Welcome
Welcome to the St. Stephen Equi-Talks Podcast: Stallions Shaping Equity!🎙️
We're thrilled to have you visit our podcast page, where we embark on an inspiring journey toward a more equitable and
inclusive school community. Join us as we explore stories, insights, and conversations that promote equity, diversity, and
inclusion among our Stallion family.
Through the power of dialogue and shared experiences, our amazing Grade 6 Leadership Team hopes to foster understanding, ignite change, and celebrate the rich tapestry of voices within our school. Your presence here is a testament to our commitment to shaping a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Thank you for joining us on this meaningful journey. Together, we are Stallions Shaping Equity at St. Stephen Elementary School!
St. Stephen Equi-Talks Teacher Team
Ms. Hodgins
Grade 4 Teacher
Ms. Patoine
Grade 6 Teacher
Mrs. Mnich
Grade 6 Teacher
Mrs. Gillespie
Resource Teacher
Listen here
Welcome to Equi-Talks - Introduction Episode
Meet our dynamic team of Grade 6 leaders and teachers who are here to engage in important dialogue, amplify student voice, and make a difference in our school community! Also, stay tuned until the end of the introductions for a sneak peek from our FIRST episode where the Equi-Talks team, along with special guests, continues the conversation around bullying awareness and prevention.
Episode 1: Bullying Awareness & Prevention
Join the Equi-Talks Team as we continue board-wide conversations around bullying awareness, prevention, being an upstander vs. bystander, qualities of a good friend, and some solid advice about what you can do and where you can go for support. A special "Thank You" to our Episode Guests, interviewed by our team on the topic: Ian's Land Acknowledgement (Grade 4), Ms. Izsak (Principal), Samuel (SK Student), Emma (Grade 4 Student), and Nora (Grade 8 Student).
Episode Time Stamps:
00:16 - 00:52 Land Acknowledgment (Written by Ian, Grade 4)
00:52 - 08:32 Interview with Ms. Izsak (Led by Ellie and Stella)
08:32 - 11:08 Advice, Support, and Strategies + Qualities of a Good Friend + Interview with Samuel in SK
(Led by Lily, Hannah, Ella, and Rahi)
11:08 - 20:27 Upstanders vs. Bystanders, Problems With the Word "Snitch" + Interview with Emma in Grade 4
(Led by Mason, Hailey, Jillian, Aarvi and Levi)
20:27 - 25:28 Listen in as Jillian interviews Nora for a Grade 8 Perspective on Bullying and Friendships.
25:28 - 27:19 Our Team Member, Violet, Talks About the Benefits and Positive Impact of Martial Arts
27:19 - 28:07 SK/Grade 1 Collaborative Prayer
28:07 - 28:55 Tobenna & Amelya Share Important Resources - You Are Not Alone!
Episode 2: Mental Health Capacity Building - Part I
"Mental health can be something deep and personal that someone does not want to talk about..." (Uzo, Grade 6); however, our team's discussions and learnings from our amazing guests reinforces that reaching out and talking about it with someone we trust is one of the most important things we can do for our mental health. Our student team recognizes that our mental health can have an impact on our physical health. In Part 1 of this 2 part series, we discuss things we can do to improve our mental health at home and school, and recognize the importance of building a community and supporting each other. Join in the conversation and let us know what YOU THINK about a school "Social Club" for students!? Thank you to Peyton & Tessa in Grade 1 for sharing their class Land Acknowledgement and prayer for this episode!
Episode Time Stamps:
00:16 - 00:37 Land Acknowledgment - Written collaboratively by Mrs. Garon's Grade 1 Class (Read by Peyton & Tessa, G1)
00:43 - 01:49 Using inclusive language when talking about mental health
01:52 - 04:51 Important aspects of mental health (i.e. impacting physical health, normalizing discussing mental health)
04:51 - 08:40 Impacts of a "joke"
08:41 - 10:54 Communicating our message of mental health to others & mental health check ins
10:54 - 11:29 School activities related to mental health
11:30 - 12:26 Why is it important to talk about mental health in the school community?
12:26 - 13:20 Potential Social Club
13:20 - 16:56 Acts to promote a positive atmosphere at school (i.e. positive affirmations, mediation, acts of kindness)
17:02 - 20:51 Stella, Ella and Amelya discuss a potential Social Group at St. Stephens
20:57 - 21:43 Peyton and Tessa, Grade 1, share their class prayer
Episode 2.1: Mental Health Capacity Building - Part 2
The Equi-Talks Team continues conversations about mental health with some special guests in our school board and within our communities. A very special, "THANK YOU," to Ottawa Constables Carleigh Entwistle and Marie Carmichael, OCSB Mental Health Worker, Vergia Davidson, and "Housing the Homeless" City of Ottawa Social Worker, Candace McGuey. Our student team felt honoured that you took the time to sit down with us and share your wealth of information with our school and community!
Episode Time Stamps:
00:16 - 00:37 Land Acknowledgment - Written collaboratively by Mrs. Garon's Grade 1 Class (Read by Peyton & Tessa, G1)
00:45 - 09:00 Aarvi, Amelya, and Rahi interview Ottawa Constables Carleigh Entwistle and Marie Carmichael
09:04 - 16:42 Jillian and Lily interview OCSB Mental Health Worker, Vergia Davidson
16:47 - 23:21 Ellie & Stella interview City of Ottawa Social Worker, working with "Housing the Homeless," Candace McGuey
23:25 - 24:12 Peyton and Tessa, Grade 1, share their class prayer
Episode 3: St. Stephen Lenten Project
Join the Equi-Talks Team as we highlight our school's 2024 Lenten Project: Raising awareness and fundraising for our sister school, Gilgil Highway Primary School, in Kenya. Our school and community have come together once again and doubled our fundraising goal of $600 through dance-a-thons, popcorn days, and spirit weeks! Although the Lenten season has come to a close, our commitment to giving back hasn't ended. St. Stephen School is preparing for our "Crafting For Kenya" Craft Fair that we will be hosting during Catholic Education Week (on May 7th). A special thank you to Easton in Grade 4 for his personalized land acknowledgement, and to Brody in Grade 3 for his special prayer to conclude our episode. A big thank you to Mrs. Buccino for joining us on this episode - Our Religious Representative, educator, and colleague that helps inspire each and every one of us here at St. Stephen School.
Episode Time Stamps:
00:16 - 01:04 Land Acknowledgment (Read by Easton, Grade 4)
01:09 - 03:09 About the St. Stephen Lenten Project & Gilgil Highway Primary School
03:09 - 04:47 How St. Stephen has been spreading awareness
04:52 - 05:38 Crafting for Kenya Fair
05:43 - 06:45 St. Stephen fundraising efforts & money raised
06:45 - 08:00 Equi-Talks team involvement in classes
08:05 - 08:51 Why is it important that the whole school is involved?
08:57 - 09:31 Lenten Project Prayer (Read by Brody, Grade 3)
Episode 4: World Down Syndrome Day
Join the Equi-Talks Team as we discuss World Down Syndrome Day, learn a little more about Down Syndrome, and talk about amazing initiatives, inclusive games for everyone, and how diversity makes our world a better place. Promoting a culture of acceptance and equity is the foundation of our team's beliefs. We are all human. We are all connected. We are all wonderfully made! A special thank you to Aimee in Grade 4 for her personalized land acknowledgement, and to Ariana in Grade 3 for her special prayer to conclude our episode.
Episode Time Stamps:
00:16 - 01:03 Land Acknowledgment (Read by Aimee, Grade 4)
01:03 - 01:54 What is Down Syndrome?
01:54 - 04:10 About the Rock Your Socks initiative
04:10 - 06:10 Inclusive games for everyone
06:10 - 07:51 How diversity makes our world a better place
07:55 - 12:02 How to promote a culture of acceptance
12:04 - 16:35 What connects everyone and why equity is important
16:35 - 16:53 Final thoughts
17:01 - 17:34 Prayer (Read by Ariana, Grade 3)
