Anyone who has had a child go through the Junior School has likely heard about the ‘Grade 7 Dig’ or ‘Barter Day’ and all the exciting, interactive learning experiences these units offer. Ms. Susan McNeil, Junior School humanities and English teacher, has been inspiring students for over 30 years and joined Southridge in 2001.
Ms. McNeil has always had a passion for teaching. “When I was little, during make-belief play, I always wanted to be the teacher because I loved helping others,” she reflects. “I especially love teaching Grade 7 because these students are capable of tackling high-level work and are still genuinely excited about learning. It’s great to engage with students who are enthusiastic about trying new things.”
Her true passion lies in Humanities, a subject she’s loved since university, where she double-majored in archaeology and history and minored in English. “I’ve always been fascinated by archaeology”, she shares, surrounded by artifacts strategically placed around her classroom. “There’s something special about touching objects from the past, knowing that another human encountered them many years ago.”
In fact, Ms. McNeil had planned on becoming an archaeologist when she was in university. She spent a summer in Kenya working at a field school for young archaeologists sponsored by Richard Leakey through Harvard University. “I was originally on track to pursue a career in archaeology, but after consulting with a university professor, I realized I wanted something different—roots, a home, and a family,” she explains. “So I shifted my focus to teaching.”
Teaching at Southridge has allowed Ms. McNeil to combine both of her passions. “When I first started here, the school agreed to build me a life-size archaeology area, which I used to design and implement a one-of-a-kind comprehensive archaeology unit for my Grade 7 students,” she recalls.
‘The Dig’ takes place every May and typically requires a weekend to set up. Artifacts are buried in layers according to age, and each student is assigned an excavation square. “We start by learning excavation techniques, proper artifact handling, measuring, and recording, as well as field-note taking,” explains Ms. McNeil.
Reflecting on the early years, she adds, “The first time we did it, we buried artifacts too deep and it took us two weeks to finish the dig. Now we’ve streamlined it into a two-day excavation, followed by an analysis phase. With Ms. Jiwa’s help, we expanded the unit into an interdisciplinary project that combines humanities and design. Students now create a marketing plan campaign to revitalize a failing museum. They use Minecraft to design a game or mock-up of what this museum wing would look like, and the project culminates in a final pitch. It’s a four-week collaborative project that brings history to life in a hands-on way.”
When told about the impact she has on students and why she thinks that is, Ms. McNeil reflects, “I’m really patient with kids and encourage them to ask questions and seek feedback when they need it. I also make learning fun by incorporating hands-on and interactive learning activities like bartering and tool-making.”
It’s also important for Ms. McNeil to prepare her students for success, not just in her subjects but beyond. “Writing skills are essential in every subject area,” she says. “Being able to express themselves clearly, ask insightful questions, advocate for their needs, and seek clarification when something is not understood- these are all crucial skills for their future learning journeys.”
Reflecting on her time at Southridge, Ms. McNeil adds, “One of the real strengths of Southridge is that so many of us teach our passions which is reflected in our science, music, art, and other programs. We continue to grow in our own areas of interest while sharing our knowledge and experiences with students. The kids can tell we truly love what we teach, and for some, it sparks a passion of their own.”
Contributed by Parveen Loodu, Communications and Marketing
Originally Published in Spirit Magazine - Spring 2025