**Queen Elizabeth II (April 21, 1926 - September 8, 2022** )

NEW BEGINNINGS
At Home And Around The World

by Henry MacDougall

Since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, it has been apparent that the rest of this year will be full of new beginnings. Of course, this does not relate only to the British monarchy, but also to our school, King George. Part of our social studies curriculum is to discuss the effects of colonialism and the Commonwealth on our country.

On Monday September 19, students had a day of instruction taken away from them to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.

In addition, KG is also welcoming the start of many new beginnings as another school year begins.

The Queen’s death has served as a reminder of the colonial legacy that the monarchy represents. In the past several years, multiple nearby schools, parks, and institutions have been given new names, replacing their old colonial ones. Quite shockingly, the nearby Lord Roberts Elementary where nearly half of KG’s student body previously attended, is named after a man responsible for concentration camps in South Africa during the early 1900s. As a student who attended that school and was not taught about these events, I find this quite disturbing.

By this point, it is obvious that it is time for a change. Our schools’ names represent a past full of British colonialism.

Portrait of King George V, the late Queen Elizabeth’s grandfather and our school’s namesake, in the school’s lobby

Here at KG, we are not only welcoming a new grade 8 class, but also a new vice principal, Mr. Nicks, who is taking over for Mr. Godfrey, who has moved to Kitsilano High. Mr. Nicks was previously an administrator at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary, a school named after a British Prime Minister elected in 1940.

This year, the number of students attending King George rose to above six hundred. To put this in context, this means that in the gym there will always be at least three classes being taught at one time, meaning that one class will be forced outside while the other two classes share the gymnasium.

Also, sign ups for clubs and sports teams have started, so make sure to check those out!

COVID measures are mostly retracted, although students are welcomed to wear their mask if it makes them feel more comfortable.

Overall, I am looking forward to this year with lots of hope and optimism. Not only in the KG school community, but also in the world. Good luck this year, everyone, and I’ll see you in the next issue!