I am proud to say that my splendid teacher, Lynne Hay, wrote a piece called “Welcome Home,” and it changed the students in my class. The students already knew how to be kind, but were reminded to make others feel valuable more often. Soon, we started to give out Kindness cards, so others would join us.

When I first came to Canada, I felt that I did not belong. I felt lonely and depressed a little. Then one day, that feeling stopped when a kind kid named George played with me at recess. But no matter how much fun I had with George, I could never forget the pain of missing my family in China.

 Canada is such a great place that my parents managed to bring my grandparents to live with us. Now I am happy that they are here with me and they can enjoy all the different foods, cultures, and traditions from around the world.

And now I am in Grade 5 and I have lots of friends and they all make me feel like I belong and I treat them the same way too.

Written by: Daniel

My Grade 5 teacher, Mrs. Hay, wrote about when she first came to Canada. I can relate to this, because my grandparents told me about when they first came to Canada, during the winter. Like my teacher, they were immigrants who were excited about being in a new country and having a new life. My grandparents did not feel welcome at first, until people started being kind to them. They made new friends and soon they felt loved and important, like my teacher.

I can remember how it felt to be different because I have a pacemaker that helps to give my heart a boost. When I was born, I had two large holes in my heart. I felt that I did not belong, because no one else at my school had a pacemaker. I felt different, like I was not a human. Then I went to a heart camp and made new friends. Everyone there had a heart problem and I was able to connect with them. Then I realized that I am not different and that I can do anything anybody else can do. I am not ashamed anymore because I know I am valuable.

Written by: Elijah         

When I read “Welcome Home” in the Good News Toronto paper, it reminded me of when I first came to Canada a year ago. At the beginning, I was very lonely because I had no friends. I watched people running, laughing, and having fun, and I felt like I didn’t belong here. The people in my class this year make me feel like I belong. They did many kind things for me and always help me when I need it. That made me feel much better. Now I have plenty of friends and my English is better. This is all because people were kind to me.

Now I have decided to help other people and to make them feel better, just like I felt when people helped me. Acts of Kindness can make everyone feel like they are home and they belong. That is why our class made Kindness cards to pass on to other people. When we do kind things for someone, we give them a card and then they have to pass on the kindness. When people are lonely, acts of kindness can make them feel like they belong and that people care about them. We hope that everyone feels like they are at home.

Written by: Johnny

When I read the article “Welcome Home,” written by my teacher Mrs. Hay, I felt like being kind to everyone, so that they could feel like they belong. It is important to make others feel special because it makes them happy. Kindness can help someone feel like they are family. Everyone should be treated fairly and with kindness. There are many ways that we can show compassion to others, like holding the door, helping them if they need it, and if they are lonely we can play with them. If someone is new to Canada, we can help them to learn English and to know what to buy for winter.

I know what it feels like to not have friends, because when I was at summer camp my friend did not come with me for the first few weeks. I felt lonely and no one would play with me. Then when someone did ask me to play with them, I felt joyful. Now I know how to spread the joy to others.

Written by:  Melissa

My teacher’s article called “Welcome Home” made me think of when I was born, and I felt scared looking at everyone walking around, hearing loud beeping noises, and being held by a doctor. I felt cold and alone. Then the doctor put me in my mother’s warm and gentle arms and I felt safe and happy.  After a few years I had a little Autistic brother. My mom told me with a gentle voice, “When you get older, you have to watch over your brother.” And so…I did. Soon my brother started walking and talking and loved going on the computer.

Then one day, it was my brother’s first day of school. I could tell by his shivering face that he was worried. I told him in a kind voice, “Do not be worried, you’ll make lots of new friends.” And…he did! I think we should make everyone feel welcome and safe, because they might spread it to other people around the world.

Written by: Miles 

PHOTO LEFT:  Artistic Director Ashley Ingram leads students in a rousing rendition of “This Little Light of Mine” at January 17th’s Keeping the Dream Alive concert at Roy Thomson Hall. The students in the front row in the yellow t-shirts are teacher Nigel Barriffe’s Grade 3 students from Greenholme Junior Middle School, featured in the November 2010 issue of Good News Toronto: http://www.goodnewstoronto.ca/pdf/november2010.pdf and December 2010 issue: http://www.goodnewstoronto.ca/pdf/december2010.pdf
Photo credit: Toronto District School Board

On January 17, nearly 3,000 TDSB students, staff, and musicians gathered at Roy Thomson Hall to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. This was the seventh annual Keeping the Dream Alive (KTDA) concert. Featuring about 700 students from more than a dozen schools, the show brought his honourable ideals and goals to life. For students born long after Dr. King’s assassination in 1968, it was an inspiring afternoon.

“Keeping the Dream Alive is all about celebrating our shared dream of a world in which justice and compassion guide us in all that we do,” said Stephen Lashbrook, show producer and a teacher at Georges Vanier SS. “I sincerely believe the enthusiasm and youthful idealism the children demonstrated at this year's celebration is a shining example of the kind of community that we dream of becoming.”

An initiative of Director of Education Chris Spence, KTDA is part of the TDSB’s Social Justice Action Plan. Performances are based on a strong commitment to the principles of equality, fairness, and human rights. With artistic direction from musician/producer/educator Ashley Ingram and performances by well-known artists like Kardinal Offishall, the Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, the show focused on giving students hope for the future.