Grade 8 students at W.H. Morden Public School in Oakville started out the 2023-2024 school year with a surprise - advice left for them from former Grade 8 students about how to be the best version of themselves.
Teacher Kimberley O'Driscoll shared the advice from previous Grade 8 students the first couple of days into the new school year as a way to inspire her students and to set a great tone for the rest of the year.
“We talked about the importance of how they are the leaders of the school and how this is a year to really learn about themselves as they end their elementary journey,” she explains. “I asked for volunteers to come to the front of the room to read and hold a card. One by one the students read their cards, while the rest of the class listened. At the end of each card, I posed the following questions to the students, ‘which one did you connect with the most and which one do you feel would be the most challenging for you?’ We then had a general discussion about how they felt about the words of wisdom and their year ahead.”
O’Driscoll says she was inspired to do this as a way for students to learn from each other, to make meaningful connections to become the best person they can be.
“I think it is always important that students learn from each other. I was hoping that they would see that others go through the same changes they are or will experience as teens and that they are not alone in these changes,” she says. “I wanted them to feel inspired as they begin their new school year, recognizing all the potential that is ahead of them. It was evident that they could see themselves reflected in the ideas presented and that it gave them something to consider when looking at one piece of advice that they could put into practice this year. They were pondering what words they would give at the end of the year.”
The former Grade 8 students were happy to provide pieces of advice, O’Driscoll says.
“They were pretty excited to share their ideas and motivate the younger students. The kids who come back to volunteer are always the ones who loved their time at Morden and are happy to give back. Anytime kids can learn from each other, it is going to be worthwhile. It fosters leadership, as well it builds relationships amongst different ages of students.”
Grade 8 student Charlotte says the advice was “very inspirational”.
“A lot of them involved schoolwork, friendships and extracurriculars, which are all things I find important. I enjoyed reading different perspectives of students that came before me, and their advice.”
Says Grade 8 student Melody: “The piece of advice that resonated with me the most was ‘Get involved! Be social! Make friends!’ card. I think, especially in Grade 8, getting involved is very important because it can really help you with self-discovery and also friends are very important to help you get through tough times.”
Noting the advice cards will be hung around the classroom as a reminder throughout the year, O’Driscoll says the advice project has a strong connection to the
HDSB's 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan.
“I feel like it connects strongly to the Mental Health & Well-Being section as these quotes help to foster a community approach to being at school, they also help to better understand how to navigate relationships and they demonstrate the importance of respect for self and others,” O’Driscoll says. “They also hopefully helped the students to feel that they are not alone in the feelings they are experiencing in this changing time of their life.”
