Here’s How Orange Shirt Day Was Acknowledged Across HWDSB
On Thursday, September 30, HWDSB students and staff wore orange to honour the story of Phyllis Webstad, who in the early 1970s had her orange shirt taken away on her first day at the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Residential School in British Columbia.
The orange shirt is symbolic of how Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes, families and communities to attend state and church-led schools that stripped them of their culture, language and identity. This created irreversible harm from which many families still suffer.
Orange Shirt Day now coincides with a federal statutory holiday, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. At HWDSB, this is a day for students, staff, families and community partners to reflect on the meaning of Truth and Reconciliation and our responsibility to make meaningful change.
Here’s how Orange Shirt Day was recognized across HWDSB:
Dalewood Remembers pic.twitter.com/CG2WwrFog6
— H. Stewart (@kuhnstewart) September 30, 2021
On this National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, each classroom at Lake Ave will be gifted a piece of embroidery art.
This will serve as a 365-day reminder of the importance to honour the children whose lives were lost & the survivors of Residential Schools#OrangeShirtDay2021 pic.twitter.com/b5rcHGRJBy
— Lake Avenue Public School (@avenue_lake) September 30, 2021
Deepening our understanding of Orange Shirt Day. pic.twitter.com/yGIk2dadsj
— Pauline Johnson Elementary School (@PJ_HWDSB) September 30, 2021
#OrangeShirtDay2021 pic.twitter.com/0jqHD9qOBj
— Miss. T. Filice (she/her) (@MissTFilice) September 30, 2021
#EveryChildMatters @HWDSB pic.twitter.com/G4ZyqmJI7U
— Cootes Paradise ES (@CParadise_HWDSB) September 30, 2021
Today we read many books written by Indigenous authors, explored Ojibway Clans and chose a Clan for ourselves, then practiced our writing skills to create our very own Every Child Matters poster. #TruthandReconciliationDay #EveryChildMatters @HWDSB pic.twitter.com/cPIGOuQ8Fl
— (@missmullin17) September 30, 2021
After hearing the ‘The Seven Grandfather Teachings” mentioned in our Land Acknowledgment, we have decided to dig deeper and find out what these teachings mean. We acknowledge that the teachings of Bravery, Courage, Truth, Humility, Wisdom, Love & Honesty are powerful.@hwdsb pic.twitter.com/Pie3BcLLDn
— Heather Maas (@hpmaas) September 30, 2021
Welcoming families & students to another day of learning. “Reconciliation is not a day, it’s a way of life.”
– The Right Honourable Mary May Simon @GGCanada @hwdsb #reconciliation #reconciliaction #EveryChildMatters #OrangeShirtDay2021 #orangeshirtday #OSD2021 #PhyllisWebstad pic.twitter.com/UOhOzUVnBt— Rousseau School (@Rousseau_HWDSB) September 30, 2021
So many #OrangeShirts and orange overall in 4C! We spent today honouring #TruthandReconciliationDay with a read aloud and some art. This is a topic we will continue to explore long after today. @MissA168 @HWDSB #EveryChildMatters #OrangeShirtDay2021 pic.twitter.com/55ZOWGR6fu
— Gillian Grybas (@Mrs_Grybas) September 30, 2021
In grade 2 with class 2B:
Mrs Todoruck’s Class created beautiful art work outside!
Getting ready for Truth and Reconciliation Day!@TiffanyH_HWDSB @HWDSB @CBCIndigenous pic.twitter.com/Owj6H9OwDD
— Tiffany Hills Elementary School (@TiffanyH_HWDSB) September 30, 2021
Day of Truth and Reconciliation at BCSS. A day to learn, to reflect and to mourn. Students left messages of condolences and honour on the Every Child Matters. #OrangeShirtDay pic.twitter.com/eobLiCukpi
— Bernie Custis Secondary School (@BCSS_HWDSB) September 30, 2021
This week we’ve been learning about why we wear orange on September 30th. 6B learned about Norval Morrisseau and the woodland art style. #TruthAndReconciliation @HWDSB @QueenMaryHwdsb pic.twitter.com/43Hji1A6US
— Miss Brown (@MissBrown266) September 30, 2021
We believe #EveryChildMatters @HWDSB @OP_HWDSB @KristenArmstr18 pic.twitter.com/fEIZOT883l
— Mrs. L. Robinson (@MrsLRobinson2) September 30, 2021
Our class is a sea of orange – and we continue to learn! @Rousseau_HWDSB @hwdsb #reconciliationreconciliaction #EveryChildMatters #OrangeShirtDay2021 #orangeshirtday #OSD2021 #PhyllisWebstad pic.twitter.com/nrinfhQKt4
— Fawcett’s Class (@FawcettsClass) September 30, 2021
GoRenegadesGo@Riddell_HWDSB #HWDSBcares #TruthAndReconciliation https://t.co/hNW6LusHyT
— Harold_TheHorse (@Harold_TheHorse) October 1, 2021
Orange day at Mount Hope pic.twitter.com/wKfIOsB5q4
— Mount Hope School (@MountHope_HWDSB) October 1, 2021
Messy learning is deep learning. This knowledge building classroom is building the kind of understanding that lasts. #EveryChildMatters https://t.co/nLEQrS9k6g
— Ancaster Meadow ES (@ancastermeadow) October 1, 2021
After deconstructing the history & pupose of the @HWDSB land acknowledgement for 2 wks, we reconstructed individual ones addressing our identities, personal relationship/responsibility to the land & commitment to #TruthAndReconciliation⬇️ #NationalDayforTruthandReconciliation pic.twitter.com/zYMP0QUf9k
— Parsa Shahid (পারসা শহীদ) (@ParsaShahid) September 30, 2021
On #OrangeShirtDay and the first ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation the students and staff of Cathy Wever engaged in learning to help us ‘uncover the truth’. #TruthandReconciliationDay #EveryChildMatters pic.twitter.com/7Txf5ouhOP
— Cathy Wever School (@CathyWeverHWDSB) October 1, 2021
Every Child Matters ❤️@WinonaElem pic.twitter.com/E81eNefJTr
— J. Grochot (@jamiegrochot) September 30, 2021
The @Sherwood_HWDSB LLC has many resources to help you reflect and build understanding today or any day. Come by if you’re looking for a resource. pic.twitter.com/u6hipthB3u
— Ms. Pacey (@daniellepacey) September 30, 2021
A lot of great discussions at @POW_HWDSB honouring the First National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. #OrangeShirtDay2021 #HWDSB @HWDSB pic.twitter.com/6rhyKxtv7N
— Prince of Wales ES (@POW_HWDSB) September 30, 2021
National Day of Truth and Reconciliation-we must continue our learning to truly honor the memories of those who have lost so much. pic.twitter.com/4qK7iL5SsK
— Balaclava School (@Balaclava_HWDSB) September 30, 2021
Thank you to Ms Doyle’s grade 2s for this moment to pause in the hall. Let’s reflect on this symbolism as we pause tomorrow for National Day For Truth and Reconciliation. pic.twitter.com/yVqEdnA8n1
— Ancaster Meadow ES (@ancastermeadow) September 30, 2021
Updated on Friday, October 01, 2021.