Bravery at CDS
Remembrance Day is November 11 and it is most often in the context of military history that we use or hear the word bravery.
Indeed, an esteemed colleague of mine (who has written several books on Canadian military history) always refers to our Canadian soldiers as being particularly “brave and strong” – a characteristic, that once noted by Allied commanders, often resulted in Canadian troops being “awarded” the most dangerous and brutal assignments. This sort of valour and grit is of course the ultimate form of bravery and continues today in the many peacekeeping operations that our nation - and our brave soldiers - support.
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I recently reflected on bravery of another order though – the sort of bravery we see in our students. Bravery, I must admit is not a word or character trait that is a part of my normal lexicon that I apply to students – and thus when I found myself using the word as a descriptor I found myself a little taken aback. I used the term in my closing remarks to the assembled competitors and coaches at our recent International Independent School's Public Speaking Competition.
I couldn’t help but feel that the dedication and grit that these students demonstrated in preparing for this voluntary competition was incredible. And then, for a young person (on average 16 years of age) to intentionally enter into a situation where they have to speak publically in front of hundreds of people, in an impromptu fashion, is indeed brave. At CDS, this bravery starts very early, at our Junior School assemblies - where students in the single digit age bracket present themselves comfortably at the podium in what must seem to them our massive theatre.
I couldn’t be more proud of our brave CDS students – well done!
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
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.
(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.
