TeamMacThio’s Butterfly Project

During the months of January – March Team MacThio’s grade 6/7’s began a deep investigation into historical perspective taking and the Holocaust. This group of 47 students used literature, videos, timelines, and historical documents to gain a better understanding this tragic time. Students had a chance to speak with Holocaust survivor Mariette Doduck, from the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (https://www.vhec.org/) and hear about her experience and ask questions. As a culmination of their learning the group glazed 72 ceramic butterflies as part of The Butterfly Project. This global initative is a memorial project to help remember the children lost during the Holocaust. For more information, https://thebutterflyprojectnow.org/ This culminating project will serve as a permanent reminder of the lives lost during the Holocaust and the students of 

Team MacThio worked extremely hard to make sure this was presented with knowledge, care, and respect. We hope that it will serve as a reminder to all SMS students of the injustices of the world, both past and present.  
We would also like to thank: the District Leadership Committee for awarding us a Me to We grant to help fund this project and the opportunity to meet a survivor; Ms. P and Ms. Brandsma who generously donated the art room and supplies so the students could glaze but also worked very hard in June to make sure that the butterflies got into the kiln before summer break. Ms. P. also donated one of her display cases to house the display safely. Without all of this support the project would not have been possible.
So, as we get ready to come back to school in September Team MacThio hopes that you find time to pause and take notice of the display. A lot of hard work, learning, and emotions went into this project which will be a permanent fixture in our school.