Students from the local Catholic school board learned how to be happy, inspired, and how to create change at an event Thursday.
Over a thousand elementary students from across the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board gathered at the St. Clair College Chrysler Theatre in Windsor for the annual WE Day, described by the board as a social justice pep rally. The students packed both levels of the theatre to hear motivational speakers and music from local artists and students.
Periodically, students jammed with the music played by the on-stage DJ, and even WECDSB Director of Education Terry Lyons got in on the act by dancing with students to kick off the program.
Among the topics discussed was the importance of making good choices and choosing the right friends, themes described by motivational speaker and rapper Anthony McLean. Describing a future basketball player, McLean recounted the story of how this player should have shied away from helping friends try to steal a car.
"Homeboy takes off his backpack, he's got a screwdriver in his backpack," said McLean. "If you want to know whether you're hanging around with the wrong friends, check their backpack. If your friend has a screwdriver in their backpack you need to end that friendship ASAP, okay?" he added as the audience laughed.
With the movement to curb bullying in public schools more prevalent than it has been in years, McLean stressed the importance of respecting other people's choices.
"A good friend will respect your 'no'," said McLean. "A good person will respect your 'no'. When you say 'I can't do that' and if someone's like 'Aw, come on, just do it anyway', you need to get away from that person."
Musical interludes, most featuring local Catholic students, blended one segment into the next. Also scheduled to appear were magician Matt Anthony, entrepreneur Danielle Chevallier, actor Carson Reaume, who has appeared in the TV miniseries "The Kennedys", and keynote speaker Spencer West.
Over a thousand students from the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board listen to a talk at their annual WE Day pep rally at the Chrysler Theatre in Windsor, March 28, 2019. Photo by Mark Brown/Blackburn News.
