Colin Macdonald Community School
201 Paradise Road North L8S3T3 Hamilton, ON, Canada

We have not yet ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it. - Dr. Michelle Alexander Pauli Murray’s legal arguments and interpretation of the... US Constitution were winning strategies for public school desegregation, women’s rights in the workplace, and an extension of rights to the LGBTQ community based on Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Her efforts in the civil rights and women rights movement truly broke barriers and opened the eyes of many that chose to close them. A civil rights lawyer, activist, author, and a past MLK keynote speaker, Dr. Michelle Alexander details the accounts of the legal and institutional systems in her new book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. She was a director of the Racial Justice Project at the ACLU of Northern California, which led a national campaign against racial profiling by law enforcement. Her work has helped suppress the continuous acts of race and gender discrimination amount African Americans. #PauliMurray #MichelleAlexander #thenewjimcrow

I am excited to see it! I hope it's good...

Wednesday mid morning we received a memo from Stephen Lecce stating that Elementary students would be returning to school on Monday January 11th....as of 3 pm today the Ontario government have now made the decision to continue on line learning in Southern Ontario until January 25th.This is disappointing for our small school with our small class sizes.Unfortunately there's no separation/distinction made amongst schools and their numbers and protocols.

Thrilled to say that we will be seeing everyone in person on Monday, January,11th!! Welcome back!

Yes, there is a Castle in Hamilton! Let us take you on a guided tour.

Wonder if anyone has their tree still? Great idea!

Yes. Via Sweatpants & Coffee

Exactly. Via Seed & Sew

Jonathan Bean illustration

Crazy hat day!

Children need to rest. But, there is something so important not only about children getting this downtime, but also about HOW we as adults believe that it shoul...d look and be scheduled. We need to make room for more spontaneous, child-led and designed moments of release. I can't tell you how many times both in our yard and nature-program that I've seen children spontaneously lie down to rest... on logs, leaning against each other, just spread out unapologetically on the ground in the middle of the day. And it's not just young children. The older ones will lean up against a tree, stare off into the fire, retreat to a small, special hideaway they've built for just such a purpose. To breathe. To recharge. To just BE. When we start strictly regimenting, over-scheduling and curating these breaks, it subverts a child's natural rhythm and instincts. Do that enough and eventually, we start to blunt our body's cues and unique needs. Let's support a culture of normalizing spontaneous, diverse expression of the body at rest & integration. I would love to see any instances you have of your children taking these breaks - participating in these small acts of individuality and quiet resistance. Next time you see a child lie down, rest or seem to "zone out" outside, just know they are getting the nourishment their developing nervous systems need. Mother Nature has them in her grounded, regulated embrace, whispering to their hearts' "Rest child, I'll hold you for as long as you need." I hope you are getting the rest you need in this season of the big fire, little light. ~ Nicolette

Fun Fact: A woodpecker’s tongue is so long that it wraps around its skull to protect its brain while it is hammering away at a tree or other hard surfaces. T...his, combined with other factors such as: super strong neck muscles, plates of spongey bone in the skull that act like a football helmet, and a very small amount of cerebrospinal fluid surrounding their brain, all help to stop a woodpecker scrambling its brain while pecking away with a force of over 1000g See more

Wishing all our families a safe and enjoyable holiday season! See you on the 4th

The E1B class downtown yesterday.

Gingerbread people decorating with the E2 class!

Searching for world domination!

The E1A class modeling their seasonal eyewear from Tracie!

We all feel pretty relaxed in our pajamas!#pjday

The E1B class made their own holiday dedicated to Pugs!They celebrated the day in their own creative, unique way.They all seemed to have a great day!

Lunch recess at the park!

While in my office... often as the kids walk by on their way to their cubbies we will exchange greetings.One student in particular always says hello and asks how I am.Of course I ask him how he's doing....well today he threw up his arms and responded gggggreat!... with a huge smile... needless to say it made me smile...... you've gotta love kids!

Calling all fans of Misty of Chincoteague Island! In this one time session, participants will learn where Misty came from, and about the herd of wild ponies tha...t lives on Assateague Island. This is a live, small group online class - available on any device, and anywhere like the comfort of home! Click the link for details, to ask questions and enroll. Rated 5-stars by parents like you!

The E1A class out on an afternoon adventure!

We will master the comeback!

Pizza Day today!