International Women's Day: Learning & Action in the Junior School

By Ms. Alisha Shaw, Grade 6 Teacher 

Last week our junior school community came together to commemorate International Women's Day (IWD)—under our mission framework of inquiry, action and joy. Students explored the significance of IWD and the complex barriers girls face worldwide, particularly in accessing education.

Understanding the Challenges
Students learned that a staggering 129 million girls globally are not able to attend school. They discovered that access to clean water is a critical obstacle, alongside poverty, child marriage, and gender-based violence. To illustrate this, students watched powerful videos from Imagine1Day, featuring high school girls in developing communities sharing their experiences with limited water access and the transformative impact of the organization's work.

Taking Action with Imagine1Day
Understanding the urgent need for clean water, WPGA partnered with Imagine1Day to make a tangible difference. On March 7, students donned purple shirts and donated towards building a well in an Ethiopian community. This initiative highlighted the direct link between access to clean water and girls' education. With safe water sources, girls are freed from the time-consuming task of water collection, allowing them to attend school regularly and focus on their studies. One well costs between $25,000 and $38,500 CDN.

Interactive Learning and Awareness
To deepen their understanding, students engaged in various interactive activities:
  • Global Map Display: A large world map was created in the stairwell, showcasing the challenges girls face in different countries. Grade 7 students collected data on literacy rates, education levels, child marriage, and women's roles in government, while grade 5 students created stat cards that were placed on the map.
  • Imagine1Day Posters: The community service club designed informative posters about Imagine1Day's mandate to raise awareness about the organization's mission.
  • Primary Collaboration: Primary classes added vibrant colours to a large banner in the stairwell, featuring grape-scented felt pens, adding a sensory element to the display.
  • The Water Princess Story Walk: On the campus trail, the featured book is "The Water Princess" by Susan Verde, a poignant story about perseverance and the global water crisis. Each class received a copy of the book to continue discussions on resilience, leadership, and global issues.
Exploring Deeper Concepts
Beyond the global context, students delved into crucial concepts related to gender equality:
  • Discussions about microaggressions against girls, the importance of celebrating women, and the true meaning of equality.
  • Exploration of stereotypes, feminism, societal expectations, and cultural norms around the world.
  • Classes engaged in thoughtful discussions about International Women’s Day and read inspiring stories about strong women from diverse backgrounds.
Guest Speaker and Staff Dedication
The school was honoured to welcome WPGA parent Atoussa Mahmoudpour, lawyer and business leader, as a guest speaker for grades 6 and 7. Ms. Atoussa Mahmoudpour shared her personal and professional insights on gender-equality rights.

Through these activities, our students gained a deeper understanding of the challenges facing girls worldwide and the importance of taking action for a more equitable future. We are proud of our students' commitment to making a difference, and we thank our teachers for their dedication and collaboration in creating a week full of meaning and impact: Ms. Shaw, Ms. St-Amour, Ms. Elias, Mr. Anderson, Ms. D, Ms. Edge, Ms. Cole, Ms. Brown, Ms. Renschler, and Ms. Williams.
Back
Since 1996, West Point Grey Academy has gratefully resided on the Jericho Lands, the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation and sə̓lílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation. Honoured to learn and play on these beautiful lands, we endeavour to be a leader in Indigenous education. In creating shared understanding and opportunities, we hope to help foster a more equitable society for all.

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West Point Grey Academy

4125 West 8th Avenue
Vancouver, B.C., V6R 4P9
Tel: 604-222-8750