“Why do we wear a poppy today?” The lady smiled in her wistful way, And Answered, “This is Remembrance Day, and the poppy there is the symbol for the gallant ones who died in war, And, because they did, you and I are free, That’s why we wear a poppy, you see.” -Don Crawford
I remember reciting this poem “Why Do We Wear a Poppy” as part of a Remembrance Day Ceremony when I was in school.
My commute to school takes me past the temporary monument set up along Memorial Drive with over 3000 markers symbolizing each resident of Calgary who died protecting our country as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. It is a stunning visual reminder that causes me to reflect on the poem’s message. Perhaps it was the fact that it was a young boy asking the question of the older woman that helped me relate to the situation. We all have memories of Remembrance Day and what it means to us, whether it is a grandparent who served in the war or most recently, speaking with a refugee family from Syria who are so grateful to be living in Canada. 
November is a time for us to reflect on the importance of citizenship in our community both locally and globally. The Calgary Board of Education Citizenship Results Policy states that each student will be a responsible citizen and students will participate in developing and maintaining our Canadian civil democratic society and understand the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in local, national and international contexts. Our students and staff have worked towards this Citizenship Result with our Terry Fox Run in September that raised over $945.00 for cancer research. As a community, our next effort will be to support Connaught School with a Grocery Card Fundraiser.  More information about this initiative will be coming out shortly.
Because of our pandemic safety measures, our Remembrance Day Ceremony will be done virtually in the classrooms on Tuesday, November 10 at 10:00 a.m.  All students presently members of the Girl Guides, Scouts or Cadets are invited to wear their uniforms for the day. All Earl Grey students will receive a poppy to wear and if families wish, they may make a donation online to the Poppy Fund at: https://legion.ca/home . 
Matthew Lowe, Principal
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