NEXT TOURNAMENT: May 30th & May 31st, 2025 at BCIT
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Citizenship

Citizenship

There is no other time of the year that it is more important to think of ways to give back and help out those we can. Citizenship is an
incredibly important concept that few of us ever talk about it. We are all citizens. We have much more in common than we think.

RECOGNIZE THAT CITIZENSHIP IS ABOUT BEING A PART OF A VIBRANT COMMUNITY WHERE WE ALL SHARE IN THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE REWARD (COMMUNITY)


HERE IS OUR CHRISTMAS LIST! Ways to Give Back This Christmas:
• Donate a toy
• Make a Christmas hamper for a needy family
• Buy a small present this Christmas for a homeless person or a single parent family who is having a tough time.
• Shovel snow or an elderly or disabled person.
• Bake cookies for someone who lives alone.
• Donate food to the Food bank at your local grocery stores.
• Buy a flower for a stranger.
• Put on a Talent Show for a lonely neighbour.
• Give that person who looks like they have nothing a sandwich or a chocolate bar.
• Make a batch of food to give away. Drop off Christmas cookies to someone’s house.
• Hold the door for someone else

That’s right – you don’t have to go to school and you can do whatever you want! (Well not whatever you want). We can play and we can go places (usually) and we get presents and fun. We get all of these great things because we will live in Canada. We are so lucky that we live in the greatest country in the world, we have plenty to eat, we have a warm home, and we get to celebrate Christmas or Chanukah or ( ). WE ARE CALLED CITIZENS


WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS?

Can anyone think of something you are thankful for?
1. We are all a part of different families or cultural communities or schools – we try to be helpful and do our part in those groups – we help out at home or pay attention at school or behave when we in public.
2. Canada is a group as well – it’s important to help out other citizens and try to get along and do our best to keep Canada awesome (children will require prompts) What is one thing you can do this week to be an awesome citizen? (help someone, pick up their toys, volunteer to do something, listen to their teacher, clean up litter, etc…) Do you know the way you can be an awesome citizen for the next 45 minutes?

“CITIZENSHIP IS THE CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU BELONG.”
— CHARLES HANDY

WHAT IS A GOOD CITIZEN?
1. Can anyone tell me what a citizen is? (That’s right, a citizen is someone who does their best to help others have an awesome life in Canada). BEING A GOOD CITIZEN MEANS BEING PART OF A TEAM! You are a part of the EMA team, we have uniforms. We are also a part of Team Canada. It’s important to remember that in order to be a good team member you need to work hard for the team.
We all want to be good Team Canada team players so we need to be good citizens. Being a good citizen is caring for your world – clean up spaces, pick up litter, wear a mask when we are asked to, being nice to others, sharing with those who don’t have we have this Christmas, remembering to be thankful.

“THE BEST WAY TO FIND YOURSELF IS TO LOSE YOURSELF IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.”— MAHATMA GANDHI

WEEKLY CHALLENGE PRACTICE GOOD CITIZENSHIP IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Challenge families to perform an act of service in the next week and take a picture for our social media. Have staff come up with a
growing list of activities to suggest to parents.
You can include things like:
• Picking up garbage at your local park
• Baking for someone older or in need
• Make a card or ornament for someone who needs encouragement.
• They could make an unexpected Zoom call to a distant relative
• Clean up their street
• Raise money or collect food and toys for a family going without.


CITIZENSHIP IS ABOUT CONNECTION NOT CONFORMITY

CONNECTING IS NOT THE SAME AS CONFORMING. At EMA we come in all kinds of variety and each one of us brings something wonderful to the party. Our diversity is our strength when we all live with shared values and hopes.

DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH
Can anyone think of something you are thankful for? Canada is an awesome country because we have so many wonderful types of people. Some people are very tall, others not so much. Some of us have dark skin, and some of us have light skin. Some people can speak other languages. Point out to students that there are types of hair colour/styles and lengths. We all came here in different kinds of cars or trucks. Some of us have big feet and some of us have tiny feet. (*even though we look different we are all a part of the same team and everyone is important, just the way they are.

Question 1: Is there anyone here who can speak another language?
Question 2: Can you say Merry
Christmas in another language (it may sound the same, which is also funny)?
Have students learn to say Merry Christmas in another language.

FAMILY CHALLENGE
(can be put on social media as a local challenge) – have a Zoom call with another family with a different cultural heritage. Learn about their different traditions, food, and fun activities. Do they celebrate Christmas? What other holidays do they get to enjoy?

GOOD CITIZENS TAKE CARE OF THEIR TEAM MEMBERS!
This week you could talk to your parents about how you can give back to kids and families who are having a hard time this Christmas. (end of class)

REMINDER FOR PARENTS:
Giving back is a great way to say thank you for all we have, a way to show gratitude, a recognition that we have more than we need, in a world where some kids have much less.

FAMILY CHALLENGE
Challenge students and parents to find a Christmas present that they can share that doesn’t cost any money. Perhaps it’s an activity invitation via Zoom or a plate of baking or a toy for a neighbourhood child.

“DO YOUR LITTLE BIT OF GOOD WHERE YOU ARE; IT’S THOSE LITTLE BITS OF GOOD PUT TOGETHER THAT OVERWHELM THE WORLD.”
— DESMOND TUTU


CITIZENSHIP IS ABOUT GRATITUDE

WE WANT TO REMIND OUR EMA FAMILY THAT CANADA IS AWESOME!

ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Remember the question we asked you a couple of weeks ago?  “what do you like best about Canada?” Have the class reflect on some of the less materialistic blessings we enjoy – freedom to go to school or play outside, safety, a warm home, family who loves us, and enough that we can come to EMA and have Christmas presents.

Why would I be talking about being thankful a week before Christmas?
All right, who’s going to be sad if they don’t get what they want for Christmas? Are you going to be sad?
This week we’re talking about being thankful. We are so lucky
• we live in an awesome country
• we get to have Christmas (did you know some kids don’t get any presents for Christmas? Wouldn’t that be sad?

YOU ARE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.


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    Kumar
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    Every day she she is having so much fun while learning so many new things and making life long friendships! Teachers are amazing and such good role models for the kids.
    100% recommend giving them a try, and the first class is free if you are unsure if this is for you or your kid!
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