Activity ideas for 6–12-year-old

Morning honour guard

“An honour guard is organized by staff members to welcome students on Monday to kick off HSD.”

 Ecole primaire Chomedey-De Maisonneuve, HSD 2016

“This activity consists of forming an honour guard of school staff and personnel from local community organizations to welcome students to their first class of the morning with applause and words of encouragement.”

Table de concertation jeunesse de Bordeaux-Cartierville, HSD 2014

Student encouragement by school partners

“We asked external partners to send letters of encouragement to the student council, which will be read over the intercom.”

École primaire Simone Desjardins, HSD 2016

Hand out certificates of congratulations

“As part of their follow-up activities, social services workers will distribute school perseverance certificates to children during hooked on school week and do a colouring activity with the Superhero/Superheroine poster to emphasize and validate their ‘superpowers.”

CIUSSS Centre Sud de l'île de Montréal, HSD 2019

Walls of success/kindness/qualities

“In class, students will each make a few leaves which proudly express an act of kindness, empathy or compassion that will be added to a large outline of a tree in the main hallway. Throughout the week, the students will see the tree grow which visually represents how important their actions are.”

École Gardenview School, HSD 2020

“Each child will receive a cut-out of a hand, on which their parents will write at least three qualities of their child. These hands will be displayed on the “tree of perseverance” at the school entrance.”

École primaire Saint-Paul-de-la-Croix, HSD 2014

“Students and their accomplishments will be identified and acknowledged on a bulletin board at the entrance to the school. On Friday, the best of these will be announced over the school intercom.”

École primaire Sainte-Catherine-Labouré, HSD 2014

“The Wall of Success has messages of congratulations that the students have given themselves. There are also messages of congratulations from teachers and, occasionally, from classmates.”

École primaire Saint-Émile, HSD 2013

Staff Appreciation

“Throughout the week, we will celebrate our Teachers, Child Care Workers, Support Staff, Secretaries etc. The students will do their part in making them feel appreciated, including a mural filled with notes of appreciation to each member of our staff.”

École Gardenview School, HSD 2020 

“He or she inspires me” compositions 

“Sixth grade students compose a text of 300 words about someone who has inspired them to persevere at school.” 

École primaire Jardin-des-Saints-Anges, HSD 2016

Reading activity 

“Encouraging our some of our more reluctant readers (and our enthusiastic readers too) to read their favourite book to Kira (Dalkeith's Facility Service Dog).” 

Dalkeith Elementary, HSD 2020 

“A reading-related perseverance activity. Paper thermometers are hung in the hall to count the number of books read by the class. The winning class in each cycle is highlighted at the base of the tree of perseverance.” 

École primaire Très-Saint-Sacrement, HSD 2014

Letter to parents 

“We will send a letter to the parents of all students, explaining the goal of this week of perseverance. We will ask parents to write a word of encouragement for their child on the back of the letter. They can also draw a picture and use simple but meaningful words. These will then be displayed in the school all week long.” 

École primaire Adélard-Desrosiers, HSD 2014

Song: Heroes 

“Students in the music class learn the theme song of school perseverance week, “Heroes,” and the whole school sings it in the gym on the closing Friday of HSD.” 

École primaire Saint-Antoine-Marie-Claret, HSD 2016 

Meeting challenges! 

“Throughout the week, the youth at the organization get a chance to meet challenges related to perseverance, both in homework and lesson workshops and in activities. The team that meets the most challenges will be rewarded with a special lunch at the organization with staff members.” 

Milieu éducatif La Source, HSD 2016

Career week 

“Students at the Pavillon de la Pointe (preschool to grade 2) will attend workshops to learn about different occupations throughout the week. Costumes, games, and workshops have been prepared to help explain certain occupations.” 

École primaire Belle-Rive, HSD 2016

Smile button 

“Each student makes a smile out of green construction paper to wear on the Tuesday, symbolizing their pride at being in school and to promote well-being and attention to others.” 

École primaire Saint-Paul-de-la-Croix, HSD 2014 

Elementary inter-school “perseverance contract” contest 

“Each child will be given a perseverance contract to sign, have their parents sign, and bring back to school. When a student returns a signed contract, their name will be displayed on the bulletin board at the entrance of the school. The school with the highest percentage of returned perseverance contracts will be declared the winner. ” 

Zone de persévérance scolaire d'Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, HSD 2013

Drawing contest 

“A drawing contest on the theme of school perseverance will be held in the art class. The winning drawing will appear as the cover page of the 2013–2014 school agenda. ” 

École primaire Enfants-du-Monde, HSD 2013

On the road to high school 

“In the classroom, ask students what is important and special at high school and what they hope to find there, then have an assembly to bring together all of the ideas. Give the principal of the local high school a summary of the students’ reflections and wishes. ” 

École primaire Saint-Louis, CSMB, HSD 2013