Another Amazing, Inspiring Visit to Mackay Centre School

"Sometimes people think we can’t do much,

But over time, we can.

Like everyone on Earth,

We need to feel LOVED and respected."

This is the first time I've ever started a blog entry with a quote. That's because I love this quote sooo much. It comes from a group poem Grade Six students at Mackay Centre School wrote last Friday. Most of the students who attend Mackay have special needs, including language, communication and hearing impairments, and physical disabilities. For artist-photographer Thomas Kneubühler and me, this was our second time working with the group. We're helping the students produce a chapter for a real live book called Quebec Roots: Strengthening Communities, part of an amazing Blue Metropolis Literary Foundation educational program.

Seven classes from seven schools across Quebec are taking part this year -- and each participating class chooses its own topic. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you'll already know that the Mackay kids voted to write and take photographs connected to the topic of Love and Kindness. How beautiful is that?

On Friday, I arrived a little earlier than Thomas -- that's because the students always seem to prefer taking photographs to writing! (I think it's because writing feels more like homework to most students.) But I think that even if I made them work on their writing, they had fun and hopefully learned some useful writing lessons -- such as that dialogue adds drama, and that interesting, relevant details bring stories to life. And the students worked together to produce their wonderful introductory poem (I only included a bit of it here because I want you to read the book when it comes out in spring 2025, in time for the Blue Metropolis Literary Festival!)

One thing I've noticed about the Mackay students is they are very funny and love to laugh. The same is true of their teachers, Mikaela, Georgia and Bronwyn. That made our visit extra fun. While Thomas took groups of students out of the classroom to take photos, I worked individually with other students on their writing. This also gave me a chance to chat with the kids one-on-one. A student named Seerat told me, "I love to take a lot of pictures!"

Now I'm going to tell you about my favourite moment -- the one that made me laugh the hardest. When the students were all together towards the end of our visit, I asked them, "Who was it said I had too much energy?" There was a moment or two of silence, and then they all called out, "YOU DID!" Did that make you laugh too? I hope so!

Laughter, courage, love and kindess, words and photos -- those are just some of the things we need to bring us together and make this complicated world a better place.

Thanks to the students at Mackay for INSPIRING US. Thanks to your teachers and all the helpers at your school for sharing you with the Quebec Roots team. Blog readers, you will love the 2025 edition of Quebec Roots -- and especially this chapter!