[New] St. Jerome’s Catholic School News

Submitted Anna Svenungard

On Thursday, January 12, the Grade 6s travelled to Vermilion Elementary School to take part in VIBE (Vermilion Is Being Empowered) Day. VES hosted our class as well as the grade 6s from Mannville school. Students were assigned groups that included children from all three schools. As the day progressed, the students learned valuable tips on how to take care of their physical and mental health. Mindfulness & relaxation, team building, nutritional snacks, and information about the negative effects of vaping were just a few of the sessions the students attended. What a great day filled with information and meeting new friends! Thank you to our friends across the field at VES for hosting this exciting day.

Thursday, January 18th was also a day filled with learning for our students in grades 6-9. Cora DeVos is the parent of a student at STJ, but when she came to present last week, she came to tell us her story and show us her incredible artwork. Cora is a Metis woman; she has Inuit and French in her lineage. Both her mother and grandfather attended residential school and, as a result, lost much of their aboriginal language and culture. Cora kept in contact with her childhood best friend in Cambridge Bay. Years ago, Cora’s best friend became one of only 3 women in Canada (at that time) to have the traditional Inuit face tattoos. Ultimately, her friend became a tattooist in this tradition in order to keep this important piece of Inuit culture alive. Kakiniit is the name of these tattoos, done almost exclusively among women. These tattoos are given by the women to mark a girl’s transition to womanhood. Each tattoo holds sacred and symbolic meanings. Cora eventually became a professional photographer, and when her old friend began tattooing more women she invited Cora to come and take pictures of the women to gift them as a special keepsake. Since then, these two women have worked together to keep Indigenous culture alive and current. Inspired by the music video “Zombie,” by the Cranberries, Cora began using gold in her photographs. This led to her “Gold Series,” pieces from which are on display in museums in Vancouver, Poland, and Iceland. Cora has also had a book published of these beautiful photographs, entitled “Reawakening.” What a fantastic opportunity for us all to learn more about the Metis and Inuit cultures, and to discover the history and legacy that these talented Indigenous women are weaving as they combine aspects of traditional and contemporary in life and art.

Up and Coming:

-No School for students Jan. 30 & 31 (Semester Turnaround)

-February 1- First Day of Semester Two

-February 14th- Valentine’s Day Celebrations

-February 15th- 100th Day of School!!

-February 16 & 17- No School for Students (Teacher’s Convention)

-February 20th- Family Day, No School