At Seymour Elementary we spent 7 weeks working towards a Winter Solstice Ceremony with Grades 2-4. I was fortunate to be able to work in an outdoor space with them so we embraced the cold and windy weather and created art in alignment with the seasons. They all listened to a story about Winter Solstice from my friend Michelle Pierre, an Nlaka'pamux elder.
We considered what we were grateful for, celebrated the fall harvests, thought about the value of rest, and planted seeds to grow in the coming year. We worked with natural materials to create medicine jars and wreaths. We considered the dark and light of life through self portraits and we danced in alignment with the elements.
All of this came together at a Winter Solstice Celebration that the whole school could visit during lunch.
STUDENTS QUOTES
One student walked through and said “Wow this really feels like a celebration.”
Another student remarked, “I am proud to be Metis.”
Intermediate students from Seymour and Maquinna are exploring the theme of Human Movement and Migration. Each year, thousands of people leave their home and move to a new city or country. Migration occurs for many reasons whether social, political, economic or environmental. There is often both a “push” to move to a place where living conditions are more favourable and a “pull” to remain close to family, community and culture. In our schools, many students and their families know first hand the experience of displacement, migration, exile and relocation.
Divisions 1, 2, 3 explored the theme of Human Movement and Migration. Students are creating a story around a universal wire sculpture of no particular identity. Through imagining the transition between old land and new, the past and the future, we will attempt to visually represent the space where hopes and dreams exist. Through movement studies, painting on wood, wire sculpture, photography and writing, each student will experience how art helps us to understand and gain empathy for the diverse lived experiences of those who have come to a new home. An exhibit including both art and movement elements will guide classes from both schools to follow footsteps of hope through the school ground and inspire a walk through the streets near the school. We hope the dialogue that follows will help us locate feelings of hope here in our own community!
Teacher quote:
“Photography is an incredibly calming experience for my students. I am happy to see them work with such focus.” -Seymour Teacher.