The Vimy Ridge Public School Council organized a beautiful and innovative project to bring together their school community in honour of Remembrance Day and the 100th anniversary of the poppy in Canada.
The council’s Clean, Green & Creative (CGC) Committee works on projects that promote school pride by enhancing the school’s grounds and indoor spaces. In November 2021, the CGC Committee invited students and staff to contribute to a collaborative Remembrance Day rock garden outside the school.
The council secured donations of landscaping rocks, purchased art supplies, and created a slideshow with instructions and information about the meaning behind this initiative. The Committee painted more than 1,050 rocks black and provided materials for students and staff to add their own hand-painted poppy designs. Educators engaged their classes in this project, and on November 11th, each member of the Vimy Ridge Public School community visited the garden to place their rocks and spend a moment in reflection. The garden will remain a permanent art installation.
“Many of our students and staff have family members who are currently serving, who have served in the past, or whose lives have been affected by the horrors of war,” says Julie Hamilton, CGC Committee Lead. “Our beautiful 'Remembrance Garden', full of unique poppy rocks, allows our school community to reflect on and respect the services and sacrifices of those who stand on guard for us and allow us to remember, not just on November 11th, but every day.”
This is one of many projects introduced by the Council and CGC. Other initiatives have included a fence mural program, gardening projects, activities to mark National Truth and Reconciliation Day, book fair contests, a virtual Lost and Found, and interactive stations in the school’s Makerspace.
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