York Catholic students and staff honour Canadian heroes on Remembrance Day
Throughout Veterans’ Week and Remembrance Day, staff and students at the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) remembered and honoured our Canadian veterans, and those who continue to serve. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Students and staff honoured our brave Canadian heroes through artwork, displays, activities and virtual liturgies, to let them know that we remember their bravery, their selflessness and their sacrifices to serve and protect our country. Take a look below to see how our schools honoured this day or follow @YCDSB on Twitter.
Corpus Christi CES
Grade 6 students at Corpus Christi CES in Richmond Hill, honoured Remembrance Day by creating mixed media art displays.
Father Bressani CHS
Grade 10 drama students at Father Bressani CHS in Woodbridge, volunteered to create the school’s virtual Remembrance Day memorial about, “The Unknown Soldier.”
Who is “The Unknown Soldier?”
There are too many unidentified soldiers. Too many soldiers that have died, and their bodies not able to be brought back to their home country. There are no graves for these soldiers, but the families needed somewhere they could go and mourn. Throughout history, many soldiers have died in war with their remains being unidentified. Following World War I, a movement arose to honour these soldiers with a single tomb, containing the body of one such unidentified soldier.
Watch the school’s virtual Remembrance Day memorial:
Our Lady of Grace CES
Students at staff at Our Lady of Grace CES in Aurora learned about the importance of poppies and why we wear them. Students painted poppies on rocks that were displayed in local community spaces in honour of Remembrance Day, including the Aurora Cenotaph, mailboxes, trails and more.
Students and staff at Pope Francis CES in Kleinburg, honoured Remembrance Day through artwork. Students put their creativity to the test and produced photographs, drawings and paintings of poppies.
Students and staff at St. Angela of Merici CES in Woodbridge, created Remembrance Day displays throughout the school to serve as a reminder of the bravery and sacrifices of our brave Canadian heroes. Students created their own Remembrance Day wreaths, poems and wrote letters to The Royal Canadian Legion.
Grade 10 drama students at St. Augustine CHS in Markham, put together a Poems of War presentation in honour of brave Canadian heroes.
St. Brendan CES
Students and staff at St. Brendan CES in Whitchurch-Stouffville, united in prayer to remember those who have fought to give us our freedom at their virtual Remembrance Day liturgy. Throughout this week, students and staff learned about the significance of the poppy and created their own versions of poppies through different artistic mediums and styles.
St. Brother Andre CHS
Students at St. Brother Andre CHS in Markham, worked on their fine motor skills by making tissue paper poppies as they learned about the importance of why we wear poppies.
Grade 7 students at St. Cecilia CES in Maple, led a virtual Remembrance Day ceremony where they taped themselves reading and singing in remembrance of brave Canadian heroes. Lieutenant Colonel John Studiner also recorded a special message for students and talked about his role in the National Guard and his experience serving his country.
Last school year, the Crochet Club at St. Charles Garnier CES in Richmond Hill, crocheted poppies to sell for this year’s Remembrance Day. The club wanted its school community to wear the crocheted poppy with pride and to raise money for The Royal Canadian Legion. The poppies sold for $5 each and together, students raised $350.
The school’s Crochet Club is open to beginners and advanced crochet members. At the student club, students learn and gain fine-motor, mathematical numeration and patterning skills, all the while having fun!
Students at St. Clare CES in Woodbridge, honoured Remembrance Day through agamograph art.
St. Elizabeth CHS
St. Elizabeth CHS in Thornhill, honoured Remembrance Day with videos, prayers and a moment of silence. In addition, the Last Post and the “Sound of Music” performance were performed by music students in the Regional Arts Program (RAP).
St. Justin Martyr CES
English as a Second Language (ESL) learners at St. Justin Martyr CES in Unionville, honoured Remembrance Day with a handmade display with reminders, bible verses and artwork.
Students at St. Mary CES in Nobleton, honoured Remembrance Day by creating decorative rocks that were displayed at the school as a reminder of the brave Canadian heroes and their sacrifices for this country.
Students and staff at St. Mary Immaculate CES in Richmond Hill, honoured Remembrance Day by decorating the school’s front garden with Canadian flags, crucifixes and decorated rocks.
Kindergarten students at St. Nicholas CES in Newmarket took photographs of their hands holding handmade poppies representing every son, daughter, grandchild, sister, uncle, mom and dad who have served, and continue to serve, our country. The photographs are displayed with poppies connecting to each other.
St. Patrick CES in Markham honoured and recognized Remembrance Day through a variety of artwork. Students learned about the importance of why we wear a poppy and created artwork displays of poppies and poppy fields.
Following their school’s Remembrance Day ceremony, students at St. Theresa of Lisieux CHS in Richmond Hill, were inspired to design and write postcards for a veteran at Baycrest Seniors Home in honour of his service.