BHM, PD, & PNP

February is Black History Month (BHM) in Canada and the United States.  BHM is also observed in Ireland and the United Kingdom, but in October.  Its origins can be traced back to 1926 in the USA, but it wasn’t until 1970 when Kent State University held the first celebration from January 2 to February 28.

Staff and students of Inuujaq School are celebrating BHM by learning about famous Black inventors, athletes, politicians, civil rights activists, actors, authors, poets, musicians, scientists, and many more.  They’re also learning about important & profound moments in Canadian & American Black History, past and current.  I incorporated a few of these into my social studies lessons, one of which being my students & I watched the I Have A Dream speech by Martin Luther King Jr.  Visual displays have been put up in the main hallway and several classroom doors have been decorated with famous quotes.  These displays will remain until the end of the month.

The staff members from Jamaica prepared Jamaican food for the entire school to try.  It was delicious.

The second week of February was Professional Development (PD) Week for staff.  Students got a week off school while teachers did PD from February 13 to the 17.  Inuit teachers flew down to Iqaluit to participate in an Inuit Educators Conference.  Inuit educators from other communities in the Qikiqtani region were attendance.  The conference was hosted by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI).  Non-Inuit teachers remained at school.  I did online courses on classroom management and learning strategies.  The Inuit staff I spoke to said they really enjoyed the conference in Iqaluit.

3045 Army Cadet Corps held a Parents Night Parade (PNP) in the middle of PD Week on February 15.  The cadets achieved many things since the last PNP in December (2022) so it was the perfect time to publicly recognize them for their latest achievements.  I recruited a local teacher to act as the Guest Reviewing Officer (GRO).

The cadets & I spent 45 minutes turning the school gym into a proper parade square.  This required setting up tables, chairs, flags, and a reception area.  One wall was covered with competition targets because we recently held a marksmanship competition.  (More on that coming up).

The parade began at 6:30pm.  The GRO inspected the cadets on parade while I welcomed everyone to the first PNP of 2023.  The cadets looked sharp in their green dress uniforms.  The cadets then did a March Past.  The GRO gave a short speech to the cadets for marching well and thanking the audience for supporting their local cadet corps.

The parade continued with awards.  I started with marksmanship badges.  There’re four levels, conveniently named Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4.  One is the lowest and four is the highest.  One cadet achieved Level 1.  Three cadets achieved Level 2.  Five cadets achieved Level 3.  One cadet achieved Level 4.

Next were physical fitness badges.  Two cadets achieved Bronze, one achieved Silver, and one achieved Excellence.  Unfortunately, no cadets attained Gold level fitness.  There’s always next time.

Marksmanship Team

I held a marksmanship competition last month to select cadets for this year’s marksmanship team.  There were only five spots available.  Participation was voluntary.  Cadets wanting to be on the team had to shoot two prone targets and one standing target.  The highest possible score was 300.  I spent a day scoring the targets, organizing them, and selecting the top five shooters.  I called them by name and had them come to the front to be publicly recognized for making the team.  Their first competition as a team will be at the end of this month.

The last part was promotions.  The cadet program promotes & teaches leadership skills, and the rank structure, mirrored from the Canadian military, emphasizes this.  As cadets “advance in the ranks,” they take on more leadership duties and tasks.  Starting from the beginning, six cadets were promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.  Three cadets were promoted to the rank of Corporal.  One cadet advanced to the senior rank of Sergeant, and another cadet advanced further to the rank of Warrant Officer.

The cadets did an Advance In Review Order and a General Salute.  The GRO & I exited the gym, signaling the end of the parade.  The cadets were dismissed, but reassembled at the back of the gym for a group photograph.  I then let them enjoy the reception.  Reception lasted for 30 minutes and then I helped the cadets put everything away.  The cadets formed up one last time for a quick debrief.  I congratulated them for making it to the end of the parade and for receiving awards.  I made a few announcements and then ordered the cadet parade commander to dismiss the cadets for the night.