It's time to celebrate kindness and compassion.
What the holiday season represents is tied specifically to the individual, their family values, their beliefs and is built upon lived experiences. How we spend our time, what we celebrate, if we celebrate, and the meaning behind this season is different in every household.
As a quality public institution that possesses #CougarPride, we will demonstrate our moral obligation to ensure that every child is included and that their perspective is a valuable part of the learning experiences at Chalmers. Our team of amazing educators will remain committed to learning and deepening our capacity as we continue to strive to be culturally relevant and responsive in our pedagogy.
Learning is a process for all of us, and I believe that it is driven by the relationships and understanding that are shaped through conversation. Conversation provides insight into perspectives that may differ from ours, and being equal in value, these ideas generate reflection as we think back to what was said or what we wish we would have said.
To truly share your feelings and vulnerability, we must have brave spaces to connect in an honest and genuine way. There’s a real human element to being able to talk about how something made you feel, to ask questions about why (why was it done that way?), or to share what you hope could happen. Humility, understanding and respect will move us forward together, and while it may require courage at times, it is necessary and it is the right thing to do.
Since September, we have modelled our shift from safe to brave spaces at Chalmers. We have talked about the importance of “taking things personally,” thinking beyond the “win-lose” mentality and we will continue to practice sharing our perspective and how we feel when engaging in difficult (but important) conversations. One of our goals this year is to be intentional in learning more about the territorial acknowledgment, treaties in Ontario and treaty relationships, and working in partnership with the local indigenous community. Both the settler and indigenous voice are an important part of the reconciliation process.
These brave conversations have also extended into purposeful reflection in relation to what celebrations look like in our school. Various components of the holiday and winter season may be visible in learning opportunities and represented in classrooms in the coming weeks. We will continue to be reflective of what this looks like at Chalmers, and we will think critically about how we are including all students and staff.
Similar to my call out for parent voice last month (in relation to the land that we live on), I encourage you to connect with your child’s teacher to share what this time of year means to you and your family. I would be grateful for the opportunity to connect with you too!
As you receive information about upcoming school events and activities, and perhaps draw an immediate connection to “it’s always been done that way,” please consider the role that kindness and compassion plays in honouring and celebrating the diversity of our school community, and providing experiences that value all students.
Sincerely,
Jeff Johnson
#CougarPride