Honouring Remembrance Day

Students and staff proudly wore their poppies leading up to and on Remembrance Day.  TCPS staff and students worked together to produce meaningful Remembrance Day activities and assemblies on November 11th honouring our veterans, victims of war and those who continue to serve and protect our country.

The Pre-School division received learning kits, historical sheets and booklets from Veterans Affairs of Canada to complete during the week leading up to Remembrance Day.  The grade 1 classes joined together in the gymnasium for a Remembrance Day assembly and viewed a special Remembrance Day video.  The Pre-School and grade 1 teachers and their students observed two minutes of silence to honour the sacrifices made by our armed forces and their families.

During the week leading up to Remembrance Day, students in Elementary division made “Postcards for Peace” which have been delivered to veterans in long term care.  On November 11^th, the grade 2 to 6 students held a special assembly which included the choir singing “Wish for Peace”, solemn readings of “In Flanders Fields”, “Poppy Poppy” and “There Stands a Solder.” Two selected students placed a wreath on the podium during the playing of “The Last Post”, followed by 2 minutes of silence.

The grade 7 and 8 students and High School division joined together in a poignant Remembrance Day assembly.  High School teacher and veteran, Mr. Fisher, commenced the ceremony by welcoming the students and staff and discussed the solemnity of observing Remembrance Day.  Following the singing of the national anthem, selected grade 8 students shared Remembrance Day poems, the grade 10 students performed dramatic readings and grade 7 students recited “In Flanders Fields”.  At 11:00 a.m. all in attendance stood for 2 minutes of silence as “The Last Post” was played.  The grade 7 students recited the Act of Remembrance and the assembly concluded with the playing of “God Save the King”, the Royal Anthem of Canada.

This year’s poppy sales resulted in the school collectively raising $1,050.40.  This donation was presented to two members of the Markham Veterans Association and is in addition to the donations made by students and staff directly to the Royal Canadian Legion.