Peel District School Board press releases and other information.The Peel District School Board is one of Canada's largest public school boards. It serves the 776 square kilometers (125,000) hectares) of Peel Region. "Lifelong learning: striving to be the best." - Board's vision and mission. Main Phone Number: 905-890-1099
For frequent updates, visit Peel District School Board for more information.
Peel students improve literacy skills
while singing about acceptance at
Literacy and Values Through Music
Peel - Grade 5 students from 11 Peel board schools will perform with professional Canadian singer and songwriter Gregg Lawless and his five-piece band at the Living Arts Centre on April 30 at 7 p.m. Lawless and his ensemble will accompany each group of students as they perform the original songs that they have composed through an integrated literacy, arts and The Future We Want program, Literacy and Values through Music, now in its fourth year.
"This program allows students to explore diversity and learn about important social justice and equity issues in a creative manner," says Mary Ann Fratia, instructional co-ordinator for the arts, health and physical education at the Peel board. "Integrating arts and literacy is a teaching strategy used widely across the board. Through his work with the schools, Greg Lawless helped students embrace acceptance while tuning into their talent and critical thinking skills."
"We are truly thankful to the Living Arts Centre for their generous donation of this world-class concert hall. They are providing our students with a once-in-a-lifetime experience," notes Fratia.
375 students from the following Peel elementary schools are participating in this program:
Brampton
- Great Lakes P.S.
- Hewson P.S.
- McHugh P.S.
- Stanley Mills P.S.
Mississauga
- Garthwood Park P.S.
- Lancaster P.S.
- Maple Wood P.S.
- Plowman's Park P.S.
- Red Willow P.S.
- Sawmill Valley P.S.
- Thorn Lodge P.S.
The Literacy and Values through Music program is designed to help students improve their literacy skills while raising awareness of the need for acceptance of people from diverse backgrounds. The curriculum focuses on the seven identified 'isms': racism, ageism, ableism, sexism, faith as an 'ism', heterosexism and classism. To supplement the song-writing and performance portion of the curriculum, students further explored and studied their chosen 'ism' in class through literature, reading, writing, oral communication, drama, visual art and social studies.
The students' art exhibition will display over 300 works in the Living Arts Centre Atrium on display beginning at 6:30 p.m. The musical performances will take place at the Living Arts Centre, Hammerson Hall on April 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available from participating schools, as well as from the Living Arts box office as of Friday, April 18th at 905-306-6000. The Living Arts Centre is located at 4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga.