On April 8, Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students from St. John Henry Newman Catholic High School traded their desks for the dance floor. Students from the Non-Profit, Education and Child Care and Health and Wellness programs participated in an energetic Sector Partnered Experience (SPE) featuring Glendale Reyes from Breaking Canada and facilitated by Lucas Chang of Y2 Entrepreneurship Labs.
Breaking Canada is a non-profit organization that maximizes the potential of dance artists, dance athletes, and dance professionals within the community by encouraging professionalism, self-confidence, and authentic representation. Y2 Entrepreneurship Labs empowers students through their organization and facilitation of experiential, hands-on learning programs that help students build problem-solving skills for the real world.
The day kicked off with Glendale Reyes teaching us the foundations of breakdancing. In no time, the room was full of smiles, sweat, and movement! Beyond the dance moves, students learned how Breaking Canada uses the art of breakdancing to empower youth, build confidence, and preserve culture.
And the energy didn’t stop there! Lucas Chang then challenged our students to apply an entrepreneurial mindset to a real-world problem: How can Breaking Canada better engage high schoolers in their workshops and volunteer opportunities? Our students developed targeted pitches and presented them directly to Glendale Reyes in a "Dragon's Den" format for review and direct feedback. The ideas presented were as impressive as the dance moves!
A huge thank you to Glendale Reyes and Lucas Chang for providing a fun-filled day in a welcoming and safe space where our students could foster their skills and enjoy a day of learning through doing!
