NPSC Students Remember and Reflect
Posted on 11/12/2023
Throughout the week of November 6-10, NPSC students took part in various activities that were designed to inspire, educate and reflect through faith, on the freedoms and peace we have as Canadians. Students and staff took special time to remember and honour Canadians who have served, continue to serve and all who sacrificed for us so may we have what we have today.
The week saw various activities, from art workshops and group paintings to classroom community speakers and school-wide assemblies. At St. Gregory School in Powassan, Mrs. Caven’s Gr. 4/5 class participated in a “read aloud” of The Eleventh Hour, by Jacques Goldstyn. The story follows two childhood friends, born and raised in the same city on the same day, but two minutes apart, who go to war in Europe during the First World War.
The class clung to each page, watching the lives of these two young men unfold, while witnessing the tragedies that war can leave on not just a continent but on a friendship. The read aloud concluded with Mrs. Caven’s students creating memorial pennants with descriptive adjectives for soldiers and Remembrance Day. St. Gregory was host to CTV News Northern Ontario, who captured all of the learning and reflecting on the evening news. You can find the write up of the story and the corresponding news video here!
St. Joseph-Scollard Hall CSS (SJSH) also held their annual Remembrance Day Service on November 10. The service was hosted by the SJSH Arts Department and it included tribute performances by Mwka Doodem, the SJSH band and the dance team, with drama presentations and visual art pieces as well. The Remembrance Day service also featured a presentation by Major Carter of the Royal Canadian Airforce, highlighting the service and sacrifices made by the many who came before us, his journey around the world in the service for Canada, and the peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts that continue today. This service continued to pay special tribute to the Scollard 31, who were students that fought in World War II and tragically never returned home. Students are able to pay tribute and honour the Scollard 31 in the new grotto and the memorial plaque commissioned (pictured below), which now proudly rests inside a courtyard at SJSH for future generations of students to see.
As a Catholic Faith community, we continue to pray for those who have and continue to serve our beautiful country.
Lest we forget.