This week, the grade sixes were presented with the opportunity to attend our local school board's WE Day event, held at the St Clair Centre for the Arts. After hearing the messages of the various presenters, it was impossible to leave that venue without being more inspired to become a changemaker than when you'd entered.
With gratitude to the organizers, sponsors, presenters, volunteers! Here are some of the highlights from our perspective...
- Quinn Meawasige of Serpent River First Nation fired up the crowd with his message "Water Is Life" which the some 1200 audience members chanted as he streamed on Facebook Live.
- Lauren Carlini, a Gr 10 student from St Thomas of Villanova choreographed a moving dance routine.
- Carson Reaume, a 13 year old who can be seen in the upcoming movie "The Shack", sang covers of Justin Bieber, Niall Horan and Ed Sheeran. MANY were "fan girling" when he hit the stage!
- Abbey Neves, a student of Walkerville and a talented singer who has tried out for the Voice this past January, shared a powerful message of God's love.
- Krislyn Bell, an 11 year old student of St John the Baptist, wowed the audience with her powerful voice as she sang Demi Lovato's "Warrior" and Andra Day's "Rise Up".
- Spencer West is a man who climbed Mt Kilimanjaro...without legs because he had them removed when he was a child. He spoke of finding your voice, finding your team and climbing your own mountain. So very powerful.
Our own Gabriella and Madyson auditioned and were invited to present their talents to the crowd of changemakers. Gabriella belted out Adele's "Hello"....
Madyson shared her Irish jigging talents. Despite falling towards the end of the routine, she proved she has the heart of a changemaker by getting back up and finishing what she started!
When we returned to the school, I asked the students what they thought the purpose of the day might have been. Why did the WECDSB invest the time and talents and treasure to hold an event like this, on a school day and invite students at the elementary school level?
My heart bursted with shooting stars and filled with love and pride!
Once they saw past the entertainment factor and had picked themselves up from swooning over Carson Reaume, they believed WEcdsb Day was an opportunity to prove that young people CAN make a difference and this event would encourage them to do set about doing so!
And so begins a renewed vigour to make a difference, beginning in our community, with our first ever CAN-aval Film Festival that we will hold the Friday before the March Break. The students will be selling popcorn for $2 (recipient of proceeds to be determined) or 2 canned goods (which will be donated to Goodfellows). The CAN-paigning has begun with posters in the halls and continues with announcements over the PA. With a population of around 290 students, we CAN potentially collect almost 600 cans of food in one day and make a difference on Friday!
WE are learning to become changemakers. How can you?
~MissBrooks
