Linden Students Speak Out Against Hate

Linden students’ messages of support for Dr. Jill Andrew.

At Greetings on Wednesdays, we honour days of significance as well as events that are happening in real-time in our community and in the wider world. Sometimes these reflections are initiated by staff, and we encourage students to add their voices as well. Here are some recent examples.

Grade 8 students spoke out in solidarity with our Muslim students as we marked the fifth anniversary of the Quebec mosque shooting.

Holocaust Remembrance Day was honoured in a student presentation by Billie Spilfogel in Grade 8. Billie researched the history of antisemitism and her own family’s stories, connecting historical and present-day antisemitic crimes. “Antisemitism didn’t start and end with the holocaust,” she says. Congratulations Billie, for your leadership.

Slides from Billie Spilfogel's presentation at the All-School gathering.

A few days later, students experienced first-hand the power of speaking out against racism and hatred. On receiving Linden students’ messages of support (click here to view messages) following disturbing acts of vandalism at her constituency office, MPP Jill Andrew wrote a letter of thanks, in which she said, “I cannot say thank you enough as this is one of the most beautiful and kind things I have ever received in my life- and most certainly as an MPP.” Jill went on to appreciate Linden faculty “for having these courageous conversations in your classroom, especially the youngest ones, and for this overwhelming support! I will cherish their messages and these images forever and will in fact print them out and frame them.” 

Linden students’ messages of support for Dr. Jill Andrew.