For the second year in a row, Annunciation of Our Lord Catholic Elementary School welcomed students and staff from Marnix College in Curaçao, strengthening a connection first established through the Language Friendly Network.
Marnix College offers students an annual opportunity to participate in an international excursion designed to provide an immersive, culturally engaging, and educational experience. In previous years, trips were closer to home. Last year marked their first visit to Canada, and the experience proved so meaningful that the school returned this year with a new group of students aged 13 to 16.
In preparation for the visit, ESL Teacher Laura Milligan met with three Grade 8 classes to explore the culture of Curaçao and examine similarities between the histories of both countries. Students also exchanged introduction posters with their peers, with Annunciation students creating theirs using Canva.
On April 27, Annunciation welcomed 47 students and 7 teachers for a full day of collaborative activities with the Grade 8 classes.
The visiting group was greeted by Annunciation’s Student Language Ambassadors, who held flags and a welcome banner while cheering and offering high fives. The school community participated in a yellow and blue dress down day to reflect the colours of Curaçao’s flag.
“We also commemorated the historical upcoming World Cup with a school wide door decorating contest; as Canada is hosting for the first time and Curacao qualified for their first time and is the smallest nation to ever do so,” said Milligan.
Throughout the day, students were divided into four groups and rotated through interactive learning stations. Activities included curling led by Rock and Rings, lacrosse and Indigenous games led by community members from Rising Stars, Lego robotics facilitated by consultants Evelin Niemiec and Arthur Dicroce, and Sphero coding led by teacher librarian Susan Lyons-Baker and math consultant Sarah Wallace.The day also featured a barbecue lunch prepared by Principal Joe Tersigni and Educational Assistant Mark Cranstone.
The school also welcomed several distinguished guests, including Dr. Emmanuelle Le Pichon-Vorstman, founder of the Language Friendly Network and Associate Professor of Educational Linguistics at the University of Toronto. Superintendent Toni Kovach and Assistant Superintendent Sandra Scime were also in attendance to celebrate the event and extend a warm welcome to the visitors.
In recognition of the significance of this partnership, the school received letters and Canadian memorabilia to present to the visiting group from Mayor Andrea Horwath, MPP Sandy Shaw, and MP John Paul Danko.
Funding support from the Indigenous Education Department and a grant from the YMCA Farah Family Peace Scholarship helped subsidize costs for students, noted Milligan.
The following day, Annunciation students and staff travelled to Five Oaks Retreat in Paris, Ontario, where the group from Curaçao was staying. There, participants engaged in sessions led by the visiting students and staff, offering authentic opportunities to learn about the rich culture of Curaçao. Activities included traditional dances, songs, and learning phrases in Papiamento, one of the island’s official languages.
“Students and staff shared an emotional goodbye,” said Milligan.
“Students later shared they felt like they had known these students forever and made lifelong friendships.”
