Space honours educators Danielle Moore and Cathy Holmes
Robert Smith School celebrated the opening of its Commemorative Urban Garden and Environmental Outdoor Learning Space with a gathering and year-end feast earlier this month.
The space will give students a place to learn more about things that grow while also providing an alternative classroom on those days when the weather cooperates.
“This garden is more than just a physical space. It is a living tribute, a place of learning, reflection and growth that will serve generations of students and community members,” said Robert Smith School Principal Kim LeMoine at the grand opening gathering.
She thanked the many people who were able to make this project a reality.
“Your collaborative spirit exemplifies the true meaning of community. As our students took their seats, they added their personalized rocks to our garden so that they are forever a part of it And as new students join our school, they too will add their rocks to acknowledge the connection. This garden is dedicated to the memory of those we have lost — Danielle Moore, Cathy Holmes and others whose legacies continue to inspire us. Their spirit and values are woven into the fabric of our school and it is only fitting that we honour them with a space that promotes learning and growth. As we sit in this garden, let us remember their contributions and let their stories inspire our own journey,” said Lemoine.
Marlena Muir then came to the circle to welcome everyone with an Indigenous drum performance. She performed the welcoming song to welcome our grandmothers and grandfathers into the space and then the wolf song for the students.
After Muir’s performance, grade five/six teacher Kim Cooke came to the podium to discuss how this project came to be.
“It starts with Danielle Moore. Danielle had been dating my nephew for about five years, and she was part of our Manitoba family. She was loved by all of us. Danielle loved the environment, the outdoors and green spaces. She was an advocate for Indigenous education, Indigenous acknowledgement and an advocate for Indigenous culture. Danielle graduated from marine biology at Dalhousie University, studied ocean science, was a research assistant, and was part of Ocean Bridge. Danielle wanted to become a teacher, and she taught coding with Canada Learning Code. One of the schools to which she first taught coding was ours, Robert Smith School,” said Cooke.
The students loved Moore’s class and Moore continued to excel being selected with other youth and leaders from around the world to discuss global environmental issues at the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya in 2019. Unfortunately on March 10, 2019, the plane taking her to Kenya crashed and all 157 passengers died. Moore was 24 years old.
Because of Moore’s connection to the school, her parents reached out to Robert Smith School wanting to offer funds to create a project in Moore’s honour.
“That’s how Danielle’s commemoration garden began. Donations from Danielle’s family started and supported our journey,” said Cooke.
The ball kept rolling with Cooke’s nephews contributing as well as support from the school division and the school’s parent council. Additionally, the school with the help of the Selkirk Friendship Centre’s Daycare program, became eligible and received a grant from Transport Canada commemorating the passengers of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.
Four students then came up to read a piece created by the grade five/six class which spoke about what the outdoor classroom meant to them. In their writing, they spoke about the benefits of a relaxing learning environment and the advantages that they will gain from learning about nature while outside.
The school’s grade five/six ukulele club then performed a song that Moore had written.
Moore’s mother next came to the podium to talk about her daughter.
Attention was then brought to the apple trees in the new space which had been donated in honour of Ms. Cathy Holmes, a Learning Support Teacher, at Robert Smith School.
Elder Jeannie White Bird took to the podium bringing Indigenous teachings to the gathering and acknowledging Moore.
The ribbon was cut and the Commemorative Urban Garden and Environmental Outdoor Learning Space was officially opened.
The grade five/six ukulele club wrapped up the event with a rendition of See You Again by Wiz Khalifa.
