Alison Comeau, Elementary School Counsellor
A good theme can help provide context, give direction, and unite a group. Every year at Sacred Heart School of Halifax, we choose a school theme that has meaning for our students and staff and helps us connect to and understand the world more broadly.
This year’s theme is Choosing love, compassion, and hope for our world. It was chosen specifically to combat the milieu of political instability, tension, and fear we find ourselves in. It calls on us to make an active choice to look beyond these challenges and find the good, the hope, the light that can sustain us during times that can seem dark.
This theme seems simple, but it’s harder to execute, especially for younger children. How do we sow the seeds of positivity and compassion each and every day? What does it look like in action? How do we teach it? In our Elementary School, we chose to strip it to its essence — love.
We are fortunate as a private school to choose our values. Love is at the core of our identity as a Sacred Heart school, and we have the luxury of living this value constantly and consistently throughout our school and our community.
To put it into action, or to make it tangible, however, takes thought. This month in the Elementary School, we implemented a Choosing Love project. Each student receives a bingo sheet filled with hearts and simple ideas for how to choose love every day. It might be as easy as listening carefully to someone or saying something kind. Sometimes, it’s more challenging — like choosing to forgive someone or staying calm in difficult moments. Helping our students reflect on and recognize these moments puts our theme into meaningful action. Their goal is to fill the month with daily acts of love.
We also know that children learn best by example. Our Elementary School staff actively models love through their daily interactions. We celebrate one another, offer each other breaks, listen attentively, and share in the joy of teaching.
When we choose love daily, it creates a ripple effect throughout our school community. Acts of kindness and compassion build stronger friendships, deepen trust, and create a safe space where everyone feels valued and supported. This positive environment not only nurtures students’ emotional well-being but also improves their ability to learn and grow. By prioritizing love, we foster resilience in the face of challenges and inspire hope for a brighter, more connected future — for our school and beyond.
We are fortunate to work in a school that openly values love. Yes, we educate young minds, but as importantly, we nurture their hearts. We strongly believe that our students, those learning and living with love, will be the ones who help this world find light as they lead with purpose and passion. In fact, we’re counting on it.
