During the 2023-2024 school year, St. Margaret’s PS, as part of the Black Student Success and Excellence initiative, worked to involve learners in activities that best represent their multiple identities and lived experiences. Students were encouraged to think critically about anti-Black racism and social issues within their community and the world. In addition, staff at St. Margaret's PS worked to create brave spaces to interrogate and discuss racism, and to support students to take their learning beyond the classroom and into the realm of social action.
Moreover, to ground critical consciousness, students were involved in a variety of activities involving music and dance. These experiences included the Hip-Hop Education Initiative. At St. Margaret’s PS, Hip-Hop was discussed as critical pedagogy and an authentic form of storytelling to share the aspirations, experiences and dreams of students. Through the exploration of Hip-Hop, students made connections to themes of family, lived experiences and community. Students engaged in creative writing, beat and instrumental music making, and recording, as they celebrated Hip-Hop as an art form.
In addition to the Hip-Hop Education initiative, students explored making music with steel pans and learned about different artistic genres including Spoken Word Poetry and Cuban-Brazilian drumming. The Grade 7 and 8 students explored the novel “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” where they connected with the main character’s struggles and journey of self-discovery inspiring them to create their own A.I. presentations showcasing their interests and passions.
The school’s Black Student Alliance has been running for the past 3 years. This year, they engaged in a series of virtual sessions focused on Black Mental Health. They discussed why mental health is important to prioritize, resources for Black students and where to go for support. Additional initiatives included a Gr. 5 & 6 research project where students researched noteworthy Black Canadians.
Inquiry Question: What happens for Black students and the communities that support them when we intentionally ground critical consciousness into students' learning experiences/opportunities at St. Margaret’s PS?