Yesterday, our students, staff, and community came together to honour Orange Shirt Day and recognize the upcoming National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. As we marched through the community in our orange shirts, carrying banners that read Every Child Matters, we stood united in remembrance of the children who were taken from their homes and placed in residential schools.

Orange Shirt Day is about more than wearing orange—it is a time to remember the children who never came home, the survivors who carry their stories, and the families and communities forever impacted by residential schools. It is also a day for learning and action, reminding us of our shared responsibility to ensure such injustices are never repeated.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation builds on this commitment. It is a day set aside across Canada to honour the truth of what happened in residential schools, to reflect on the lasting impacts of colonial systems, and to continue the important journey of reconciliation. For us at Cadotte Lake School, these days are deeply personal. They remind us to stand with survivors, to listen to Elders, and to strengthen our commitment to Way of Life teachings that guide our students toward respect, resilience, and community.

We are proud of our students for their courage, their energy, and their willingness to walk together in unity. Their voices and actions show us that reconciliation is not just a word—it is something we live, practice, and pass on to the next generation.

As we reflect on these days, we hold close the words: Every Child Matters. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.