Xpey’ means cedar in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language of the Musqueam people. Xpey’ is an Indigenous Focus Choice School on the East Side of the City of Vancouver whose goals are to nurture social emotional learning and foster pride in and knowledge of Indigenous culture, language and ancestry. The vision at Xpey’ is to foster academic excellence, …
“I live my life in widening circles that reach out across the world.” Rainer Maria Rilke At Britannia this week, our circles of self-knowledge, expression and community expanded. As one student concluded, “ I learned how to use my voice.” These voices now ripple beyond the classroom, can cross borders and be heard by communities …
Widening Circles: Britannia’s Youth Speak Through Their Art Read More »
“Just one, small, positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” Dalai Lama As we gathered in our morning community circle at Britannia Elementary, we placed intentions on the day. For many, intention was a new word. Elder Amanda’s intention was that everyone realize how truly unique and gifted they are, that each …
Art. The kind of magic that happens when a blank page becomes a celebration, when separate strands come together and are woven into something strong, magnificent and meaningful. Art is a great teacher. In the morning, the youth at Britannia, and the teachers too, learned from Quebec artist Deirdre Potash that it was OK to …
Goosebumps. I get them when I experience something that moves me deeply. Today was a goosebump kind of day. Today marked the return of youthLEADarts artists to classrooms, in person. Today we got to once again sit in a circle, in ceremony with students and connect face to face, idea to idea, inspiration to inspiration…in …
LEADing With Words: youthLEADarts Poets at Britannia Elementary Read More »
Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day across Turtle Island. youthLEADarts is excited to once again share this video with you. It was written, filmed, edited, acted in and produced by youth who participated in our national on-line program this past February. Youth immersed themselves in art activities that explored breaking down stereotypes, encouraged them to …
Take that Kanata! Youth Raise Their Voices for National Indigenous Peoples Day Read More »
Reading and writing poetry are powerful ways to share your voice. April was National Poetry Month, thirty days set aside to celebrate the joy, expressiveness and pure delight of words and how they can capture the human experience. But why confine poetry to just 30 days of celebrations? Poems can be structured or unstructured, curve …
April has been National Poetry Month and while you may not have honed your haikus or penned some quirky quatrains there is still time to celebrate! Thursday, April 29th is Poem in Your Pocket Day, a fantastic way to share your favourite verses! PIYP is an international movement that encourages folks to invite poetry into …
*Note to Our Followers* We are waiting with bated breath for the Final Videos of the Students to be released publically. As soon as we have them, they will be posted!!!! (Today’s Blog is Written by Lori Sherritt-Fleming) “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles to be sure, but …
(Today’s Blog is written by word-smith Lori Sherritt-Fleming) Shelley MacDonald opened one of this week’s youthLEADarts sessions with words of gratitude. She said, she could really see, in the language of her Mi’kmaq ancestors, that the students were coming alive, ‘mimaju’aq’. Indeed, this week, we have all witnessed students coming alive, coming into the power …