising Smarter Kids. “We ulti- schedule or nurturing a commu- pendent school, we have the abil- so that they eventually become school environment. She is col- mately need to focus on resil- nity spirit that she observes many ity to be agile in our school design right for each constituency within laborating with Teach the Future, ience, courage and optimism.” families lack and actively seek. process,” Dr. Killoran says. “From our community,” Dr. Killoran aglobal non-profit organization Asmall student body is also “We’re able to respond to physical space to curriculum, we says. that develops creative and criti- ideal for personalized learning, a what’s going on at a societal and can rapidly prototype solutions Amanda Dervaitis, founder cal-thinking skills to help stu- teaching method supported by personal level. It’s impossible not and be responsive to our commu- and principal of Summit Micro dents shape and envision their fu- the Bill & Melinda Gates Founda- to connect on a personal level. nity’s needs.” School in Toronto, which teaches ture. tion and Chan Zuckerberg Initia- When you connect with a micro For example, the school is cur- Kindergarten through Grade 8, “With all the doom and gloom tive. About the approach, Bill school community, you can al- rently re-examining its report- explains her school’s small pop- and negative messages from Gates writes: “At its best, person- ways find ways to make [our rela- card format. The goal is to place ulation of 25 students allows for media, futurist thinking is prov- alizedlearningdoesn’tjustletstu- tionship] work,” she says. less emphasis on grades and rely new ideas and innovations to be ing to help [young people] devel- dents work at their own pace. It on a student’s self-assessment implemented quickly, responsib- op a more positive outlook and puts them in charge of their own Special to The Globe and Mail
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Aleading independent JK-12 school forgirls.Over$1.7 million availableinfinancial assistance. FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 | THE GLOBE AND MAIL G PRIVATE SCHOOLS P3
Lessons learned from the forced experiment in online education
As9 COVID-1 shut schools, they had to pivot in record time to an unfamiliar way of teaching children. Here’s what they learned
CHRISTINA VARGA Lakefield moved from eight courses at a time to three.
fter Lakefield College School had to close, like everyone else, be- INDIVIDUALIZATION cause of the pandemic, they came “The technology has permitted … the op- Dean Van Doleweerd, right, assistant head of learning at Lakefield College School, speaks to Aup with the idea of offering virtual portunity to greater individualize the ex- a student during orientation week. Mr. Van Doleweerd says schools need to prepare for French cooking classes and other topics for perience for each student,” Mr. Van Dole- another pandemic-related shutdown or even students having to stay home because of the larger community. weerd says. illness or quarantine. SIMON SPIVEY/LAKEFIELD COLLEGE Surprisingly, they found that their own At Calgary French school, slots were students signed up in droves, which made built into the timetable for teachers to “making sure kids had enough personal Calgary, conducted research in May and them realize something: Students were in- have advisory calls with students one on interactions with teachers but were also re- June in two public-school jurisdictions as terested in learning; they were not tired of one, where they discussed issues such as quired to be off-screen each day.” part of a four-year study involving public, Zoom, they just needed some variety, says time management and social-emotional Parents may hear debates about how Catholic and private schools. These two ju- Dean Van Doleweerd, assistant head of management. much synchronous teaching, or live class- risdictions took only a couple of weeks to learning. es, is appropriate compared with asyn- start providing engaging online education With about 40 international students chronous, or recorded, lessons. when schools were closed, compared with CO NSISTENCY unable to start the year in person, the At Calgary French school, teachers are others. The key, she says, is that the school school, near Peterborough, Ont., is still Schools need to be consistent with how recording short demonstration videos of districts provided teachers and students functioning partly in remote mode. they post work and they need to be clear about 10 to 15 minutes, whether for stu- with the technology they required, offered “The private schools pivoted fantastical- with students about their responsibilities, dents staying home because of illness, or teachers extra professional development, ly” to move students online, says educa- Mr. Van Doleweerd says. These are details for review purposes. and while principals supported the teach- tional consultant Elaine Danson, who that get relayed verbally in a face-to-face ers, the school district supported the prin- works with families with children in the class but need to be explicit in an online cipals. public and the private school systems. environment. ASSESSMENT Nicola Camirand, assistant head of Aca- Assessing student progress is a skill the demics at the Calgary French and Interna- staff are still working on, Mr. Van Dole- LESSONS TO TAKE INTO THE FUTURE CO NNECTION tional School, says because the school is weerd says. The school is experimenting Schools need to prepare for another pan- part of international networks, it allowed One of the challenges with remote learn- with different software and consulting demic-related shutdown or even students them to get insights from schools in coun- ing is how to foster connection with others. with other schools. For tests, students are having to stay home because of illness or tries that were further into the pandemic. “We insisted community and co-curricular on Zoom, but “it doesn’t take a genius to quarantine. “We have a parallel remote Here are some key ideas schools learned events continue online,” Mr. Van Dole- figure out there are ways around that.” The schedule that current teachers can default about remote learning. weerd says. school has found more teacher interaction to” if needed, Mr. Van Doleweerd says. This included activities such as soccer with students online gives them a better Longer term, though, “we are all a little skills clinics through Zoom and cooking sense of how students are progressing. Zoomed out … people don’t want to just LESS IS MORE challenges. It also meant students contin- lose some of the good ideas.” Students cannot spend the same amount ued meeting with their advisors online For instance, virtual meetings can allow of time on screens as they can in face-to- and the school also continued assemblies INVEST IN EVERYONE staff, as well as teachers and students, to face classes. Although it varies by age, “40 through webinar software. Sometimes the What many educators echo is the fact that meet when there is less time or space to do minutes of instruction,” is about what stu- solution is as simple as giving students for online learning to work, it is not just the it in person, he says. And the school will dents can handle, Mr. Van Doleweerd says. some free time before a Zoom class starts students who need support. “Teachers continue recording instructions for stu- Then, they need a break. This can be group for “being goofy, having fun, time to giggle need support, parents need support,” Ms. dents to review on their own. work, individual work or one-on-one with each other,” Ms. Camirand says. Danson says. As time has passed, students have be- meetings with teachers. In fact, a recent study in Alberta indi- come more sophisticated in their ability to One change the Calgary French school cates that is the case, regardless of the sys- conduct themselves in a remote-learning LIVE CLASSES VERSUS RECORDED LESSONS made was to have more teachers and pro- tem, either public or private. environment. “Now, there is so much more jects overlap, so that students are learning Balancing live classes over video with re- Sharon Friesen, a professor in the learn- possible,” Mr. Van Doleweerd adds. about different subject areas on one pro- corded lessons that students review on ing sciences department at the Werklund ject. their own, Mr. Van Doleweerd says, means School of Education at the University of Special to The Globe and Mail
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ENTHUSIASTIC INQUIRER citizens
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P4 PRIVATE SCHOOLS G THE GLOBE AND MAIL | FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER 25, 2020
More parents choosing private school for their kids during the pandemic
Institutions that have financial resources and smaller class sizes are in high demand as they can more easily provide physical distancing and other COVID-19 public-health measures
DAINA LAWRENCE “There was a Hebrew School in that space that wasn’t currently being used so there are five class- ven after school started for rooms, a gymnasium that we’ll many students across the use as a multipurpose space, a Ecountry in the first week of mini kitchen and lots of space for September, Stephen Clarke’s our students,” Mr. Clarke says. phone was still ringing with re- Private and independent quests from parents wondering if schools around the country say his school, Armbrae Academy, they have access to these kinds of Ste phen Clarke, head of Armbrae Academy, sits in the new Coburg campus in Halifax on Sept. 15. Mr. Clarke had room. options – such as leasing more says he’s been receiving calls from parents who took their children to public school, but were uncomfortable “We had one call after parents space, providing the latest tech- with what they saw in regards to physical-distancing practices. TED PRITCHARD/THE GLOBE AND MAIL took their kids to public school nology for online learning and and were uncomfortable about funds for extra staff – because of other spaces and socially dis- couver, in-class learning began in in place at Athol Murray College what they experienced [regard- their deeper pockets, compared tance a bit more easily,” Mr. Clar- early September as well, but Jen- of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Sask. ing physical distancing] and with their public-school counter- ke says. nifer Gunasekera, the school’s en- “We have [fewer] students in called to see if we had space,” Mr. parts. Private schools are also not rolment manager, says they had the rooms, we’ve assigned sinks Clarke says. “We [had] only been As well, many of these schools bound by the same board recom- their students involved with on- and showers to these rooms, in school for a day and a half and already had small class sizes, mendations and regulations as line learning only two weeks after there are no buffet lines at meal we had quite a few people inquir- which were well within the pub- the public system, which, in the country’s students were or- times … and all of this has been ing about the programming lic-health guidelines, so they had many provinces, didn’t release dered to stay home. vetted through public health,” here.” an easier time implementing their plans for reopening until a “Resources were easily put on- explains Robert Palmarin, the After schools were ordered to safety protocols for in-class learn- few weeks before schools were line… we set up families and school’s president and director of stay closed indefinitely last ing and physical distancing. All of scheduled to reopen. teachers with the technology education. spring to avoid the spread of the which is attractive to parents who “We did have a lot of interest they needed and by April 1 we But “inquiries are still strong,” COVID-19 virus, Mr. Clarke, head want to see their children back in over the summer because we were able to be fully online,” she says Mr. Palmarin, especially for of school at Armbrae Academy, the classroom but are concerned committed to being open,” ex- explains. the school’s hockey programs. an independent school in Hali- about the continuing pandemic. plains Mr. Clarke. “We didn’t wait Being one of the few schools in Notre Dame has 11 hockey teams fax, came up with a way to keep “I think public schools are in a for the public systems to have our Canada that offer an Internation- and attracts students from all his students far apart when the tough situation as they can’t real- reopening plans, we’ve had them al Baccalaureate program from over the world, but for some, as is school was allowed to reopen. ly grow beyond their spaces, so I up on our website for a couple of Kindergarten to Grade 12, Strat- the case for the school’s Russian Armbrae leased 8,000 square feet think people are looking at inde- months, so I think that drew ford Hall fields many queries students, “they’re having difficul- from a Synagogue down the pendent schools because we have some interest.” from interested families every ty getting out of the country so street. more freedom to expand and find At Stratford Hall School in Van- year and the pandemic hasn’t we’re having to do remote learn- changed that, says Ms. Gunasek- ing with those students until they era. But what has changed in the can get here,” he adds. last six months, “are the ques- All schools are having to adapt tions that we’re being asked by in some way to ensure the health families.” and safety of students, staff and “They want to know about our the general public, but the robust It All safety protocols, distancing and budget of private schools is show- what our online programming ing itself to be a game changer for looks like,” she explains. “And some families. again, having the resources to Back at Armbrae Academy, Mr. Starts physically distance, installing Clarke isn’t sure if his phone will Plexiglass immediately, having continue to ring with calls from all the necessary PPE [personal parents who are looking to make protective equipment] available the jump from public to private Rigt h to staff and students, just allows school, but right now the shift is us to deliver a program that is sat- tangible. isfactory to families.” “There’s no question, we are Some independent and private definitely being approached by Here. schools offer a boarding-school people who, otherwise, wouldn’t option, which adds an extra layer have considered us,” he says. of required physical-distancing Forthe things theylovethe most. measures, such as the protocols Special to The Globe and Mail Andthe things theywant to discover. Forthe things theywant to do. Forthe places theywant to go. Forall thattheywant to become, there’s one placethatwillstart themout on the right foot, and set themoffonalifelongquestoflearning. Andthatplace is right here. It allstarts at St. Clement’s. Come visit us, virtually.
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Fr om the moment agirlenters St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School she begins ajourneyofdiscovery to emerge as an empowereWheredand thriving woman. From Preschool to Grade 12, we support each girl's interests, talents, learning needs and strengths. And, our SignaturePDiscoveryrograms help her discoveraworldof opportunity and the knowledge that makes her aMillie. Visit smls.on.caEmergesto learn about our health and 21 St Clements Avenue safety protocols forthe 2020-2021 school year. MidtownToronto 416483 4835 10 80 Linbrook Road Oakville, ON L6J 2L1 905-845-2386 |smls.on.ca FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 | THE GLOBE AND MAIL G PRIVATE SCHOOLS P5
Te chnology: ‘After COVID, online learning will continue to be part of our offering’
FROM P1
Another SOUL activity, which fo- cused on outdoor pursuits, spurred one student to build a bike trail in the woods. At Neuchatel Junior College, the challenge of virtual learning was complicated by the school’s mandate of getting students to “step outside” by spending their final year of high school in Neu- chatel, Switzerland, where they live with Swiss families and trav- el throughout Europe as part of the curriculum and during inde- pendent-travel weekends. “Experiential learning and building an international per- spective are key cornerstones of our school,” says Deborah Kim- merly, Neuchatel’s managing di- rector of operations. “How do you do that when you’re sudden- ly forced to move your program completely online?” Recognizing the historic sig- nificance of COVID-19, Neuchatel teachers reworked lessons to draw connections between the virtual classroom and the real world. In business and econom- ics class, students learned how COVID-19 was affecting global supply chains. They also learned about Neuchatel alumni at the forefront of COVID-19 research, such as infectious disease expert To m Lupton, director of teaching and learning at Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island, has utilized new tools to keep students engaged, Dr. Allison McGeer at Mount Si- including Google Maps’ street view function to lead a virtual tour of Venice for a European history class. JEN OSBORNE /THE GLOBE AND MAIL nai Hospital in Toronto. Antonio Herrera Despradel, ally good job.” ance, not the technology, that novan at King’s College describes Scotia, whereas prior to COVID, who graduated this past June Mr. Despradel’s praise extends gave this virtual graduation a the past school year. It was a year our families have usually come from Neuchatel, says having dis- to how the school took gradua- true sense of ceremony, Ms. Kim- that saw a King’s art teacher use from within an hour’s drive tinguished guest speakers made tion online. Instead of the tradi- merly says. acamera-equipped drone to give away,” says Ms. Donovan. “We re- virtual classes even more inter- tionally elaborate affair that “Our special guests included students at home an up-close alized that, even after COVID, esting. ends with a reception held on TV host Ron MacLean, Serge Iba- view of his painting technique. It online learning will continue to “We got to talk to Tim Hor- the grounds of a historic man- ca from the Toronto Raptors, Ca- was also when, for the first time, be part of our offering, whether tons’s CEO, a representative of sion, Neuchatel set up a video- van Biggio from the Toronto King’s decided it would start of- it’s to serve families looking for a the TSX Ventures Exchange in conferencing platform that could Blue Jays and Mirande de Pen- fering distance learning as an op- top-notch academic program but Brazil, and someone from the host 400 guests and support cier, an alumna who is now a tion this fall – with the help of can’t find it in their area, or to [United Nations] World Food multimedia and several break- successful director and pro- the Meeting Owl technology – ensure we can provide continui- Programme,” says Mr. Despradel, out rooms where students, fam- ducer,” she recalls. “This year’s alongside its in-class programs. ty for our students in the event who now studies economics at ilies and faculty could mingle graduation was definitely differ- “We now have students from of another pandemic.” Western University in London, virtually. ent – in a positive way.” Bracebridge, North Bay, London Ont. “I think the school did a re- It was the people in attend- Different is also how Ms. Do- [Ont.], Montreal and even Nova Special to The Globe and Mail
Social justice: Halifax Grammar School provides reading list with Adaptive Leaders titles by Black, Indigenous writers FROM P1 Caring At Halifax Grammar School, an the first day of school, to set the independent day school, teachers tone for a year focused on anti- Citizens have gone through implicit bias racism and social justice. training with a social justice pro- Jaden Lawen spoke about try- fessor from Saint Mary’s Universi- ing to help others during bleak ty in Halifax and changed the cur- times and told students about the JK —6 riculum to meet the needs of stu- fundraiser he set up for the Red dents in these changing times, Cross after the deadly explosion says Teresa Woodford, the head of in Beirut this summer. “I was Original the middle school. shocked and I didn’t know what “Weknow they’re going to have to do and so I tried to make the questions and we know that it’s best of it by raising money for Thinkers difficult for them to understand those affected,” says Jaden, who all the issues Black Lives Matter usuallyspendshissummersinLe- and reconciliation are bringing banon, the home country of his forward,” she says. grandparents, if not for the pan- Over the summer, Halifax demic. His fundraiser To Beirut Grammar School provided stu- with Love has raised more than dents a reading list with titles by $90,000 for the Red Cross. Black and Indigenous authors Head girl, Amelia Wallworth, and is incorporating more books spoke about how the pandemic TheMabin School by authors of colour into the cur- and the death of Mr. Floyd has mabin.com riculum, including the novel An- brought forth a year of change. naka by Black Nova Scotian au- The first step, she says, is educa- thor Andre Fenton in Grade 8. tion, and so she is working with Grade 6 history and social stud- teachers and the student council ies classes are also now more in- to look at ways to introduce dis- clusive, focused equally on Mi’k- cussions about racism and in- RSGC. Here, Iam. maq and African Nova Scotian equalities into the classroom. history along with traditional set- “It’s a year where we might not tler perspectives. “We’re not wait- focus as much on the small things ing for someone else to make pol- happening in our lives,” she says. icy for us,” Ms. Woodford says. “We “Instead, [we’re] really focusing do have the freedom to recognize on what’s happening in the world what is going on in the world and and how we can find our place in make changes.” the world and see where we can BackattheSacredHeartSchool make a difference. of Halifax, the head boy and head girl made a speech to students on Special to The Globe and Mail
sporty, helpful,adventurous, co-operative, kind,clever. We asked each boy to describe himself in just six words.
The answers were as diverse and as individual as the school itself; aplace where each boy is challenged and inspired to become the best version of himself.