The Countdown Is On!

St. James Collegiate

SJCI Indigenous student group members participated in a sweat lodge ceremony on February 11th! They learned about the 7 Sacred Teachings, and received their spirit names and colours. A truly rewarding and exciting day! 

Stress Hacks Website Released!

A new provincially funded child and youth mental health navigation website, StressHacks, is now available to the public.

StressHacks adds to the province’s $2-million investment in a comprehensive, multi-year children and youth mental health strategy. The Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre (MATC), with support from the Manitoba government, developed the content and design with feedback from stakeholders. The site is geared toward children and youth between the ages of 10 and 24.  It provides quick suggestions, or hacks, that will help individuals to decide if and when they need help, how to find help, and offer self-help tips and resources. The site will also assist users to locate a range of local and provincial mental health supports and services by providing links, resources and a Services Map (geo-locator) developed by Manitoba eHealth.

MB Govt. News Release

Stress Hacks Website

David Robertson at Crestview

Indigenous author David Alexander Robertson visited a grade 4/5 classroom at Crestview School on October 2nd. The class has been studying his graphic novel series 'Tales From Big Spirit', and using them as a springboard to do their own writing about heroes. If you're not familiar with the series, it's an amazing set that educates students (and adults!) about various Indigenous people throughout history that have made important contributions to our country.

The class LOVES the series and had a ton of questions for Dave about where he got his inspiration from, his own history, and how he goes about writing his books!

What a great afternoon! Thanks for coming out Dave!

For more information on Dave's novels, go to this website: Portage and Main Press

His books are also available at McNally Robinson, and would be an essential for any classroom or school library!

Orange Shirt Day in St. James - Assiniboia

September 30th marked an important day across our country. Schools were filled with the colour orange to show support for the survivors of Residential Schools, and for those who did not.
Schools across our division participated in a variety of ways.
George Waters Middle School and St. James Collegiate purchased orange t-shirts for all of their students and staff, and held assemblies to talk about this dark piece of Canada's history.

(Pictures from George Waters Blog)


The conversations have also continued beyond the assembly, into their classrooms.
Here is one example:

George Waters

APTN (Aboriginal People Television Network) also came to interview some students:
APTN Story

Bold Eagle Program

The Canadian Armed Forces offers a fantastic program called 'Bold Eagle', geared towards Indigenous students ages sixteen and older. a student from our school division attended last year!

Check out the video of Thomas Moore talking about his experience!

Thanks Thomas!

For more information, contact your Student Success Coach, or go to the Canadian Armed Forces website: Bold Eagle

Brooklands Visits Bannock Point!

The grade 4 and 5 classes at Brooklands School were extremely fortunate to take a field trip out to Bannock Point in the Whiteshell on Thursday, September 24th.  It was a full day of hiking and learning in one of the most breathtaking places in Manitoba!  If you get a chance to visit there one day, make sure you go!