This month we continue to celebrate inclusivity and diversity in the classroom and wider school community! Thank you to all the students (Div. 3 included) who wrote thoughtful messages and posted their hearts on the Maywood Pride Flag in the main foyer on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHAT), May 17th.

“The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia was created in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

May 17 is now celebrated in more than 130 countries. Thousands of initiatives, big and small, are reported throughout the planet”.

I am grateful that Burnaby School District fully supports these efforts. We’ve Got Pride! Visit the Burnaby district page to see more!

A message from our school district:

“Burnaby Schools celebrate diversity. We are proud to be a leader in creating inclusive, welcoming environments in our schools. We strive to provide engaging learning opportunities to inspire each child to reach their potential. We want all students to flourish and we have policies that support inclusivity.

Our Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity policy (SOGI) is one such policy. It has been in place since June 2011. The Burnaby Board of Education built the policy through a collaborative process, including reaching out to the public and other stakeholders for input.

It’s our job to ensure Burnaby Schools are friendly and safe learning environments, and the SOGI policy is a part of that. The District follows the curriculum for each grade level provided by the BC Ministry of Education. Students experience lessons that promote understanding of the diverse society in which we live, and they learn to treat each other with dignity and respect, regardless of our differences. For additional background and frequently asked questions about SOGI.

The Canadian government also supports these efforts, with the following statement:

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirit (LGBTQ2) people in Canada, and all over the world, continue to experience bullying, discrimination, stigma and violence to the detriment of their health and wellness. On May 17, we mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, and unite in our collective efforts to promote a safe, inclusive and stigma-free society for all.