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Planting hope
Turning Indigenous learning into action
Foxboro Public School’s Grade 2 and 3 students turned classroom learning into community action after studying the Dish With One Spoon Treaty with Indigenous Education Instructional Coach Stefan Demczyna. Guided by principles of respect and reciprocity, the students raised funds to symbolically adopt 13 acres at South Potter's Creek Conservation Area in Belleville for their pollinator garden project. Their initiative came full-circle on June 10, 2026, when the classes visited the site to physically plant the pollinator garden they worked so hard to fund. The students planted close to 500 native plant species.
Carving connections
Alder walking stick project
Teacher Sarah Vance at York River Public School implemented a hands-on land-based learning initiative for students in Kindergarten to Grade 3, Care and Treatment Education Programs, and Regional Resource classrooms. They harvested and carved 150 alder trunks to make walking sticks. Students measured, sanded, painted, laced leather and created beadwork patterns while exploring Mathematics, Science, Art and Algonquin ways of knowing. They learned about local trees and skilled trades while exploring the Medicine Wheel and local wildlife with the guidance of the Kijicho Manito Madaouskarini Algonquin Nation. The project incorporated linguistic diversity by teaching local animal names in multiple languages. Ultimately, it highlighted that meaningful learning occurs through hands-on experiences and community connections.
Dismantling systemic barriers
Advancing Indigenous learning
Under the strategic priority of Advancing Indigenous Education and Reconciliation, HPEDSB is refining the approach to classroom instruction through targeted professional learning that increases staff confidence. Reconciliation is an active, daily practice in classrooms. Indigenous Student Success coaches provide intensive credit rescue and personalized support to dismantle systemic barriers and support Indigenous learners to graduate. Listen to A parent’s perspective: What success looks like for her daughter (scroll part way down) through the support of the Indigenous Education team.