SD 42 students mark Black History Month with activities, readings and information sessions

February is marked as Black History Month, and students from School District 42 (SD42), have been honouring the legacy of Black Canadians with a variety of events and activities all throughout the month.

Kanaka Creek Elementary students kicked off Black History Month with an assembly, where students read We All Belong by Alex and Nathalie Goss. A display has also been set up in the school library, to learn more about other prominent civil rights activists.

At Davie Jones Elementary, students learned about the accomplishments and contributions made by Black Canadians to Canada, during a Black Excellence Walk at Westview Secondary.

“They used posters and worksheets created by teachers at Westview,” said Cathryn Blanco, principal of Davie Jones elementary. “The students walked through the school and learned about the achievements of Canadians with African heritage.”

Students at Davie Jones also learned about the symbolism behind African masks and the influence they have had on the works of artists like Pablo Picasso and Andre Derain.

At Yennadon Elementary, Grade 3 students read Meet Viola Desmond by Elizabeth MacLeod, and learned about Desmond’s fight for racial equality in Canada.

“Students learned that Viola Desmond is now on the $10 dollar bill,” said Yennadon principal Lisa Lawrance. “Students were tasked to design a flag, monument, stamp, or other item.”

Students from Alexander Robinson, Whonnock, and Hammond elementary schools, also learned about Desmond and other civil rights activists, like Ruby Bridges.

Elsewhere, Maple Ridge Museum shared learning resources for kids, that can be accessed by visiting, https://bcblackhistory.ca/…/education-guides-and…/. Fraser Valley Regional Library also shared a list of books that would be great reads for the month.

Earlier this month, Stats Canada released data specific to Canada’s Black population and noted that the Black History Month was an opportunity to highlight contributions and accomplishments of Black Canadians and their communities.

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