On September 30, St. Josph's Morrow Park came together to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Students and staff listened to readings, survivor testimonies, and poetry that helped us reflect on the history and legacy of residential schools. Together, we honored the children who never returned home, the survivors who carry their stories, and the families and communities forever changed by this history.
As part of the service, all students participated in a Heart Creation activity. Each student was given a paper heart and a popsicle stick. On the front of the heart, they wrote a message of remembrance and support, such as “Every Child Matters” or “We remember the children.” On the back, they wrote a personal commitment with promises like “I will listen and learn” or “I will show kindness.”
Classes then gathered at the front of our school to create a Field of Hearts. This display now stands as a powerful reminder that reconciliation is not a single day but an ongoing responsibility that calls each of us to remember, to reflect, and to act.
Through this collective act of remembrance, our school community declared together that Every Child Matters.
