To a passer-by, Glashan Intermediate
must seem like a typical inner-city school. A three-storey red
brick building, it looks out over Bank Street, the Queensway
and a rundown garage repair shop. With its paved playground and
chain-link fence, the school is as inviting as the neighbouring
bus station.
But looks can be deceiving: the uninspiring building, in fact,
masks an award-wining school with a friendly staff and tightly
knit student body.
And Susan Nouvet, principal at the school for the past five years,
says Glashan takes advantage of its location and identity.
“We don’t shy away from being an inner-city school,”
says Nouvet.
Glashan takes advantage of being downtown with trips to nearby
museums, government buildings and community centres.
Glashan started out as a one-room schoolhouse with 99 students
in 1888. Today, it has more than 360 students from more than
50 countries. It’s this diversity that’s credited with
creating a global village within its walls.
Today’s Parent magazine recognized Glashan in its second
annual Top 40 Schools in Canada issue.
The magazine asked readers for nominations of schools with extraordinary
programs, devoted principals and committed community support.
With more than 600 nominations from schools across the country,
Glashan was singled out for its respectful environment.
“We were really impressed with how Glashan’s students
represent more than 50 cultures and countries, and how they’re
able to celebrate that cultural diversity,” says Sarah Moore,
managing editor for Today’s Parent.
“We’re not saying this school is way better than any
other school, but what we’re saying is here’s a school
that really shows a respectful environment and a school that
really shines in their extra curriculars,” adds Moore.
Staff and students are equally impressed with the school.
“We refer to Glashan as the BISC,” says Nina Weiler,
physical education teacher at the school. “The Best Intermediate
School in the City.”
But Glashan didn’t always have that kind of reputation.
“It was supposed to be an inner-city school with inner-city
problems,” says vice-principal Bonnetta Allen.
Rick Desclouds has been teaching at Glashan for 33 years. He
says the school was going through a period of high staff turnaround.
Students and staff were suffering from low morale but Nouvet
helped rally the troops.
“We weren’t really proud of what we were, but she (Nouvet)
came in and helped refocus the school. She sparked our interest
in what makes our school special and made global affairs and
multiculturalism our focus.”
For her part, Nouvet credits the school’s success to the
commitment of staff for creating a climate of respect and inclusion.
Inside a Grade 7 integrated studies class, Sean Oussoren’s
students participate in his version of CBS’ hit TV show
The Amazing Race. Students scramble through atlases searching
for geographic co-ordinates. The first student to plot each of
the co-ordinates wins the race. The students are excited as they
compete against each other in this innovative lesson.
Oussoren is just one of the many staff committed to the school’s
success. He has spent the last three years teaching in Ecuador
and was drawn to Glashan for its diversity.
“This school is even more multicultural than the international
school I taught at in Quito. It’s great,” he says.
Alex Johnson, 12, wins Oussoren’s amazing race just in time
for the recess bell. He smiles as he funnels into the school’s
crowded corridors.
“This really is a great school. The teachers demand a lot
of respect, and it just makes for a great atmosphere,” says
Johnson.
Staff and students aren’t alone in their praise for the
school.
In 2004, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board rewarded Glashan’s
accomplishments with the Isis Ethnocultural Equity Award. It
recognizes the efforts of students and staff to promote racial
harmony, fairness and understanding during the school year.
Promoting racial harmony and celebrating cultural diversity are
just two of the things Glashan does best.
Every second year, Desclouds helps to run the school’s “real
world” simulation. The world is mapped out on the gym floor
while students are distributed among the continents mimicking
actual populations. They are then given goods and services representing
actual global distributions with cookies representing food, flashlights
for power, and wool for wealth.
“It helps show the kids that people are victims of circumstance,”
says Desclouds, adding that students leave the game with a better
appreciation for how people in other parts of the world live.
The “real world” simulation is just one of Desclouds’
many involvements around the school.
He has written the school’s annual Black History Month play
for the past three years. More than 100 students participate
and present it to the public in February.
The school also holds an annual multicultural potluck dinner.
It celebrates the school’s diversity with a Chinese dragon
dance, multicultural fashion show, and ethnic foods.
And every year, students make a four km pilgrimage by foot to
the Museum of Civilization to take part in workshops for Aboriginal
Day.
“We go there out of respect to learn more about our aboriginal
cultures and traditions,” says Allen. “We probably
have a dozen aboriginal students in the school, and we want to
recognize their culture as a part of our own.”
Last year’s student president, Kala Pendakur organized a
Youth Peace Conference. She invited 16 presenters from agencies
such as the Red Cross and Oxfam to give speeches and workshops
on topics ranging from conflict resolution to global peace initiatives.
Pendakur, now a student at Glebe Collegiate, says Glashan does
more than just celebrate its diversity, it also promotes a culture
of peace and harmony.
“It’s the best school, I really think,” says Pendakur.
“It not only brings out the multiculturalism in the group,
but it’s really special in that the teachers really care
about the students. It’s a really welcoming community and
it makes everyone feel really nice.”
Desclouds agrees and says it’s the reason he’s stayed
at Glashan his entire career.
“When you start at the top, why move?” he jokes.
In the past year, the Glashan global village was devastated when
two of its students died in a Centretown fire that destroyed
the family’s home.
In a display of support and community outreach, students and
staff started a memorial fund for the youngest survivor of the
fire. The fund has already raised $8,800.
Glashan has always been involved in the community. Every year,
the student council organizes a canned-food drive to help the
city’s underprivileged.
Nouvet wants her students to reach out even further in the community
this year by introducing new initiatives such as reading to seniors
in retirement homes.
Not content to rest on its laurels, Glashan will continue to
set an example for other schools.
“It’s truly the attitude and the approach of the school,”
says Nouvet. “Inside the Glashan global village you should
feel safe and respect.”
With accolades flowing in, Nouvet doesn’t hesitate to toot
the school’s horn.
“We’re even BISC-ier now,” she concludes “Because
we’re one of the best in the country.” |