First Nation schools join Lieutenant Governor's twinning initiative across Ont
85 schools kick off Lieutenant Governor's twinning initiative
TORONTO, April 7 /CNW/ - Eighty-five public schools throughout Ontario have been twinned with a Native school in the first phase of an initiative established by Ontario's Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable James Bartleman.
Today at an event held at Jarvis Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Mr. Bartleman was joined by Grand Chief Stan Beardy of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation; Sheila Ward, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Toronto District School Board; Doug Acton, President of the Ontario Principals' Council; and Andrew Gold, Principal of Jarvis Collegiate Institute in announcing the initiative.
"This twinning initiative will encourage Native and non-Native students to build bridges between their communities," said Mr Bartleman. "I am delighted that so many Ontario schools want to get involved."
The 85 schools, from 24 public school boards across Ontario, will launch the initiative aimed at promoting literacy among aboriginal youth. While all of the Native schools announced today are located in Ontario, Mr. Bartleman has also received requests from schools in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, and is in ongoing discussions to include Native schools from these Territories in the next phase of the program.
Over the course of the next few months, the public schools will:
- Establish a non-Native pen pal for each participating aboriginal student,
- Hold annual drives to collect used books, reference materials and musical instruments for First Nations children and young adults, and
- Host an aboriginal awareness week in participating non-Native schools each June.
"When we put our call out asking schools to take part in this program, we were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response from principals across Ontario," said Doug Acton, President of the Ontario Principals' Council. "Students are really excited to connect with others from another cultural background. It's the kind of learning opportunity that enhances the ongoing curriculum in schools."
In addition to the 85 public schools taking part in the program's first phase, another 50 public schools have expressed their interest in participating, and will be twinned with Territorial schools once those schools have been finalized.
"Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) is extremely pleased to be part of the Lieutenant Governor's twinning initiative. It not only focuses on the awareness and understanding at the institutional or school level, but also makes a difference by pairing and involving students at the individual level," said NAN Grand Chief Stan Beardy. "This interaction and communication will go a long way in helping to sensitize young people in urban and northern communities."
"In addition," he continued, "the replenishing of books and the annual Aboriginal days will encourage involvement among young people. Promoting literacy will lead to increased educational aspirations, and an improvement in the quality of life for our community members."
The Ontario Principals' Council is a voluntary professional association representing 5,000 principals and vice-principals in Ontario's public elementary and secondary schools. Established in 1998, OPC advocates on behalf of public education and provides professional supports to its Members.
Note - a list of all participating First Nation schools follows.
Lieutenant Governor's Twinning Initiative
The following schools will participate in the first phase of the twinning initiative:
- JR Nakogee Elementary School
- Michikan Lake School
- White Pine Ridge School
- Titotay Memorial School
- Dokis Indian Day School
- Aglace Chapman Education Centre
- Gabbius Goodman Memorial Learning Ctre
- Vezina Secondary School and Vezina Adult Education
- Lydia Lois Beardy Memorial School
- Biinjiti-waabik Zaaging School
- Kettle & Stoney Point Hillside School
- Migisi Sahgaigun School
- Missabay Community School
- S.G.E.I. School
- Delores D. Echum Composite School
- Wiiji Nimbawiyaang
- Walpole Island Elementary School
- Eenchokay Birchstick School
- Standing Stone School
- Moravian Town Kindergarten
- Standing Stone School
- Pelican Falls High School
- Wasse Abin High School
- Pontiac Elementary School
- David Kejick School
- Simon Jacob Memorial School
- Beedaban School
- Netamisakomik Centre for Education
- Pic Mobert Private High School
- John C. Yesno Education Centre
- Shawanowsowe School
- Thomas Fiddler Memorial High School
- Adults in Motion
- Chief Simeon Mckay Education Centre
- St. Andrews School
- The Georgina Island Indian Day School
- Niimki Miigizi Secondary School
- Miigizi Wazisin Elementary School
- Pic River Elementary School
- Baibombeh School
- Nibinimik Education Centre
- Bimaychikamah School
- Beausoleil Adult Learning Centre
- Keewaywin First Nation School
- Kinomaugew-gamik Elementary School
- Constance Lake Day School
- Kenjewin Teg High School
- M'Chigeeng Literacy and Basic Skills Program (Adult Learning Centre)
- Kenjewin Teg Alternative
- Laura Mckenzie Learning Centre
- Victoria Linklater Memorial School
- Rev. Eleazar Winter Memorial School
- Pegamigaabo School
- Samson Beardy Memorial School
- Neskantaga Education Centre
- Native Sena School
- Wapshki Penasi School
- Northern Eagle High School
- Peetabeck Academy - Elementary
- Oliver M. Smith- Kawenni: IO Elementary School
- Mary Ann Aganash Memorial School
- Sakatcheway Anishinaabe School
- Lakeview Public School
- Tsi Snaihne Davey School
- Batchewana Learning Centre
- Francine J Wesley Secondary School
- Lloyd S. King Elementary School
- Waninitawa-gang (Chief Cornerstone Christian School)
- Wasauksing Kinomaugew-gamik Elementary School
- Big Island School
- Thomas Fiddler Memorial Elementary School
- Akwesasne Mohawk School
- Nbiising Secondary School
- Ma-tah-ha-mao Public School
- Constance Lake Alternative School
- Morris Thomas Memorial Christian School
- Henry Coaster Memorial School
- Constance Lake Christian School
- I L Thomas Odadrihonya-ni'ta' School
- Kana:Takon School
- Chippewas of Nawash First Nation Elementary School
- Lac La Croix High School
- Lac La Croix Elementary School
- A.Scatch Memorial School
- Martin Mckay Memorial School
For further information: please contact:
Peggy Sweeney, Ontario Principals' Council, (416) 322-6600;
Nanda Casucci-Byrne, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, (416) 325-7781;
Jenna Young, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, (807) 625-4952, (807) 628 3953 (cellular)