Halee SikorskiAug 27, 2024 • 7 min read
Mentorship in Action: Grace Dafoe’s Inspiring Visit to Fort St. John
Classroom Champions Athlete Mentor and Olympic Hopeful in Skeleton, Grace Dafoe, recently connected with students she has been mentoring all school year long through onsite school visits.
Classroom Champions Athlete Mentor and Olympic Hopeful in Skeleton, Grace Dafoe, recently connected with students she has been mentoring all school year long through school visits in the Peace River North School District. Grace visited Bert Ambrose Elementary, Robert Ogilvie Elementary, Duncan Cram Elementary, and Hudson’s Hope.These visits, which included assemblies, classroom activities, and a community dinner, showcased the impact of the Classroom Champions curriculum on students and teachers in and around Fort St. John, British Columbia. These visits weren’t only impactful for the students though. This trip made a lasting impact on Grace, as well.
Grace talks to students at an assembly.
Athlete Mentor, Grace Dafoe, visits Bert Ambrose
Classroom Champions matches world-class athletes with classrooms to improve student engagement, build growth mindsets, and inspire positive educational environments. Throughout the year-long curriculum, the students learn critical skills like goal setting, perseverance, teamwork and leadership. These special in-person school events were made possible thanks to PETRONAS and ARC Resources.Grace’s connection with Bert Ambrose Elementary is particularly special, as she has visited before and has formed relationships with some of the staff. She has been paired with this particular school throughout the year, and was able to engage with their students through live chats and other virtual video interactions and lessons. This in-person visit was a celebration of months of mentorship all school year. Grace and the students alike were excited to meet face-to-face and reinforce the bonds they had formed over the school year.
Grace and Bert Ambrose students.
The event kicked off with an assembly where teacher Ruth Lee was honored with the Energizing Community’s Collective Award, and students received Classroom Champions awards for their achievements and demonstrations of the Champion Mindset.
The Energizing Community's Collective Award.
Grace presents students with their Classroom Champions' awards.
Classroom Champions Superlative Awards
Grace’s presence brought excitement and joy to the students, who eagerly participated in various activities and proudly demonstrated leadership qualities they had learned throughout the Champion Mindset Curriculum.After the assembly, Grace was able to make personal classroom visits to the classrooms she had been mentoring this year throughout the rest of the day. Each teacher was able to choose their own activity for their time with Grace. Some chose Q&A sessions, others opted for physical outdoors activities and time on the playground, and others chose to share Classroom Champions work they’ve completed throughout the year.
Grace spends time with Bert Ambrose students on the playground.
"That's my Classroom Champion! That's Grace!"
These are the words Grace Dafoe was greeted with when she arrived back at Bert Ambrose’s campus in the evening for a community event dinner. Grace remarked that she felt like a celebrity and it felt incredible to break the barrier of just being a virtual mentor to actually being there to support and meet the community in real life.
Over 300 people attended the event, sponsored by PETRONAS. The school showcased students’ work around the gym where the students were able to showcase a topic they chose and how it connected back to all of the Champion Mindset units. Posters were hung all over the gym and Classroom Champions resources were placed on each table so families could learn more about what their student(s) had learned throughout the year. The students displayed acts of leadership, perseverance, and goal setting through their work and actions at the event - skills they had been practicing and learning about all year long through Classroom Champions. This activity was a great way to get students engaged in the topics because it gave them a real life, tangible way to relate to the qualities the Champion Mindset teaches about all year. This event was an immense success. The teachers at Bert Ambrose remarked that it was impactful for their community because they don’t always get a chance to see everyone together like that unless it’s for parent-teacher conferences or a specific one off request for parents. It was wonderful to have a reason for everyone to come together and showcase student learning.
Over 300 people attended the event, sponsored by PETRONAS. The school showcased students’ work around the gym where the students were able to showcase a topic they chose and how it connected back to all of the Champion Mindset units. Posters were hung all over the gym and Classroom Champions resources were placed on each table so families could learn more about what their student(s) had learned throughout the year. The students displayed acts of leadership, perseverance, and goal setting through their work and actions at the event - skills they had been practicing and learning about all year long through Classroom Champions. This activity was a great way to get students engaged in the topics because it gave them a real life, tangible way to relate to the qualities the Champion Mindset teaches about all year. This event was an immense success. The teachers at Bert Ambrose remarked that it was impactful for their community because they don’t always get a chance to see everyone together like that unless it’s for parent-teacher conferences or a specific one off request for parents. It was wonderful to have a reason for everyone to come together and showcase student learning.
The family to home connections are reinforced and strengthened through Classroom Champions curriculum and programs.
Grace Dafoe Visits Robert Ogilvie and Duncan Cran
Grace also extended her visit to three other schools in the Fort St. John area, enriching the Classroom Champions Mentorship experience for even more students and teachers. At Robert Ogilvie Elementary and Duncan Cram Elementary, she met with students and teachers, participating in various school activities and discussions on goal-setting and perseverance. The visit to Duncan Cram was sponsored by ARC Resources, which generously provided $200 gift cards to all the teachers here.
Grace also traveled to Hudson’s Hope, a long-time Classroom Champions school, where she observed a sports day event and interacted with students from kindergarten through 12th grade. These visits further demonstrated Grace’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inspiring environment for young learners across the region.
The Impact of the Classroom Champions Community - For Students and Athletes Alike
Reflecting on her role as a mentor, Grace shared how deeply meaningful it was to witness the connections and enthusiasm among the students during her visit. Being recognized by name and celebrated by the community reinforced the impact of her mentorship.
“You have an entire school rooting you on even when you may not realize it and that’s what you get when you’re a Classroom Champions Mentor. The network of the Classroom Champions Community and these kids that love you no matter what place you get.” - Grace Dafoe
Grace remarked that sometimes athletes don’t have their best season, or they’re not at the level they think they should be at yet, but that doesn’t matter. The kids don’t care. They still think their Athlete Mentors are the coolest people on earth, and in a way, that gives athletes confidence in thinking maybe they can meet their next big goal.
Classroom Champions Athlete Mentors are making an impact on students in schools every day. They may not always see it, because they aren’t in the classroom alongside them every single day, but they are still inspiring kids day in and day out. Those students in turn become their athlete’s biggest cheerleaders. It’s not just one classroom, or one student. It’s classrooms full of students that athletes inspire and mentor every day, which turns into a mini fan base for athletes.
Classroom Champions Athlete Mentors are making an impact on students in schools every day. They may not always see it, because they aren’t in the classroom alongside them every single day, but they are still inspiring kids day in and day out. Those students in turn become their athlete’s biggest cheerleaders. It’s not just one classroom, or one student. It’s classrooms full of students that athletes inspire and mentor every day, which turns into a mini fan base for athletes.
