This week, the Embassy of Canada’s Adopted School class, 5th graders at J.C. Nalle Elementary School, helped us decorate the Christmas tree in the Embassy lobby, bringing holiday cheer to all our visitors.
Washington Performing Arts and D.C. Public Schools have run the Embassy Adoption Program since 1974, and the Embassy of Canada has participated for nearly 40 years. The Embassy Adoption program exposes local public school in fifth and sixth grades to international perspectives and cross-cultural lessons. Teachers are intended to host their diplomat partners for at least 3 classroom visits or field trips over the course of the school year so that students can explore other cultures, languages, history, and perspectives on international issues. At the end of the school year, classes are required to make a final presentation to their assigned Embassy illustrating what they have learned over the course of the year.
So what are we teaching our adopted school class in Southeast Washington? We have already given them a “Canada 101,” and the kids visited the Embassy for a tour and helped decorate the tree. Next up, among other visits, we are taking them ice skating, giving a lesson on Canada’s indigenous peoples, and are looking forward to their year-end presentation.