Ontario school posts Islamic dance video as Easter limited to basket craft
Pringle Creek Public School posted a video last spring showing kindergarten students dancing to a Ramadan and Eid-themed Arabic song, while Easter was marked with a “Design an Easter basket" craft.
Pringle Creek Public School in Whitby posted an Instagram video last spring showing kindergarten students dancing to a Ramadan and Eid-themed Arabic song, while Easter was marked with a “Design an Easter basket” craft.
A review of the school’s Instagram posts over the last 12 months reveals multiple Islam-related items, including a Palestinian Tatreez embroidery workshop promoted during Islamic Heritage Month, a post promoting an Islamic “Faith & Identity in Schools” event, library displays, and various Ramadan and Eid-themed classroom posts.
During the same period, the feed featured items tied to other religious and cultural observances. The school posted seven times about Diwali, three posts were connected to Lunar New Year, and a Grade 1 class posted about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa for “December celebrations,” omitting posts about Christmas.
Easter was marked with a post describing a STEM activity to “Design an Easter basket.”
This follows board-level materials circulated in November—a 39-page “guide to support Muslim students and challenge Islamophobia,” developed with the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians. The guide was emailed to families but not posted on the Durham District School Board website.
True North did not locate a comparable DDSB guide for Jewish, Christian, Sikh or Hindu students.
Earlier this week, True North also reported on a Grade 4 class at Colonel J.E. Farewell Public School where students were graded on the 5 pillars of Islam and describing how to become “better Muslims.” The same teacher assigned an Easter quiz about a cartoon bunny, eggs, and chocolate.
The document was distributed via email but not posted on the board’s website. True North did not locate any other DDSB-authored guide for students or staff of any other religion.
The Pringle Creek principal did not respond to multiple True North requests for comment on how the school handles guest workshops, classroom celebrations, and parent notices for religious content.