Mamquam Elementary Launches the Year with a School-Wide Celebration of Connection

November 2025: Mamquam Elementary opened the school year with a powerful, school-wide initiative centred around the theme “I Am Connected.” Principal Jenelle Kresak shared the project during the recent November Board meeting, highlighting how the theme helped anchor students and staff during the first week of school.

 

The inspiration for the initiative came from the newly published book I Am Connected by Haida, Musqueam, and Squamish author Ḵung Jaadee, who visited Mamquam the previous year. During that visit, she shared stories of the raven—Mamquam’s school mascot—and her teachings left a lasting impression on students and staff. When her book was released, its rich artwork and message around identity, community, and land-based connection felt like a natural fit for the school’s September focus.

 

To bring the theme to life, all students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 participated in two major creative activities:

• Paper Chains of Community:
  Each student responded to reflection questions drawn from Ḵung Jaadee's book—about family, belonging, and the people who support them. Their responses were turned into brightly coloured paper chain links, symbolizing the many relationships that hold their community together.

• Collective Nature Mural:
  Students also created small illustrations representing the elements of nature they feel connected to—plants, animals, places, and more. These pieces were then assembled into a large, vibrant mural. Together, the artwork paints a picture of the diverse relationships students have with the natural world around them.

 

The project culminated in September's Orange Shirt Day assembly, where the paper chains and mural were unveiled. Students laid the chains around the mural in a circle, creating a symbolic “hug” of connection—an image that resonated deeply with everyone present.

 

As with all Mamquam assemblies, the gathering ended with the school’s traditional closing song. Sung and drummed together by both staff and students, the song has become an important symbolism of unity, belonging, and shared responsibility.

 

The completed mural now hangs proudly in Mamquam’s front entryway, greeting students and families each day. Principal Kresak shared that the project sparked meaningful discussions among students about what they value, what grounds them, and who they are connected to. Many expressed a sense of accomplishment in seeing their individual artwork become part of something much larger.

 

The display will remain up throughout the year—a visual reminder of the community’s commitment to caring for one another and honouring the land and cultures that shape their learning.

 

Check out the presentation from the 2025 November board meeting below: