Orange Shirt Day (Truth and Reconciliation Day)

 
Annually, on September 30th, communities across Canada come together to acknowledge the Residential School experience through National Day for Truth and Reconciliation or “Orange Shirt Day”. We honour the healing journey of those affected. We join all of Canada in the commitment to reconciliation and the affirmation of “Every Child Matters”. This year we will acknowledge this day on Tuesday September 30th at Clanmore. 

To honour this day, we the Clanmore Community have decided to focus on learning from the past to inform the future. As such, we have decided to do the following:

Early Childhood – As with every holiday or special day at the preschool level, this day will be done in a very gentle and age-appropriate way for the students. It will still be a normal day in the classroom in order to keep their routine. The children might be read a story or listen to songs that highlight Indigenous voices. For Casa students in particular we are not asking them to wear an orange shirt as that breaks up their routine of wearing a uniform everyday. Our aim is not to ignore special holidays, but to celebrate or acknowledge them in a way that is appropriate and meaningful to the children.
 
Lower/Upper Elementary – Within the Elementary program, the children will be introduced to the meaning behind Orange Shirt Day, which is Truth and Reconciliation​ as well as the motto “Every Child Matters”. In Lower Elementary we will discuss the importance of every child having a voice and that they are important. In Upper Elementary we will be discussing the importance of this day through a historical perspective with age-appropriate language. Your child is welcome to wear an orange shirt to commemorate this day (but it is not mandatory)

Middle School – At the Middle School level students are invited to wear an orange shirt to recognize and raise awareness of the history of the residential school system in Canada. Students will be given an opportunity to discuss the effects of residential schools, and will gain an awareness of the truth and reconciliation process. Orange Shirt Day will be recognized as a day of observation and remembrance. We will be taking the opportunity to watch and discuss Episode 2 of 8th Fire, which is a four part CBC documentary examining issues affecting Indigenous peoples in Canada. As the school year continues, students will dig deeper into issues through Humanities Units, at which time discussions will include land claims, modern Indigenous voices, residential schools, and truth and reconciliation