Grade 1 Author Visit with Heather O'Connor
Our Grade 1 students were filled with excitement to meet award-winning children’s author Heather O’Connor who visited our Junior School Library on Tuesday. Mrs. O’Connor’s picture book, Fast Friends, won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award and was a finalist for the Blue Spruce Award, the IODE Jean Throop Award, and the Shining Willow Award.
In addition, her book was recently chosen as the TD Grade One Book Giveaway selection for 2022 and every Grade 1 student in Canada is eligible to receive a free copy of Fast Friends through this Canadian Book Centre’s program to promote literacy. Fast Friends was also adapted into a huge colourful animated float that appeared in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade this year!
Our students loved having the opportunity to meet Mrs. O’Connor in person and to learn how she brought the story of Fast Friends alive in partnership with her talented illustrator, Claudia Davila. After a reading of Fast Friends with the students, they had a chance to get interactive playing a fun ‘Emoji’ game with the author where they explored expressing various emotions in dramatic ways.
The Grade 1 students generated lots of thoughtful questions to ask the author about her writing process and where she gets her story ideas. Mrs. O’Connor delighted in answering their queries and took the time to sign a copy of Fast Friends for each Grade 1 student to have as a special memento of their visit together.
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.
