Grade 1 students at a Chestermere elementary school are preparing to walk the runway to display their identity on Feb. 28, during the school's second annual 'Cultural Fashion Show.'
Prairie Waters Elementary School's cultural fashion show – introduced last year – is a creative way to wrap up the Grade 1 classes' 'Who We Are' unit, according to teacher Angele Schiltz.
“The central idea [of the unit] is the groups we belong to help form our identity,” she explained. “We’ve been spending time developing this unit by talking to students about their interests, their families, different ways they’re similar, and also ways they’re different.
“We had a home project each student did, where they presented to the class about their culture, their interests, traditions, the meaning of their name and why their parents chose that – all those components that make them special.”
As part of the fashion show, Schiltz said students are encouraged to dress up in clothing on Feb. 28 that reflects their culture, family, or other aspects of their identity. She added their clothing choices could touch on a singular component or a combination of things to showcase who they are and what matters to them. The students will then walk the runway to model their clothing choices.
Things the students choose to model could include anything from a religious head dress like a turban or yarmulke to a traditional Ukrainian Vyshyvanka, or even just a pair of hockey gloves.
“We’re a very multi-cultural school, so the kids aren’t afraid to celebrate their culture or how they’re unique,” Schiltz said. “We have not just cultures, but so many interests and community members. It’s just such a cool school when it comes to diversity.”
Adding to the fashion show theme of the event, Schiltz said two Chestermere-based models – brothers Trey and David Johnson – will come to the school on Feb. 28 to talk about their own modelling careers, and how modelling has taught them to express their identities. Schiltz mentioned both siblings attended Prairie Waters Elementary when they were younger, and she actually taught Trey when he was in Grade 1.
According to Schiltz, the inaugural cultural fashion show in 2022 was a big hit among last year's Grade 1 students, who still talk excitedly about it a year later. As the event took place shortly after the lifting of COVID-19 public health restrictions, she noted it was one of the first times parents were allowed back into the building.
Considering how well received last year's fashion show was, Schiltz said the Grade 1 teaching team at Prairie Waters Elementary knew it should become an annual initiative moving forward.
“As a Grade 1 team we were thinking, what can we do to get parents back into the school?” she asked. “What can we do to really boost this unit and really help that connection piece in the school?
“The parents loved it and the kids loved the unit. We knew it was a must-continue tradition.”
