WE LIFT AS WE CLIMB

THE MAGIC HAPPENED AT C.E. WEBSTER PUBLIC SCHOOL (TDSB)

THREE Fabulous Projects - One Great TDSB Toronto School!

LOADS OF LEARNING, LOVE & LAUGHTER

 

 

PROJECT 3

"MEDICINE WHEEL TEACHING: RESPECT

May 31, June 7, 2011 

CLICK FIRE FOR DYNAMIC SONGWRITING TEAM: CHRIS MCKHOOL & SHANNON THUNDERBIRD & OUR DATE WITH C.E. WEBSTER

 

PROJECT 2 

"SPIRIT THUNDER: ALL ONE PEOPLE"

APRIL 5- 16, MAY 11, 13, 2010

SPONSORS: ARTSSMARTS, PROLOGUE AND TELUS MOBILITY - GOTTA LOVE THE HIPPO!

Two high-energy, hard-working weeks were spent with the Magic 60 Grade 4-5 classes of 2009-2010. This marks the second year of our collaboration with this very special school. This time there were eighty-four children which consisted of the Magic 60 Choir and the drum group with its snappy new name: DDD - DYNAMIC DIVERSITY DRUM GROUP. This year I decided the students should have an honorary clan. The kids, in a collaborative exercise, decided on the BLUE JAY CLAN, perhaps because it was opening day for the Toronto Blue Jays when they decided or because 84 chattering kids sound just like a cacophony of Blue Jays! The kids thought this was pretty funny.

Again, we worked our new crop of Grade 4-5 students and they responded. The project which culminated on May 13, 2010 in a fabulous two show concert included Songs, Drums, Guitar (Sandy), Keyboards (Jeff), Shakers, Two theatrical performances, "An Interview with Anansi", and "Buffalo Caller."

The FAB THREE, Teachers, Mrs. Watts, Ms  Wilson and Mrs. De Sousa were invaluable. The three of them should be cloned, never have I worked with better!  They had the Grade 1,2,3 kids make flags of the world which decorated the gym on show day to go along with our "all one people" theme, almost every student in the school made an Inukshuk which was amazing. Their were photo boards of all that we did leading up to the performance. It basically became a school-wide project which fitted into my mantra of "Go Big or Go Home." Parents and Friends packed the joint on show day, standing room only as they enthusiastically supported their kids. It was great.

 

  

ORIGINAL SONG - CLASS OF 2009-2010

Lyrics: Magic 60,     Music: Shannon Thunderbird

"BLUE JAY'S DREAM"
(COPYRIGHTED)

Peace is the way to go
Peace is the one to show the world
Singing makes us free
When we sing we sound beautiful
We won't give up our dreams
We can be all we want to be
Because we are one family
The World embraces me
We are the Kings and Queens on the Medicine Wheel

When we are smarter
We'll go farther in the world
It we show empathy
We're walking in someone else's shoes
Drumming is very cool
That why it rules our Hearts
We are important as everyone else
We are who we'll always be
We can make everything better by being a team

Call and Response:

We Will: "Stand Together"
We will: "Conquer Hate"
We will: "Make a Difference"
We know: "It's not to late
"

 


Web Drummers Nice Webster Sandy Guitar Webster Choir1 Web Shan + 2
Sandy & the DDD Me, Sandy & a few Singers Magic 60 Choir Me and my Boys
Webster Drummers Webster Group1 Webster Sandy Tyson Webster Maestro
Dynamic Diversity Drummers My Gorgeous Children Sandy & Invaluable Tyson Webster's Maestro

 

PROJECT 1: C.E. WEBSTER - JUNE 8-12, 2008

MEDICINE WHEEL MAGIC


C.E. Webster was one of six schools selected from across Canada for a special environmental, character education project sponsored by Evergreen and ArtsSmarts, national non-profit organizations that brings "Green", artists, teachers and students together in collaborative artistic endeavours. Other sponsors included: Prologue to the Performing Arts,  Toronto District School Board (TDSB).

I was asked to design a week-long program for sixty Grade 4-5 students that included character education and environmental issues. We built a permanent forty stone medicine wheel on school property.The first of its kind. Sandy and I personally selected the Grandfathers (rocks) and they were driven to Toronto by our friend, Chris. The wheel was anchored by an Inukshuk that represented humankind.

 Evergreen cleared the space and laid gorgeous red calcite in a twenty-one foot circle. The first part of the week included character education and environmental teachings; nothing is random and eventually students were assigned specific teachings.

Each stone represented both an environmental & character education teaching. Sandy and I were blessed with assistance from some great people, starting with 'Tony the Tiger', the school's fabulous caretaker. Susan Habkirk (from Prologue) and teachers: Mrs. Catherine Watts. Mrs. Jenny Schaffenberg, Mrs. Brenda Mennie, Ms Nellie Ledonne, Mrs. Dianne DeSousa, Ms Xana Duncan, & aide Ms Janet London, Mr. Tony Tamburro & aide Mrs. Maureen Clark.

The students engaged in small group work about what the character education words & phrases meant to them. For example: Courage, Being Good Enough, Imagination, Trust, Honour, Respect, Self-Worth, Humbleness, Honesty and on and on. At the end of the session, the group leaders (teachers) recapped the discussion for everyone to hear.   

Susan Habkirk, former Executive Director, Prologue to the Performing Arts recapping her small group discussion

My big board Medicine Wheel Chart showing all the teachings and their directions. The board was gifted to the School as a teaching resource.

 

MEDICINE WHEEL BUILD DAY

The different Cultures worked seamlessly together, as they  read aloud their teaching and laid their stones.

Carefully placing their stone as Sandy watches

Reading their teaching after laying stone

Cultures working together


MAGIC 60 CHOIR

The MAGIC 60 drummed and sang all week in readiness to entertain everyone at the week' end dedication extravaganza. We wrote a wonderful song about courage and peace, entitled 'Medicine Wheel' (lyrics below). 

C.E. Webster does not have a music program, but you would never have known it from the way the 'Magic 60' sang like angels. Sandy's recording engineer husband, Jeff, came to the school to record three songs. C.E. Webster has a professionally produced CD as a memento of this very magical week. They other two songs, written by me are entitled, "Ishpiming" and "Today".

Magic 60 Choir are being put through their paces. A quick rehearsal before the recording session.  We worked 'em hard & they responded.

From Little Bear Recording Studio, Jeff Carter - Simply the best!

 

 

IN MEMORIUM - WHAT IS IT TO BE A WARRIOR OF PEACE

In honour of my late brother, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Marmo (Nisnawa), 30th Field Regiment, Canadian Artillery, a pin from one of his uniforms was buried in order to signify that all members of C.E. Webster were Warriors of Peace. (Photo: I am placing the pin in the ground as Sandy watches. Nisnawa passed to his day of quiet, January 18, 2009)

 

 

DEDICATION CEREMONY EXTRAVAGANZA

The Dedication Ceremony opened with a Grand Entry. The host drum, Moonstone Women's Big Drum Group sang the procession in with the "Raven Song" sung in Sm'algyax (my language). The Procession was led by Veteran and Eagle Staff Carrier, Elder Gary Sault, Mississauga of the New Credit.** Moonstone Big Drum then pounded out the Veteran's Honour Song, after which Elder Gary, offered an opening welcoming prayer in the Ojibwa language. Principal, Troy Sotiroff also gave a welcoming address and thanked everyone involved for their hard work in bringing the project to a fabulous conclusion. I gave a teaching on the  Medicine Wheel.

Everyone repeated after me, C.E. Webster's new Human Rights Declaration of Peace.  It was a very moving moment. (Words printed below)

IMPORTANT NOTE: **The Mississauga of the New Credit were invited to the celebration because the Medicine Wheel was built in their territory (Toronto!).  'Ishpiming' (Universe) was sung completely in Ojibwa to honour Elder Gary Sault and Former Chief of the New Credit, Caroline King.

 

OTHER SPECIAL PEOPLE & GUESTS:

C.E. Webster total Fabulous Planning Committee: Principal, Troy Sotiroff, Catherine Watts, Jennie Schaffenburg, Brenda Mennie and Tony the Caretaker (Sandy & I could not have functioned without him, he was the greatest!)
Evergreen:
Samara Newman (also part of the planning committee)
ArtsSmarts:
Executive Director: Annalee Adair
Prologue to the Performing Arts: Susan Habkirk, Pat McCarthy (also part of the planning committee); Mary Beth MacMillan, Ann Harper.
Canadian Education Association: Penny Miller, CEO
J.W. McConnell Family Foundation: Lyn Baptiste, Trustee
York University: Michael Greyeyes, Faculty Member, Department of Fine Arts, Choreographer
Last but not least: Thunderbird's  husband, Peter, who hung in for most of the week, helping Thunderbird and Sandy build the Inukshuk and assisting the kids on 'build' day with laying their stones.

 

Below:  I am in full Pacific Northwest Coast (B.C.) regalia acting as 'Goddess of Ceremonies" (neither the terms, Master or Mistress of Ceremonies worked for me!)

Below: Coast Tsimshian Fancy Shaw Dancer, Erin Dickson  wow'd the crowd with her high stepping butterfly dance. She was accompanied by Moonstone Women's Big Drum Group.

Below: Sandy & Thunderbird directing the Magic 60 Choir & Drummers at the Dedication Ceremony

 

 

ORIGINAL SONG, CLASS OF 2008-2009

"MEDICINE WHEEL"
Music: Shannon Thunderbird; Lyrics: Magic 60 Choir, (copyrighted)


When I drum I feel Strong
It runs my Heart
It opens my World
When I drum my Spirit Soars
I feel one with the Animals

Weya-hey-ya-ho
Weya-hey-ya-ho

I feel free to Express Myself
I am always Respectful
My body is my Sanctuary
I keep it clean so I Stand Strong

Weya-hey-ya-ho
Weya-hey-ya-ho

CALL AND RESPONSE:

We are:  Humble, Peaceful, Leaders, Peacemakers, Good Enough!

The Students hope you enjoy listening to it!

 

C.E. WEBSTER HUMAN RIGHTS DECLARATION OF PEACE

(It will be re-affirmed throughout the year.)
 

We hereby state that C.E. Webster Public School, its land and building, the Talking Circle and the Medicine Wheel is sacred territory. Bullying, cyber-bullying, racism, jealousy, hate and violence are not welcome in our school, now or at anytime in the future.

All members of the school including Students, Teachers, Staff, Visitors, Four-leggeds, Flyers,  Swimmers and Crawlers must be respected and protected.

We are Warriors of Peace and we never leave anyone behind.
We lift as we climb.

Wilwilaask, All Our Relations"

 

 

J.W. MCCONNELL FAMILY FOUNDATION TRIBUTE DINNER

(DECEMBER 3, 2009)

The Magic 60 Choir were invited to perform at a tribute dinner for the McConnell Family and their longstanding philanthropic support of the Arts in Canada. The Choir sang their Original Song, along with a Seneca Round Song, Neesa and Two Call and Response Songs ('Today' and 'Ishpiming'), The dinner guests enthusiastically joined in when invited to do so. They loved the kids.

"Once again thanks for your enormous contribution to the success of our day - and Shannon those angels at the McConnell Family Foundation tribute dinner yesterday were absolutely magnificent. The 'big people' spoke glowingly of their work all through the evening." (L. Desilets, Artssmarts)




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