Community Literacy
A podcast series developed over the course of the 2021-2022 school year exploring and celebrating literacy in all it`s various dimensions.
This Lit Up series brings the listener inside our school ... inside our classrooms where students are exploring issues and themes of identity and belonging, equity, diversity and inclusion and mental health and wellbeing.
Produced by a team of student, staff and community partners through LSA`s vary own school-community radio station.
2021-2022
brave spaces
Racism & Microaggressions
On February 17th, writer Chanel Sutherland, along with writer and spoken word poet, Deanna Smith took part in a special Writers` Salon event developed in collaboration with and by secondary 4 students and LSA's Last Wave Radio team. The aim of this activity was to foster understanding amongst students and validate voicing and naming the uncomfortable situations that they face due to microaggressions. This event was recorded live and was produced as part of the Lit Up Literary Series podcast.
In this Brave Space podcast, The Last Wave Radio team weaves together a Black History Month live event recording, spoken word poetry, reflections and analysis of what's possible in High School education. Sprouting out of student workshops, student projects, cross departmental collaborations, student research and leadership... this podcast is a pinnacle representation of experiential education that features community, teacher and student leadership. Big thank you to Deanna Smith and Chanel Sutherland who joined us in our LSA auditorium and vulnerably and bravely responded to our students' questions.
Community Guests: Chanel Sutherland (Writer), Deanna Smith (Writer, Poet, Alumna)
Sound Tech: Maxwell Husbands (Student Mentor, Sound Technician)
LWR Host/Facilitator: Alex Bon-Miller (Teacher)
LWR Student Team (x4): Brett Jackson, Yanni Xinidakis, Omark John, Luca Nasrallah
Students Hosts (x3): James Thomas Reid, Joseph Savastano, Tharaka Gunaratham
Student Researchers (x3): Pénélope Tsonis-Etcheber, Devyn Pomenti, Khanh Tran
Credits
Jeff A.D. Martin - Why do we even have a black history month in Canada? -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_5GZefBs4A&ab_channel=JeffA.D.Martin
Button Poetry - Pages Matam, Elizabeth Acevedo & G. Yamazawa - Unforgettable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvah3E1fP20
Deanna Smith full interview podcast:
SCHOOL OUTREACH
Field Reporter: Danica Fasone
Field Reporter: Danica Fasone
Secondary 3 student - Danica Fasone from École Polyvalente Saint-Jérôme was invited to sit-in on and participate in a workshop series delivered by writer and spoken word artist Deanna Smith at LSA this past February.
Danica was inspired to explore the themes of microaggressions and racism with her fellow students and teachers. She took on the role of field reporter for Last Wave Radio and produced a podcast of her experience.
Sampler
a matter of words
Spoken Word Poetry
Ten English Language Arts (ELA) classes (secondary 3-5) participated in a special spoken word poetry workshop series this school year.
'Spoken word' is a tricky one to define. On the surface, it's just poetry that's written to be performed, but in reality it’s so much more. Spoken word can be delivered in a variety of styles and can even involve collaboration and experimentation with other art forms, including music, theatre and dance. It can be used to tell your own stories or to explore the stories of others.
-BBC - WORDS FIRST / Spoken Word Explained
Spoken Word Series: An Introduction
Student Host: Yanni Xinnidakis Supporting Artist: Jason Selman
Six Classes were introduced to and worked with local poet and musician Jason Selman over the course of a series of 5 workshops. This series focused on an introduction to poetry and spoken word focusing the elements of poetic verse. The major themes explored with the students were identity, vulnerability and the concept of intersectionality.
Credits
Workshops made possible through the support of Culture in Schools Workshops MEES
Spoken Word - Set 1
Spoken Word - Set 2
Spoken Word - Set 3
Spoken Word - Set 4
Spoken Word Series: I Belong Project
Student Host: Yanni Xinnidakis Supporting Artists: Liana Cusmano, Jason Selman
A workshop series facilitated by spoken word poet and writer Liana Cusmano with performance support by fellow spoken word poet and musician
Jason Selman. This project involved four secondary 4 ELA classes. Students embarked on a series of 7 workshops which focused on exploring the themes of identity and belonging through the medium of poetry. Liana Cusmano introduced the themes and medium supporting the students' composition development. Jason Selman provided support and one-on-one consult and coaching to students preparing and performing their personal written work.
Credits
Workshops made possible through the support of the English Language Arts Network (ELAN) Artist Inspires Grant, LEARN Quebec - I Belong Project, Culture in Schools Workshops MEES
Spoken Word - I Belong 1
Spoken Word - I Belong 2
education for reconciliation
National Day of Truth & Reconciliation
In this podcast, Mr.mask sits down with Joanna McKay and Dan Hedges to open up the conversation and opportunity within education for reconciliation. Let this be a beginning for transformative change in our LSA school community, our Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board and in Laval and beyond
Host: Mr. Mask (anonymous)
Tracklist:
Mr.mask drumming at "every child matters march" July 1st 2021
A Tribe Called Red (Halluci Nation) - PBC
A Tribe Called Red (Halluci Nation) - Bread & Cheese
Indigenous influencers were mentioned, they are properly named here:
Shayla Stonechild: @shayla0h James Jones: @notoriouscree
Lesley Hampton: @lesley_hampton Angel and Alex: @indi_city
Tanya Tagaq: @tanyatagaq Autumn Peltier: @autumn.peltier
Mumilaaq Qaqqaq: @mumilaaq
Indigenous Brands to Support: Indigenous podcasts:
Section 35 Matriarch Movement (available on Spotify)
Natives Missing and Murdered
SheNative Unreserved
Indi City Foxing Around
Smudge the Blades All My Relations
Cheekbone Beauty
Raven Reads
Justice by The Artist
Student Host: The Artist (anonymous)
In this short podcast, The Artist takes us through Canadian History and explains why Truth and Reconciliation is a matter of justice.
-Credits-
Artwork from Jeffrey George
Bread & Cheese - The Halluci Nation
Winter Storm Ambience with Icy Howling Wind Sounds for Sleeping, Relaxing and Studying Background. - From Relaxing Soundzzz - Youtube
English Country Dances - 17Th Century Music - J.Playford,D.Douglass,P.O'Dette,A.Lawrence-King - Rocco Saviano - Youtube
Hopi Flute music titled-Mystic2011_0001 - Kwatsanhopi2011 - Youtube
Warrior's mourning song - Sunquaver - Youtube
Woodcarver - The Halluci Nation
just breathe
Health & Wellbeing
Alumna and community guest Irini Lembessis was invited into the LWR studio along with LSA teacher Tamar Kabasskalian and a cohort of her students to discuss positive mental health initiatives taking place at LSA.
Guests:
Irini Lembessis - LSA Alumna, Yoga Instructor, Reiki GM (VIVA Wellness), Tamar Kabasskalian - You’ve Got This! Sec. 5 Course elective, JP (John Peter) Tsagaris - Secondary 5 Student, Alessia Yanakoulias - Secondary 5 Student
Host: Katrina Driver
-Credits-
Music: Faith's Hymn by Beautiful Chorus
Guided Meditation
Host: Irini Lembessis
Irini introduces and guides the listener though
a meditation.
-Credits-
Music: Faith's Hymn by Beautiful Chorus
Meaningful Connections
Mentoring Circles
In this podcast, Alex Bon-Miller interviews LSA's Boys to Men circle leader Fraser Rishi McDonald about school, education and truth telling and how the circle he leads cultivates the minds and hearts of the youth and adult mentors that sit circle every Tuesday. The "garden you will tend" is an aphorism for our own internal and relational educational experiences. This podcast challenges us to reflect on the ecosystems and the gardens of our own lives and how our awareness and our choices affect what grows and what remains barren.
Host: Alex Bon-Miller
In this live studio session, 3 students who sit the Boys To Men Circle on Tuesdays meet with Fraser Rishi McDonald to discuss the circle and to share their insights and creative expressions.
Host: Fraser Rishi McDonald
intergenerational support
Host: Pink Shoelace (anonymous)
In this interview podcast, Pink Shoelace sits down with Boys To Men (BTM) Circle elders (Homeslice, Pops) and circle goer Sky and explores what the BTM circle is all about.
2020-2021 School Year
Deanna Smith
Interview/Performance
Interview/Performance
In this interview, Last Wave Radio's Young Savage (Serenity Knight) interviews LSA alumna Deanna Smith. Serenity Knight invites Deanna to speak about her experience in high school, her experience as a community member, how she began offering workshops at our school and their true educational purpose. The interview includes audio samples from her workshops as well as a clip of Deanna performing her poetry.
Credits:
Control - Janet Jackson
PwC - Blindspots: Challenge Assumptions (youtube)
W3 commerce - Deanna DNA Smith reads Two Poems at Lapalabrava (youtube)
Jason "Blackbird" Selman Interview/Performance
In this podcast, 4 of our different radio hosts interview Jason "Blackbird" Selman about who he is as an artist, a teacher and a workshop facilitator in our school. Jason performs and invites students he worked with at LSA in the "I Belong" project to perform as well. And the students then get a chance to share their experience of working with Jason. If you love the written and spoken word, this podcast is not to be missed!
Credits:
Miles Davis - I loves you, Porgy
student pride
Interview
Interview
In this sampler, 2020-2021 Student Council members Angela and Alessia sit down with Shadow and talk about their High School experience.
Credits:
Bjork - Where is the line?
John Frusciante - Cover of "Modern Love" by David Bowie, live recording from "The Amsterdam"
Sir -Teach me
Prince - Purple Rain
2021 sampler
a year in the making of last wave radio
a year in the making of last wave radio
Listen to this 2021 Sampler, to get a taste of what we're all about!
Community Partners
