The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) is proud to introduce a new Grade 12 Africentric English course at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute (GCVI), where students will study contemporary literature written by Black authors.
This course was developed by dedicated educators at GCVI Sarah Bolton and Natalie Lahey-Brown; who have completed an Anti-Black Racism Additional Qualification (AQ) course.
This program offers students an enriched learning experience that centers Black voices, authors, and historical narratives while meeting the same rigorous curriculum expectations as a provincial English 4U course.
"This Africentric course is not solely for Black students; it is designed to benefit all students by broadening their perspectives and deepening their understanding of diverse cultures," says Alicia Ralph, UGDSB's Human Rights, Equity, and Accessibility Commissioner.
"By embedding Culturally Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy (CRRP) into our curriculum, we affirm and celebrate the identities of all students, which is essential in building and maintaining a culture of human rights a responsibility we all share."
The course goes beyond traditional literature classes by incorporating guest speakers, community-based learning, and interactive projects that bring history and culture to life. Students will explore works exclusively by Black authors, engage with Black historians and leaders, and even develop a local Black history walking tour in the spring connecting classroom learning to the real-world stories of Guelph's Black community.
"For my Black students, I hope they know they have a place in academia. I hope they see themselves in their community," says course instructor Natalie Brown-Lahey. "Seeing their excitement and engagement in this course has been incredible."
This course is open to all students, regardless of their post-secondary pathway, and aims to set them up for success at the university level. "We want students to feel proud," Brown-Lahey adds. "This course was built with student voice at the forefront, particularly with input from members of our Black Student Union. Their vision and leadership have been instrumental in shaping this program."
Looking ahead, UGDSB hopes this initiative will pave the way for more Africentric and social justice-focused courses. "We envision this course expanding into a larger program, much like a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), where students interested in social justice and equity work can continue their studies in a meaningful way," says Ralph.
The launch of the Africentric English course reflects the board's commitment to providing learning opportunities that go beyond the status quo, empowering students with knowledge, representation, and the skills to make a lasting impact in their communities.
This course was developed by dedicated educators at GCVI Sarah Bolton and Natalie Lahey-Brown; who have completed an Anti-Black Racism Additional Qualification (AQ) course.
This program offers students an enriched learning experience that centers Black voices, authors, and historical narratives while meeting the same rigorous curriculum expectations as a provincial English 4U course.
"This Africentric course is not solely for Black students; it is designed to benefit all students by broadening their perspectives and deepening their understanding of diverse cultures," says Alicia Ralph, UGDSB's Human Rights, Equity, and Accessibility Commissioner.
"By embedding Culturally Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy (CRRP) into our curriculum, we affirm and celebrate the identities of all students, which is essential in building and maintaining a culture of human rights a responsibility we all share."
The course goes beyond traditional literature classes by incorporating guest speakers, community-based learning, and interactive projects that bring history and culture to life. Students will explore works exclusively by Black authors, engage with Black historians and leaders, and even develop a local Black history walking tour in the spring connecting classroom learning to the real-world stories of Guelph's Black community.
"For my Black students, I hope they know they have a place in academia. I hope they see themselves in their community," says course instructor Natalie Brown-Lahey. "Seeing their excitement and engagement in this course has been incredible."
This course is open to all students, regardless of their post-secondary pathway, and aims to set them up for success at the university level. "We want students to feel proud," Brown-Lahey adds. "This course was built with student voice at the forefront, particularly with input from members of our Black Student Union. Their vision and leadership have been instrumental in shaping this program."
Looking ahead, UGDSB hopes this initiative will pave the way for more Africentric and social justice-focused courses. "We envision this course expanding into a larger program, much like a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), where students interested in social justice and equity work can continue their studies in a meaningful way," says Ralph.
The launch of the Africentric English course reflects the board's commitment to providing learning opportunities that go beyond the status quo, empowering students with knowledge, representation, and the skills to make a lasting impact in their communities.
