Metis Beach School Healthy Heritage Project

Métis Beach School

Students and community had the opportunity to take part in a workshop geared toward cultural understanding and acceptance of differences through some activities quite non-traditional to the area!

For three days the African percussion teacher, Louise Amyot, came to Metis Beach School to work with students and community members developing new skills and further understanding through documentary film, storytelling, songs and percussion practice.

This turned out to be very successful, and creative. As participants explored different artistic media and aspects of African culture, a positive sense of belonging was generated and positive relationships were bolstered. This is the sort of experience that we find contributing to reducing bullying.

To achieve the goal of acceptance students had the opportunity to learn by engaging themselves in a part of a culture foreign to their own. Students worked with the community members to create different rhythms and provide sounds effects for traditional stories. Aiding to understanding and acceptance of differences.

The community links greatly increased our success. For ten days before and after the activities at the school, Métis-sur-Mer Public Library brought together resources and information about African countries, cultures and the changing political situations in a free exhibition. Students as well as community members, including those who were unable to attend the workshops, were invited to view and discuss.

The success of this intergenerational and community building program was due to the diligent efforts of the partners involved including Louise Amyot who provided the cultural expertise and insight, the seniors who participated and Métis-sur-Mer Public Library. 

Babu the Three-Legged Dog

Babu the Three-Legged Dog

Lisa Howell

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School

Students in Ms. Howell’s class collaborated with a local author to publish a book about a dog named "Babu", who lost a front leg in a car accident. The vision for the project was to write stories about Babu's courage, perseverance and ability to live a completely normal, satisfying life with one less leg. The aim of the project was to connect students to the illustration and publishing process, work with an author from the community and to distribute the book to local schools and community organizations to promote awareness of the "normalcy" of life with a disability.

The students took a trip to visit the farm that the story is set on; students were able to meet the characters in the book, take in the setting and take photographs and begin sketches. The students continued to work on a number of drafts, develop the illustrations, record songs and finally publishing and distributing the book. The project was embedded into English, Ethics and Religious Culture and Arts Education

Students became a part of the book production process, which was a huge success. The classroom looked like an illustration studio, with drafts and text and photos everywhere.

Ms. Howell reflected that “Community Based Service Learning is the way to engage all students. I learned that CBSL projects make the curriculum come alive. When the Quebec Education Program (QEP) talks of kids "identifying" as authors, this project did more than that: they were part of the entire process of book creation”.

You can visit the Babu website here

You can access blurb, the site used to publish the book here


I highly recommend visiting Lisa Howell's class website here

Read more about the process of making of the book here

Stacey's Adventures in Chevery

Stacey's Adventures in Chevery

Netagamiou School

Marguerite Cox

In the small community of Chevery, on Quebec’s Lower North Shore, students in Ms. Cox’s Pre K, Kindergarten and Primary Cycle 1 class created a book about a baby emperor penguin plush toy named Stacey who came to the class looking for adventures. Each student took Stacey home, and took pictures of an adventure with their parents.

The creation of a student-authored book met a need in the community because there is a lack of local literary activities. There is no bookstore and the library is only open sporadically. Ms. Cox felt people need access to books for early-readers and the children need to realize the importance of books and become active in their community.

  
The book of adventures was written in the third person and publishing using blurb.ca.  The project was woven through English and Science and Technology competencies. 

Once completed, a copy of the book will remain in the Netagamiou School/Municipal Library and Centre régional de services aux bibliothèques publiques (C.R.S.B.P.) de la Côte-Nord. Ms. Cox and her students also made a community presentation at the local Salon des Livres in June 2013the classroom, and available for loan to all students in the school library and the Biblioteque Cote Nord. Ms. Cox and her students also made a community presentation at the local Salon des Livres in May 2013.

For more information on the project, click here.

Our Community Map of Beloeil

Our Community Map of Beloeil

Cedar Street Elementary

During the 2012-13 school year, students from Cedar Street Elementary in Beloil, Quebec painted a map of the school community and researched local partners and  historical monuments to make podcasts explaining their role in our community. These podcasts can be downloaded by scanning the QR codes pasted on the map.

The project was woven throughout the Geography, History and Citizenship Education, Français and English classes. The map will be traveling all summer around Beloeil to share information about our partners, including the city of Beloeil.

One student commented “this project helped me understand my neighborhood from a birds-eye view”

You can read more about the project by clicking here.

C is for Coast

C is for Coast Alphabet Book

Harrington Harbour CLC and Mecatina CLC

Starting in January 2013, two teachers from Mecatina CLC and Harrington Harbour CLC, on Quebec’s Lower North Shore began a project inspired by an alphabet book entitled G is for Gaspe.   These two teachers are collaborating with their students and other schools from the Littoral School Board to produce a book entitled C is for Coast.  

The Coast Alphabet Book will show the landmarks, geography and culture that are uniquely found on the Lower North Shore. The book provides youth the opportunity to take the lead in mobilizing their communities to develop a unique and interesting tribute to the region that encapsulates its uniqueness both past and present.

Students from pre-K to Secondary 5 participated in Harrington and Mecatina and at least one class from 8 other French, English and Innu schools in the Littoral School Board took part.  The project was embedded into English, Arts Education Geography, History and Citizenship Education.

This service learning project meets a real community need by increasing pride and visibility of the Lower North Shore locally as well as nationally through a multi media book promotion campaign.

The Coast Alphabet book will not only promote and preserve the heritage and culture for LNS communities, but will be shared with other regions. Many young people are leaving the Coast and raising their families elsewhere. This book would give them an opportunity to share some of the LNS traditional values and activities. In addition, the book will promote early literacy.

You can read more about the C is for Coast project by clicking here.