Celebrating Cultures: Abbotsford Middle School Unites Through Diversity and Student-Led Initiatives!
At any given time, while walking down our school hallways, one can hear close to 40 different languages spoken at Abbotsford Middle School. We have students new to Canada, landed immigrants and refugees, and students who are second or third-generation Canadians. Our greatest strength, as well as one of our growth areas, lies within this
diversity.
Aligned with our District's strategic plan and Abbotsford Middle School's vision to celebrate diversity within the classroom and school community, our two Equity and Indigenous advocates have worked tirelessly with our team of teachers to not only celebrate and highlight our students' diversity but also create spaces where students can be seen and feel a sense of pride. We want to highlight these two fantastic staff members leading us in this area!
Lauren Mactavish, our Learning Commons teacher, involved in a personal journey to bring multicultural awareness to students and staff of Abbotsford Middle, has organized multiple celebrations that take the form of assemblies where students are exposed to the diverse cultural/ religious holidays that our student populations observe and celebrate. This includes our Winter Festival of Lights (Kwanza, Diwali, Christmas, and Hannukah) and the annual Spring Celebration (Easter, Passover, Eid, and Vasaikhi). These student-led assemblies highlight cultural traditions: shared food, family, dance, music, etc. Many students glow with pride through drumming, artistic performance or story. As stated by Ms. Mactavish, "If you follow the threads between all the festivals, they are all about celebrating together. We aim to showcase what we all have in common and how much we value the same things.”
Like Ms. Mactavish, Ms. Joseph recognizes that connection is key to a positive school community. However, she brings a unique approach by centring student-led initiatives and cultural connections. A grade 7 teacher from the Wet'suwet'en Territory, Ms. Joseph quickly built strong relationships, particularly with Indigenous students, fostering a
space where their culture is seen.
Inspired by Dianna Kay, who founded the Halq'eméylem translation contest to revitalize the language, Ms. Joseph saw the importance of ensuring Stó:lō New Year was represented in public schools. Working alongside a team of Indigenous teachers at Abbotsford Middle, she helped organize the Stó:lō New Year celebration as a collective effort to honour cultural traditions. Her initiatives, rooted in her UFV Master's program, emphasize student voice, leadership, and autonomy. She also created the Halq'eméylem club, where students explore language and identity, and in 2023, her students won Dianne Kay's translation contest.
Building on student discussions about dismantling systemic barriers, Ms. Joseph helped launch Abbotsford Middle's first Punjabi classes, open to parents, staff, and students. As our school grows, we celebrate both our diversity and our shared commitment to equity and social justice.