Today we observe Orange Shirt Day in recognition of the terrible history and ongoing legacy of Residential Schools in Canada. Listen, read, watch, discuss and learn about the impact of Residential Schools on Indigenous Peoples and on all of Canadian society. Encourage all Canadians to join together in the attempt to follow a path of Reconciliation.
Come down to the School Library to browse through our collection of materials related to Orange Shirt Day:
Can you identify these books? These are the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2019, according to the American Library Association. Reply with your answers in the comments.
September 27 to October 3 is Banned Books Week. Established in 1982 and currently sponsored by the Banned Books Week Coalition, which is, in their words:
…an international alliance of diverse organizations joined by a commitment to increase awareness of the annual celebration of the freedom to read. The Coalition seeks to engage various communities and inspire participation in Banned Books Week through education, advocacy, and the creation of programming about the problem of book censorship.
Orange Shirt Day is September 30th. Plan now to wear an orange shirt next Wednesday, in recognition of the terrible history and ongoing legacy of Residential Schools in Canada. Listen, read, watch, discuss and learn about the impact of Residential Schools on Indigenous Peoples and on all of Canadian society. Encourage all Canadians to join together in the attempt to follow a path of Reconciliation.
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.
Heroine by Mindy McGinnis is one this year’s 10 nominated titles for Surrey Teens Read Book of the Year.
Come down to the School Library to have a look at this book and the other Surrey Teens Read selections for 2020-2021. You can also go online and borrow many of them as e-Books and/or Digital Audiobooks.
The International Day of Peace, established by the United Nations in 1981, is observed every September 21. According to un.org:
“This year, it has been clearer than ever that we are not each other’s enemies. Rather, our common enemy is a tireless virus that threatens our health, security and very way of life. COVID-19 has thrown our world into turmoil and forcibly reminded us that what happens in one part of the planet can impact people everywhere.”
Find out more about the International Day of Peace here.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year feast and celebration.
The Jewish Calendar is a lunar calendar, therefor the dates of Rosh Hashanah and other Jewish holidays will vary according to the Gregorian Calendar (the standard calendar used in most of the world for politics, business and daily life.) In 2020 Rosh Hashanah begins at Sundown on September 18 and ends at nightfall of September 20.
If Buck can wear a mask, so can you. Be sure to wear your mask in the School Library, around the halls and other common spaces in the school, and whenever you are out in public. Together we will fight this pandemic.
Surrey Teens Read again in 2020-2021! We have multiple copies of each of this year’s selections. Come down to the school library now so that you can start enjoying the ten nominated Surrey Teens Read titles. Then in May you can vote for the Book of the Year. Find out more by visiting us in real life AND visiting SurreyTeensRead.weebly.com.
We look forward to another year of supporting students and teachers as learning happens inside and outside the classroom. Be sure to check out all that we have to offer you online. We would also love to see you in person. We can help you to find books, magazines and other hands-on resources. Or you might be looking for a quiet place to read or study.
Space is limited, so please be sure to reserve your spot. Please make an appointment to visit by emailing your Teacher Librarian: sexton_colin@surreyschools.ca
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 