School prepares jubilee doors

Students to walk through door and do good things

By ANH HOANG
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

She's asked what a jubilee door is.

She pauses, then says, "It's for the year 2000 and you're suppose to walk through it and do good things."

Sitting at the same table also trying to cut out a gold star is Samantha Gabrys, 4. Her eyes widen and her shoulders shrug when asked what the jubilee door is.

Many of the students who spent the afternoon decorating not one, but 22 jubilee doors at St. Teresa's, could not explain the significance of the door, but the school's principal, Reny Clericuzio, said the project was more than just learning about the door.

"This was one of our jubilee projects," he said. "This is about the students working together. It's the whole spirit of collaboration, learning together, working and learning together. That's part of jubilee."

The southside school has found many ways to celebrate jubilee on campus. Each classroom has a jubilee candle. Along with decorating jubilee doors, the school will also put together a giant jubilee quilt in January.

The school is also home to "base communities" which group students from kindergarten to Grade 6 together to share in activities throughout the school year. The communities are probably the only opportunity many students have to interact with students outside their grade level.

Michael McDonald, 11, and Justin Caouette, 9, share desk space as they take turns colouring.

"It's a pigeon," Michael said of the picture he's cutting out.

Justin corrects him, "It's a dove. It means peace."

"It looks like a pigeon," said Michael.

Justin colours and cuts out a picture of a manger. It's for the jubilee door, he says.

"It's for the jubilee year," Justin said. "Our principal said you walk through it and try to be a good person for the new year."

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter