Latest news with #LawfieldElementarySchool
Hamilton Spectator
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
From Palestine to Beasley Park: Lawfield kids spotlight local efforts for change
Homelessness, racism, mental health and international conflict are just a few of the topics on Lawfield Elementary School students' minds. Students in grades 5 to 8 at the Mountain school taught their peers and parents about people, organizations and initiatives in Hamilton that are tackling the issues they're passionate about. On Friday in the school's gym, dozens of students across grades circulated among 50 student-run booths at a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) fair, asking and answering questions. Students circulate taking notes a poster created by Amna Syed, 10, about Hamilton organization Mamas 4 Palestine. The idea, said Grade 8 teacher Allison Kemper, is to give kids agency by teaching them — and having them teach others — about the city's change-makers. It's also an opportunity for students to learn about each other's interests, vice-principal Jessica Reiter added. 'It creates a sense of belonging in our school,' she said. 'Students' identities are being affirmed.' Here are some of the local initiatives students taught their peers about: Grade 5 student Amna Syed, 10, with a booth on Mamas 4 Palestine at Lawfield Elementary School's equity, diversity and inclusion fair. Grade 5 student Amna Syed, 10, researched Mamas 4 Palestine , a group of mothers and community members whose mission, according to their website, is to turn 'collective grief into positive action' through fundraising, education, events and political action. 'I feel bad for people that are in Palestine and how they're getting bombed and dying at very young ages,' Amna said. 'I wanted to spread awareness.' Grade 8 students Samuel Olofinlade, 13, and Ryan Gallacher, 14, with their booth on Lyndon George, executive director of the Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre. Grade 8 students Samuel Olofinlade, 13, and Ryan Gallacher, 14, said they liked community organizer Lyndon George's work around anti-racism. The Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre , the organization he heads, sent the students T-shirts and stickers — which were stuck to clothing and foreheads around the gym — as well as information about their initiatives. In their research, they learned about the prevalence of hate crime in the city and 'how people are feeling unsafe,' physically and mentally, Samuel said. Ariya Resh, left, and Shambhavi Misra, both 10 and in Grade 5 with their booth on Food Not Bombs. On Sundays at 2 p.m., you'll find the Hamilton chapter of Food Not Bombs in Beasley Park sharing vegan and vegetarian food — an initiative Grade 5 students Shambhavi Misra and Ariya Resh, both 10, spoke passionately about. Grade 5 student Shambhavi Misra explains the local chapter of Food Not Bombs. The local chapter, launched last year, aims to connect people through food and reduce hunger, Shambhavi said. 'They bring people together — together with happiness and compassion,' Ariya said. Elliott Steward, 10, sits with his poster about the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre. Ten-year-old Elliott Stewart has a personal connection with the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre — he attends an after-school program at the Ottawa Street organization where his dad works. The Grade 5 student shared the organization's work, which provides the Indigenous community social services like health and nutrition services, parenting support and hospital visits, as well as cultural education, with his school community. 'We made cornhusk dolls,' he said, explaining the challenging practice of wetting, drying and shaping the material. Bennett Walkinshaw, 13, sits by his poster about Mission Services as students circulate taking notes. Bennett Walkinshaw, 13, didn't mince words when talking about homelessness in Hamilton, an issue he's sees all around his city. 'We have a massive homelessness crisis right now,' he said. 'It makes me upset in our day and age in society that we can't give people homes.' The Grade 8 student chose to research Mission Services , a Wentworth Street North organization that offers shelter, food, addiction services and other programs for those in need. Larissa MacPherson (left) and Kara Meek, both 13 and in Grade 8, with their booth on the animal-assisted therapy. Animal lovers Larissa MacPherson and Kara Meek, both 13 and in Grade 8, taught fellow students about dog and horse therapy, a practice in which trained animals are used to improve physical and mental health. Animals, they said, are known to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve communication and other social skills. 'They can't judge us, so people feel accepted around them,' Larissa said.
Hamilton Spectator
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Making fashion from trash
Students from Lawfield Elementary School strutted their finest 'trashion' at a belated Earth Day celebration on Tuesday. The fashion show featuring outfits constructed from recyclables and garbage was just one event held by the east Mountain school to mark the cause in April. Lawfield Elementary School kindergarten student Charlee Love shows off her fashionable outfit made from cereal boxes, newspapers and snack wrappers during a 'trashion' show on Tuesday. Other actions included a walkout where students created signs and marched around the block to advocate for the environment, and older students creating short videos about the environment. Students also planted more than three dozen trees on school property and several others off-site and picked up litter. Lawfield Elementary School student Arij Haque models her stunning outfit made from recyclables and accessorized with a tissue box purse during a belated Earth Day fashion show on Tuesday. Lawfield Elementary School French teacher Kristy Jones sports her finest pro-environment outfit during a 'trashion' show on Tuesday. Angeldeep Dhawan, one of the trashion show announcers, is decked out head to toe in recycled Hamilton Spectator newspapers at Lawfield Elementary School's belated Earth Day event. Bora Hashani takes a spin on the 'trashion' catwalk at Lawfield Elementary School on Tuesday for a belated Earth Day fashion show.
