A program that raises awareness of social cohesion for New Brunswick students is now being offered several schools.
It is available in three schools in the Kent region and three in the Miramichi region.
Dialogue New Brunswick, which implemented the program, is also looking for a First Nations school in Miramichi to take part.
Chief Executive Officer Nadine Duguay-Lemay says the program will bring together students in the various regions, “To teach in the classroom, activities to the kids, grades 4 and 5. It is all about teaching them social cohesion principles, but it is embedded into the personal wellness curriculum.”
Duguay-Lemay says it’s important to start teaching this as early as possible. Their goal is to eventually have this type of program in daycares.
“Research has shown from other programs that the closer the kids are in the same geographical area, the better lasting those relationships they will build endure over time,” Duguay-Lemay says.
The program includes 2 components:
- Student Exchange component:
- Exchange between three grade 4 or grade 5 classes from the same region: 1 First Nation class, 1 French class and 1 English class;
- Carry out virtual and physical exchanges around an activity related to the domains of social cohesion.
- Activities in class:
- The working group has proposed a series of activities meeting the expectations of the Personal Wellness curriculum, as well as the Social Cohesion indicators of the Radar model.
