Amal’s NEW SCHOOL

Amal is i n Miss Sacrey’s fi rst-grade class at

École Agnes Davidson School. Last year, she
attended Tuscany School i n Cal g ary. Her family
moved from Cal g ary to Lethbridge over the
summer.
Amal remembers feeli ng worried about
starti ng a new school year i n an un familiar place.
She also remembers feeli ng sad and homesick.
Now, Amal likes her new school. She has made a
few good friends at Agnes Davidson and her
teacher al ways says hell o i n the morni ngs !

Read the story a g ain.

1. How did Amal feel about starting school

in a new city?
2. How does she feel now?
 John is a BIG BROTHER
John is i n Miss Sacrey's fi rst-grade class at
École Agnes Davidson School. His class is
learni ng that families change over ti me. John
remembers when his sister was born. It was a
very special day. His parents were so happy!
John remembers feeli ng excited and nervous
to meet his sister, Julia. As a new baby, Julia was
al ways hungry and cried o ften. John’s mother
was al ways ti red and busy. John remembers
feeli ng jeal ous o f Julia and all o f the attention
she was getti ng, but now he understands that
l ove can be shared.
Read the story again.

1. How did John feel when Julia was a new baby?

2. How does he feel now?
 Miss Sacrey REMEMBERS
Miss Sacrey tells the class about li vi ng i n
Lethbridge as a child. She grew up on the West
Side o f Lethbridge. She shares some o f her
childhood memories with the class.
As a child, Miss Sacrey played outside o ften.
She rode her bike to school on sunny days. She
remembers goi ng to school dances and si ngi ng
with her class duri ng holiday concerts. She also
remembers walki ng to nearby g ara ge sales with
her mother. As a child, Miss Sacrey l ooked
forward to the annual Whoop-Up Days
celebrations !
Read the story a g ain.

1. Do you have si milar memories of your

community?
 Amal REMEMBERS
In class, Amal listens to Miss Sacrey tell
stories about her childhood i n Lethbridge. When
Amal was a baby, her family i mmigrated to
Cal g ary from Syria. She doesn’t remember li vi ng
i n Syria but remembers her li fe i n Cal g ary.
Amal is starti ng to form new memories i n
Lethbridge. She is fi nally getti ng used to taki ng
the bus to school. Soon, she will visit the l ocal
parks and libraries. Amal hopes that one day she
will have many fond memories o f her childhood
i n Lethbridge.
Read the story a g ain.

1. Who can you relate to more – Miss

Sacrey or Amal?
2. Describe how Amal might feel with one
or two words.
 John’s COMMUNITY
John li ves i n an apartment buildi ng with his
parents and sister. He has li ved there all his li fe.
He remembers when the construction workers
came to fi x the road and build a new stri p mall.
The field across the street from his home was
paved and transformed i n a few short months. It
was exciti ng to watch the new Ti m Hortons open
its doors. Now, his mom gets co ffee every
morni ng on her way to work. John enjoys
watchi ng people come and go from the balcony.
It sure beats the view o f an empty field!
Read the story a g ain.

1. How has John’s community

changed?
2. Have you seen any si milar changes
within your community?
 Amal REFLECTS
Amal is listeni ng to Miss Sacrey talk about the
history o f Lethbridge. She is amazed to learn that
Lethbridge was once a Fi rst Nations settlement
turned mi ni ng and rail way town.
Amal thi nks about li fe i n Lethbridge one
hundred years a go. Miss Sacrey says many
people didn’t own cars or even telephones. There
were only a few stores – shoppi ng malls didn’t
exist back then. Amal fi nds it hard to i ma gi ne li fe
without the i nternet. She wonders what it would
be like to li ve i n the past.
Read the story again.

1. What would your li fe be like

without our technol ogy?
2. How has your community
changed over the last 100 years?
 John’s FAMILY
John enjoys spendi ng ti me with his family.
They do all ki nds o f fun thi ngs together – he
especially likes watchi ng hockey g ames with his
dad and spendi ng ti me at the family cabi n duri ng
the summer months. John’s great-grand father
built the cabi n a l ong ti me a go. It’s on a lake with
l ots o f fish to catch!
John l oves listeni ng to his grand father’s
stories about visiti ng the cabi n as a young boy.
The stories al ways make hi m laugh. John thi nks
the cabi n is special because it helps hi m feel
connected to his family.
Read the story again.

1. What kinds of things help you feel

connected to your family?
Amal’s HISTORY LESSON
Amal is excited! Today she is visiti ng the Galt
Museum with her class. The tour guide shows
them historic arti facts and photographs. Amal
fi nds it hard to believe that the city was once so
di fferent.
Some o f Lethbridge’s earliest structures are
still standi ng, i ncl udi ng the High Level Bridge. Miss
Sacrey tells the class that the bridge is a very
i mportant part o f Lethbridge’s history. The trai n
brought many people and materials to the city
and Lethbridge grew quickly because o f it. Amal
is havi ng fun learni ng about her new community.
Read the story again.

1. Are there any other historic places in

your community?
 DIVERSE CULTURES
Today, John’s class is learning about di verse
cultures. John has never heard the word diverse
before. Miss Sacrey explains that it means di fferent.
John remembers that culture is langua ges, art, and
more shared by a group of people.
Abdi’s culture is not the same as John’s. Abdi is
from Somalia. He eats traditional food and speaks
Somali at home. John is Métis – that means some
of his ancestors were Cree, and some were
European. Jessie’s family i mmigrated to Canada
from the Ukraine a l ong ti me a go. John
understands that Canada is a country of many
di verse cultures.

1. Do you know where your ancestors were

from?
 CULTURAL SHOWCASE
Miss Sacrey has asked Amal and her
classmates to bring a cultural item to school for a
special showcase. Amal is so excited! She is going
to bring a piece of her mother’s wedding
jewellery and a photo.
When it is ti me to share, Abdi goes first. He
asks Miss Sacrey to play a CD for the class. It is
Somalian music! John is next. He shows the class
his grandmother’s moccasins. The beads are very
colour ful. Jessie holds up a beauti fully decorated
celebration egg from the Ukraine. Now, it is Amal’s
turn to share! Her classmates ask lots of questions
about her mother’s jewels and headdress.
Read the story again.
1. List three more cultural items bel ow:
___________ ___________ ___________
 John CELEBRATES
John is at home with his family. It is January
6th. His grandparents are visiti ng for All Ki ngs Day.
John is happy to see them and is l ooki ng forward
to openi ng the gi fts they brought. Tonight, they
are all goi ng to a Chi varee to dance and celebrate
with other Métis families.
John enjoys learni ng about Métis holidays. It
feels good to remember the past and honour his
culture.

1. Do you have any holiday traditions? Share with

the class.
2. List three holidays bel ow.

___________ ___________ ___________