Recognizing Veteran’s Week and Remembrance Day
Students and staff throughout SD83 will be taking part in Remembrance Day activities and ceremonies this week, including researching and presenting information about family members who served.
For example, at M.V. Beattie Elementary in Enderby, activities and projects for Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day are well under way. “All of our staff recognize the importance of this day and the freedoms that our veterans have afforded us. There have been many classroom discussions,” explains Vice-Principal Morgen MacDonald.
Artwork created by students is around the school. On November 8 the morning announcements featured information about Indigenous Veterans, and then on November 10, a powerful presentation put together by the school’s three Grade 5/6 classes will be shared with all the other classes in the school.
Due to COVID-19, the school will not be doing an in-person assembly. However, on Wednesday, November 10th, they will be making an announcement over the PA system during which classes will sing “O Canada”. This will be followed by one minute of silence and the playing of the Last Post. Classroom teachers will show the presentation, which will include the Grade 5/6 students doing a reading of “In Flanders Field” as well as students sharing stories about family members who have, or are, serving.
One of the classes, taught by Brent Huntington, has spent the past two weeks learning about Remembrance Day and researching about family members who served. They also had a guest speaker (a parent) come and talk to them about their family’s story. The students who had family stories to share were then recorded for the Remembrance Day ceremony presentation.