BELONG

Thoughtful Crestview Public School Students Demonstrate Generosity

March 2023

The Grade 5/6 students at Crestview Public School were looking to exemplify generosity and prompt inspiration this winter, so they made sandwiches for community members at the PACE (People Advocating for Change Through Empowerment) warming centre. The students attached words of encouragement to the packaged sandwiches in the hopes of delivering inspiration during the coldest days of the year. Crestview Public School is proud of the planning, teamwork, and dedication the students demonstrated and is pleased that the school will expand this initiative to include the Shelter House community next.

Superior CVI Enhances Welcoming Environment with Iftar

April 2023

Superior CVI students and staff created a most welcoming learning and working environment for the school community by hosting an impressive iftar for all to attend. The event included a call to prayer and a recitation of the Quaran by Mohamed Elshafei, to which a student of the school offered a translation. To further the learnings on Ramadan, local imam Hikma Sherzaz presented on the meaning of Ramadan and offered examples and references to strengthen relatability to one’s own life.

The principal of the school, Mr. Ryan McDonnell, offered opening remarks and expressed his joy in sharing this event with the community and his confidence that the event would become a treasured tradition.

“The Superior CVI community is absolutely remarkable. The students that we work with everyday amaze and inspire us with their passion to seek a greater understanding and their desire to celebrate each other. There is so much we can learn from them. Whatever you believe and however you choose to worship, we need you to know that you are valued and you belong here,” said Mr. McDonnell.

A Muslim student who attended the event with his family expressed gratitude for the school’s interest in the Muslim faith. “We really appreciated the event today and felt welcomed more than ever. This is the first time my parents have attended a school event and they were very happy. Thank you for making this evening welcoming for all of us!”

Lakehead District School Board’s student trustee and Grade 12 student at the school, Mehar Mago, said coming together with the families from various cultures really highlights how everybody belongs at Superior CVI and everywhere within Lakehead Public Schools.

Rural Schools Enhance Inclusiveness and Sense of Belonging Through Books

Spring 2023

Thanks to a generous book donation by Children’s Centre Thunder Bay, all of our rural schools received many new books to enhance inclusiveness and the sense of belonging. Approximately 100 books were donated and stemmed from The Other 10% youth group, the Thunder Bay & District Labour Council and the #HateHasNoHomeHere Campaign. Five Mile Public School received 11 books, including It Feels Good to be Yourself by Theresa Thorn, Every Family is Different by Constance O’Connor and Natalia Rojas, and When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff.

“Five Mile Public School is grateful for the book donation. These books can help students feel included and help them see themselves reflected in their school community. At Five Mile Public School, we are focused on being Connected by Character which is why inclusion and respect are important to us. We are pleased to have more books in our library which speak to diversity and acceptance to encourage our school community to grow together positively.” – Lisa Nutley, Principal at Five Mile Public School

Thank you to Children’s Centre Thunder Bay for giving back to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the Thunder Bay area and for contributing to the Board’s Mission of being committed to the success of every student.

Empowering Students Through Inclusive and Accessible Play

September 2022

This fall, students at Vance Chapman Public School received an exclusive invitation to the opening ceremony of the brand-new accessible playground at Boulevard Lake. The universally accessible playground gives children of all abilities the opportunity to come together in the joy of play. Lakehead Public Schools’ strong partnership with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities – a national charity dedicated to helping children overcome accessibility barriers – enabled the activity and empowered children of all abilities to be involved in inclusive play. Vance Chapman Public School is committed to fostering a school community within which every student and staff feels accepted and welcome to be actively engaged.

Experiential Learning Leads To New Friends

March 2023

The Grade 3/4 students at Kakabeka Falls Public School were onsite at Boreal Journeys Sled Dog Kennel last week to experience dogsledding firsthand. Besides making several new four-legged friends, the students learned the particulars of handling a dog team, dogsledding terms, and how to harness the dogs.

Mrs. Cross and Mrs. McBain’s JK/SK class had a very special experience later in the week when the sled dogs visited the school yard, as Mrs. Cross’s daughter, Julia Cross of Criss Cross Racing, has recently won 2nd place in the long-distance sled dog race known as the Jr. Iditarod. Well done!

Many classes at Kakabeka Falls Public School studied dogsledding this year in anticipation of the exhilarating winter sport. Julia Cross of Criss Cross Racing visited the Kindergarten class to present on the gratifying and challenging moments of dogsledding, and students learned all about famous dogsled races such as the Iditarod, the Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race, and the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. Students also spoke with Jesse Terry of Lac Seul First Nation, winner of the Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race and successful participant of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, as well as with Ryan Reddington from Knik Alaska, grandson of the founder of the Iditarod and former John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon champion and Iditarod veteran.

This winter has presented such fantastic learning opportunities for the students at Kakabeka Falls Public School and has certainly created lasting memories to accompany the extraordinary experiences.

Youth Demonstrate Leadership Through Student Vote

October 2022

As part of the Social Studies curriculum, students at C.D. Howe Public School learned all about the electoral process, the roles of government, and what it takes to be a municipal officer. After several weeks of preparation, Mr. McCreery’s Grade 4/5 class ran a mock polling station where students were assigned official roles as scrutineer, returning officer, and poll clerk, and simulated the process of an official election day. Many classes took turns attending the polling station to vote for mayor, councillors at large, and ward councillor.

In the weeks leading to the day’s activity, the students voiced their opinions on municipal matters and discussed local issues that are meaningful to them.

“I hope the students take away that the democratic process is something very important in Canada and in their community and that their voice matters, so that when they do become eligible to vote that they will make their voice heard,” said Mr. McCreery.

Hammarskjold High School Spotlights its Commitment to Inclusion

June 2023

“Our diversity is our greatest strength,” said Hammarskjold High School SAC president Ella Pilot into the microphone to the crowd that gathered to celebrate the launch of Pride Month. Students and staff of the school showed their support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community by assembling beneath the raised Progress Pride flag and listening to the perspectives of their peers. Inclusivity and respect were the themes of the speeches and the crowd cheered in accord. Among the many speakers was the organizer of the event, teacher and GSA lead Kathleen Mercier, who said that diversity and inclusion are essential for creating a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone. “The GSA plays an important part in promoting this inclusion. This student-led club provides a safe and supportive space for 2SLGBTQ+ students and allies. Every two weeks, everyone comes together to share their experiences and we create a culture of acceptance and support,” said Kathleen Mercier.

Two students from Hammarskjold High School’s Gender & Sexuality Alliance shared inspirational stories and emphasized the good that the GSA is doing for students. Two members of the Student Advisory Council addressed their peers as well and spoke of embracing acceptance and breaking down stereotypes through empathy and open-mindedness.

“By embracing acceptance, we foster a culture where everyone feels valued and celebrated for who they are regardless of their gender, race, religion, ethnicity, or any other aspect of their identity. Here at Hammarskjold, we strive to create spaces where everyone feels safe to express themselves authentically and where no one fears judgement or exclusion,” said Ella Pilot.

All schools within our Board celebrated the launch of Pride Month today. Important days like today help schools emphasize the values of inclusion and respect to foster safe spaces for all – because at Lakehead Public Schools – you belong!

Whitefish Valley Public School Promotes Equitable Environment

Spring 2023

Lakehead Public Schools social workers are valued members of the school community. At Whitefish Valley Public School this spring, the Grade 4/5 class participated in anti-bullying workshops with a school social worker to help students better understand bullying, its effect on people, and how to bring bullying to an end. The school strives to enhance its equitable and accepting environment every day to promote healthy learning and working spaces for students and staff.

French-Canadian Culture Celebrated at the Carnaval d’hiver

March 2023

On Friday, March 11, one of the biggest elementary French Immersion schools in the city, École Gron Morgan Public School, brought Francophone culture to its school yard with the Carnaval d’hiver (winter carnival). The Carnaval d’hiver is a renown French-Canadian tradition that began in the city of Québec in 1894 and is now celebrated annually in various parts of the country.

École Gron Morgan Public School filled its school yard with activity centres including snow sculpting, curling, hockey, obstacle courses, and a sugar shack staffed with members of Club culturel francophone de Thunder Bay. The experts working the sugar shack cooked la tire sur la neige (French-Canadian maple taffy) onsite and showed the students the process of pouring the cooked maple syrup onto fresh snow to cool it and rolling it onto a wooden stick to enjoy.

The French Immersion Grade 8 students had a leading part in orchestrating the day’s events. They selected the entertainment, managed the activity centres, and helped their younger peers navigate the festival throughout the day. The morning was dedicated to the primary and junior grades, and Grade 3 student Sophia McPhail identified the snow sculpture centre as her favourite spot of the day. “I’m just looking around and I see everybody having fun and there’s music going, so I think this is going to be fun,” said the French Immersion student.

The celebration was a staff-led initiative and was broadened to also incorporate elements of Indigenous culture. Whitney Lundstrom teaches Grade 2 French Immersion and was among the staff who planned the day-long event. “We’re a dual track [French Immersion] school, so it’s important for us to embed la culture française into what we do in everyday things. We also had Marcel Bananish come to do a smudge to open our Carnaval d’hiver and he told some beautiful Indigenous stories,” said Lundstrom. Local Indigenous knowledge keeper Marcel Bananish is the cultural resource coordinator at the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre and a familiar face at Lakehead Public Schools events.

As per tradition, the carnival’s official emblem, the Bonhomme Carnaval, made the scene and delivered the charisma and dynamism children expect from a mascot. The snowman-inspired character was first introduced at the Québec Winter Carnival in 1955 to spark joy in the city after a long winter. The costume is now widely recognized in Canada with its telltale red cap and colourful sash. The sash, with its fine arrow design, is an important piece of French-Canadian and Métis cultural heritages, with French and Indigenous finger-weaving techniques amalgamated to produce the symbolic knotted belt widely recognized today.

Student Support Professionals Conference

April 2023

This April, student support professionals from both the elementary and secondary panels came together for a day of learning, collaboration, and celebration. This event, planned with our student support professionals and with the OSSTF SSP union group, aimed to provide professional learning to this dedicated group of employees while also recognizing the incredible support and dedication they provide to our most vulnerable students. Student support professionals engaged in a keynote presentation that focused on different personalities and how these personality types can impact relationships and interactions in the work force. The afternoon offered a selection of learning opportunities including strategies for supporting students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, understanding the impacts of adverse childhood experiences, and lastly, cultivating resilience. 

The day of learning and professional development was capped off with dozens of prizes donated from area sponsors and businesses. Student support professionals gained valuable insight into working with students. Additionally, the student support professionals reported that they really valued the day to come together with their colleagues and were motivated more than ever to continue in their roles.

Armstrong Public School Students Bring Their Family Traditions into the Classroom

April 2023

Armstrong Public School’s Grade 3/4 class read the book On the Trap Line by David A. Robertson and became inspired by the story. The teacher of the class, Mr. Mason Quarrell, encouraged the students to incorporate land-based learning into the classroom by researching the land they live on and creating inquiry-based brochures to highlight the unique features they find most interesting. From this, the students began to look closer into their family’s traditions and found that hunting and gathering food was a prominent custom. Therefore, the school invited a hunter from the community to offer the students land-based learning and experience in plucking geese and ducks. The students were highly engaged when the birds were brought out. Even the students who are typically more reluctant to participate in activities were excited to get the chance to pluck the birds. The teacher also took this opportunity to discuss the importance of food in our lives. Eating should not be a fast mindless action but rather an opportunity to respect the life that was given, to provide our bodies with nutrition, and to thank the land for providing. Reflecting on the success of this activity, it is something that the teacher will continue to incorporate in future years.

Ogden Community School Hosts Dilico Book Launch

October 2022

Amplifying the Voices of Today’s Youth

On October 7th, Ogden Community School was the proud host of a non-profit book launch to help raise awareness of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Dilico Anishnabek Family Care visited the school for their annual Step Up campaign which empowers children to speak up for themselves and speak up for others when faced with a challenging situation, particularly child abuse.

It is Dilico’s 13th annual celebration of their Step Up initiative and this year’s theme is “Finding Your Voice”. Ogden Community School and Dilico believe in encouraging youth to value themselves and know the difference between being safe and unsafe. Together, they also promote a culture of care and community.

The new book, How I Found My Voice, was written for Primary-aged children, approximately 4-6 years old, and features the story of a young Indigenous child learning to become confident and exploring their community. How I Found My Voice was written by Meghan Gagliardi, Child Welfare Manager at Dilico, and illustrated by local community partners including local artist Lisa Westermann. The book was self-published by Dilico Anishnabek Family Care and all proceeds of the book sales will be donated to Mazinaajim Children’s Foundation.

“I’m so honoured to have been a part of creating this book,” says Meghan. “Through an easy to follow narrative and beautiful illustrations, this book is meant to remind all children that they have a voice and guide those who may not yet know their own strength. As Child Abuse Prevention Month approaches, it’s important for us to encourage youth to use their voices to speak up for themselves and their peers.”

Principal of Ogden Community School, Shannon Jessiman, was thrilled to celebrate this notable annual event with a community partner which is consistently dedicated to the wellness of students. “It’s really important for all students to know how to find their voice and this book is a wonderful tool to help them do just that. We look forward to having copies of the book in the school and having kids read it and do activities,” said Jessiman.

Dilico Anishnabek Family Care regularly visit schools to offer a wide range of services and programs to support Indigenous children and families and help bring wellness into homes.

Hockey Academy Boosts Student Health and Wellbeing

Winter 2023

Five schools within Lakehead Public Schools offer hockey academy: a program that brings the hockey community together, encourages students to improve their athletic capabilities, and motivates students to reach their goals. Claude E. Garton Public School, Ogden Community School, McKellar Park Central Public School, Ecole Elsie MacGill Public School, and Nor’wester View Public School are proud to offer hockey academies and are pleased that the program is supporting the health, well-being, and morale of students and staff involved.

At Claude E. Garten Public School, the members of the hockey academy meet once per week for two hours in the morning at the Current River arena. The running of the program itself is an excellent example in teamwork and partnership. Mr. Rasmussen, Mr. Hartman, and Lakehead University teacher candidates collaborate with the Current River Storm hockey team to run the academy. School hockey has many benefits to both the students, staff, and the community. Practicing together helps them to become team players on the ice, in the school, and in the community. Aside from improving one’s hockey skills and overall health, school hockey can also increase positive peer socialization and one’s outlook on school altogether.

McKenzie Public School Increases Positivity Through SNAP® Sessions

Spring 2023

This spring, students at McKenzie Public School have been engaged in fun and animated SNAP® sessions with the Lakehead Public Schools mental health multidisciplinary team. SNAP® stands for Stop Now And Plan and enhances social skills and problem-solving skills by teaching children how to regulate their emotions. Strategies are taught through 15 weekly sessions by way of classroom discussions, role plays, worksheets, and relaxation. The program covers topics such as fair play and sportsmanship,

bullying, and peer pressure. In the SNAP® sessions, the students are engaged in conversation, encouraged to talk about how they feel, and are invited to share real-life stories of when they have used SNAP® techniques and how it has helped them. When the floor opens to the McKenzie Public School students to share their stories and ideas, the positive energy becomes palpable, and the students beam with delight.

The Lakehead Public Schools’ mental health multidisciplinary team consists of two learning supports resource teachers, two student support professionals, and a Special Education facilitator. To become a SNAP® facilitator, staff must undergo a two-day SNAP® training course. In addition, all teachers whose classes participate in SNAP® experience a briefing to ensure they understand the concepts and how to carry the lessons through into the day-to-day classroom activities.

SNAP® sessions are delivered across 18 classrooms throughout the year for students in Grades 1 to 6.

Charity Basketball Game Strengthens Inclusivity

May 2023

Every spring, Hammarskjold High School and Westgate CVI emphasize the importance of belonging at their schools by holding the annual Charity Basketball Game. The game is traditionally held at Hammarskjold High School and sees varsity Viking basketball players tip off against a team of Lakehead University players and law enforcement officers from Thunder Bay. This popular event draws a crowd with the exciting atmosphere, the friendly competition, and the bake sale – in support of Special Olympics.

Before the game, students from C.D. Howe Public School and Woodcrest Public School put on a basketball skill demonstration, and at halftime, the Special Needs classes from Hammarskjold High School and Westgate CVI tipped off in a feature basketball game.

This annual event helps strengthen the feeling of inclusivity at Lakehead Public Schools. It speaks to the importance of ensuring that students in the Special Needs program feel that they belong and are valued members of the school community, while helping to raise funds for Special Olympics.

Individual Skills Highlighted to Promote Belonging

Ecole Gron Morgan Public School recognizes that each student and staff member play an important role in the school community and appreciates their individual skills and talents. Every day, the school celebrates multiculturalism and the impressive abilities that students have, including a Grade 8 student who can read Braille. The school is proud of its diverse community and encourages students and staff to be themselves and celebrate their cultures. In addition to English, 14 languages are spoken in Ecole Gron Morgan Public School’s community: Arabic; Bengali; Farsi; French; Hebrew; Hindi; Kurdish; Mandarin; Spanish; Tagalog; Tigrinya; Türkiye; Urdu, and Vietnamese.

Chess Club Encourages an Appreciation for Individual Skill

Claude E. Garton Public School recognizes that each student and staff member possesses their own skills and talents and encourages everyone to utilize them to increase self-confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of belonging. The school’s chess club does just that; it develops and fosters individual student talent to promote strategic thinking, problem solving, and planning. The chess club at Claude E. Garton Public School meets once per week during nutrition break. The school is proud of the many benefits the students acquire from chess, including focus, patience, and observation skills. The beginner chess players always learn quickly that if they are not actively paying attention to the game in front of them, they may miss their opponent’s attack! Chess club is a great way to share a hobby with a friend and bond with others. The students use their strengths to teach and help each other, like young coaches. In addition, students who remain a member of the chess club long enough are given the title of Chess Club Leader.

Superior CVI Participates in Envirothon at Kingfisher

May 2023

Superior CVI frequently provides students with a variety of opportunities to form relationships with their peers, teachers, and other staff members both inside and outside of the classroom. In May, students at Superior CVI visited Kingfisher Outdoor Education Centre to participate in the Ontario Envirothon competition. It was an exciting opportunity for Superior CVI students to bond with their peers in nature and demonstrate their expertise in environmental science. Envirothon is a Northwestern Ontario regional competition for secondary students that involves exploring and researching various environmental topics including forestry, wildlife, soil, and aquatic ecology. The students displayed good work ethic and excellent teamwork throughout the competition. 

Family Literacy Day

January 2023

Students in Claude E. Garton Public School’s Mme Smyk’s SK French Immersion class had an exciting time this week as they welcomed their parents into the classroom for a very special Family Literacy Week party! The families shared literary learning en français and enjoyed a delicious snack.

In addition to celebrating French culture, the French Immersion program at Claude E. Garton Public School also prioritizes inclusiveness and highlights festivities that families traditionally participate in. For example, this week many classes at the school learned about Lunar New Year. Students learned about the legend of Nian, created red envelopes filled with class money, and took part in a guided drawing of their own dragons. Students discussed New Year wishes and wrote their own wish on streamers hung on a giant paper tree.

Mme Smith’s Grade 4/5 French Immersion class participated in a variety of art and literacy activities, including listening to French stories, participating in a “write the room” activity, and sharing their newfound knowledge in a sharing circle. Students understand and appreciate that literacy in French Immersion involves speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Literacy is an integral part of all classrooms at Claude E. Garton Public School and educators strive to make their classrooms vibrant and engaging. 

“J’ai adoré toutes les activités !” (“I loved all of the activities!”)

– Keira, Grade 5 French Immersion

“J’ai vraiment aimé dessiner des dragons et découvrir la légende de Nian.”  (“I really liked drawing dragons and learning about the legend of Nian.”)

– Erik, Grade 4 French Immersion

“J’ai aimé l’information sur le festival des lanternes et apprendre à fabriquer ma propre lanterne. Nous avons utilisé de la peinture rouge et dorée parce que ce sont des couleurs de la chance en Chine, et nous avons inclus des lapins pour marquer l’année du lapin.” (“I liked learning about the lantern festival and getting to make my own lantern. We used red and gold paint as those are lucky colours in China, and we included rabbits to mark the year of the rabbit.”)

– Felicity, Grade 4 French Immersion

“C’était vraiment cool de pouvoir écrire un souhait du Nouvel An et de l’accrocher à notre arbre à souhaits. Cela donne vraiment vie à notre apprentissage lorsque nous participons à ces activités.” (“It was really cool to get to write a New Year’s wish and hang it on our wishing tree. It really makes our learning come to life when we get to participate in these activities.”)

Madison, Grade 4 French Immersion

“J’ai adoré dessiner un dragon.” (“I loved drawing a dragon.”)

– Spencer, Grade 5 French Immersion

Family Literacy Week activities permitted students to learn new vocabulary, exercise their creative minds, and engage in new interests!

Ogden Community School Brings Positivity Concert to Boost Belonging

April 2023

Ogden Community School loves to emphasize positivity and the feeling of belonging for all its students. This spring, the school hosted a positivity concert with Sudbury hip hop artist World Peace to bring energy and an overall great feeling to the school. Song lyrics included “I am so happy”, “I love Mother Earth”, and “I love my family”. Ogden Community School is dedicated to continually offering opportunities for students to play an active role in their educational experience. The positivity concert focused on emphasizing the importance of kindness and positivity at the school through song and movement. It empowered students and staff to encourage all those present to participate in the activity, feel engaged, and most of all – feel that they belong.

Schools Mark the Start of Pride Month

June 2023

Lakehead Public Schools strives to create safe and welcoming environments at all schools by embodying its motto of You belong here. First thing in the morning on June 1^st, all schools raised the Progress Pride flag to kick off Pride Month and stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

The Board office held a flag flying ceremony with guest speakers, Ellen Chambers, Chair of Lakehead District School Board, Scotia Kauppi and Kristen Poluyko of Thunder Pride Association, and Logan McIvor of the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.

Chair of the Board Ellen Chambers said that by raising the Pride flag today, Lakehead Public Schools is showing that we care, we provide a safe space for all, that we uphold human rights, and that we have policies in place to protect 2SLGBTQI+ students, staff, and visitors.

“This month, when a child looks at the Pride flag flying over their school, they will know that they are seen and that they belong, no matter their pronoun or how they identify,” said Ellen Chambers.

Thank you to the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, Thunder Pride Association, and Rainbow Collective of Thunder Bay for working to help children feel like they belong not only during Pride Month, but year-round.

A Special Brew: Westgate CVI Special Needs Class Runs Mini-Coffee Shop for Staff

April 2023

Westgate CVI is pleased to provide students a variety of opportunities to form relationships with their peers, teachers, and other staff members both inside and outside of the classroom. The school recognizes that each student and staff member play an important role in the community and appreciate their individual skills and talents. This spring, the Special Needs class at Westgate CVI served up a neat initiative every Friday morning that had staff perked up and hallways smelling delicious. In their project “A Special Brew”, the Special Needs class ran a mini coffee shop for the school staff where they received orders for refreshments and delivered them to classrooms and offices fresh from the carafe or kettle. The students undertook the responsibilities of entrepreneur, bookkeeper, barista, cashier, waiter, and waitress, all while working together as a team and strengthening their independence.

Westgate CVI prides itself on providing a safe, welcoming, equitable, accessible, and inclusive environment that reflects the diversity of its community. The school recognizes the unique needs of every student and provides them with the opportunities and supports to succeed.

Secondary Students Make Leadership Connections

October 2022

Secondary students within Lakehead Public Schools are regularly offered a variety of leadership opportunities, including participating on school councils, coordinating activities, and mentoring younger students in reading groups. This week, our two secondary schools in the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding, Superior CVI and Hammarskjold High School, received a visit from notable leadership expert and youth employment advocate the Honourable Patty Hajdu, MP.

MP Hajdu launched her annual Constituency Youth Council by announcing that applications were open for youth aged 14 to 22 years old to submit their candidacy. The Council is a space created for young voices; an area of discussion and deliberation where ideas are shared and heard. Members of the Constituency Youth Council meet monthly to discuss a range of issues and topics affecting the Northwestern Ontario region, Canada, and even the world. Global politics, the environment, and mental health services are often at the forefront of these conversations.

“I want young people in my riding to know I’m listening. Youth are also passionate about creating fairer, healthier communities and eager to share their ideas,” said MP Hajdu.

Rachel Tribe, a Grade 12 student at Hammarskjold High School, attended the visit by MP Hajdu and encourages her peers to embark on this leadership opportunity. “Every once in a while, there is a specific subject that is more relevant for us [the Council] to focus on. Sometimes our conversations turn and take a new direction, so we end up following what we want to talk about. We talk about things that are really important to us, so I really enjoy that my voice is heard through the Youth Council,” said Tribe.

During her visit to Superior CVI and Hammarskjold High School, MP Hajdu explained her role in the Canadian Government and the House of Commons. Hajdu said, “One of the most common questions I am asked by young people is how they can get involved in politics. We talk about the many ways politics influences our lives from school or city council to provincial or federal legislatures.” It is the seventh year that Lakehead Public Schools students will have a political voice in the region thanks to student involvement in the Constituency Youth Council. Eligible youth are encouraged to learn more about the Constituency Youth Council by visiting MP Hajdu’s website (https://pattyhajdu.libparl.ca/).

Superior CVI Donates Over 2,000 Items for #UndercoverProject

December 2022

Superior CVI is a proud supporter of the Community Clothing Assistance Thunder Bay and its 15th annual Undercover Project, which aimed at providing seven pairs of new socks and underwear for children between the ages of four and 14 years old. There is something to be said of the generosity of the students and staff at the school, as they collected and donated 1,352 items of clothing and 740 non-perishable food items for the cause. The school’s Student Advisory Council took leadership of the project by arranging logistics, promoting it, and sorting and counting all the donations during their own time.

Westgate CVI GSA Club Promotes Inclusivity and Sense of Belonging

Westgate CVI has adopted the newer meaning of GSA to be more inclusive. What was once known as the Gay-Straight Alliance has changed to the Gender and Sexuality Alliance to promote inclusivity and the sense of belonging in the club. Westgate CVI prioritizes creating a safe and welcoming learning environment for students and staff, and is proud that the GSA club, although it is still rather new, has already succeeded in helping students feel very much accepted, valued, and appreciated in their school. The GSA club is run by student support professional Mr. Carlos Santander-Maturana with assistance from the school social worker Erin Murphy, mathematics teacher Mr. Austin Burr, and KZ Lodge teacher Ms. Natasha Harding.

The GSA club meets every Tuesday to discuss issues affecting students, engage through enlightening activities pertaining to LGBTQ+ subject matter, or to organize events that are pertinent to social justice. The GSA club not only deals with gender and sexuality but also broaches topics around the elimination of violence against women and girls and other serious issues.

Student Senate

June 2023

Grade 7-12 student representatives confidently shared their voices at our second virtual Student Senate. Led by student trustees, they shared the many ways that schools are creating welcoming and positive environments and then contributed new ways to ensure our schools continue to be inclusive.

Indigenous Student Trustee Alexa Saqutcheway shared, “Today’s Student Senate was definitely a success. The honour was mine to be able to share a space with some of the incredible students within our Board. It is always so powerful and enriching to hear the voices of students, as their voices carry the most value. Being able to facilitate the senate has filled me with hope for the students present and for the future in which it is being shaped by said students”.

Honouring Black History Month

Winter 2023

In February and March, the Grade 4/5 students at Claude E. Garton Public School honoured Black History Month by learning about inspirational black men and women. As a result, they learned about the safe trade, the underground railroad, the civil rights movement, and many other historical events including the first black president of the United States of America. Students then chose a historical figure that inspired them and completed a biography project. Following their biography project, students created micrography portraits using the text from their projects.

Science and Engineering Days

Grade 9 science students across our system participate in hands-on learning as they constructed mousetrap catapults in teams and raced them to a victorious finish. These experiential learning activities support the new Grade 9 de-streamed science curriculum while increasing student interest and engagement. In addition to promoting team building and a love for science and engineering, it brings Lakehead Public Schools students together to celebrate success and achievement.

Field Trips Contribute to Active Participation in Education

Each school year the Thunder Bay Art Gallery presents a high-caliber arts education program, which connects the Arts curriculum with the students and staff at Lakehead Public Schools. Programming at the gallery engages students through reflection, analysis, and exploration of the visual arts. It also creates connections to the Language Arts, Social Studies and Science curriculum. Students learn about the arts and culture of the region and country through activities, games, and guided discussion.