Orange Shirt Day (September 30) is one of the visible ways our District strives to highlight our shared history in Canada and honour those who attended residential schools.
Every year, teachers, staff and students wear orange shirts to both acknowledge the day and reinforce that every child matters.
This year Burnaby Schools recognized Orange Shirt Day in a variety of ways. Examples include school assemblies with musical performances, spoken word, media presentations by students, staff, and guests to promote understanding, and reflection. The discussions help build students鈥 understanding of the history of residential schools in Canada.
Of particular note this year was an event hosted by the Indigenous Leadership Class at Burnaby South Secondary. They created their own video explaining the experience of youth in residential schools that will be shown in each classroom.聽Teachers prepared lessons to support the information in the video.
and has since spread to schools across Canada. School Districts ask students to wear orange as a way to honour 鈥淧hyllis鈥 story鈥 and generate discussion. Phyllis is from the Stswecem鈥檆 Xgat鈥檛em First Nation. As a young girl, she had her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day at a residential school in Mission, BC. The day is also a way to come together as a community in the spirit of reconciliation, particularly as it relates to residential schools.
- A deep commitment to reconciliation is a key part of our new strategic plan. Read the plan here
- Watch
- Learn about some of the art projects Burnaby Schools initiated to celebrate and honour Indigenous culture within their communities
Posted September 2019