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.
Burnett Secondary – Indigenous Learning
Earlier this month, Rose Guerin, an elder from the Musqueam First Nation, visited Burnett Secondary to share her experiences growing up as an Indigenous person in Canada. Students learned of her experience in residential schools, her life journey as a sister, a mother, and a grandmother. She also shared many of the values that her community embraces in raising children and participating in community. Students were all moved by her presentation and learned important lessons about the First People’s principles of learning, knowing, and understanding.
Richmond Secondary – Celebrating Diversity
In honour of Eid al-Fitr (the day Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan - a month of prayer and fasting), the Muslim Student Association at Richmond Secondary hosted a culture day where students of all cultures were welcomed and encouraged to participate. On May 5, the school had over 50 students wearing their cultural attire to share their proud heritage. The school’s front lobby was packed with students participating in a variety of activities. event was made possible by a grant the school received from their alumni association, and supports the school’s efforts to cultivate a community that is equitable and inclusive.
Mental Health Week – School Initiatives
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s annual Mental Health Week (May 2-8) is a social change campaign to shift attitudes and perceptions about mental health. Richmond schools proudly supported Mental Health Week this year under the theme: the importance of empathy.
Richmond Secondary school created a virtual poster campaign featuring a different focal point on each day of the week to promote and celebrate mental health. Students from McMath Secondary reflected on different mental health issues with various artworks. Students at McRoberts Secondary hosted “Mindful Mondays” activities, and some classes worked on gratitude journaling and 5-minute meditations. Students at Cambie Secondary hosted a fair to support student voices around mental health, and students made a kindness board with encouraging words and phrases that were then posted.
Spul’u’kwuks Elementary - Learning About Measurement
Students at Spul'u'kwuks Elementary recently learned about the concepts, language and tools used for the mathematics of measurements. The students chose items of personal interest to measure in as many different ways they could think of, recording both the quantity and unit of measurement. In partners, the students then investigated how scientists use measurements to help identify and categorize living things. A math walk in the school park had students beginning to think about all the different ways you could measure a tree. Later this spring students will be taking photographs and measurements to create a field guide for their school.
Gilmore Elementary – Space Inquiry
Students at Gilmore Elementary recently had an opportunity to explore different materials as a way to kick off their space inquiry. Students read stories about astronauts, learned facts about the planets and discovered the mysteries of space. Students also had lots of fun learning about the phases of the moon and constellations. They were fascinated by what they read about and the many pictures that they saw. Based on these learnings, students then modeled planets from rocks and created their very own solar systems using a variety of different classroom materials.
Quilchena Elementary - Students Learning Lacrosse
Students at Quilchena Elementary learned lacrosse skills in their school’s playground. Lacrosse is Canada’s national sport and originated from Indigenous celebrations. The classroom teacher invited four students from McMath Secondary, who are members of the Richmond Lacrosse Association (RLA) to teach the class lacrosse skills. The students were excited to have the RLA players visit and show them the proper techniques. During the practice, the students followed the First People’s Principles of Learning and reflected that learning takes patience and time. All students were eagerly engaged and wanted to expand their skill development.
Blair Elementary - Literacy and Art
Teachers at Blair Elementary recently brought gratitude education into the classroom through a literacy and art project. The theme for the project was titled “We Are Grateful For...”, and the students focused on integrating this into their writing and art. They spent time learning outdoors to gain an appreciation for the land that we live on, and they found ways to incorporate their gratitude for nature into their work.
McMath Secondary – Impressionist Art Display
Earlier this month, a beautiful student collection of impressionist oil pastels was displayed at McMath Secondary. Students started this art project by using one of their own photographs, or an image that was inspired by spring. During the creative process, students learned how to use the elements and principles of design to represent the genre of Impressionism and create a meaningful image.
Westwind Elementary - Student Reflections on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Students at Westwind Elementary recently showed their thoughts on equity, diversity, and inclusion through graphic images that they created. Students focused on the topic: what we need to “unlearn” and challenged their thinking by using design to uncover a variety of personal biases. This activity allowed students to engage a deeper level of learning, while developing their creative thinking and problem-solving skills to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world.
Mitchell Elementary – Artist Study
Students at Mitchell Elementary recently completed an extensive artist study on the Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak. Students began with a mirrored tracing and watercolor image that they chose from the many beautiful works of Ashevak. After learning more about the transfer and copying art style that Ashevak was famous for, the students made cardboard relief images using colored pencil rubbings to transfer the images. Students then covered the cardboard relief image in tin foil and used washable markers to color and transfer the image onto the final prints. The project was completed when the class did a rounded cardboard monoprint on to a larger classroom collaborative project.
Brighouse Elementary – Garden Project
Thanks to the help from the district grounds crew, Brighouse Elementary recently installed a brand-new garden with 10 raised garden beds and a beautiful arbor at its entrance. Each year, the school has a large number of classes that eagerly participate in the school’s gardening program. In collaboration with Urban Bounty, students have been learning about plant identification, composting, earthworms, mason bees, the plant life cycle, and even the surprising benefits of weeds. Students took part in nurturing the school garden by planting, weeding, and watering a wide variety of produce outdoors. Some students painted rocks to be used as beautiful garden markers. Another group of students learned how to build mason bee houses. In addition, the school has a new Dig and Play area where students are invited to use trowels, pots, pans, and baking trays to dig, scoop and stir dirt and mud while using their imagination to explore, play, and discover together.
