Traditional Afro-Caribbean Dancing Student Opportunity

 

YORK REGION DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

TO:                  Principals; Vice-Principals

FROM:            Cecil Roach, Coordinating Superintendent of Education, Indigenous Education and                               Equity

                                                  Clayton La Touche, Associate Director or Education Schools and Operations

DATE:             June 22, 2020

SUBJECT:       Traditional Afro-Caribbean Dancing

Students, families and staff have been affected by the murder of Mr. Floyd and ongoing Canadian incidents of anti-Black racism. Black students, families and staff have been particularly impacted and are telling us that they are not ok. They tell us about feelings of personal hurt and harm and of a need to be able to express some of these feelings.

We have done and continue to do work to support our Black staff, and we are in the process of developing support for our Black parents and families.

As one means to support Black students, we are offering Black students in primary, junior and intermediate grades the opportunity to participate in a live presentation on Traditional Afro-Caribbean Dancing.  We hope to give Black students an opportunity to express themselves through dance about its impact on their well-being.

We have partnered with Tamla Matthews, Hons Bsc, OCT, who is a professional dance artist and educator who has specialized in African Caribbean Dance for over 20 years. Tamla will lead registered Black students in the live presentations. The live presentations will be held on June 24, 2020 and June 25, 2020 at 9:30am -10:15am and 2:00pm – 2:45pm. 

We ask that you encourage Black students from grades 2 to 10 register for one of the live presentations being offered.

For more information, please connect with Wendy Wright, OCT Intermediate Teacher, Elder's Mills Public School at wendy.wright@yrdsb.ca.