Featherston Drive public School

Ottawa, Canada

In a forthcoming chapter about the school, two teachers, Tanya O’Brien and David Coyne, describe what the school team learned when they set out to identify why they are thriving amidst the usual challenges of a mulitcultural school of 325 students with more than 50 cultures represented, and many new Canadians. Their chapter concludes with the following:

Relationships. We have collectively determined that it all comes down to this. In our curriculum, we teach the interconnectedness of all things on earth - from individual to individual, species to species, and ecosystem to ecosystem; every living thing is connected and effects each other. We must also model it in our interactions with each other, our community and our earth.

The process of figuring out what defines us and guides our practice has allowed us to be honest and reflective as a school community. We are not without our challenges and are not immune to the stress and challenges of teaching. We came to the conclusion that to be a Living School all comes down to the fact that we are a group that value and invest in positive relationships with others and with the earth.