CDS Language Week 2023
For the first time ever at CDS, Junior, Middle, and Senior School students all celebrated Language Week from April 11-14. The overarching goal of this annual celebration is to teach students to appreciate and respect the many cultures where French and Spanish are spoken.
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Senorita Stefanescu’s Grade 10 Spanish classes had a culture-filled week as they learned about Hispanic music and art. One of the days was dedicated to learning about 10 different Hispanic musical genres. Students learned about their origins, rhythm counts, and also basic dance steps. They then got to put their musical ears to a test by identifying rhythms in different songs. The following day was dedicated to the Mexican traditional art form of Alebrijes, a fantastical spirit animal wood carving art form. After seeing how these sculptures are made, students tried their hand at making their own Alebrijes out of paper.
The Grade 11 Spanish class also had a fun-filled Language Week by exploring the culinary side of the culture. One of the days the class got to visit Mexican Amigos, a Mexican restaurant in Richmond Hill. There they were able to try traditional foods, desserts, and even Mexican soft drinks on a patio. The ambiance was excellent, and Mariachi music was playing.
The Grade 12 Spanish class got a break from grammar and vocabulary to watch their first Hispanic film of the year, the Mexican film El Jeremias about a gifted young boy who goes on a journey to find out what really matters in life – his family and enjoying the present moment.
In Grade 7 French, students working under the tutelage of Mme Ah Sen made marshmallow and toothpick Eiffel towers and then played pétanque outside. For Mme Fransen’s Grade 8 French students, a cheese tasting and a digital breakout activity rounded out the week of cultural fun.
In Grade 9, the time-honoured tradition of crêpe making continued. Students in Mme Davidson’s classes all made and enjoyed crêpes during their classes and also worked to make funny French memes (currently on display outside of S1) and to complete digital breakout activities about francophone countries.
Mme Fransen and Mme Ah Sen’s Grade 10 classes completed a breakout activity where they deciphered clues in order to open locks and find their "return tickets." They also had a cheese, chicory, and brioche tasting activity which was linked to their current film study.
Ms Weening’s and Mme Davidson’s Grade 11 and 12 French classes had an extra special treat when they travelled to La Bréhandaise Market in Oak Ridges. Here, they worked with French chefs, brothers Pascal and Martial Poilbout, to make delicious French apple tarts and crêpes from scratch, and all instructions were in French!
Finally, we introduced a new tradition Friday afternoon. Mme Davidson’s Grade 12 class hosted and ran activities for the Grade 4 and 6 French classes of Mmes Racine and O’Rourke. The Grade 12s ran drawing games, vocabulary activities and bingo - tout en francais! It was wonderful to collaborate with our Junior School classmates.
C'était une semaine incroyable!
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.
