‎ 
‎ 

Extracurricular Program

CDS Social Justice

Faculty Advisors: Dave Downer, Dave Harvey, Aimee Lee, Denise Steadman

The Social Justice Club strives to raise awareness about issues of injustice and inequality and to effect change in the CDS community, the region and the world. Tackling gaps in social justice can be challenging, given considerable misinformation and pushback in social media circles. The Social Justice Club works to offset that and promote true understanding and acceptance so that social justice becomes a norm.

The approximately 40 club members organize fundraisers to support initiatives like the Gord Downie-Chanie Wenjack Fund, the Woodland Cultural Centre and True North Aid. They also support The Small Project, which helps provide education for students in Kenya. Fundraisers and community engagement activities are accompanied by information campaigns that highlight issues through assembly presentations, morning announcements and poster campaigns. Some of those poster campaigns include QR codes that allow viewers to see part of a complete story before locating the next part through clues, almost like a scavenger hunt.

“It is invigorating working with students so full of optimism and energy. We love this community and want CDS to be a catalyst for change.” Dave Downer, Faculty Advisor

“Working with my peers on issues we’re all learning more about, and educating those around us, has been one of the highlights of my high school career.” Tarini Amarasinghe ’22, Student Coordinator

List of 5 news stories.

  • Tour For Humanity Brings Powerful Lessons to CDS

    This week, CDS had the privilege of hosting the Tour for Humanity — a mobile classroom created by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FOSW). Led by passionate educators Simon and Ariel, this travelling learning experience delivered impactful and age-appropriate workshops to students in Grades 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12, as well as a dedicated CDS parent group.
    Read More
  • Tour For Humanity - Holocaust and Genocide Educational Experience

    By Dave Downer

    From April 8 to April 10, many Country Day School students will have a special educational experience when the school hosts the Tour for Humanity mobile classroom. This traveling classroom is an education centre sponsored by The Friends Of Simon Wiesenthal.

    Throughout the three days, we will have students from Grades 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12 attend age-appropriate workshops on genocide and the Holocaust that are linked to their class studies.  The self-contained mobile classroom will be set up in the Junior School parking lot on each of the three days and students will go for lessons led by FOSW instructors. More information about the classroom and workshop descriptions can be found here: Tour For Humanity

    There will also be an opportunity for interested family members to attend a workshop organized specifically for them on Thursday, April 10, from 12:45 - 1:45pm. If this is of interest to you, please email Mr. Downer to have your name added to the list on a first-come, first-served basis. Space for this parent and guardian workshop is limited to 28 individuals.
     
    Email Mr. Downer at: dave.downer@cds.on.ca.
  • Pop Can Tabs - Challenge Accepted!

    At Thursday’s morning Senior School assembly, Social Justice updated the students on the progress of the pop can tab collection that has been running at the school since September.

    The Social Justice members poured another batch of tabs into the collection container and then said it was worthy of an impromptu dress down day in April. Not so fast, said Mr. Viotto. He noted that there had not been any consultation with administration about this, and that, in any case, the container was not sufficiently full to warrant a dress down day. After some good natured on-stage haggling, Mr. Viotto compromised with a challenge. Fill the container up to the level he chose and the Middle and Senior Schools could earn an additional dress down day. 

    So there it is, CDS. Collect as many tabs as you can until the end of March and add them to the collection container in the Senior School office and see if you can win an extra dress down day. Tabs can come from canned beverages, but also from soup, pet food or tuna cans. They all count. Social Justice will donate the tabs and a cheque to the Robert Hampson Tabs For Kids Fund which purchases wheelchairs and other equipment for children in need. 
  • Social Justice - Cookiegrams/The Small Project

    Last week, Social Justice members delivered 350 cookies to students in the Middle and Senior Schools. In the two weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, students placed orders for the giant chocolate chip cookies and, in the Senior School, also created messages for the recipients of attention. There was quite a buzz of energy in the building as students received their treats and messages like “From your secret admirer” or a simple “Have a cookie!”. Regardless of whether they were purchased for friends or for themselves,  students eagerly devoured the delicious treats.

    As well as raising spirits, the cookie drive was held for The Small Project, a charity that Social Justice and CDS students have supported since 2017. The Small Project is a charity run by Rex and Mary Ellen Taylor, whose two daughters, Bronwen ‘05 and Morgan ‘08 attended and graduated from CDS. 
    Read More
  • Student Symposium at the Toronto Holocaust Museum

    Last week, four students travelled with Mr. Downer and Ms. Steadman to attend the Student Leaders’ Symposium on Antisemitism and the Holocaust, a full-day event held at the Toronto Holocaust Museum. There were two students from the Diversity Club, Maya Sood ‘28 and Serina Keshwani ‘28, and two from the Social Justice Club, Irene Li ‘26 and Niusha Safizadeh ‘26
    Read More
“By keeping the public discourse focused at the level ‘does racism exist?’ denial demands no change, no reflection, no accountability. Denial is complicity” – Shree Paradkar

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.

School Information

Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5 

(905) 833-1220 

communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca

Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.