The Equity Committee of the Home and School Council has provided every student at Howard Jr. PS with the official Orange Shirt Day “Every Child Matters” bracelet. These bracelets will serve as a touchstone to build on the teachings that are happening at school on and around Orange Shirt Day, September 30, 2019. Teachers are using resources from the Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters organization and materials developed by the EFTO. Howard welcomes you to check Twitter for glimpses of classroom work that’s happening: @TDSB_HowardPS. We encourage students to continue conversations and learnings about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s findings and the legacy of residential schools in Canada with their trusted adults at home and within the community.
The Equity Committee is asking families to consider a donation between $2 and $5 for these bracelets. Funds raised will be used to enhance the school’s library and classroom resources that support learnings around Indigenous issues and decolonization. Donations can be made through each student’s School Cash Online account or in cash to teachers.
RESOURCES
If you’re interested in continuing the conversation at home, here are some resources:
- Read Phyllis Webstad’s story here. Phyllis took her own experience and worked to establish Orange Shirt Day, nationally marked September 30th to acknowledge the harm that the residential school system in Canada has done, honour those who survived, remember those who did not, and recognizes the ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma. It is a day to demonstrate, by wearing orange, that every child matters.
- If you’re interested in purchasing an Orange Shirt from Inuk artist Nanook Gordon Fareal who lives in Roncesvalles, please reach out via Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nanookfareal/ Proceeds from shirt sales go to support the Intergenerational Survivor Project.
- Another Story Book Shop, located at 315 Roncesvalles Ave has a full selection of books including several in French. Titles include:
- The Orange Shirt Story: The True Story of Orange Shirt Day, Phyllis Webstad
- Fatty Legs, Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
- I Am Not A Number, Jenny Kay Dupuis, Kathy Kacer, Gillian Newland
- When I was Eight, Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
- Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story, David Robertson
- When We Were Alone, David Robertson
- Stolen Words, Melanie Florence, Gabrielle Grimard
- Not My Girl, Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
- As Long As The River Flows, Larry Loyie
- Dear Canada: These are my words: The residential school diary of Violet Pesheens
- First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Governance, Simon Rose
- Fishing for Knowledge: Catching Dreams, Cindy Blackstock
- Treaties, Simon Rose
French language books:
- Les bas de pensionnat, Christy Jordan-Fenton
- Cher Journal: les mots qu’il me reste: Violet Pesheens, pensionnaire a l’ecole residentielle, Ruby Slipperjack
- Etrangere chez moi: Une histoire vraie, Christy Jordan-Fenton
- La gouverance, Simon Rose
- Je ne suis pas un numéro, Jenny Kay Dupuis, Kathy Kacer, Gillian Newland
- L’histoire du chandail orange, Phyllis Webstad
- L’intendance, Anita Yasuda
- Les mots volés, Melanie Florence, Gabrielle Grimard
- Quand j’avais huit ans, Christy Jordan-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, Gabrielle Grimard
- Spirit Bear: Pecher le savoir, attraper des reves: basé sur une histoire vraie, Cindy Blackstock, Amanda Strong
- Les traités, Simon Rose
Please click this link for the full list compiled by Another Story Bookshop: https://anotherstory.ca/?q=h.tviewer&e_def_id=3jnLtnBhteE
*Another Story Bookshop has been exceptionally helpful in lending their expertise to the Equity Committee. If you can, show your support for this wonderful local resource!
Howard Public School Council 