Day of Awareness

The Holy Trinity Day of Awareness will introduce students from our school, as well as representatives from St. Anthony Catholic Elementary School, from our school board and from a number of our high schools, to the multitude of not-for-profit organizations in our community and from around the world. This year's Day of Awareness, a follow-up to Chris D’Souza’s talk in our school (May, 2010), will provide students with an opportunity to participate in engaging workshops around issues that concern both our local community and our global community. Our Day of Awareness will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2010.
This event requires a tremendous amount of preparation. We have, to date, representatives from approximately 50 non-profit organizations booked to come into the school. Each organization will lead an interactive workshop for our students, engaging students in the Gospel values of community, dignity of persons, justice, stewardship of creation, hope and excellence.
In June, our School Improvement Planning team identified diversity, inclusion and equity as areas that need work. To address these areas, we have invited Drum Café to participate in the Day of Awareness. This organization uses drums to engage students interactively and cooperatively while celebrating diversity and building community.

Update (November 28, 2010)

Please see the following link for information about Holy Trinity Catholic High School's Day of Awareness held on October 28, 2010:

http://www.ottawacatholicschools.ca/announce.php?annon=10706

Update (June 28, 2011)

The Day of Awareness was a huge success and has had a positive impact on students and on the culture of our school. We have seen increased engagement. Exposure to some of the ideas presented during the Day of Awareness acted as a springboard for some of our students to become more involved in their community. Links were made to curriculum to enhance student learning. For example, our grade 12 data class created a survey that was administered to all students the following the day. Students collated the data and created presentations as though they were presenting information to a client. This form of authentic learning helps students make connections between what they are learning at school and the world beyond. Leadership opportunities were afforded to a number of our students in the planning, organization and follow-up. One recent initiative that came directly as a result of the day was "penny wars"- an effort to raise funds for an NGO.