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Black Excellence Day is an opportunity to celebrate the joy, resilience, contributions, and achievements of Black People around the world. We want to honour the history and narratives of the past while uplifting and supporting the voices of our futures. The Black Excellence Day 2024 Virtual event takes place on January 15, 2024 from 10:15am to 12:00pm and is age appropriate for Grade 6-12. If you interested in showing this in your school\/classrooms on that day, please reach out to your district administrator for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and or Antiracism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because Black Excellence Day is the kick off event to Black History Month, it can be a wonderful opportunity to use the day to create an Action Plan for Black History Month either for your classroom, school committee or school community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we engage in creating inclusive spaces to celebrate #BlackExcellence, please keep the following thoughts in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a). School or District Counsellors to support students;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b). Students can also contact the Kids Helpline<\/a> or Black Youth Helpline<\/a> if they need someone to talk to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Black Excellence Day Learning Activities<\/p>\n\n\n\n None of these examples listed are prescribed or mandated. Schools and individual classrooms have the authority to engage in #BlackExcellenceDay as they feel is appropriate. But if you are looking for some ideas, here are some ways you can make this into a fun filled event- here are some options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Door Decorating Event<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have your students research prominent Black leaders, activists, members of the community (locally and globally), doctors, scholars, politicians, business leaders, inventors, athletes, musicians, characters from books, movies and other forms of media. Remember, these should be members that are positively influencing society through their areas of influence. You can add a quote from this person, or a question for the class such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. How did _______________________ influence their community?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. What were some of the challenges that people faced during that time in our nation’s history?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. What similar challenges do people in our nation face today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. How can we amplify \/incorporate more narratives, story, and voice in our classrooms?<\/p>\n\n\n\n We know that in situations like this, only a few students may work on decorating the door, so you can also have the rest of your class working on creating individual posters to hang in the hallways or classroom that celebrate black excellence. Here are some examples below that could give you an idea of the work you can engage in with your students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a link to a list of Black Canadians: https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news2\/interactives\/black-history- month\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a link to a list of Creative Doors: https:\/\/www.boredteachers.com\/post\/celebrate-black- history-classroom-doors<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Classroom\/Hallway Posters\/Black History Month Assembly or Morning Announcements (BHM)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have students choose someone who represents Black Excellence and have them create a poster sharing what they have learned about that person:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other opportunities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Library and Common Spaces<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make a plan to highlight stories and narratives of Joy in your school libraries and common spaces by displaying books that celebrate #BlackExcellence #BlackJoy #BlackLove #BlackResilience. For racialized and non racialized students, it gives them the opportunities to either see themselves represented around the school or learn about new lived experiences leading to a greater understanding of the diversity of our communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CANADIAN BLACK HISTORY PERIODIC TABLE<\/p>\n\n\n\n What a fun and engaging way to get the whole class involved by recreating this amazing Periodic Table based on Black Canadian Historical figures. The Canadian Black History Periodic Table<\/a> project was created by Isabela Ozamiz and Nicholas Simard using data from Parents for Diversity<\/a> in co-operation with Mr. Ozamiz<\/a> and Ms. Lemon<\/a>; teachers in Ottawa, ON, Canada. You can have classes recreate this visual in hallways and or classrooms in schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n COLOURING PAGES<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may be nice just to sit quietly and listen to some music that brings your class happiness and joy. A nice way to calm students down after recess or lunch is to have them do some colouring. Here are some Black Excellence Colouring Images that students can work on.<\/a> These pages have been provided by the Ninandotoo Society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is a link to fun, friendly playlist: Black Excellence Day 23<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Queer Black Excellence and History<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celebrating #BlackExcellence means celebrating the voices of the most marginalized members of the Black Community as well. To learn more about the Queer Black Community, please visit:Queering Black History Month<\/a> to give more insight, voice and representation for those voices at the margins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BLACK CANADIAN EXPERIENCE<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are looking for some local Black History Content and stories. This section has some clips talking about the experiences of Black Canadians and Black Communities in Canada. Learn how the Jerome family helped shape Canada’s landscape athletically. Or spend sometime learning about Trinidad Immigrant Joe Fortes who taught swimming lessons in English Bay and would go on to save at least 29 lives from drowning, including adults and children, while teaching three generations of Vancouver children to swim to the Vibrant Hogan’s Alley that was removed for the development of the Georgia Viaduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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