Special Orange Shirt Day – Day of Quiet Reflection
On Wednesday June 2, SMS invited students and staff to wear their orange shirts in support and remembrance of residential school survivors and those who did not survive.
Over the past few days, I have been reflecting on the words of Monique Gray Smith. Monique is an award-winning best selling author, speaker, and consultant. She has written numerous books on the topics of resilience and reconciliation. As I am quite new to Salmon Arm and the school district, I feel very fortunate to have become more familiar with her work through our professional development and I hope to read much more. Monique writes and speaks of kindness as a salve and vital to the process of healing. She inspires her readers and her audiences to carefully reflect on this idea even during the most challenging times.
Here is a small segment of a message from Monique Gray-Smith and a link to a video for all interested families.
After a tender and painful few days and numerous requests for guidance on how to talk to kids about Residential Schools, I finally had it in me to do something. Below is the link to a short video supporting educators, families and any adult who is being called on to have these tender conversations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebOJ_lMCVvk
In the spirit of this message, each morning this week at SMS we have featured a short quotation around kindness, to help us all move forward together, with hope and a spirit of healing in mind. Here are a few quotations that have been shared:
“Walk Gently on the earth and do each other no harm.” Richard Wagamese
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” Amelia Earhart
“No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.” Aesop
The most recent photo is an image of the fence in front of SMS near 30th Street. Thank you for sending it my way, Ms. Major. It is a lovely picture to add to our reflections. The ribbons and pictograph project was completed by 4 divisions (MacDonald, Dewitt, Thio and Whitehead). A quiet, moving, and thoughtful display.
In closing, I have included the website link below for anyone interested in Monique’s work and writing.
Kind regards,
Sydney Griffith,
Principal