On September 28, 2025, the John Paul II Polish School took part in the Polish Harvest Festival (Dożynki) organized by the Canadian Polish Congress, Hamilton branch. For this occasion, we prepared a basket filled with autumn flowers and herbs. In the colorful harvest parade, our school was represented by students: Anya Zaszkowski, Amelia and Dominic Szelest, together with teachers: Aleksandra Florek and Danuta Marynowicz. We extend our sincere thanks to all participants for beautifully and proudly representing our school.
A special recognition goes to our student, Anya Zaszkowski, who recited the poem “Prayer of a Polish Girl” (Modlitwa polskiego dziewczęcia) by Władysław Bełza. Anya, a fourth-grade student, has been winning top places in recitation contests for several years, including the Recitation Contest of the W. Reymont Foundation in Hamilton. This year, she performed during the Harvest Festival, and her recitation—carrying a message of religious, family, and patriotic values—was received with great enthusiasm and rewarded with warm applause from the audience.
Dożynki, or the Harvest Festival, is one of Poland’s oldest traditions. It is a time of gratitude for the harvest, but also an expression of respect for bread, the land, and the hard work of farmers. In this spirit, we would like to thank all teachers and parents for their dedication and care in raising our students. Thanks to their efforts, the younger generation can grow with a love for Polish culture and traditions, bringing pride to our entire community.
