Ladner Elementary Students Unite for Cancer Awareness Assembly

Students at Ladner Elementary School came together in a powerful show of compassion and community during a Cancer Awareness Assembly held on Wednesday, April 29.

The school‑wide event was organized by Grade 6/7 teacher Quynh Aura, who was inspired by her own personal experience. Ms. Quynh lost her grandmother to cancer several years ago and has since honoured her grandmother’s memory by cutting her hair every three years and donating it to Wigs for Kids (Vancouver) and Chai Life (Toronto) to help create wigs for cancer patients.

“What began as a discussion around cancer awareness in one class quickly grew into a school‑wide assembly because of student interest,” said Ms. Quynh. “I asked if anyone wanted to share their story and immediately received enough responses to fill a one‑hour assembly. The students wanted a space to connect with one another around what can be a very difficult and isolating experience.”

Ms. Quynh said the goal of the assembly was to help students understand that cancer can be a frightening journey for children and families, but that no one has to go through it alone. As part of the assembly, members of the school community donated hair or buzzed their heads to show support for families affected by cancer.

“I’ve had family and close friends in my life who have gone or are going through cancer,” said Kim Grisdale, an Education Assistant at the school who joined Ms. Quynh in donating 10 inches of her hair. “I wanted to show my support for this cause to my kids and to students at school.”

The assembly was emceed by students Ryan and Mateus and opened with the singing of O Canada, a land acknowledgement, and a performance of the Jurassic Park theme by the school band. Other speakers included grade 6 and 7 students: Jackson, Yair, Cardin, Claire, Kirkland, Prabikk, Ashton, Jax, Aliana, Aubree, Ava, Mackenzie, Emily, Jewel, and Ethan.

Throughout the event, students helped to educate their peers. They shared that April is Cancer Awareness Month, explained the different colours used to represent various cancers, and emphasized that cancer is not contagious. Students also shared facts about cancer, including that it will affect one in five people, is a leading cause of death in Canada, and that healthy lifestyle choices may help reduce the risk.

They also explained that there are more than 200 types of cancer and that sometimes there is no clear explanation for why someone becomes ill. They highlighted advances in early detection and treatment that have increased survival rates in recent years, while acknowledging that some cancers still have no cure. Students learned that cancer occurs when the cells in someone’s body go out of control and were encouraged to take care of themselves by eating healthy foods.

Several students bravely shared personal stories of family members — including parents, grandparents, and great‑grandparents — who have faced cancer. One student spoke about their 83‑year‑old grandfather, who passed away from prostate cancer just days before the assembly and shared how he remained calm, hopeful and always had a smile on his face despite his cancer, as a way to honour him. Many speakers encouraged their peers to “love your loved ones” and to choose kindness, recognizing that everyone may be carrying unseen challenges.

Eva and Mackenzie read the book When a Kid Like Me Fights Cancer, reinforcing the message that no one faces cancer alone.

The topic of hair donation was also explained, with students learning that some cancer treatments can cause hair loss and that donated hair is used to create wigs. Each wig requires 8–12 hair donations of at least 10 inches and can take up to 50 hours to make, as each strand is added by hand.

The assembly concluded with 10 volunteers taking seats at the front of the gym. Two staff members, one student, one grandparent, and one parent donated more than 10 inches of hair, while two staff members and three students received buzz cuts in solidarity. Many other students showed their support by colouring their hair or wearing coloured hair pieces.

Vice‑Principal Jonathan Wortley concluded the assembly by thanking students who had shared personal stories for their courage and reminding all students that trusted adults at home and at school are always available if they have questions or concerns.

Many thanks to the three stylists from Atomic Hair Studio in Ladner, and another parent who is a hair stylist, who attended the assembly to give the haircuts.

“We were happy to help out,” said Amy, a hair stylist from Atomic Hair Studio. “Today’s event is for such a good cause, and it might even inspire some students to consider a career in hairdressing.”

The Cancer Awareness Assembly highlighted the compassion, leadership, and empathy of Ladner Elementary students, reminding the community that even small acts of support can make a meaningful difference.