On Wednesday, September 30, CMS will be commemorating Orange Shirt Day. Staff will be wearing orange shirts as a symbol of our commitment to reconciliation. Teachers will be having conversations with classes about the history of residential schools in Canada and their on-going impact. We invite students to join us in wearing an orange shirt.
(the following quotes are from https://www.orangeshirtday.org/about-us.html )
“The annual Orange Shirt Day on September 30th opens the door to global conversation on all aspects of Residential Schools. It is an opportunity to create meaningful discussion about the effects of Residential Schools and the legacy they have left behind. A discussion all Canadians can tune into and create bridges with each other for reconciliation. A day for survivors to be reaffirmed that they matter, and so do those that have been affected. Every Child Matters, even if they are an adult, from now on.”
“The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. It is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.”
“On this day of September 30th, we call upon humanity to listen with open ears to the stories of survivors and their families, and to remember those that didn’t make it.”