How the project works

Schools will be recognizing the National Day of Mourning in the week before (April 21-28), culminating with the Day of Mourning.

SUGGESTED PROJECT TIMETABLE LEADING UP TO APRIL 28

Five days prior	Day 1 PA announcement by student
Four days prior	Day 2 PA announcement by student
Three days prior	Day 3 PA announcement by student
Two days prior	Day 4 PA announcement by student
One day prior	Day 5 PA announcement by student
April 28	Day of Mourning PA Address by Principal plus other activities planned by your school

WHERE DO I START?

There are three levels of suggested involvement for any school commemorating the Day of Mourning. Teachers can adjust this list if they are participating at the classroom level. Find the best fit for you and your school.

Level 1:

Maybe this the first time your school has participated. Is your school’s schedule for that week already pretty full? Do you desire a softer, less time intensive intro to the project? This level may be the best fit for your school this year if any of these apply. We recommend only following steps 1,2, 3 and 7 from the “7 Step Suggested Procedure” listed below and use the new “Abbreviated Announcement Scripts”.

Level 2:

Have you done the Day of Mourning in your school before? Do you have a group of student volunteers you can rely on to help? If the answer is yes, level 2 involvement may be the best fit for your school, and we recommend that you follow all the “7 Step Suggested Procedure” listed below.

Level 3:

Are you and other staff in your school really invested in making the Day of Mourning commemoration as meaningful and interactive as possible? Have you scheduled this event in your school calendar? Then we recommend you follow all the “7 Step Suggested Procedure” and one or more of the “Other Suggested Activities.” You may even have your own activity you wish to use during the Day of Mourning.

7 STEP PROCEDURE:

1. Enlist the help of student volunteers. Suggested groups you can target are student clubs, student council or leadership classes. (Levels 1-3)
2. Have student volunteers put up posters around the school. (Levels 1-3)
3. In the five school days prior to April 28th, have a student volunteer make a daily announcement reading from the script provided during the morning PA announcements, to inform and raise awareness of the Day of Mourning. (Levels 1-3)
4. Have volunteers prior to April 28 create a Young Worker Safety Information Display, containing visuals and statistics about youth worker safety in BC. (Levels 2-3)
5. On April 28, in the morning before classes, have volunteers set up display in main school entry point (an entry way or main foyer). Student volunteers can answer any questions about the significance of the DOM as students enter the school. (Levels 2-3)
6. Info Sheets and orange ribbon sticker decals will be distributed to 1st Block teachers before class. Teachers will then spend the first 10 minutes of the first class, handing out stickers, explaining the Day of Mourning, explaining the proper behaviour for the moment of silence, and will read aloud and discuss info sheet provided.
7. During morning PA announcements, the Principal will lead a school wide moment of silence, reading from the provided script. (Levels 1-3)

OTHER SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR SCHOOL

• Student-led workshops on worker safety and the Day of Mourning
• Essay, short fiction or poetry contest on the topic of “Tragedy at Work”
• Video Contest: “Create a public service announcement promoting work place safety for young people.”
• Invite BC Fed “Alive After 5” speakers to your classroom.
• Invite speakers who have suffered a work place injury or lost a loved one to speak in class or a school assembly.
• Use the Labour History Project Resources at TeachBC to assist in teaching the history of labour rights in the Social Studies classroom.
• A field trip to one of many annual Day of Mourning memorials in your local community. For a comprehensive list of ceremonies happening across BC on April 28, check: https://www.dayofmourning.bc.ca/