Birch Cliff PS students signing “Just One Candle”.
With the festive season upon us, students at Birch Cliff Public School are spending the last few weeks of the term learning about holidays celebrated by a variety of faiths and cultures.
In addition to Christmas, the school is acknowledging different religious and secular holidays that share the common theme of light, including Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and St. Lucia Day.
“We’re looking at a city that we live in that’s extremely diverse,” said principal Heather Cairns. “So while it may not necessarily be something that a predominant portion of our school community celebrates, our students live in the city of Toronto, which is in and of itself very diverse, and if they’re not exposed at this time to someone who’s celebrating, the chances are that they will be.”
Birch Cliff PS students made pledges on candles
Members of the student council came up with the diversity initiative’s theme of “letting your light shine” or “letting the light in”. The hallways are full of displays celebrating the theme as well as craft projects featuring different religions and cultures.
Every student in the school has written a pledge on how they plan to bring light into the lives of others over the holidays
Menorah at Birch Cliff PS.
Ruby, a seventh-grade student who is 12 years old, said she’s learned quite a bit about Hanukkah and thinks inclusiveness is important.
“Maybe people who celebrate other holidays that are maybe not recognized as much as Christmas, it probably makes them feel more special and more included that their holidays and their celebrations and their traditions are being shared upon other people as well,” Ruby said.
12-year old Paula, who is also in the seventh grade, said the theme is especially relevant because of COVID-19.
“I think letting in the light during COVID is important because obviously you aren’t able to really get together with a lot of friends or family,” Paula said. “A lot of people are, for example, losing their jobs because of COVID. And if you just do something small it can make a big difference because the more people that do even just something small, it can make a big impact, like for example donating to the food bank.”
Grade 2 student, Phillip, was happy to share his newfound knowledge about other traditions, especially when it comes to St. Lucia Day. “The candles are on the people’s heads!”, he said.
Students in the primary grades have been taught to perform the song “Just One Candle” in sign language by music, drama, and dance teacher Amy Ribble.
“My motto in the music room now is signing is the new singing,” said Ribble, who’s become even more creative than usual now that singing is not allowed at TDSB schools because of COVID-19.
It gets them kinesthetically involved in what we’re learning and teaches them another language. And it’s beautiful when it’s put to music.
Principal Cairns said parents were asked quite some time ago to share their holiday celebrations with the school to ensure everyone felt included. She said feedback from families has been great.
She also noted that the celebration of light theme was planned before last month’s discovery of hateful graffiti etched on an exterior wall of the school.
Police said on Thursday that there are no new developments in the investigation and search for the perpetrators.
