Thursday, December 19, 2019

DECEMBER 19, 2019 EDITION / VOLUME 22 NUMBER 5 / THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE EMSB



DISAPPOINTED WITH COURT DECISION: Last week the Quebec Court of Appeal rejected the application to stay Bill 21, the provincial government’s ban on religious symbols in certain sectors of the provincial public service. This applies to the education sector for teachers and school principals. The EMSB has been very concerned with the impact of Bill 21 on its staff and on the culture in its schools and centres and is very disappointed with the Quebec Court of Appeal decision. The EMSB was not involved in these specific legal proceedings leading up to this decision, but  the Council of Commissioners has brought a court challenge to the constitutionality of the law, which is expected to be heard in October of 2020.

Bill 21 - An Act Respecting the Laicity of the State, came into force on July 16 and bars public-school teachers, government lawyers, judges and police officers from wearing religious symbols while at work.  As such individual citizens and public institutions like the EMSB are subject to all laws and regulations that have been adopted by the Parliaments of Quebec and Canada. The case before the court last week was brought by The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), claiming Bill 21 harms minority groups in Quebec and limits employment opportunities.

EMSB mascot Bumble with LaurenHill staff, students and CTV's Christine Long.
SPIRIT OF GIVING: The EMSB recently wrapped up another successful Spirit of Giving campaign, collecting non-perishable goods, toiletries and toys to fill over 1,500 boxes, which will be donated to local charities. For more than a decade, the EMSB has partnered with CTV Montreal to coordinate this campaign. Annually, more than 40 schools and centres participate and their hard work benefits the Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, Sun Youth, La Mosaïque, Mile-End Community Mission, MultiCaf, the Nazereth Community House, the NDG Food Depot, Renaissance Montreal, Share the Warmth and the West Island Assistance Fund.  As the month-long program draws to a close, CTV Montreal broadcasts live from six schools, highlighting the incredible and creative work of the students and staff to collect donations.

Lester B. Pearson staff and students mark the Spirit of Giving.
This year, CTV Montreal visited: Dunrae Gardens Elementary School in T.M.R., Elizabeth Ballantyne School in Montreal West, Options and Elizabeth High Schools in Ville-Émard, Lester B. Pearson High School in Montreal North, LaurenHill Junior Campus in St. Laurent and St. Dorothy Elementary School in St. Michel.  To watch all the live broadcasts, please click here. 






MAJOR SCHOOL CHANGE:  A Major School Change process has been launched by the EMSB to evaluate how best to organize and consolidate the school populations in the north east end territory. The following schools have been identified in the scenarios: Dante, General Vanier, Honoré Mercier, Pierre de Coubertin, John Paul I and Laurier Macdonald in St. Léonard; Gerald McShane and Lester B. Pearson High School in Montreal North; and Our Lady of Pompei and St.  Dorothy. Hearings will be held on January 8 and 9. A decision will be made on Monday night, January 20 at 7 pm. These are the scenarios being considered.


EMSB PODCAST: Please listen to the EMSB’s latest podcasts, hosted by Suzanne Desautels.


Listen to Suzanne's podcast on  The CTV Spirit of Giving from LaurenHill Academy

The John F. Kennedy High School delegation sits comfortably in their private box for the evening.
Anthony Duclair
MONTREAL CANADIENS EXPERIENCE: Thanks to the generosity of   Danny Chazonoff, Chief Operating Officer of Paysafe, four students and two staff from John F. Kennedy High School in St. Michel had a chance to watch a game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators from a private box at the Bell Centre.   Teachers Joe Lamantia and Stefan Kazamias were joined by students Christopher Gerti, Zack Johan, Leia Luck Vatcher and Sereyketya Savath.  Sereyketya is an international student from Bangladash who is just learning to play hockey.  Paysafe Group Limited provides payment solutions. The company offers payment processing, digital wallets, e-cash, mobile engagement, and card solutions.  

CHEERING ON DUCLAIR: Playing for the Ottawa Senators this year is former Lester B. Pearson High School student Anthony Duclair, who has already scored 18 goals this season.  Duclair was in the Sports-Études Program from Secondary I to III with coach Jean Roy.


ARMOUR CUP AT BELL CENTRE:  On  November 29, Lester B. Pearson High School’s Sport-Études Bantam hockey team participated in the 2019 Armour Cup hosted by Under Armour and the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center. During the all-day event the players were able spend time with Carey Price and former players Patrice Brisebois, Mathieu Dandenault, Stephane Richer, Stephane Quintal and Gaston Gingras. Lester B. Pearson and team coaches would like to thank these two organizations for the all-star treatment the student-athletes received. #pearsonpride

Mario Pietrangelo
NEW COMMISSIONER: While the Council of Commissioners are not presently sitting due to trusteeship (they may convene for matters related to legal cases), a vacancy has been filled in Ward 8. That was previously held by Patricia Lattanzio, now the Federal Liberal Member of Parliament for St. Léonard-St. Michel.   Mario Pietrangelo has been chosen as the new commissioner. He was born in Montreal and grew up in   Saint-Léonard. After completing his high school studies at the EMSB’s Laurier Macdonald, he entered the police program at John Abbot College and obtained his diploma from the Police Academy in Nicolet. He served 30 years as a police officer in the city Montreal. In 2006, he was awarded the Governor General’s Police Exemplary Medal for police officers who served in an exemplary manner, characterized by good conduct. He retired from the force in 2016 with the rank of supervisor. Since retiring, he has been actively involved with EMSB schools Honoré Mercier and Vincent Massey Collegiate, serving on Governing boards, parents’ committees and PPO’s. He is married and the father of one child who is enrolled in the EMSB school system.

NEW APPOINTMENT: Danika Swanson has been appointed as the new Spiritual and Community Animation (SCA) Consultant with the Student Services Department (SSD) of the EMSB. Ms. Swanson has been working as a Spiritual and Community Animator for the past year. Prior to joining the EMSB, she held a variety of positions in the fields of education and international peacebuilding including as a facilitation expert, education program specialist, outreach coordinator and consultant. She moved to Montreal with her family in 2017.
Danika Swanson

Ms. Swanson is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, where her Masters work focused broadly on religion, ethics, and politics with particular attention on the region of South Asia and the role of religion, identity, and culture in conflict and conflict resolution. She also brings to this role extensive training and experience in various models of conflict transformation including: mediation, nonviolent communication, dialogue facilitation, and mindfulness.  As she steps into this position, Ms. Swanson is excited for the opportunity to work with the incredible team of Spiritual and Community Animators, and to collaborate more closely with other Student Services professionals, as well as with administrators to best meet the evolving needs of our schools and students. She is looking forward to building upon the traditional strengths of the SCA service in encouraging students’ understanding of self, others, and the local and global communities in which we live, while also more fully integrating the service into the prevention and promotion work of the SSD.

Dunrae Gardens staff, past and present, celebrate.
DUNRAE TURNS 90: Dunrae Gardens Elementary School in TMR held a beautiful 90th anniversary evening on December 5, welcoming back students and staff from past years. Principal Despina Michakis, her predecessor Elena Zervas, Regional Director Pela Nickelotopoulos, TMR Mayor Philippe Roy and others addressed the gathering. The Dunrae Gardens Glee Club performed.
William Weaver, a student at Carlyle Elementary School at the time, named the school through a contest where students and parents were asked to submit suggestions. He remembers receiving an expensive water colour set as a prize for his submission when the commissioners at the time selected the name “Dunrae Gardens.” Initially established as an English school, Dunrae Gardens expanded in 1951, and began providing a French immersion program in 1975. It gained popularity quickly and students were transported by bus from TMR, Park Extension, the Plateau and Outremont. In 2006 a $925, 000$ extension to the building was completed.

Principal Mauro Zampini, Peter Rozmovits, Norman Katz and Alexis Turgeon at the Dance For Alex.
DANCE FOR ALEX:  Students and staff at Royal Vale School   in N.D.G.  once again honoured the late Alex Porter-Rozmovits with their annual Dance for Alex on Friday, December 6.Alex was a bright, loving and thriving six-year-old kindergarten student who died suddenly on June 22, 2009 of a rare bacterial infection. The school has held a morning dance in his honour every December since 2010. Joining the students for this year’s dance was cross-country skier Alexis Turgeon. He is a nine-time member of the Canadian National Ski Team. To mark the dance’s 10th year, Alex’s parents, Roberta Porter and Peter Rozmovits, with the assistance of the general and school communities,   raised more than $6,500 for Royal Vale’s new fitness centre. Proceeds will be used to purchase training equipment, which will enhance student life for years to come. Physical Education and Health teacher Norman Katz and Principal Mauro Zampini welcomed hundreds of students into the gym wearing t-shirts with Alex’s profile emblazoned on the front. Donations are still being accepted. Please visit this link.

REGISTRATION WEEK: The EMSB has announced that Elementary School Registration Week for the 2020-2021 academic year will take place from Monday, February 3 to Friday, February 7. If one child from a family is already enrolled in a particular school, a sibling registration period will take place a week earlier. Parents are asked to register at the EMSB elementary school nearest to their residence offering the French program of their choice. For more information please call (514) 483-7200, extension EMSB (3672) or log on to the Board’s website at www.emsb.qc.ca. All pupils registering for the first time are required to provide a birth certificate and  vaccination records to the school the child will be attending. Parents will be asked to fill out forms which will allow the school to apply for the certificate of eligibility for English schooling. Under the Charter of the French Language, a certificate of eligibility is generally granted to children who did the majority of their elementary or secondary studies in English in Canada; whose mother or father did the majority of his/her elementary studies in English in Canada or whose brother or sister did the majority of his/her elementary or secondary studies in English in Canada. As a result of language legislation, this criteria excludes studies completed in the Quebec Private School system. For full details and the list of schools please click here.

Willingdon students do their collection.
WILLINGDON ASSISTS OLD BREWERY MISSION: On December 18, Willingdon Elementary School in NDG received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Old Brewery Mission. Since 2014, Willingdon students have donated over 6,000 pairs of socks and hand-crafted over 1,500 holiday cards for homeless men and women.  This annual tradition is very dear to the Willingdon community, hence this unexpected recognition from the organization was very appreciated.  Melissa Bellerose, Director of Communications at the Old Brewery Mission, presented the Certificate of Appreciation and a thank you letter to the homeroom reps at the senior campus. After a meet and greet, students had the opportunity to learn more about the organization, ask questions and see the impact that their exemplary contribution on the homeless in Montreal. This is surely a tradition that is dear to Willingdon hearts and that will continue for years to come.

Here is one video and another.
Encounters With Canada is a memorable experience.
ENCOUNTERS WITH CANADA: Encounters With Canada is a unique opportunity for Canadian teens to meet other young people from across the country, spend an adventure-filled week in the nation’s capital, check out future career options and discover more about Canada.  For 37 years, EWC has delivered a rich and varied bilingual program. To date, more than 115,000 youth have participated in EWC… now it’s your turn! The program costs $750 for the full week, covering travel, accommodation, meals and all programming - activities, visits and tours. Additionally, there are needs-based bursaries available.  EWC is offering a special rebate of $100 off three theme weeks for new participants who register before January 17, on a first-come basis. See  this link.

Director General Ann Marie Matheson receives a thank you card from the students.
EDINBURGH RIBBON CUTTING: A formal ribbon cutting ceremony for the new modular at Edinburgh Elementary School in Montreal West took place on December 17 with Governing Board Chair Michael Rodger, EMSB Director General Ann Marie Matheson, staff, students and parents.

Kristin McNeill reports here on the inauguration.

For the full story about the modulars click here.

HONORÉ MERCIER HOLIDAYS PROGRAM:  Students and staff at Honoré Mercier Elementary School in St. Léonard hosted Hope for the Holidays, a homeless summit meant to foster a candid discussion about life on the streets of Montreal. The summit consisted of testimonials from homeless Montrealers and shelter representatives, with the intention of addressing the stigma of mental illness, statistics about homeless in Montreal and reintegration programs.

Students in discussion with their guests.
Ultimately, the goal is to help both students and staff understand the needs of others in difficult situations, putting empathy and compassion into action. Participating in the education awareness program was St. Michael’s Mission, Dans La Rue  and Chez Doris. Over 120 Cycle 3 students participated in the program and Grade 5 and 6 students   also had a volunteer at various soup kitchens and shelters across the island. The program was spearheaded by Spiritual Community Animator Vince Lacroce.

CBC CANADIAN MUSIC CHALLENGE: EMSB students showed their musical talents to the limit recently. They took home many honours. Here is a link to the results.

BACKGROUNDER - WALKING WITH A GHOST: The Honore Mercier Elementary School Milk Crates are a group of  eight year-olds who have dedicated themselves to paying homage to the 80s synth pop masters of yesteryear. Influenced by legendary groups such as Devo, Kraftwerk, and the Human League they look to take modern classics and recreate them with their own unique twist. Eschewing traditional keyboard stands for milk crates- something they insist is vital to their sound, they have just begun their exciting musical journey. Under the direction of music teacher George Anthopoulos, this instrumental synth-pop version by the talented Grade 3 class is an entry to this year’s CBC Music Class Contest. They finished second in their category.

Here is a link to the video:


BANCROFT ENTERS MUSIC CHALLENGE: Bancroft Elementary School on the Plateau had some impressive entries in the CBC Music Class Challenge. The Grade 6 class finished first in  Category 10 for the  Human' Indigenous Languages Prize, taking home $1,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque. The two Grade 6 classes combined for a performance of Human by Twin Flames.  They were moved by the beauty of the song, but also by its message.   Students wore outfits to reflect their cultural heritage and the wonderful diversity experienced at the  school.  6B performed on guitars and other instruments, and 6A sang the song.   Bravo to music teacher  Francois Lukawecki and his students. Here is a link to their winning entry.


The Grade 1 class placed in the top 10 across Canada in Category 2 (Primary Vocal, kindergarten to Grade 3). Here is the link.

Here are some  links to their other entries: 

DECORATIONS AT BANCROFT: December has been a busy month for the students at Bancroft.  From Pre-K-to Grade 6,  the students put on a Canadian Christmas concert over three days. They have been decorating their doors and many classes have been visited by elves. The last week of school will wrap up with their annual Christmas breakfast, an act of kindness day and a Christmas Pajama party! The students at Bancroft have also been collecting donations for the Mile End Mission and Sun Youth.  The spirit of the holidays is glowing bright this holiday season!

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: St. Monica Elementary School in NDG hosted the annual
Breakfast with Santa event. It featured a delicious breakfast, a meeting with Santa and a gift to take home.

Santa gets a warm greeting.
"I wish to take a moment to say thank the Generations Foundation for their generosity and all our St Monica volunteers and staff that made this event possible," said Principal Silvana Crigna. "It is memorable moments like this that take learning to a whole new level, providing a sense of belonging and well-being.



Cold weather did not  stop the John F. Kennedy High School Worked Oriented Training Path (WOTP) program crew from loading their holiday donations .
Adrian and Natalie Bercovici receive their cheque from event organizers.
CHILDREN'S CHARITY EVENT: This past Sunday, the EMSB held its 19th Annual Children’s Charity Event in support of Generations Foundation ($17,153.00 raised). Over 800 EMSB employees and their families enjoyed an afternoon filled with entertainment and food with a gift from Santa for the 350 children that were there.  This annual event has raised more than $350,000 since 2000. The Children’s Charity Event is always a success due to the dedicated volunteers, many of which are both past and present employees of the EMSB. Special thanks to the Royal Vale Team Leadership students and mentor Stella Halaris, as well as the James Lyng Team Leadership students, AEVS centres Rosemount Technology Centre, Laurier Macdonald Vocational Centre, Wagar Adult Education  Centre and the EMSB senior management team for their usual solid support for this event.  More importantly, this event provides the necessary funds to Generations Foundation so they may continue with their mission to feed and support students at risk in our inner-city schools. Generations is currently providing support to 8,000 students across the Island of Montreal.

CHORALE NEWS: After very successful guest appearances with Musica Orbium on November 23 and the St. Lawrence Choir on November 30, the EMSB Chorale held its annual Holiday Concert before a full house at Mountainside United Church on December 7. For 27 years the choir has offered this as a benefit concert for the Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign to help Montrealers in need, raising $1,700 this year. The next day, on December 8, the EMSB Senior Chorale was a special guest in the 40th Anniversary CBC Sing-In at the Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul, performing in the three final numbers of the concert. The concert was video live streamed on the CBC platforms and the concert will be broadcast and streamed on the new CBC Listen app (CBC.ca/Listen) beginning Thursday, Dec. 12.

Members of the EMSB Chorale.
As for radio broadcasts, Julie Nesrallah will host two national radio broadcasts of the CBC Christmas Sing-In: December 24 at 5 p.m. on CBC Music (93.5 FM in Montreal); and  December 25 at 3 p.m. on CBC Radio One (88.5 FM in Montreal). The Sing-In will also be broadcast on the French network:  Le Sing-In at 8 pm  on December 9 pm on the show   Toute une musique, hosted by Marie-Christine Trottier on d'ICI MUSIQUE (100.7 FM à Montréal), and at 2:30 pm on December 25 on ICI MUSIQUE Classique. You can also listen at  icimusique.ca  on Radio-Canada OHdio app. Finally, the Chorale is also thrilled to announce that it has been accepted to perform at the 2020 International Choral Kathaumixw in Powell River, BC to be held June 30 to July 4, 2020!

The winning team celebrates.
GLEE SHOWDOWN: The Clef Notes team from Vincent Massey Collegiate in Rosemount won the annual Just For Kids Foundation High School Glee Showdown recently. Over 450 guests were in attendance as nine high schools showcased their creative talent and charitable spirits. This was JFK Glee’s 10th anniversary, and the energy in the theatre was truly palpable. This amazing event has raised over $1.2 million over the past 10 years, and we are so grateful to all of our supporters. This year’s fundraising efforts broke records!   Vincent Massey came in second in terms of funds raised ($14, 373). All proceeds will help purchase high-priority medical equipment, and support initiatives that improve the quality of care for patients of the Montreal Children’s Hospital. To-date, JFK has provided over $11 million of equipment, touching almost every department at the hospital. That is more than 250,000 children treated and 1,500 healthcare professionals who are better equipped to care for their patients. Royal West Academy in Montreal West was also entered.  VMC students Vivian Naccarello and Stefania Zambardi were second and third in terms of funds raised individually.

St. Dorothy students perform at the Toy Tea.
TOY TEA: Students from the EMSB showed up in great numbers at the 28th edition of the annual Toy Tea, which took place December 11 at Victoria Hall in Westmount. A total of 13 EMSB schools participated in the collection, with 11 joining French and private schools at the event. Several elementary schools attended, including Edinburgh, Dunrae Gardens, St. Gabriel, Our Lady of Pompei, Mackay Centre and Roslyn. Two schools also sent their choirs, with Westmount Park School singing in the morning and St. Dorothy in the afternoon.  High schools included Royal Vale, John F. Kennedy and Vincent Massey Collegiate.

The St. Gabriel School delegation is thanked at the Toy Tea.
Students were urged to only bring new and non-violent toys unwrapped so that so that parents can present gifts according to their own family traditions. There was also a collection of gift cards for children aged 12 to 18 years of age. Please see Kristin McNeill's complete report here.
Gabrielle Reichson

MERTON BALLET STAR: Gabrielle Reichson is in Grade 5 at Merton  Elementary School in Côte Saint-Luc and is in her second year dancing with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in the Nutcracker at Place des Arts. Last year she played the role of a mouse and this year is a Child At The Party. Gaby is performing in all 18 shows in Montreal and performed as well from December 4 to 8 in Quebec City with Les Grands Ballets.  Both Gaby’s grade 5 teachers,  Laurence Oziel and Janet Rodger, came to watch her, as well as her principal Rosana Caplan and secretary Gesell  Dufeal. Many of her fellow Merton students have also come to support Gaby!

COME FROM AWAY: On November 26, 30 lucky EMSB FACE senior drama students attended the opening night presentation of the Broadway production of Come From Away at Place des Arts. This special event was made possible through a grant from the U.S. Consulate General Montreal. The show emulates the continuing friendship between two nations – Canada and the United States of America. Come From Away is based on a true story, and reflects the very essence of this friendship between two nations at a time when America needed its allies the most.

U.S. Consular General M Andrew Roberts with FACE drama students, Come From Away actor James Earl Jones II, Beulah Davis, a Gandor resident and Simone Nichol in the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier.
After the 9/11 attacks, with American air space closed, 38 planes with 7,000 passengers made emergency landings in the small town of Gander, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. This was to be known as Operation Yellow Ribbon. The small town quickly found themselves as the host of 7,000 stranded and bewildered passengers and, very quickly, every nook and cranny was found to accommodate these new guests for the next several days. Come from Away, a musical production, tells of this event through personal stories and shows how adversity can become a positive.  As the teacher in charge, Simone Nichol says she was extremely grateful to Stephanie Faraggi, Public Affairs Program Assistant and the team at the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal for making this event possible.

FACE students perform.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT: A FACE High School ensemble,  known as  Con Brio and under the direction of Marie-Eve Arseneau,  presented a Christmas concert at  Complexe Desjardins. The school wishes to thank  Kristie Ibrahim, France Arcand and Catherine Bouchard for their assistance.

Dawn Cruchet and student Kriva Richer.
DEALING WITH GRIEF: During the month of October, a questionnaire created by the students was distributed to random classes at each grade level at Royal West Academy in Montreal West related to grief, loss and living a meaningful life. When the answers were correlated, staff found that two themes emerged: What is grief and how does it manifest itself? and How do I help a friend /family member who may be grieving? On Friday November 29 (9 am) Dawn Cruchet, an expert in the field, addressed a group of Royal West students in the library to speak to these themes and respond to questions. There will be follow up activities that will allow students to reflect on these questions through poetry, writing and art work. The Royal West Mental Health Awareness Committee, composed mainly of Secondary V students, has been an integral part of the entire endeavor. This project was one of many organized during Projection Week in Montreal; highlighting death, loss and end-of-life issues. Royal West was the only school in Montreal to participate.  See this coverage from CBC.
Bringing some "Perpsectives" to seniors.
PERSPECTIVES I & II LAUNCH BRIDGING THE GAP: On  November 29, students and staff from Perspectives I & II Alternative High Schools in St. Michel officially launched an intergenerational program called “Bridging the Gap” with local Senior Centers. The program aims to foster respect for cultural diversity and raise awareness for the generational gaps found across a variety of cultures in Canada. The teachers guided students into researching/further discovering their own cultural backgrounds and the important contributions that their culture has made to the Canadian society.  The “Bridging the Gap” program will encourage students to create/develop a monthly activity for seniors belonging to a variety of cultural backgrounds. Each group of students would be in charge of developing a multicultural activity, meal, art lesson or game for a variety of seniors residing in a senior’s residence. The program will be culminated with the creation of a “Bridging the Gap” Album highlighting all of the information they have gathered in their research and experience with this program. The program has been spearheaded by Spiritual Community Animator Vince Lacroce, Interim Head teacher Jessica Ghim and Chief D’Unite CHSLD Dante Angela Novembre.

Bike riding is an important physical and social milestone for all children to master.

EARLY STIMULATION CLASS:  At John Caboto Academy in Ahuntsic, Physical Education Specialist Joseph Romano  and Tina Filippone, Special Education Technician in the Early Stimulation class,  have started a cycling program for the special needs students. They began this initiative because bike riding is an important physical and social milestone for all children to master. Mastering the skill of cycling at an early age will not only help improve physical health, but also benefit learning development, mental health, and most importantly satisfy creativity and curiosity. The project aims to build their self-esteem and confidence, which will allow students to succeed in other aspects of life.  John Caboto Academy wishes to thank Canadian Tire Cremazie E.  store owner Mark Vandzura  for donating six brand new bikes and helmets to make this project a reality! His generous donations of bicycles will help sustain and benefit the school community in efforts to support the students with autism and special needs.


The newest hoopsters.
NEW BASKETBALL TEAM: John Caboto Academy has formed a basketball team earlier this year. Coached by Mr.  Romano and Cycle 2 Teacher Jennifer De Leeuw, the team has been training hard this fall and recently had their first game. On Wednesday November 20, John Caboto   hosted Our Lady of Pompei for a friendly double header event. Both girls and boys teams played in front of a roaring crowd of John Caboto students, staff and parents. John Caboto came out on top in both games and all students had a fun and memorable experience. 

COMMUNITY DAY: On Saturday December 7 the John Caboto community came together for its annual Community Day event. Spearheaded by PPO chair Anna Migniacca and her team of parent and staff volunteers, families were treated to Reptizoo, face painting, caricature drawing, arts and crafts, a pizza and pasta lunch, music, prizes and a visit from Santa! The entire event was offered free of charge and participants donated non-perishable food items for the Spirit of Giving as an entrance donation. The schools Grade 6 Leadership team were present to collect and sort the food donations with Cycle 3 teacher Diana Bavas. All proceeds from the raffle will go to the foundation of stars. The community event had a huge turnout and was a great success with a focus on the community spirit of helping others in need.

Pearson students guide those from John Caboto.

STUDENT CENTERED WORKSHOP: On Tuesday December 17,  Lester B Pearson High School's Student Council teamed up with the John Caboto Grade 6 Leadership Students for a student-centered workshop in leadership. The experiential activities centered around the importance of empathy, communication and taking ownership of our schools. This opportunity allowed Caboto students to see what student leadership entails at the high school level and taking home ideas that there are able to implement in their own school. It is hoped that this will be thethe first experience of mentorship and leadership development between the two schools.

Hard at work at the Thrift Shop.
THRIFT CLUB LAUNCHED: The LBPHS Thrift Club aims to promote the benefits of second-hand shopping. More and more young people are environmentally conscious. Combine this with a love for fashion, and you've got the Thrift Club! The world's landfills are overflowing with old clothes, and second-hand shopping allows us to help the planet in our own little way. Students have spent the last couple of months sifting through donations to last year's pop-up shop hosted by the school's GSA. The long term goal is to open a permanent thrift shop for students to regularly shop in, with proceeds going to local youth charitiesGlobal TV will air a report on December 29 at 6 pm and 11 pm.


It was a festive atmosphere at Westmount Park School's South Campus.
WESTMOUNT PARK CELEBRATION: On December 17, Westmount Park South Campus in Ville Émard celebrated the holiday season with a high-energy samba music sing-along with the Westmount Samba Band. The 29-member choir and percussion group spent their lunchtime over the past few months preparing for the big event with music teacher Simon Radu, who takes every opportunity to teach his students about different cultures and customs through music.  Students and staff sang along to  favourites like Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, Feliz Navidad and Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, all performed in “batucada” (a substyle of samba) style. It was a challenge for the audience to sit still with the beats of the surdo and cajon drums, maracas, agogo bells and keyboard (played by Radu). Special guest Cantor and Rabbi Daniel Benlolo addressed the students, letting them know how special they are.   You can see the full story and see more photos here.

The General Vanier delegations brings holiday cheer to the Manoir.
GENERAL VANIER AND MANOIR RONALD McDONALD: Not everyone is fortunate enough to be healthy and at home with their family during the holiday season. On December 17, Grade 5 and 6 students from General Vanier (GV) Elementary School in St. Léonard had the opportunity to lighten the lives of the residents of Manoir Ronald McDonald, who are far from home and in need of some tender loving care and a home-cooked meal. Manoir Ronald McDonald is a welcoming, tranquil 50-room location that houses families that live a minimum of 55 km away while their child receives medical attention at Montreal hospitals. Residents are served breakfast however they must shop for and cook their own lunches and dinners. When volunteers provide meals, it gives them a budgetary break and respite, with one less meal to worry about. So, when 10 students, seven parent volunteers and one staff member from GV arrive with food in tow, and prepare and serve lunch, it is greatly appreciated. The GV team raised $350 throughout the year with which they purchased food for the meal. The rest, including pasta, meatballs and desserts, were donated by L’intermarché (Viau) and Patisserie Alati Caserta. Students helped prepare, plate, serve and clean up. They also manned an arts and crafts table, and learned important lessons as they greeted families with care and respect. You can read Wendy Singer's full report here.
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HELPING THE HOMELESS: During the first two weeks before the holiday break all was not quiet, Many students were busy as can bee. Under the guidance of the Spiritual Care & Guidance,  & Community Involvement Animation Service, several  EMSB Schools, (Edward Murphy School, East Hill School, Pierre  Elliott Trudeau and General Vanier ) have been working effortlessly in order to collect, warm socks, soaps, tooth brushes on perishables....and have made over 800 holidays cards for Montreal’s needy and homeless from various Montreal Communities. Many project names including, Share The Warmth and  S4.  In addition the students from Our Lady Of Pompeii School BASE Daycare Program, with   Pia DiBacco,  Agatina Nicita  and supported by Principal Lisa  Ancona, have been busy as bees creating pure sweetness. They worked on their community service project entitled "Pay it Forward"  Hope for the Homeless the Gift of Giving.  They created over 90 Peace Canvas Bags (filled with socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and soap) .  Children are the Light of the World, noted Mrs. Pia and Mr. Speranza, having them work on these projects is truly amazing and rewarding for allow. Paying it forward creates lots of peace m Joy and Kindness

The S4 S.h.a.r.e. Campaign came to be several years ago, under SCA Speranza, because the students work hard not only to collect new  socks, scarves and shoes (snow boots too) for various ages, many will come together during the week end before the schools break begins (December 21 and 22) to prepare and deliver over 1,200 sandwiches and hot meals to the city's homeless and needy. They will be working with other community groups such as the Knights of Columbus, Mile End Mission and the Welcome Hall Mission  Students will also be creating more personalized care packages.

Principal Irini Margetis.
VISITING SENIORS: Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s Grade 5 Students (Miss Sandy's class) accompanied their SCA Mr. Speranza, and music teacher  Arianne Asly-Verdon as they took time to visit the seniors at the CHSLD Petite-Patrie residence. The students spent the morning spreading holiday cheer by playing instruments and singing for the residents. They also enjoyed watching a few holiday classics, coloured ornaments and importantly spent time chatting together.  Activities such as this really allow students to understand the true meaning of the holidays and allows seniors and residents to create special bonds and memories. as resident Ms Naoami noted, "Thank us for the visit. I had so much fun .I have not coloured in 20 years. It was wonderful. "

ADOPT A CHILD CAMPAIGN: As a Brundtland School, Dante Elementary in St. Léonard   takes part in many humanitarian causes. Each holiday season, they embark on a fundraising initiative to raise funds to purchase Christmas presents for those less fortunate. This year, Dante   purchased 28 gifts through the Adopt a Child Campaign from St. Brendan's Parish. Dante's little elves' prepared and delivered the presents! 

Sinclair Laird students decorate their tree.
HOLIDAY TREE DECORATION: Students at Sinclair Laird Elementary School helped decorate their annual
holiday tree by creating beautiful ornaments. Students were so creative and used their imagination and came up with authentic holiday ornaments.  The little boys and girls also wrote letters to Santa , and drew pictures for him as well. Together, students walked to the  mailbox to ship them out. A week later, students were ecstatic to find a letter from the North Pole, including a list with all the names of the students. Students were also happy to receive sunflower seeds to plant.

OUTREACH NEWSPAPER: Congratulations to the students and staff in the EMSB Alternative Outreach High School system for their wonderful new newspaper. Stories are written by students.  You can read it here.

STUDY ABROAD: The Study and Go Abroad Fair is a free international university fair aimed at students who are considering their post-secondary options at home and abroad. The expo offers students a great opportunity to meet face-to-face with universities from the UK, USA, Australia, and many other countries, and to learn about admission requirements, available scholarships and program choices. We would encourage students, parents and educators attend the expo and discover a whole range of education options. The fair will also feature a Travel Zone with work abroad, volunteer and language travel programs, and other gap year options.  It takes place on February 29 at the Palais des Congrès from 1 pm to 5 pm.

MARCH OF THE LIVING: Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 March of the Living (MOL), run locally by Federation CJA’s young adult division, GenMTL. This experiential educational program brings grade 11 participants on a life-changing two-week journey through Poland and Israel. MOL is dedicated to strengthening Jewish identity, as well as inspiring participants to fight indifference, racism and injustice. Royal West Academy alumni Emma Rothstein and her twin brother Tyler, both now first-year CEGEP students, participated in the 2019 MOL. Their great-grandparents were Holocaust survivors, which prompted their parents to encourage them to apply for the trip. You can read their full story here.

SPERANZA MTL:   EMSB staffer Sabrina Mendaglio and two of her friends are the founders of a fundraising campaign called Speranza MTL. Their mission is to seek out Montreal's most underprivileged groups and contribute to the improvement of life for these individuals by creating awareness through different platforms.  For their first venture   The Old Brewery Mission will benefit. They are   collecting for men, women, and children: warm clothing, new and unused underwear and toiletries, and other daily essentials. Their drop off locations are listed on their social media pages. Speranza MTL aims to support the community by helping the less fortunate and underprivileged.   In 1889, two women by the names Dina Douglas and Eva Findlay, decided to offer warm meals to the city’s poorest citizens. In 1890, the women find a donor, who provides them with a vacant building that once housed a brewery, where they set up a soup kitchen; creating the birth of the Old Brewery Mission. Proof that with a little Speranza (Hope) and lots of heart, anyone can make a difference. The cold winter months are here, and we decided that it was time to take action and contribute to the aid of the hundreds of homeless men and women seeking warmth and essentials on the streets of Montreal..........and your help is needed  They will also be collecting money to purchase the items mentioned above. The items will be used to make baskets which will be donated directly to the Old Brewery Mission. In addition, the money raised will also go towards gift cards to grocery stores, Tim-Hortons, and other local food and essential stores. 

 ADULT EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES


Emma Senft's piece of work.

PRIZE WINNER:  Rosemount Technology Centre alumni  Emma Senft received an Honorable Mention for the 2019 Francois-Houdé Prize. The Conseil des Métiers d’Art du Québec prize recognizes excellence in fine craft, from all disciplines, and is Montreal's most prestigious craft award for young professional craftspeople. Emma's work, along with the other finalists, is on display at the Guild Gallery, 1356 Sherbrooke West, until Feb 23, 2020. Needless to say, RTC is very proud of her for this unique accomplishment!

Galileo students show their pieces of work.
RECEIVING AND GIVING BACK: Galileo Adult Education Centre Social Integration Students (SIS) students received a special gift from the wonderful knitting group: Almage Senior Community Centre. Organizers Gloria King and Tonya Wright, together with knitters Jean Cardinal and Frances Iwanowski and members Annabelle Munro and Pauline Peace,  knitted 30 sets of hats and scarves for the students! These colourful and uniquely stitched winter hats and scarves put a smile on the students’ faces. The meet and greet also allowed students to share stitching ideas for their upcoming blanket project. At Galileo, community connections are at the center of our culture - these wonderful ladies have become near and dear to our hearts. We look forward to collaborating with Almage for our next project! Meanwhile, the SIS students recently held another successful bowling fundraiser with Italiani di Montreal e Amici and The Lighthouse - a non-profit organization that contributes to the well-being of children whose lives are threatened by illnesses that require complex treatment, and provides support to their families. Over 230 participants, including parents, staff and students, bowled for a good cause. Raffle prizes were won and new friendships and memories were created.  And Italiani di Montreal e Amici, in collaboration with Supporting Autism Awareness and The Lighthouse assisted Galileo in preparing an assortment of beautiful Christmas baskets. Galileo SIS students enhanced their team work skills as well as their social skills in assembling these festive baskets.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS: This month Galileo welcomed guest speaker Eva  from Ami-Quebec, who gave a presentation on mental health to both the Academic and CCBE students. By sharing her own personal journey, she was able to demystify and shed light on the stigmas that are often associated with illnesses like depression. Eva, throughout her presentation, not only listed several forms of mental illnesses, but she also answered many questions from the students who attended. As the days get shorter and seasons change, so do our moods. It is crucial to have access to many types of support systems around us and valuable resources. “Not feeling alone” and “being aware” is important and knowing that there are several types of organizations around us is key. How can I help someone? The answer is you must listen, empathize, validate and offer your support as much as possible by guiding them in the right direction.   

SPREADING THE WORD:  As the cold months quickly settled in, and students were busy creating and using their artistic imaginations, Galileo Art Therapist Erica Nicole Onofrio  proposed  to donate blankets to a shelter.  They chose the Shield of Athena, a non-profit organization that offers services to women and children who have been victims of family violence. They offer emergency shelter, support, and professional services with being culturally aware of Montreal’s diverse communities.  Starting off with meters and meters of material, students not only used their motor skills to cut straight lines, but they also put their math skills into good use, evenly calculating adult and child sized blankets.   While making the blankets, the students’ sensorial experiences were heightened by the softness of the material.  Comments of wanting to take naps with these blankets were often shared within our space.  Students also remarked how, during the winter months, staying warm is a very soothing feeling.  We can only hope that the women and children at the shelter feel similar sensations to ours during the creation process, feeling safe and warm while they are embraced by the love that our students put into making these cozy blankets.   “Vulnerability, unfamiliarity, stressful situations, are all things that these mothers and children may be faced with, but by embracing these blankets, we hope that they can become security blankets where their emotions can be regulated,” she said.  “We can create a positive impact on others by simply reaching out to help people in need.  This project allowed our students to acquire a sense of purpose within their day to day routine; to share their creative abilities, expertise, and unlock their potential skills.  We hope that through these moments of donating to those in need, it will help our students to grow as individuals.  Compassion, empathy, humanity, appreciation for others, and creating a community were such vital components of this special activity. Let’s pay it forward!”


ÉDITION DU 20 DÉCEMBRE 2019 / BULLETIN DE LA CSEM





RÉORGANISATION SCOLAIRE MAJEURE: La CSEM a lancé une vaste consultation sur la réorganisation scolaire afin d’évaluer la meilleure façon d’organiser et de consolider les effectifs scolaires dans la partie nord-est de son territoire. Les écoles suivantes font l’objet de cette consultation : Dante, Général Vanier, Honoré Mercier, Pierre de Coubertin, John Paul I et Laurier Macdonald à Saint-Léonard; Gerald McShane et l’école secondaire Lester B. Pearson à Montréal-Nord; de même que Our Lady of Pompei à Ahuntsic et St. Dorothy à Saint-Michel. Les audiences se tiendront les 8 et 9 janvier prochains.


NOUVEAU COMMISSAIRE: Bien que le conseil des commissaires ne siège pas actuellement en raison de la tutelle (les commissaires peuvent toutefois se réunir pour discuter d’affaires juridiques), une vacance a été comblée dans la circonscription 8. Madame Patricia Lattanzio, maintenant députée libérale du Parlement pour Saint-Léonard – Saint-Michel, représentait autrefois cette circonscription. M. Mario Pietrangelo a été choisi à titre de nouveau commissaire. Natif de Montréal, il a grandi à Saint-Léonard. Après ses études secondaires à l’école Laurier Macdonald de la CSEM, il s’est inscrit au programme en techniques policières au Collège John Abbott et a obtenu son diplôme de l’École nationale de police du Québec de Nicolet. Il a fait carrière comme policier pendant 30 ans à la Ville de Montréal. En 2006, il a reçu la Médaille de la gouverneure générale pour ses services exemplaires et sa bonne conduite. Au moment de prendre sa retraite en 2016, il occupait un poste de superviseur. Depuis, il s’implique activement à l’école Honoré Mercier et au Collège Vincent Massey de la CSEM, siégeant aux conseils d'établissement, aux comités de parents et aux OPP. Il est marié et père d'un enfant qui fréquente l’une des écoles de la CSEM.


NOUVELLE NOMINATION: Danika Swanson a été nommée conseillère en animation de vie spirituelle et d’engagement communautaire au sein des Services aux élèves de la CSEM. Au cours de la dernière année, Mme Swanson a occupé un poste d’animatrice de vie spirituelle et d’engagement communautaire. Avant de se joindre à la CSEM, elle a œuvré dans les domaines de l’éducation et de la consolidation de la paix internationale, notamment à titre d’experte en facilitation, de spécialiste des programmes d'éducation, de coordonnatrice des services de sensibilisation et de consultante. Elle s’est établie à Montréal avec sa famille en 2017. Mme Swanson est diplômée de la Harvard Divinity School, où ses études à la maîtrise ont porté principalement sur la religion, l'éthique et la politique avec une attention particulière sur la région de l'Asie du Sud et le rôle de la religion, de l'identité et de la culture dans les conflits et la résolution de conflits. Elle possède une vaste formation et une solide expérience en lien avec divers modèles de transformation des conflits, notamment : la médiation, la communication non violente, la facilitation du dialogue et la pleine conscience. Mme Swanson est ravie d'avoir l'occasion de travailler avec l'incroyable équipe d'animateurs de vie spirituelle et d’engagement communautaire, et de collaborer plus étroitement avec d'autres professionnels des Services aux élèves et des administrateurs dans le but de mieux répondre aux besoins changeants de nos élèves et nos écoles. Elle se réjouit à l’idée de tirer parti des forces traditionnelles du service de l’animation de vie spirituelle et d’engagement communautaire afin d’amener les élèves à développer une meilleure compréhension de soi, d’autrui et des communautés locales et mondiales dans lesquelles nous vivons, tout en intégrant plus pleinement ce service aux efforts de prévention et de promotion de l’équipe des Services aux élèves.

DUNRAE A 90 ANS: Une belle soirée a eu lieu à l'école primaire Dunrae Gardens de Ville de Mont-Royal le 5 décembre pour souligner son 90e anniversaire en compagnie d’anciens élèves et membre du personnel. La directrice Despina Michakis, sa prédécesseur Elena Zervas, la directrice régionale Pela Nickelotopoulos, le maire de Ville de Mont-Royal Philippe Roy et d'autres invités ont pris la parole à cette occasion. Le Glee Club de l’école Dunrae Gardens a offert une prestation durant la soirée.

William Weaver, élève de l'école primaire Carlyle à l'époque, avait soumis une suggestion lors d’un concours visant à baptiser cet établissement. Il se souvient avoir reçu un ensemble coûteux d'aquarelle en guise de récompense pour sa soumission « Dunrae Gardens » retenue par les commissaires alors en poste. D’abord une école anglophone, Dunrae Gardens a été agrandie en 1951 et un programme d'immersion française y a vu le jour en 1975. Devant l’engouement rapide pour ce nouveau programme, des élèves de Ville de Mont-Royal, Parc-Extension, le Plateau et Outremont étaient transportés par autobus afin de fréquenter cet établissement. En 2006, un agrandissement totalisant 925 000 $ a été réalisé.

SEMAINE DES INSCRIPTIONS: À la Commission scolaire English-Montréal, la semaine des inscriptions au primaire pour l’année scolaire 2020-2021 aura lieu du lundi 3 février au vendredi 7 février. Si un enfant est déjà inscrit à une école en particulier, ses frères et sœurs pourront s’y inscrire une semaine plus tôt. Les parents sont invités à inscrire leur enfant à l’école primaire de la CSEM la plus près de leur domicile où le programme de français de leur choix est offert. Pour de plus amples renseignements, composez le 514 483-7200, poste EMSB (3672) ou visitez le site Web de la Commission au www.emsb.qc.ca. Les parents qui inscrivent leur enfant pour la première fois doivent fournir son certificat de naissance et son carnet de vaccination à l’école qu’il fréquentera. Les parents devront également remplir des formulaires afin de permettre à l’école en question de présenter une demande de déclaration d’admissibilité à l’enseignement en anglais. En vertu de la Charte de la langue française, une déclaration d’admissibilité est généralement accordée aux enfants qui ont reçu la majeure partie de leur enseignement primaire ou secondaire en anglais au Canada, à ceux dont la mère ou le père a reçu la majorité de son enseignement primaire en anglais au Canada ou à ceux dont le frère ou la sœur a reçu la majorité de son enseignement primaire ou secondaire en anglais au Canada. Veuillez prendre note qu’en raison de la législation linguistique, ce critère exclut les études complétées dans une école privée au Québec.

RENCONTRES DU CANADA: Rencontres du Canada (RDC) est une occasion unique pour les adolescents canadiens de rencontrer d’autres jeunes de partout au pays, de passer une semaine débordant d’aventures dans la capitale nationale, d’explorer des possibilités de carrière et d’en apprendre davantage sur le Canada. Depuis 37 ans, RDC propose un programme bilingue riche et varié. À ce jour, plus de 115 000 jeunes ont vécu l’expérience RDC. C’est maintenant à vous de vivre la vôtre! Le coût du programme est de 750 $ pour la semaine complète et comprend les frais de déplacement, l’hébergement, les repas ainsi que toutes les activités, visites et excursions. De plus, des bourses sont disponibles pour ceux qui sont dans le besoin. RDC offre un rabais de 100 $ pour trois semaines thématiques pour les nouveaux participants qui s’inscriront avant le 17 janvier, sur la base du premier arrivé, premier servi. Nous vous invitons à consulter le lien suivant.

GESTION DU DEUIL: Au cours du mois d’octobre, un questionnaire préparé par les élèves et portant sur le deuil, la perte d’un être cher et la vie porteuse de sens a été distribué aléatoirement à des classes de chaque niveau à l’Académie Royal West de Montréal-Ouest. Les réponses obtenues ont permis au personnel de dégager deux thèmes, soit : Qu’est-ce que le deuil et comment se manifeste-t-il? et Comment aider un ami/un membre de la famille qui traverse un deuil? Le vendredi 29 novembre à 9 h, Dawn Cruchet, experte en la matière, a rencontré un groupe d’élèves de l’Académie Royal West dans la bibliothèque de l’établissement afin d’aborder ces thèmes et de répondre aux questions. Des activités de suivi sont prévues pour permettre aux élèves de s’engager dans une réflexion en recourant à la poésie, l’écriture et les arts. Le comité de sensibilisation à la santé mentale de l’Académie Royal West, composé principalement d’élèves de 5e secondaire, a été au cœur de ce projet qui figurait parmi plusieurs autres organisés dans le cadre de la Semaine Projection à Montréal et axés sur la vie, la mort et les enjeux de fin de vie. Il est à noter que l’Académie Royal West a été la seule école montréalaise à participer à cet événement.

CLASSE DE STIMULATION PRÉCOCE: À l'Académie John Caboto d'Ahuntsic, Joseph Romano, spécialiste en éducation physique et Tina Filippone, technicienne en éducation spécialisée dans la classe de stimulation précoce, ont mis sur pied un programme de cyclisme pour les élèves ayant des besoins particuliers. Ils ont opté pour cette initiative parce qu’apprendre à faire du vélo constitue une étape physique et sociale importante que tout enfant se doit de maîtriser. La maîtrise du vélo à un âge précoce contribue non seulement à améliorer la santé physique, mais favorise également le développement de l'apprentissage, la santé mentale et, surtout, la créativité et la curiosité. Le projet vise à renforcer l’estime de soi et la confiance, ce qui permettra aux élèves de réussir dans d'autres sphères de la vie. L’Académie John Caboto tient à remercier le propriétaire du magasin Canadian Tire sur Crémazie Est, M. Mark Vandzura, qui a fait don de six vélos et casques tout neufs pour faire de ce projet une réalité! Sa grande générosité profitera à la communauté scolaire et fera en sorte d’appuyer les efforts déployés par l’école pour soutenir les élèves autistes et ceux ayant des besoins particuliers.

SPERANZA MTL: Sabrina Mendaglio de la CSEM et deux copines ont lancé une campagne de financement baptisée Speranza MTL. L’objectif vise à cibler les groupes les plus démunis de Montréal dans le but d’améliorer leur existence en sensibilisant la population par l’entremise de diverses plateformes. Leur première collecte est dédiée à la Mission Old Brewery. Elles recueillent les articles suivants pour hommes, femmes et enfants : vêtements chauds, sous-vêtements neufs et jamais portés, articles de toilette, de même que d’autres articles essentiels au quotidien. Les points de cueillette figurent sur leurs pages de réseaux sociaux. Speranza MTL a pour mission de soutenir la communauté en venant en aide aux plus démunis et défavorisés. En 1889, Dina Douglas et Eva Findlay décident d’offrir des repas chauds aux citoyens les plus pauvres de la ville. En 1890, elles trouvent un donateur qui leur fournit un bâtiment vacant abritant autrefois une brasserie; elles y établissent une soupe populaire qui donnera naissance à la Mission Old Brewery. C’est la preuve qu’avec un peu de « speranza » (espoir) et un grand cœur, chacun peut faire une différence. Avec l’arrivée de l’hiver, nous avons décidé qu'il était temps d'agir pour venir en aide aux centaines d'hommes et de femmes sans abri en quête d’un peu de chaleur et de produits de première nécessité dans les rues de Montréal… et pour ce faire, nous faisons appel à votre générosité. Elles recueilleront également des fonds pour acheter les articles mentionnés ci-dessus avec lesquels elles prépareront des paniers qui seront ensuite remis directement à la Mission Old Brewery. De plus, l'argent recueilli servira également à acheter des cartes-cadeaux échangeables dans des supermarchés, chez Tim Horton’s et dans d’autres magasins d’alimentation et de produits essentiels.

SERVICES DE L’ÉDUCATION DES ADULTES ET DE LA FORMATION PROFESSIONNELLE

DE GRANDS HONNEURS: Emma Senft, diplômée du Centre de technologie Rosemont, s’est vu décerner une mention honorable dans le cadre du Prix François-Houdé 2019. Cette récompense octroyée par le Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec vise à souligner l’excellence dans les métiers d’art, de toutes les disciplines, et constitue le prix montréalais le plus prestigieux remis à de jeunes artisans professionnels. Les œuvres d’Emma et des autres finalistes seront exposées jusqu’au 23 février 2020 à la galerie La Guilde située au 1356, rue Sherbrooke Ouest. Il va sans dire que le Centre de technologie Rosemont est très fier d’elle!


RECEVOIR ET DONNER EN RETOUR: Les élèves des services d’intégration sociale (SIS) du Centre d’éducation des adultes Galileo ont reçu un cadeau bien spécial du groupe de tricot du Centre communautaire pour personnes âgées Almage. Les organisatrices Gloria King et Tonya Wright, en compagnie des tricoteuses Jean Cardinal et Frances Iwanowski ainsi que des membres Annabelle Munro et Pauline Peace, ont tricoté 30 ensembles de chapeaux et foulards pour les élèves! Ces créations uniques et colorées ont mis un sourire sur le visage de chaque élève. La rencontre a également permis aux élèves de partager des idées de points de tricot pour leur projet de couverture à venir. Au centre Galileo, les liens avec la communauté sont au cœur de notre culture – ces merveilleuses dames nous sont chères. Nous nous réjouissons à l’idée de collaborer avec Almage pour notre prochain projet!

Pendant ce temps, les élèves du programme SIS ont récemment organisé une autre activité de quilles couronnée de succès dans le cadre d’une collecte de fonds menée en collaboration avec Italiani di Montreal e Amici et The Lighthouse - un organisme à but non lucratif qui contribue au bien-être des enfants dont la vie est menacée par des maladies nécessitant un traitement complexe et qui procure un soutien à leurs familles. Plus de 230 participants, dont des parents, des membres du personnel et des élèves, ont joué pour une bonne cause. Des prix ont été tirés et de nouvelles amitiés et souvenirs ont été créés. Et Italiani di Montreal e Amici, de concert avec Supporting Autism Awareness et The Lighthouse, a aidé Galileo à préparer de magnifiques paniers de Noël. Les élèves du programme SIS de Galileo ont ainsi pu améliorer leurs compétences pour le travail d'équipe de même que leurs habiletés sociales lors de l'assemblage de ces paniers festifs.

SENSIBILISATION À LA SANTÉ MENTALE: Ce mois-ci, Galileo a invité la conférencière Eva d'Ami-Québec à faire une présentation sur la santé mentale aux élèves du programme de formation de base commune et à ceux du programme de formation générale. En partageant son expérience personnelle, elle a pu démystifier et faire la lumière sur la stigmatisation souvent associée aux maladies comme la dépression. Tout au long de sa présentation, Eva a non seulement énuméré plusieurs formes de maladies mentales, mais elle a également répondu à de nombreuses questions de la part des élèves présents. Au fil des saisons et à mesure que les jours raccourcissent, nos humeurs changent aussi. Il est essentiel d'avoir accès à diverses formes de soutien et à de précieuses ressources. Il importe de « ne pas se sentir seul », d’« être à l’écoute » et d’être conscient de l’existence de plusieurs types d'organismes autour de nous. Comment puis-je venir en aide à quelqu'un? En l’écoutant, en faisant preuve d'empathie, en validant et en lui offrant votre soutien dans la mesure du possible pour le guider dans la bonne direction.
The next Focus will be on January 30, 2020.  Deadline for submissions is Friday, January 24 at Noon.

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