Students in the Grade 5 classroom, taught by Tammy-Lynn Boivin, received an award for their video about inclusivity and diversity in the ‘Together We’re Better’ contest, presented by Community Living Algoma.
Every February, as part of Inclusive Education Month, CLA launches their contest. Schools and students, from kindergarten to Grade 12 across Algoma, are encouraged to share examples of how inclusion is evident in their schools. Two Algoma classrooms were selected as this year’s award recipients. Our Lady of Lourdes French Immersion Catholic School in Elliot Lake received an award at an assembly in May.
““The Education Committee, who reviewed the entries, was pleased to see the effort that Madame Boivin and the entire classroom put forward to ensure that not only did they have an inspiring song about inclusion and diversity, everyone in the classroom played a role in relaying that information,” said Sergio Iacoe, Manager of Inclusion at CLA in a news release.
“We were impressed with the various ways that they carried their message through spoken word, visuals and sign language and it was sung beautifully.”
The Grade 5 submission was a video presentation entitled "On est tous pareils" ("We’re All the Same"). Each student received a certificate of recognition, from CLA, with the school also receiving a certificate recognizing their role in promoting and fulfilling an inclusive school environment.
“I am very proud that our Grade 5 class was able to share this message that reminds us of the importance of respecting diversity and inclusion at school and as citizens in our community. It is a message that the teachers and students at École Saint Joseph believe in and which will continue to be promoted and taught,” said Julie Chenard-Azzi, principal at École Saint-Joseph.
The submission was an assignment that worked within the curriculum.
“By integrating this contest in our religion class, we reminded students that we are all children of God, loved and accepted by all despite our differences. The art class also allowed them to express their appreciation of our differences by singing. The students truly enjoyed the project and being accompanied on the piano by retired teacher Joanne Lajeunesse when singing” said Boivin.
The class submission is available for viewing here. YouTube Prize money, which is awarded as a gift card, will be applied towards a special luncheon, for the class at the 17 Restaurant in Blind River, as selected by the school.