Around the district is a monthly update that includes a collection of stories from Richmond schools. These stories highlight Richmond’s vibrant learning community, which fosters student engagement, creativity, and well-being in inclusive learning environments.
Spring Scenes Took Shape Through Plasticine
Spring appeared on classroom tables as kindergarten students worked with plasticine on paper plates, creating their own scenes inspired by what they noticed in nature. Each artwork reflected a child’s view of spring, shaped through layering, pressing and arranging colourful pieces into rainbows, flowers, trees and open skies.
Their work was influenced by reading about and watching the demonstration videos of artist techniques. Using spring visuals as reference points, students imagined their own ideas and began working the plasticine with their hands. Clay was rolled into balls and strings, colours were mixed, shapes were cut with a straight edge and pieces were layered carefully to add depth and detail. As the work developed, simple materials gradually became rich nature scenes full of personality.
The finished artworks were featured during the school’s Welcome to Kindergarten Day, offering new families a glimpse into learning that connects creativity, experimentation and making meaning by hand.
A Day of Fast-Paced Ringette in the Gym
Students spent the day learning ringette through a full-day gym program led by coaches from Richmond Ice Ringette. The fast-paced sport focused on speed, quick passing and constant movement while highlighting teamwork in action. This marked the school’s first time taking part in the Richmond Gym Ringette initiative and introduced the sport in a gym-based setting.
Throughout the day, students took part in a variety of lessons, drills and activities. They practiced core elements such as passing, positioning and spatial awareness while learning how quick decisions and communication shape the flow of the game. The structured activities helped participants build confidence as they tried new skills in a hands-on environment.
The day wrapped up with a scrimmage that brought together what students had learned. The gameplay allowed them to apply their new skills in a dynamic setting, keeping them engaged from start to finish.
Capturing Flowers in Light and Shadow
A classroom filled with fresh bouquets became the starting point for a study in observation, as students transformed everyday floral arrangements into detailed works of art. Each student selected a unique composition and settled in to capture the shapes, movement and quiet complexity within petals, stems and light.
As their drawings progressed, students were encouraged to slow down and look closely. Subtle shifts in shadow, spacing and proportion became just as important as the flowers themselves.
The final pieces reflect careful observation and a strong commitment to realism. Their distinct character comes from the use of contrast, where soft pencil work and bold inked areas work together to highlight form and structure. Viewed as a collection, the artworks show how focused observation can transform familiar subjects into thoughtful studies of light, shape and space.
Students Raise Awareness During Mental Health Week
During Mental Health Week from May 4–10, a national initiative recognized annually by the Canadian Mental Health Association, students and staff across the district focused on the importance of connection and well-being.
At one secondary school, students marked the week by creating a Mental Health Week booth in a main hallway, inviting their peers to explore a range of resources and ideas.
The booth featured daily mental health check-in questions, helping students to think about their emotions, their connections with others and ways they take care of themselves. In addition, students created opportunities for quiet reflection, providing a brief moment to reset during the school day. Through these efforts, the space supported mental health awareness while fostering connection and a stronger sense of care within the school community.
Growing Through Care: Students Learn with a Strawberry Patch
A small strawberry patch emerged as a place of learning.
From the moment the plants arrived, students became actively involved in nurturing them. Watering, observing and checking on their progress became part of the rhythm of the day. The plants were selected at different stages of growth, allowing students to see flowers, green fruit and ripening strawberries at the same time. These visible changes offered ongoing opportunities to notice and understand how living things grow over time.
The experience also opened up opportunities for connection. One meaningful moment came when a new student began taking a strong interest in the care of the plants. Through this shared responsibility, he found a natural way to take part alongside his peers. Other students soon joined in, and together they celebrated small milestones, including harvesting the first strawberry.
What began as a simple project grew into something more meaningful. Through caring for the plants, students developed a shared sense of responsibility and connection, and both the garden and the classroom community continued to grow together.
Creativity Takes the Spotlight at the Spring Showcase
A secondary school’s spring showcase brought an evening of creativity and energy, as students, staff, families and community members came together to experience student learning across Applied Design, Skills and Technology (ADST) and fine arts programs. Classrooms and shared spaces were transformed into vibrant exhibition areas, filled with artwork, design projects and hands-on creations that invited visitors to engage with the work on display.
Throughout the evening on May 14, guests moved through displays of visual art across a range of media, explored marketing and IT projects and browsed student-made items at a craft sale. A choir performance added to the atmosphere, with songs presented in French, English and Haitian Creole.
A highlight of the evening was the textiles fashion show, where students stepped onto the runway to present original garments with confidence and pride. Each piece was part of a multicultural garment project, with students researching traditional clothing and translating their learning into thoughtfully constructed designs. As models made their way down the runway, their garments reflected cultures from around the world, including Japan, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Austria, Poland, Italy, Spain, Nigeria, Pakistan and Azerbaijan, showcasing both technical skill and a growing awareness of cultural traditions.
Students Support Inclusive Sport at OneAbility Games
Students from across the district took part in the inaugural OneAbility Games, a multi-sport event held at the Richmond Olympic Oval that focused on accessibility and inclusion. The event welcomed participants from around the province, creating opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities to engage in athletic experiences.
Representing one of the largest groups involved, more than 100 Richmond students participated throughout the week, taking part in a variety of sport stations, including track and field, wheelchair and adapted basketball, floorball, lacrosse, soccer and sitting volleyball. These activities provided opportunities for them to try different sports in a supportive and inclusive setting. Students from the Explorations program also volunteered at each activity station, supporting event operations and engaging directly with athletes and attendees.
Through both participation and volunteering, students gained valuable experience in inclusive sport while building connections within the broader community.
Students Create a Thoughtful Welcome for New Learners
Secondary school art students applied their creativity in a meaningful way by helping welcome incoming kindergarten learners to school.
Through a collaborative design project, students created original illustrations for a Welcome to Kindergarten book shared with families as children begin school. Knowing their work would be experienced by young learners, they carefully considered how images, colour and design could help create a sense of comfort, curiosity and belonging.
The project encouraged thoughtful decision-making and visual storytelling, as students explored how art can communicate emotion and connection. By contributing to a resource shared across the district, students experienced how their learning could extend beyond the classroom and play a role in shaping a positive first impression for new learners and their families.
