A collaborative project between York University and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) to create curriculum content that reflects the cultural identity of Filipino students will mark its launch on March 8 with an event at York’s Keele Campus.
The PASSOC (Philippine Arts and Social Studies in the Ontario Curriculum) project aims to develop new learning materials for Grades 6 to 8 that highlight the Philippines and Filipinos in the diaspora, to support the increasing number of Filipino students in the school system.
The curriculum content is designed to affirm Filipino experiences and identities, and will ‘mainstream’ the Philippines as a topic of study in three subject/grade areas: Grade 6 social studies, Grade 6 to 8 dance, and Grade 8 geography.
(Front row): Professor Philip Kelly (geography, LAPS); Jennilee Santican, (St. Maria Goretti); Michelle Aglipay, (St. Brigid); Patt Olivieri, (Curriculum Leadership & Innovation, TDSB); Professor Ethel Tungohan (political science and social science, LAPS); (back row): Marissa Largo, (Mary Ward); Jodelyn Huang (TCDSB community relations officer); Merle Gonsalvez, (St. Ursula); Christella Duplessis-Sutherland (St. Timothy); Professor Patrick Alcedo, (dance, AMPD); Fredeliza de Jesus, (St. Paul)
Since June 2017, faculty associates from the York Centre for Asian Research, professors from York’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the School of the Arts, Media, Production & Design, along with teachers and staff from the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), have been involved in developing school curriculum material focused on the Philippines and Filipino migrations.
The curriculum materials developed by the project provide classroom-ready material relating to the Philippines and Filipino communities.
This launch event, which runs from 9am to 2pm in room 519 of Kaneff Tower, will feature presentations and demonstrations by the researchers and teachers who wrote the PASSOC curriculum materials.
The PASSOC project is supported by: Canadian Heritage Canada 150 Fund, York University Canada 150 Fund, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University, and Canada 150 | Unity in Diversity:Fusion of Communities in Canada.