Richmond Regional - Indian Residential School history incorporated into Ethics and Religious Culture class

At Richmond Regional High-school, the Sec V Ethics and Religious Culture (ERC) class got a deep-dive into Indian Residential School (IRS) history. Tara-Ann Smith became inspired in January at the CLC Teachers Institute in Montreal. She wanted to introduce her students to some of the history, but didn’t have much background in the information. Eager to learn, Ms. Smith walked away from the Institute with the 100 Years of Loss Edu-Kit in hand. A month later she participated in VC training on the kit with national trainer Charlene Bearhead.

She immediately began to use the kit, with her 30 students, all non-Aboriginal.

Using the kit, she completed five lessons. This included an activity studying photographs, an explanation of the IRS system came to be, a study of “a normal day at the school” and she especially focused on a consideration of the 2008 apology by the Government of Canada.  

"The kit had everything I needed and everything was very neatly packed. It’s a very good resource. I would recommend it! Every history class should have it! Sometimes we think that it is too difficult of a subject for the kids to face, but the kids want to know. They are curious. They want to know and ask 'why did this happen? This created a deep and meaningful point of departure for understanding several ERC curriculum topics.”

But she didn’t stop there! Ms.Smith saw that the students need to channel their reactions to the new information into some kind of expression. So she ordered tiles from the Project of Heart website and had her students create artistic commemorative items to honour the thousands of Indigenous children who died as a result of the residential school experience. Following the PoH model, she learned about an Aboriginal Elder Ena Greyeyes who lived in her area and is a survivor of IRS (through CLC contact with Memphremagog school).

Ena Greyeyes visited the school and led a smudging ceremony of the tiles. Although the students had been through several lessons about IRS by this point, hearing Ena’s stories brought the lessons even more to life, and really had an effect. "When Ena came in, the kids didn’t realize just how bad it was. You know, when you read it in the books and you have someone in front of you, real life, talking about what they went through, it hits harder. The kids couldn’t believe it, that we as Canadians could treat anybody like that. They told me their hearts went out to Ena, that she had to go through it…”

 

Through the smudging and Ena’s discussion however, they also heard a key message that was a the heart of what Tara-Ann had been trying to teach students all year -  the healing power of forgiveness. “I try to help them understand that hatred is not the way to go. We talk about tolerance, it fits into anything I do in my ERC…That’s what makes us strong."

CLC Coordinator Siu-Min Jim was invaluable support in terms of accessing resources and funding, and she was happy to share news of the project that was captured in a local newspaper.

Snacks from the Garden

Snacks from the Garden

Richmond Regional High School CLC

Danielle Hamel

Richmond Regional High School has a beautiful community garden, which Math and Science teacher Danielle Hamel decided to incorporate into her lessons.

Secondary-one science students started seedlings in March and transplanted them in the garden outside before the end of the school year.  When the students came back after the summer, they harvested what they had planted.

 

Throughout the summer, Ms. Hamel, a local resident of the community collected the most abundant fruit and vegetables which included zucchini, black berries, strawberries, tomatoes and garlic and placed them in her freezer at home.

When October came, she was teaching proportions in her secondary-two math class and had the students double or triple recipes for smoothies, muffins and dips. The class then spent a period cooking and baking.  Surprisingly, for some students, it was their first experience and some found it quite a challenge, but most students enjoyed it.

Through an annual survey of students, it was discovered that the healthy eating habits of teenagers could be improved.  The genuine service the students provided was the promotion of healthy, locally grown food. 

Students were asked to make pamphlets that included the recipe, nutritional facts and fun facts about the fruits and vegetables. The class then shared the snacks with the students from the high school, the elementary school, the nursery school, the day care and two local senior homes. The class wanted to promote locally grown, healthy snacks as well as reaching out to our community, showing positive things that the teens are doing at the high school.

To read more about the project, click here.

Knitting for Peace

Knitting for Peace

Richmond Regional High School CLC

With the assistance of CLC coordinator Siu-Min Jim, a local knitting expert and retired music teacher was recruited to work with a group of Secondary Cycle 1-Special Needs students.   Inspired by an international program called Knitting for Peace, the students are producing blankets, scarves, socks etc. for needy individuals and families. 

Starting in February 2013 the students worked on the knitting project once a week during a science & technology block. The knitting project linked to math through the communication of mathematical language and reasoning, including patterns, number sequences, algebra, and geometry.  Knitting connected to science and technology-through material properties and design. 

Beyond service to the community, there have been a number of positive benefits for the students.  According to Mr. Evans...

"the knitting project has been improving counting and motor skills, and seeing mathematical patterns in our work.  Through knitting, we are learning a new language and interpreting new symbols to turn patterns into beautiful knitted objects".

Mr. Evans also points out the important socialization aspect of interacting with an elderly community member has been as important as the learning of the technical skill.

You can read more about the project by clicking here.

The River Project at RRHS

Work Oriented Training Program students at Richmond Regional High School used the local St. Francis River as a subject for learning about science, working together and making a difference in their community.

Throughout the year, Students cleaned up the riverbank on Earth Day 2013, collecting 10 bags of trash.  In partnership with local ecological organizations, the students built birdhouses to attract wildlife and raised trout eggs, releasing over 200 fish into the river.  

• Hear a really great CBC interview about trout release event by clicking here.

• See pictures from the day here

• Read details about the project by clicking here.