Little things make a difference. It is a simple but big idea, and I watched it unfold over the last several weeks with profound outcomes. On Thursday, over a hundred new immigrants to Canada greeted our Grade 6 students in a ceremonial event that deeply impacted everyone.
When I first designed the centres for this unit titled A Better Life, the goal was for students to investigate a lot of different perspectives on immigration in general and to Canada specifically, as per the Ontario Curriculum. Each learning centre in my Individuals and Societies class was designed to reflect a different concept or skill, and the student's “passports” were stamped after the completion of each centre with their “exit tickets” written to encapsulate the take-aways. It was a self-directed form of learning that proved to build schema around the plight of immigrants.
I had revisited some centres from last year’s unit, but I added a few new ones. The prompt for each centre was a piece of text from an immigrant experience in Canada. There was a photograph analysis centre, one to decorate the t-shirts that a comfort object like a bear or doll would could wear with reassuring messages. One writing centre was a journal entry from the perspective of someone on a boat or plane crossing the ocean to Canada. The reading centre contained picture books such as:
Out by Angela May George and Owen Swan
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Pollaco
Stepping Stones by Margaret Ruurs and illustrated by Nizar Ali Badr
How My Parents learned to Eat, by Ina Friedman
The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland
Brothers in Hope by Mary Luana Williams and a few more
Finally, there was the welcome cards centre. I wanted students to create welcome cards that would make newcomers feel embraced in a strange and new land. Some of the kids even spent time drawing images like the Tim Horton’s or Beaver Tails logos, landmarks like the CN Tower or other vistas from the Canadian landscape. The cards were heartfelt, so I thought they needed to have a real audience.
I wasn’t exactly sure where to begin. First, I called our MP. That office suggested that I call the city, who after a few more calls led me to the Welcome Centre. I had seen this particular place many times, but had never processes what it was. It turns out that Canada has a Welcome Centre for immigrant services in most major cities. I spoke to the manager who agreed to let me drop off the cards.
When I arrived, I was surprised by how clean and organized everything was. There were people mulling about on the computer, some at the counter asking questions about homes and jobs, classrooms that were full of English language learners, and a pleasant feeling came over me. I left my information on a sticky note on top of the pile of cards wanting to ensure that the manager, Ann, had received them, and left them with a woman at the reception desk.
I was surprised when the manager, Ann, wrote me the next day. She was amazed by the cards and wanted the students to come visit the centre in order to read them out to the clients. She even offered to partner with us to find the money. That was enough motivation to make it happen and, with enthusiasm from my teaching partner, the help of Jody, our Dean of Academic Development and Cheryl, Assistant to the Principal, we had a bus booked by the end of the week and a letter went out to parents asking permission to go on the trip. It was a quick collaboration.
The day before the trip, Ann called to review the timeline. As we discussed our departure and arrival time, she told me that she had a few surprises for the students, including the fact that the mayor of Richmond Hill, David Barrow, would be coming. I was surprised by the hoopla, but excited for our students to see how important their small contribution was to the newcomers.
I was curious when Ann called again later that day later that day. She actually shocked me when I picked up my cell phone. She told me that the media was coming to cover the event. “Event?” I questioned. “My students were just writing to newcomers to welcome them and read their cards. I don’t understand why this is newsworthy, “ I said to her. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I really didn’t understand why this was such a big deal. She proceeded to go through the details of telling me that each of my students required media release forms and that the ones signed by their parents at the beginning of the school year only covered in-school activities. Cheryl was incredible and stayed late to help make this happen for everyone. The next day, there was another surprise.
“Don’t freak out,” my vice principal said when she pulled me out of class around 11:00. “Audra Brown from City News is on her way to school to interview the kids before you go to the Welcome Centre this afternoon.” I curbed by enthusiasm as best as I could and went back to teaching. My mind was racing through all the details that had to be accomplished before she arrived. My teaching partner, Michelle, got the Art Room ready with supplies so Audra could capture the students in action making cards (even though their actual cards were already at the centre). The Grade 6’s came down to “relive” the card making experience in front of the camera. The new cards were also heartfelt. A few of them were even filmed reading their new cards out.
No matter how many ways you check in with learners, you often don’t know what resonates with them until they retell it to someone else, like a reporter. I really didn’t know what they would do off the cuff, but it was wonderful. One student mentioned the word mosaic; another student used the content of our national anthem to make the reader feel truly a part of the country. Still others expressed that they wanted the readers to know they were truly welcome and that their contributions are what make this country great. After the pre-visit, it was time to board the bus.
Our school is only 15 minutes away from the Welcome Centre, but we were immediately transported when we arrived. I went in first to see if they were ready for us and was amazed to see that people were gathering in a large room (the size of a few classrooms). There were 35 chairs around a podium with a row of reserved seats in front. “All this for us?” I wondered. I was so puzzled.
I led the students from the bus to their seats in the board room. They, too, were surprised to be facing this audience of newcomers who lined the second half of the room standing, sitting on chairs or even on the floor. Audra interviewed a few of the students who were going to read their cards to the crowd. The fanfare was chocking me up. When the mayor arrived, the ceremony began.
The new manager of the centre spoke. Ann had just retired and Adelina had just taken over. She introduced the Mayor. They mentioned why this was so significant and how, in the climate of world events and opinions, this was an important day. Mr. Barrow noted that it is these children that will make a difference in our country with their open minds and hearts. I sat there listening to each of the ten selected students proudly read their cards, and then I turned around to see how they were being received. I was so honoured to be a part of this for reasons I can only begin to express. We were presented with plaques for each of our classrooms and one for the school. The students received little gift bags and used the pads of paper from inside for the mayor’s autograph. It was a quite a scene in front of the newly painted Canada 150 mural celebrating the best of our country. I am so proud to be Canadian.
When we returned to school, a few colleagues came to ask the students about the experience. Their interest in the trip gave way for the students to share the experience in detail which really did solidify that this day meant something to everyone. When the students were dismissed, I wondered how City TV would retell this. I worried that the news would somehow detract from this powerful experience.
I was joyfully wrong. I had just arrived home to see the teaser. After the commercial break, our story would be told. Audra Brown did an amazing job narrating the story with clips from student readings and responses along with reactions from newcomers. She condensed so much in the 2 minute video (scroll down)
I received a few emails from parents thanking me for the experience, but it was Ann and the new manager, Adelina, from the Welcome Centre that made all of this happen. They understood the power of the student’s small gestures of kindness and outstretched arms. They made this into a big deal because, for the newcomers, it was a big deal. They had been through so much on their long journey to Canada and through the arduous immigration process, but their journey was not yet over. There were still jobs to find, long term places to live required, English to learn and acclimatizing to take place. It is often little pebbles that make biggest ripples. Ann saw that from the start, and she wanted to invite us there to the thank us. Now, our students’ cards will be hanging in the front of the Welcome Centre to add a personalizing touch to the facility and show the newcomers that they truly are a welcomed addition to our beautiful landscape.
A few months later, on June 16th, the Welcome Centre added another gift to the already abundant treasure. They sent us pictures of the curated displays where the students' cards become even more than what they were intended to be. They became art. The students' letters were enhanced with decorations by the newcomers and the displays were framed. They will be on display at the Richmond Hill Immigration Centre for Canada’s 150th.
I couldn't have been more blown away. This began as a search for an authentic audience and became a meaningful gift that keeps on giving to our students, our school and, of course, the newcomers to Richmond Hill who will be greeted with these beautiful displays when they enter the Welcome Centre. The grade 6's ended the school year with a unit titled We're All in This Together, and we truly are. This experience will forever be woven into the tapestry of my greatest memories as an educator. What a great way to celebrate #Canada150.