b'Creating Space for StudentLeadership to Nurture BelongingZeinab Alalis story as told to Tricia Kinaschuk-Oughton, Student Services Teacher at Victor Mager SchoolZeinab Alali understands the importance of belonging. A sense ofThere are people of so many different cultural backgrounds in belonging is integral to feeling acceptance, respect, inclusion andour school, but we dont really get to see and experience them, mattering. As a student in LRSD, Zeinab has been on a personalsaid Zeinab during a presentation to school administrators. We journey to find her place and advocates to help others feel safespend most of our time at school, and I concluded that school and valued for what they have to contribute.is all about learning and building memories, so why not have a day to learn about the people around us and build memories Zeinab was born in Syria and fled with her family to Lebanon towith them? A Cultural Day will show young people like myself that escape the war. Near the end of December 2016, Zeinab andthere are so many beautiful and unique cultures and give us the her family boarded a plane bound for Winnipeg and set out toopportunity to learn about them. relocate again. Zeinab recalls arriving in this foreign land, quickly learning that everything she was accustomed to was suddenlyZeinab spoke with passion and confidence. She found her voice very different. Zeinab started school, learned English and triedand was clearly heard. Her message moved the administrators to adjust to her new life in Canada. Her family registered her atand staff, and so began a new journey of planning the first Victor Mager School in September 2020 after attending two otherCultural Day at Victor Mager School.schools in Winnipeg. With resilience, Zeinab adjusted to each move and made new friends.Zeinab also shared her presentation with Michelle Jean-Paul, Divisional Principal of Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism. She Zeinab initially seemed quiet and demure, but as time passed,received positive feedback and some important points to she started to open up and share ideas. In Grade 8, Zeinabconsider. She then met with a small group of students who presented the idea for a new school-wide event that would helpparticipated in the planning of Dakota Collegiates Cultural Day. nurture belonging.The students talked about the potential of connecting the two 22'