‘Take Our Kids to Work Day’ can be exciting for many Grade 9 students, but imagine arriving in a new country, a new school, and a new language, then being asked where you’ll spend the day. For some of our Multilingual Learners, this question brings more stress than celebration. That’s why our OCSB schools step in with community, creativity, and care to make sure no student is left wondering where they belong.
Melanie Doucette, an ESL teacher at Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School, saw this as an opportunity. She partnered with the incredible Newcomer Youth Leadership Development (NYLD) team at the YMCA Taggart Community Centre to create a meaningful experience tailored specifically to her ML students. Together, they designed a full, hands-on day that introduced students to a variety of careers and the Trades Program.
The YMCA went above and beyond, preparing:
- Transportation.
- Snacks and lunch.
- Swag bags with YMCA totes and earphones.
- Interactive activities and career exploration stations.
A Day Filled with Learning, Laughter, and Discovery
The day was a huge success! Students were fully engaged, trying new activities, asking questions, and imagining their future possibilities. Most importantly, they felt welcomed, supported, and included.
Melanie shared, “It was so great! The kids had a blast! Hoping to make this an annual event for our newcomer students.”
This is precisely the kind of joyful learning experience that helps students build confidence, foster a sense of community, and feel a sense of belonging.
Inspired Teaching and Strong Partnerships
We would like to give a huge OCSB shout-out to Melanie for her creativity and dedication to her ML students, the NYLD YMCA team for embracing collaboration and providing an unforgettable experience, and our ESL Department for championing the work of educators who support our multilingual learners every day.
This is a shining example of what’s possible when schools and community organizations come together in the service of students. Partnerships like this reflect our OCSB values of inclusion, compassion, innovation, and community.
