It is a seven-minute walk from OCDSB's Churchill Alternative School to Hilson Avenue Public School, but that short distance recently became a musical bridge' for nearly a hundred students.
What started as an idea to expand music education blossomed into a hands-on exchange between neighbours. Churchill students didn't just want to play music in their own classrooms; they wanted to share the experience. Carrying a fleet of brand-new Beavercreek ukuleles, they made the trek to Hilson Avenue to turn a school day into a community-wide jam session.
Seven-minute journey to harmony
The project truly came to life when Churchill students made the short trek to Hilson Avenue. They didn't arrive for a formal performance; they arrived to start a conversation through music.
In the Grand Hall' at Hilson Avenue, 85 students gathered for a collaborative "casual jam". The atmosphere was electric but relaxed, as the students moved away from the structure of a recital and into a shared musical experience. Together, they navigated the chords of many beginner-friendly hits.
"When Churchill showed up, there was this incredible surge of energy," says Garett Barr, music teacher at Hilson Avenue PS. "We had over 85 kids, all holding instruments and excited to be there. They found a real sense of purpose and identity through that shared moment."
Connections beyond the music
While the ukuleles provided the soundtrack, the real story was the peer-to-peer connection. For the students, the morning was an opportunity to bridge the gap between their two school communities.
"It was exciting to have Churchill here to play with them," one Hilson student shared. "We had a lot of energy... and I got to meet new people."
Another student noted the joy of the simple collaboration: "Some kids from Churchill came and we were just playing songs together on the ukulele."
Education through collaboration
This collaboration proves that music education is powerful when it moves beyond school walls. By stepping out of their own building and onto the neighbourhood sidewalks, Churchill students did more than just share instruments they helped spark a lasting community bond. The day proved that when students step outside their usual routines to play together, the music sounds better for everyone providing a wonderful opportunity to bridge school cultures and connect through a common rhythm.
