The 2024 Human Rights Office Award recipients are:

Lejae Daye

CEC East - Bur Oak SS

Lejae initiated a student club this school year to write Pen Pal letters to the Special Education Developmentally Delayed Community Class. Lejae addressed a concern at the beginning of the school year when a student in a Special Education Community class shared she felt isolated from the rest of the school. The student club has now grown to 14 members to support the community class! There are monthly back-and-forth communication with the students and face-to-face classroom visits. Students in the community class look forward to the monthly visits, practice written literacy, and feel connected with students from the rest of the school. As Principal, I am very impressed with how Lejae is a Human Rights Student Ambassador by advocating for students with special needs; by demonstrating the human rights principles of respect, dignity, and justice; and by being a leader and role model  for her peers through inclusion. 

Natalie Khallouf

CEC West - Thornlea SS

Natalie is passionate about Human Rights Advocacy and is a part of many clubs and initiatives at our school. Natalie is the main lead of the Amnesty International group at Thornlea, and has contributed by organizing countless petition signing opportunities, including a larger event called Write for Rights, organized and rolled out a donation drive for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in which all teddy bears collected were donated to an Indigenous organization, has been a part of the planning and celebration of cultural events, including a Pride picnic. Natalie has initiated the start of more than 3 clubs. Beyond the school community, Natalie contributes to Amnesty International Canada on a regular basis and was selected to attend a weekend Amnesty event for youth leaders. Natalie proves her commitment and dedication daily with critical conversations, ideas, and most importantly, action. She is very inclusive and strives to make every student feel seen and supported in person.

Skylissa Gray

CEC North - Stouffville DSS

Skylissa has assumed prominent roles in numerous clubs, such as equity club, and currently serves as president of the
Afro-Caribbean Student Alliance. Along with representing the Black caucus as a student, Skylissa also helps to elevate the voices of students. When it comes to students and even staff, Skylissa is a fierce advocate. Her classmates find drive in her, and she is an obvious leader. Skylissa greatly contributes to making our school a more inclusive community because of her activism and activities. Her enthusiasm and generosity shine bright.

Raky Kane

CEC Central - Dr. G. W. Williams SS

Raky embodies the core values of human rights principles, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to respect, dignity, and justice in all her endeavors. Raky has made significant contributions to the school community through her tireless efforts in advancing human rights, equality, diversity, inclusion, and anti-discrimination. As an active member of both the Williams Muslim Student Association (MSA) and the YRDSB Regional MSA, Raky has been instrumental in spearheading initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity and combating Islamophobia. She played a pivotal role in conceptualizing and writing a grant for the Road to Inclusion fund, for which she will be planning and facilitating anti-Islamophobia workshops for Gr 9 and 10 students. Her dedication to amplifying marginalized voices extends beyond our school community, as evidenced by her innovative bracelet project to support Arab and Palestinian students experiencing discrimination and racism within the board. Raky is an exemplary student who consistently engages with topics of human rights in her academic pursuits. She fearlessly confronts instances of racism in the classroom, addressing the root causes of stereotypes and advocating for the eradication of racialized language.