We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Community Engagement (CE) Curriculum, a vital addition to the learning experience for students from Kindergarten through Grade 8. Developed by Community Engagement Coordinator Kerry-Ann Grant, this ambitious curriculum is designed to inspire our students to engage deeply with the world, fostering their growth as global citizens dedicated to making the world a better place.
The CE Curriculum is built upon the understanding that true learning is realized through application, giving the learning both purpose and lasting impact. It serves as a framework for taking the foundations of our existing curricula—like Math, Literacy, and Social Studies—and translating them into meaningful action through community engagement.
A cornerstone of this program is the establishment of long-term, reciprocal relationships with local organizations through a year-long Contributing Citizen Challenge. Because we are committed to depth and authenticity, we are developing these community partnerships in real-time. We are prioritizing finding the right fit for meaningful, lasting, and reciprocal relationships over the urgency of ensuring every grade has a partner immediately. We have already established exciting partnerships for Grades 5 and 7. In Grade 5, students will be working with a local Food Bank, and in Grade 7, students will be partnering with an organization called Club Sandwich, which provides sandwiches for local East End Toronto missions serving the homeless and food-insecure.
We see the value of this patience in our current Grade 5 partnership. The Grade 5s' work with a local food bank builds on and strengthens our connection in the community. As Kerry-Ann Grant notes, “We've been connected with St. Ann’s Parish Food Bank for three years now. When we arrive, the students work with the same volunteers each week, so real relationships form.”
To ensure a scaffolded progression of ideas, skills and values, the CE Curriculum is structured around four consistent strands across all grade levels:
- Self and the Community: Understanding the world, my place in it, and how to make the world a better place.
- Privilege and Responsibility: Understanding my position of privilege and the responsibility that goes with it.
- Empathy and Design: Understanding the situations facing some community members and how to design responses to shared problems.
- Work and Impact: Understanding the dignity and purpose of work and how to optimize the impact of my own efforts.
Community engagement is a vital component of Montcrest’s strategic vision. Together with community partners, this curriculum is our commitment to fostering better people who are equipped not only with knowledge but also with the character, skills, and drive to be active agents of positive change.
“We’re helping students become good people,” says Kerry-Ann. “They learn about themselves, their community, and how they can make a positive impact. They’re becoming better humans, more empathetic, more aware, and more capable of doing good. That’s what it’s all about.”
We look forward to sharing more details about the projects and learning experiences that will emerge from this exciting new curriculum. If you have any questions about this exciting new curriculum, please feel free to reach out to Kerry-Ann Grant.
