School program promotes feel-good initiatives
Nov 21, 2009 - 04:30 AM
By Crystal Crimi
AJAX -- Ajax schools have heart, all 23 of them.
And to share what keeps those hearts pumping out goodness, four representatives from each school recently gathered at Lincoln Alexander Public School.
In a gymnasium full of displays featuring medicine wheels, pictures of courage workshops, bead necklace making, diversity dolls, statues, masks, and more, students from each Ajax public school spoke about their school's initiatives and collected ideas from others.
"People did similar things as to what our school did," said Samantha Forstner of Southwood Park Public School, standing in front of her school's display.
She also took note of a peer awareness idea which promotes equity, and a violence prevention program.
"I really like the eco club personally because I'm a big tree hugger," said her partner, Courtney Johnston, Grade 8.
An idea for Halloween for Hunger stood out to Samantha as well. Through it, students receive a discount to the price of admission to the school's dance for a food donation.
"I love the fact that students get to share and learn with each other," said Sharon Guest, vice principal at Applecroft Public School. This is the second time she's attended the Heart of Ajax.
The event allows them to share with other students the projects they've been working on which surround character education, diversity education, and equity.
Ajax High School had a globe of different flags to represent the school's multiculturalism.
"There's probably over 40 different countries represented in our school," said Naomi McKail, a 17-year-old Ajax High School student.
Their multicultural club tries to host different events each month such as Octoberfest for October, with root beer and sausages.
"Ontario's kind of like a quilt," she added.
At the Vimy Ridge Public School booth, nine-year-old Kaleigh Soda and her assistant Dev Patel held up copies of the diversity dolls.
"Mine is half Canadian, half Italian, and half Irish," Kaleigh said. Her doll wore an Irish skirt, a Canadian shirt, and held an Italian flag.
They also spoke about the school's Big Idea project.
Through it, they try to relate everything they do at school to their Big Ideas Wheel.
"This is a brand new school so it's very exciting," said teacher Elaine Young.
The school's staff had a committee establish the Big Ideas Wheel, which features levels for the world, the community, and one's self.
"To teach them we can be heroes in our everyday lives, just by being kind and showing these characteristics," Ms. Young said. She teaches Grades 1 and 2 and does the Students Together Against Racism (STAR) program.
She chose Kaleigh and Dev to attend the event because they're both involved in STAR and have really incorporated the big ideas and everyday heroes into their lives.
Students participating in the Heart of Ajax event bring back new ideas collected at the event to share with their own school.
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