JANUARY 29, 2019 EDITION / VOLUME 21 NUMBER 6 / THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE EMSB

Editor:                 Michael J. Cohen
Translation:         Manon Bourassa

EMSB officials and Physical Literacy ambassadors gather after the press conference. 

PRESS CONFERENCE: On the eve of Kindergarten and Elementary School Registration Week (February 4 to 8), the English Montreal School Board (EMSB)  showcased its programs that support the development of physical literacy. Special guests, media and small contingents of students from six EMSB schools were invited to Hampstead Elementary School on January 25 to learn more about physical literacy through numerous activities and presentations on the subject. Hampstead School is one of the elementary institutions which has assumed a leadership role in this area.

EMSB mascot Bumble gets into the exercise theme.

Physical literacy is about developing the competence, confidence and motivation to be active in a variety of ways and environments. The idea is that by being confident in  physical activity, students benefit in their overall physical, mental and emotional health. Physical Education plays a critical role in developing physical literacy – in Phys. Ed. classes, students develop their movement competence, and Physical Education teachers are also careful to structure their classes to encourage confidence and motivation, two important components of physical literacy. The benefits of regular physical activity are already well documented: sustained long-term health, increased social connectedness, improved general mental and physical well-being and better quality of life. But children who are more physically literate have more access to these benefits, which is central to their success as students.   You can also go to www.emsb.qc.ca/fl  to read all about this initiative.

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau School delegation.

VISITING SCHOOLS:  Students and staff from Royal Vale, Elizabeth Ballantyne, Parkdale, East Hill, Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Pierre de Coubertin Schools were on hand and took part in the launch.

The Gazette's Stu Cowan talks to Kavis Reed, Rick Green and Kim St. Pierre.

AMBASSADORS: The EMSB was pleased to greet a number of Physical Literacy ambassadors who spoke to students in their classrooms:  former Montreal Canadiens defenceman Rick Green; Kavis Reed, William Stanback and Jean-Gabriel Poulin from the Alouettes;  former Impact player and a Gerald McShane and Lester B. Pearson High School grad, Rocco Placentino;  former Canadian Olympic women’s hockey team goalie Kim St. Pierre;  Gardenview and LaurenHill grad Steve Frischman,  a former football player for the Concordia Stingers, former head coach of the Madrid Bears Football Team and served as a professional strength and conditioning coach for professional athletes; Director of Athletics and Recreation at McGill and a fitness columnist for The Montreal Gazette, Jill Barker; Geraldine (Gigi) Cabillo-Abante of the McGill Martlets;  the head coach of the Concordia University Stingers basketball team Rastkco Popovic; a member of the Concordia basketball team Sami Ghandour; Liberal Member of Parliament for the Mount Royal Riding and a competitive swimmer who has won multiple medals at the Maccabiah Games in Israel,  Anthony Housefather;  the founder and executive director of the Champions for Life Foundation,  who has been giving physical literacy workshops at the EMSB and beyond, David Arsenault; the

William Stanback and Jean-Gabriel Poulin along with Amy Walsh visit a Kindergarten class.

Champions for Life Program Director for English Schools, Joanne Lawson; a student supervisor at John F Kennedy Adult Education Centre in St. Michel, but well-known as a former professional basketball player in Europe and  a member of the Canadian Olympic mens basketball team in the Seoul Summer Olympics, Dwight Walton; a former student at Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary School in Montreal West and at age 71  the 16th person  to climb the highest volcano on every continent (he may now be recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest person to climb both the Seven Summits and the Volcanic Seven Summits), Ted Fairhurst; the commander of local police Station 9 and a one-time offensive guard for the McGill Redmen football team,  Luis Oliveira; a former Gerald McShane Elementary School student,  who now plays  forward with the Junior AAA Montreal North Arctic,  Elio Dimeo; a former professional hockey player and currently a colour commentator for Laval Rocket broadcasts  on TSN 690,  JP O’Connor; a former midfielder for the Canadian Women’s Soccer Team and a member of the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, Amy Walsh; a  Grade 10 student  from LaurenHill Academy and elite wrestler with his sights set on the Summer Olympics, Nolan O’Rourke; and a former professional basketball player and a member of the Phys Ed staff at Hampstead School, Shawn Brown.

Shawn Brown and some of his students.

HAMPSTEAD THRIVES: Hampstead Elementary School was the site of a whirlwind  and active day January 25 at a press conference by the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) showcasing physical literacy.  Chosen to host the event, Hampstead School is a leader in developing physical literacy among its students through various physical education and physical activity-related programs. The school is providing creative and simple ways to allow for and encourage the natural inclination of children to move. Principal David Lee, a keen supporter of outdoor activity, says the school is providing more and more ways to incorporate movement in the everyday life at school.  Beyond the Physical Education and Health (PEH) classes offered as part of the curriculum are creative ideas such as “brain breaks,” which are sunshine-yellow plastic boxes affixed to hallways walls that contain a game or activity. One student or a pair can ask for a 10-minute hallway pass from their teacher, which gives them permission to leave the classroom and do something active in the hallway. The boxes can contain a soft football or soccer ball for a passing game. Providing the freedom to get up and move “can help a child reset,” says Mr. Lee, allowing them to return to class refreshed.

SIXTY MINUTES A DAY: The EMSB now counts 15 elementary schools which have opted to participate in a Quebec government health initiative called À l'école, on bouge! The objective  is to transform school culture toward an active one, specifically by ensuring that students are provided with the opportunity to accumulate at least 60 minutes of physical activity during each school day. Be it for cognitive functioning, social or physical health, this initiative allows students to experience the multiple benefits of physical activity throughout the school day and encourages teachers to be strategic with using movement to benefit learning and classroom management. Launched by the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur (MEES) in the 2017-18 academic year, several EMSB schools are already in their second year participating in the 60 Minutes initiative. They are: Elizabeth Ballantyne in Montreal West, Hampstead, Royal Vale in NDG, Parkdale in St. Laurent, St. Raphael in Park Extension, St. Dorothy in St. Michel, Michelangelo and East Hill in RDP, Edward Murphy in Hochelaga Maisonneuve and Pierre de Coubertin  in St. Leonard. Newer participants, currently active in the initiative this school year, include Leonardo Da Vinci in RDP, Edinburgh in Montreal West, Sinclair Laird in Park Extension, Pierre Elliott Trudeau in Rosemount and Merton in Côte Saint-Luc.  The EMSB hopes to expand this program to more schools

SPECIAL NEEDS:  The EMSB strives to support the development of physical literacy for all students, no matter what challenges they face. Physical literacy is a journey upon which children and youth, and everyone, develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to enable them to participate in a wide variety of activities. From Mackay Centre School students that have motor, language and communication disorders, and those that are Deaf and use American Sign Language to communicate, to Philip E. Layton (PEL) School students that have many of these same issues in addition to visual impairments, or students with autism and intellectual difficulties that attend many EMSB Schools, the Physical Education and Health teams are adapting their programs to focus on the abilities of their students as they progress along their individual physical literacy journeys.

Students display their Physical Literacy foam barbells. 

INITIATIVES: The EMSB is proud to partner with a number of outside organizations to offer students at both the elementary and high school level opportunities to develop their physical literacy  through different programs and activities.  The EMSB would like to highlight the following programs and/or partnerships:

GMAA PARTICIPATION: A total of 242 EMSB teams are participating in the Greater Montreal Athletic Association’s (GMAA) sporting events this school year, and students are reaping the benefits both in and out of the classroom. The GMAA is dedicated to the belief that sport is a key educational tool, helping young people grow physically, emotionally and intellectually. The EMSB is committed to this belief as well. The GMAA is a school sports organization devoted to the promotion of athletics in English schools of the Greater Montreal region. An affiliate of Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), GMAA organizes over 30 sporting activities during the school year, serving 60,000 students in elementary and high school.  The GMAA coordinates three scheduled sport seasons (Fall, Winter and Spring). This gives high school students from the EMSB, Lester B. Pearson School Board, and 23 private schools in the Greater Montreal area the opportunity to try a new sport each season, learn a varied skill set, and have multiple experiences in a team setting.

Ryan Oxley from the B.A.S.E. Program shows some students how to operate the bike blender.

BIKE BLENDER: This academic year, the B.A.S.E. Daycare Program has introduced two Bike Blenders into its stock of equipment to service our schools.  The EMSB Before and After School Enriched (B.A.S.E.) Daycare Program is excited to introduce Bike Blenders into schools on a rental basis. The bikes have been modified to propel a blender that can make simple smoothie recipes. Students will have the chance to pedal a bike and blend their own smoothie while also creating their own recipe. It is an excellent tool for educators to use in animating activities with their students as part of Pedagogical Day activities, Harvest Parties, school events and fundraisers. The Bike Blenders provide opportunities to increase educational competencies while engaging students in a positive social experience. In particular, Bike Blenders are an excellent tool to use in teaching children about Nutrition, Physical Education and Health and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). The Bike Blender can be used as a tool for highlighting nutrition through creating healthy snacks. It was a big hit at the Physical Literacy launch. .

John Pevec and his former student Joey Alfieri.

LIVE  BROADCAST FEEDS:  Vincent Massey Collegiate graduate Joey Alfieri broadcast live interviews from the the  press conference on TSN 690 and CJAD 800.  Mr. Alfieri had a chance to engage with Regional Director John Pevec, who was his vice-principal when he attended VMC.

Here is the TSN 690 commercial that ran in advance.

Here are the links to the live remotes:

Hampstead Phys Ed & Health teacher Michael Creamer  on CJAD

Michael Creamer on TSN 690

Katherine Baker on CJAD

Katherine Baker on TSN 690

Myrianne Lusignan on TSN 690

Michael Brown on TSN 690

CBC RADIO ONE:  Shawn Appel of  Radio Noon on CBC did an entire program on the press conference and theme.  Please give it a listen here.

The RBC volunteers.

RBC VOLUNTEERS: A thank you to Marisa Volpe and her team at the Royal Bank for providing volunteers for the press conference and for sponsoring the lunch. The RBC staffers, many of them bank managers, executives and financial planners, greeted guests and facilitated classroom sessions. It is all part of their mission to become involved in the community.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REGISTRATION WEEK: Elementary School Registration Week for the 2019-2020 academic year will take place from Monday, February 4 to Friday, February 8. 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 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.

TV COMMERCIALS:  This commercial promoting Elementary School Registration Week,  has been airing on CTV Montreal. The production took place in November at Royal Vale School, where the entire K to 11 experience could be caught on camera. The EMSB will also have this advertisement running on CTV.  Here is the commercial on Global TV, recorded  at Roslyn School.

ON RADIO:   The Beat 92.5 FM ran this commercial

One of our billboards.

PROMOTIONAL BILLBOARDS: Seventeen  promotional billboards now appear all over our school districts promoting Elementary School Registration. Here are all of  the billboard locations:  Laurentien Boul. (Rte 117) and Gouin Boul. West; L’Acadie Boul. and Chabanel St.; St-Michel Boul. and Port Royal St.; Côte-des-Neiges RD and Chemin Bedford; St-Jacques St. and Old Orchard Ave.; Somerled and Cavendish; St-Jacques St. and Melrose Ave; Van Horne Ave. and St. Laurent Boul; Wellington St. and Butler St; Saint-Patrick St. and Laprairie St; Souligny Ave. and Desautels St.; Notre-Dame St. East and Rougemont Ave.; Rivières des Prairies Boul. and Martinière St.; Autoroute 15 and Henri Bourassa Boul; Henri Bourassa Boul. and Autoroute 13; Boul. Pie IX and 47th St; and St-Michel Boul. and Charland Ave.

Marisa Mineiro

OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL: While Michelangelo International Elementary School in RDP might be tucked away at the eastern edge of Montreal, Principal Marisa Mineiro will soon be thrust into the national spotlight as she was recently named as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals. The announcement was made by the Learning Partnership.

Overall, 30 educators across the country were chosen by The Learning Partnership as Canada’s Outstanding Principals of 2019. This marks the sixth time that an EMSB educator was amongst those chosen.  Ms. Mineiro follows Lester B. Pearson High School’s Joseph Vitantonio (2018), Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School’s Anna Sanalitro (2017), Westmount Park Elementary School’s Marylene Perron (2016), retired principal Claude Dansereau (2015) and LaurenHill Academy’s Donna Manos (2011) as winners.

“I’m very honoured, but I cannot take all the credit,” said Ms. Mineiro. “It’s a team effort here at Michelangelo International Elementary School. I did not do this on my own.”

Ms. Mineiro has been an administrator at the EMSB for seven years, the last three at Michelangelo International Elementary School. Her first foray into administration came under Ms. Manos at Honoré Mercier Elementary School in St. Leonard. Her full-time teaching career began in 2002 at the former Frederick Banting Elementary School before moving to Michelangelo from 2004 to 2012.

Dr. Laurie Betito

DR. LAURIE AT MERTON: Dr. Laurie Betito will be holding a lecture on What we Should Mean by “Sexuality Education” on Tuesday, February 12 (7 pm) at Merton Elementary School in Côte Saint-Luc. Dr. Betito is a clinical psychologist who specializes in sexuality with a post graduate training in sex therapy and is Montreal’s #1 sex expert. She graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work and Psychology and continued at Université de Québec à Montréal to receive her PhD. She works in private practice and has been hosting a radio show weeknights at 10pm on CJAD 800, for the last 20 years about sex and relationships. She is also the author of “The Sex Bible for People Over 50: The Complete Guide to Sexual Love for Mature Couples.”

SINGING CHEF: Samantha Calabrese also known as local television’s “The Singing Chef,” is a 14 year old  Secondary III student at  Rosemount High School.  Samantha always dreamed of being on television and when she won the contest Cook for a Cure, everything fell into place.  On May 10, 2017, Samantha presented her dish at the Cook for a Cure event organized by Spiritual Animator, Vince Lacroce.  Alongside her godfather, the poached pear dish won dish of the night! The prize was to appear on Breakfast Television, but little did she know it would be the start to much more!  Samantha has been cooking since the age of two and continues to do so at home with her mom and family.

Samantha Calabrese

While on  the show, she was asked if she had any other passions other than cooking. Singing was one of them and she was asked to do a presentation. She proceeded  to sing    Rolling in the Deep by Adele. That’s when her singing talent was discovered and she earned the title of “The Singing Chef.”  Although she loves cooking, singing is her passion and this began because of her sister who also likes to belt out a tune. She loves music from previous generations such as Michael Jackson and The Beatles. Samantha is a natural born star, she loves being on television and for her it comes so naturally.  See our full story.   Here she is on Breakfast TV. 

ANNUAL REPORT: Article 220 of the Education Act requires each school board to report on its partnership agreement in its Annual Report. The EMSB Partnership Agreement Annual Report informs all of its stakeholders in its territory with an account of the implementation of its strategic plan and the results obtained with regard to the goals and measurable objectives set out in the partnership agreement that was entered into with the Minister of Education on July 1, 2010. The annual report informs the reader of the board’s objectives and targets set, the context as to why they were set, the results obtained, the board’s interpretation of the results, and the adjustments or corrective strategies to be implemented as a consequence of the results. The report also analyzes the degree of success of the strategies employed and their contribution to the attainment of the objectives. This allows the Board to identify strategies that are less effective and need to be modified or discontinued. Where there is insufficient progress, the board re-examines once again its educational and organizational practices and determine what new strategies should be developed to increase student success.  This is the last year for the report on the Partnership Agreement. As of next year, the board will be reporting in a very similar way on its Commitment to Success Plan. A formal presentation of this documentation was made at a public meeting on January 10.

You can read it here.

RELOCATION AND FRANÇAIS PLUS: The EMSB will proceed with the relocation of students from Westmount Park Elementary School for two years to Marymount Academy International in NDG and the former St. John Bosco Elementary School in Ville Émard. Meanwhile, plans to create a new Français Plus primary school in NDG has been delayed in order to consider another option for the intended facility. Westmount Park Elementary School will undergo major renovations. Due to the scope of the $12.5 million project, this will require that the entire school population   be relocated for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years. The more than 700 students will be split between   Marymount and St. John Bosco and both sites will have Pre-K to Grade 6 levels in order to not separate siblings.    With West End elementary schools bursting at the seams in terms of enrolment, the EMSB Long Range Planning Committee had originally proposed the opening of a brand new Français Plus primary school at 4850 Coronation Avenue in NDG. The specific over-crowding of immersion schools in this area extends to Edinburgh (127 percent capacity) in Montreal West, Merton (107 percent capacity) in Côte Saint-Luc and Willingdon (90 percent capacity) in NDG. In order to accommodate the new school, the EMSB had recommended that two alternative high schools – Focus and Outreach – have their population relocate to the James Lyng High School facility in St. Henri. The latter presently has a lease with Centennial College, which concludes on June 30, 2019. 

The Council of Commissioners has accepted a new proposal from Long Range Planning for one of  the schools experiencing overcrowding (Edinburgh, Merton or Willingdon)  to take over the Coronation Avenue facility as a Junior campus (Pre-k to Grade 2) in order to immediately alleviate overcrowding in their own school and in the other two West End schools. In addition, the school that takes over the building as their Junior campus could also offer the Français Plus Program. The first Français Plus immersion program would operate from Kindergarten to Grade 4 (instead of from Kindergarten to Grade 2) and 50 percent- English and French - in Grades 5 and 6. See the full story: http://www.emsb.qc.ca/emsb/articles/special-board-meeting-to-decide-upon-francais-plus-school-in-ndg-and-relocation-of-westmount-park-elementary-school-students. A decision will be made at a special board meeting on February 20.  See this report on Global TV.

Brian Ewenson

OUT OF THIS WORLD PODCAST:  On a recent EMSB  podcast, Barry Morgan spoke with EMSB robotics consultant Sara Iatauro and aerospace educator Brian Ewenson, who visits EMSB schools as a guest speaker.  Ms. Iatauro was the chairman of the RoboCup International Competition and Symposium held in Montreal this past June. Mr. Ewenson is a rocket scientist, astrophysicist and an elementary school teacher. He's worked with almost all of our top Canadian Astronauts.  Together, they discuss space exploration, robotics and what the near future could look like.    Here it is . We would like to thank Barry for his service. He has now accepted a position in the public health system. We will introduce our new podcaster shortly.

Mike Cohen with The James Lyng delegation.

STUDENTS CHEER ON HABS: For the Montreal Canadiens game on January 23 at the Bell Centre vs. Arizona, the EMSB was fortunate to receive some generous donations of tickets.

The Willingdon group.

Grade 6 students Dylan Allison and Madison McGravie  from Willingdon Elementary School in NDG sat in the private loge  of Paysafe   with Principal Carmen Nicolas and Interim Vice Principal Maya Doughan;  Grade 11 students Fazle Ahmad and James Yaxley Junior  from James Lyng High School in St. Henri sat in the  Club Desjardins section thanks to CTV Montreal with Principal Lino Buttino and his son Nicolas, a Grade 5 student at Honore-Mercier Elementary School in St. Léonard.  This marked the first time ever each student had seen a Habs game at the Bell Centre. Paysafe is a Montreal-based corporation which provides simple and secure payment solutions to businesses of all sizes around the world

Coach Norman Katz and his team.

BASKETBALL TEAM SETTING RECORDS: The girls basketball team at Royal Vale School is setting records, as they’re closing in on their second straight undefeated season. RVS finished their 2017-18 season 20-0 and so far, are off to a 10-0 start in their 2018-19 campaign. "What impresses me the most is how humble they are," said head coach Norman Katz."Congrats to our leaders Jaime and Melissa who lead the team on and off the court."

Julian Haber Photography for the picture.

Corey Fleisher is warmly greeted.

ERASING HATE: Corey Fleisher brought his #ErasingHate message to LaurenHill Academy Junior Campus recently, inspiring students with his incredible work to rid Montreal and the world from hate-filled graffiti and messages. Fleisher spoke to students about his journey from elementary school and how a chance drive down Monkland Ave. led him on the path to becoming a world renowned figure, spreading his message of tolerance and positivity. 

SUBSIDIES FOR JEWISH CAMPS: Jewish overnight camp gives kids the chance to explore their connection to Judaism in a meaningful way, all while having the summer of their lives! Thanks to Federation CJA’s Generations Fund Camp Initiative, your child may be eligible for up to 1000$ off Jewish overnight camp. Simply fill out the application form at www.generationsfund.ca to find out if you are eligible.  Many EMSB families in the past have taken advantage of The Generations Fund Camp Initiative. It  was created to help children in Montreal experience the transformative impact that Jewish overnight camp can provide by offering grants, multi-year subsidies, and incentives to families in our community.

Check out the One Happy Camper first-time camper incentive grants, as well as Federation CJA’s CAMPS Access Grants designed to make Jewish camping experiences accessible to more children in our community. See the complete story here. For all other questions, please contact info@generationsfund.ca, or  log on to www.generationsfund.ca.   

FOOD COLLECTION: During the month of December, Vincent Massey Collegiate students, many from the Spiritual Care and Guidance and Community Involvement Animation “Be The Change” Committee, gave up their day off from school to volunteer at St. Brendan's Food Bank. 

They prepared over 240 food baskets that included both perishable and nonperishable items and over 400 personalized new presents for needy families in the community, many who have children that attend EMSB schools.   A good portion of the students also volunteer their time on a monthly basis to aid with the food banks BROWN BAG project. This is all part of VMC's S3 S.H.A.R.E. initiative.  

Spiritual Care and Guidance and Community Involvement Animator Rocco Speranza noted that, “This type of activity allows our students to see where their donations go, and provides them with an opportunity to spend time with community members. It is more than just dropping off nonperishable food items in a donation box at school. Through this activity, they become more aware and more connected to the issues that community families face and deal with on a daily basis. 

Volunteering and helping made everyone feel the importance of this SEASON of LIGHT and JOY. .  

FOOD BANK GRATITUDE: St.  Brendan's Food Bank would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the EMSB schools and adult centers for their continuous partnership and support during their Holiday S.H.A.R.E. Campaign. This year marked the 20th consecutive year that the EMSB has provided much needed support.  “Your generosity allowed the food bank to provide a two week supply of food and provisions to over 230 families across the island of Montreal, including 460 adults and 434 children,” Food Bank officials wrote. “Many of the children attend EMSB schools. This support is truly a blessings during the holiday season.”

WEBSITE CHANGES: Changes on the EMSB Website have been made concerning the news, check out our new layout! Our News Archives is now called “EMSB News Headlines” which can be found on the Parents & Community drop-down menu.

Westmount High students have some fun.

WACKY OLYMPICS: Westmount High School held their very first Wacky Olympics 2.0! This event was held for the Leaders on Wheels, Mackay’s Satellite class at WHS involving students in wheelchairs. Jana Lawlor, currently a Secondary IV student at Westmount High School, is the brains behind this operation. Alongside C.J. Turner (Staff Head of Student Council), Rose Sondola (teacher) and 20 some students from Student Council and the Leadership program, the seven Mackay students had a great time! Seven rotating activities were prepared which were all going on simultaneously. Close at hand with the “Best Buddies” chapter, the helpers assisted in cheering them on and were present in case of assistance, but these activities were adapted to the various need of the students so that they could perform on their own. Mackay adults and students made the cars during art class, which would eventually be placed over the wheelchairs. They had been planning this since the end of November 2018 and had been working extremely hard since the return of Christmas break.

CHEERS TO VOLUNTEERS:   The EMSB will hold its annual Parent Volunteer Appreciation Evening on April 9 at Plaza Volare. Those individuals who have volunteered for five years or more will be among the 500 people invited. ``Cheers to 20 years of Volunteers” has been chosen as the theme.

MENTAL ILLNESS INITIATIVE: Rosemount High School will be embarking on a new mental illness initiative called ¨Small Talk, Big Result¨. The intent of program is to engage students in an open discussion about mental illness, offering new ideas, eliminate the stigma of mental Illness, and hope for those who may be struggling.  The initiative will be spearheaded by Spiritual Community Animator Vince Lacroce. The launch of the program will be on February 7,  with a candid two-part interactive presentation called “Life after Addiction: A Story of Perseverance.” Youth Intervention Worker Gerry Tullio, alongside Mr. Lacroce, will share Mr. Tullio’s story of addiction and overcoming his battle of mental illness. The follow-up session will consist of a presentation from Laurie Baum, Youth Counsellor at Chabad Lifeline, who will address the importance of defining mental illness triggers and ways to obtain support.   This month long initiative will be culminated by an informative presentation from the Partners for Life Foundation. The aim of their program is to prevent psychological distress in adolescents. Students will have an opportunity to sign up for two presentations: "Depression is reversible," which educates young people aged 14 and older about depression and their new pilot project which will promote good mental health among students in Grades 7 and 8.

ANIMAL WELFARE CONFERENCE:  The 2019 National Animal Welfare Conference is happening at the Hotel Bonaventure Montreal April 14-15, 2019. Conference registration will open in December 2018. All two-day conference registrations come with 1 ticket to the Opening Social on April 13 and 1 ticket to the Animal Welfare Leadership & Innovation Awards on April 14. All conference and training day registrations include breakfast, lunch and nutritional breaks for the day(s) you have registered. EARLY BIRD RATES, Until January 31, 2019 $330: Two-day conference registration (Humane Canada members and students).$385: Two-day conference registration (general attendee). More  info here.

ENGAGE: Students from Royal West Academy spent 10 hours at the Montreal SPCA working with animals waiting to be adopted. As part of their extra-curricular program hours, the students learned about animal welfare and carried out projects in the shelter which provided mental stimulation to cats, dogs and small mammals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Youth programming at the Montreal SPCA is offered by ENGAGE: Animal Welfare Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to building empathy among youth. To request a Montreal SPCA youth program for your students, contact: Colleen Ovenden, 514-999-9465, colleen@engageanimal.org. As promised, attached is a text and some photos of our RWA program for the next edition of the EMSB Focus Newsletter. As well, here is a Facebook link to the album of photos.

COLLECTION: Before the holiday break, many students were busy as can be. Under the guidance of Spiritual Care & Guidance & Community Involvement Animator Rocco Speranza, several schools, Edward Murphy, East Hill, Mountainview and Vincent Massey Collegiate, collected thousands of hats, mitts, scarves, blankets, shoes, socks, soaps, and tooth brushes. As well, they made over 800 holiday cards for Montreal’s homeless as part of the, “Baby its Cold Outside” and S.H.A.R.E. The Warmth projects.   In addition, the Pre-K and Kindergarten students from Our Lady of Pompei BASE Daycare Program, with  Pia DiBacco,   Agatina Nicita, and supported by School Principal Steven Rebelo, Jenna Tafuto, and Secondary IV students Celo and Julien from VMC, were 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 70 Peace Canvas Bags (filled with socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and soap). An alumni of Our Lady of Pompei School, Jenna Tafuto, has been helping out with this project for years. “Children are a bright light in the world,” noted Mrs. Pia and Mr. Speranza.  The S.H.A.R.E. (Spreading Hope, Acceptance, Respect, and Equality) campaign came to be several years ago. Students worked hard not only to collect new socks, scarves, shoes and snow boots, they also came together on the weekend of December 22 to prepare and deliver over 1200 meals to the city's homeless. They worked with other community groups such as the Knights of Columbus and Cents of Hope. As Ms. Pia noted, “Creating awareness -well tis the season for caring acts of kindness.” By sharing, we help others, we help ourselves, and we make a difference.  

SPIRIT OF GIVING: During the week of December 10, St. Dorothy Elementary collected in style for the Spirit of Giving canned food drive. Coordinated by French Language Arts Teacher Sandra Gloria, English Language Arts Teacher Katia Lyng, and Child Care Worker Marco De Crescentis, each day of the week featured a different food collection event. On Monday, they hosted a Grandparents Day where grandparents were invited to take part in games and decoration activities for the price of one food item. On Tuesday, they organized a Spirit of Giving ceremony which explained where the food was going and who it was helping. On Wednesday, students created cards for patients at Sainte-Justine Hospital. On Thursday, a hockey tournament took place and on Friday, the students designed ornaments that reflected what giving truly means. As well, each classroom took part in a food collection competition. All of these fantastic events truly paid off as over 20 boxes of food items were collected for the needy.

Arctic players, VP Lina Di Giovanni and their General Vanier opposition

ARCTIC VISIT: Four players from the Montreal North Arctic, along with team vice-president Lina Di Giovanni and marketing director Alexia Perretta , visited General Vanier Elementary School in St. Léonard.   Cedric Lariviere, Christiano Paterno, Felix Bouchard and Benedic Jobin spoke to the students about staying in school, answered questions and played a friendly scrimmage against the Grade 6 students. General Vanier scored a surprising 7-6 victory, delighting Principal Joe Schembri and physical education teacher Francesa Acuri.

Students mob the players.

General Vanier students were given tickets to an upcoming Arctic game at the Garon Arena.

VIRTUE OF GENEROSITY: Practicing the virtue of generosity during the month of December, students at FACE Elementary School and Lauren Hill Academy (LHA), joined forces to bring some warmth and comfort to the young patients at the Montreal Children’s Hospital during the holidays. Lauren Hill students volunteered to sew pillows under the guidance of LHA Special Education Technician Glendora Sealy, while the Grade 1 and 2 English classes at FACE, under the guidance of Spiritual and Community Animator Elizabeth Pellicone, wrote individual cards expressing their empathy towards the sick children living in the hospital during the holidays. The pillows and cards were dropped off, and, consequently, the students did not receive any direct communication from the children recipients at the Children’s Hospital. As a result, Lauren Hill and FACE students were fulfilling an act of generosity by giving to others without reciprocity. The students came out of the activity feeling good, helping their community with no expectations; instead, acting simply for the sake of being kind.

LaurenHill students are welcomed to Chez Doris.

HELP A SISTER OUT:  The Small Acts/Big Impact club at Lauren Hill Academy (senior campus), ran a campaign called “Help a Sister Out!” where the club held a bake sale and asked students and staff to bring in gently used women’s clothing. The clothing was sorted and exchanged for cash at the consignment store, Empire Exchange. The money raised (108$) was donated to Chez Doris, a women’s only day center located downtown. They provide therapeutic counseling, financial planning, free clothing and toiletries, food baskets, medical services, daily meals and opportunities to socialize and rest. The money raised by the bake sale $35 was used to purchase deodorant for Chez Doris’ clients. The students of Small Acts/Big Impact were fortunate to receive a tour of Chez Doris on January 18, 2019 and learn about their many contributions to the betterment of women’s lives in Montreal. The club is facilitated by Spiritual Care and Guidance and Community Involvement Animator Elizabeth Pellicone and Educator Sunita Fowsar. 

Photos from the collective project.

FACE PARTNERSHIP:   It is always nice to see the students working in partnership to create a collective project. Among others, this year  EMSB teacher Jasmine Kuldip and CSDM  teacher      Veronique Barnwell's created their very own "Monstrerie."  The idea was inspired by the books of Elise Gravel, a bilingual Montreal author. The Grade 2 and 3 classes worked together in a true bilingual environment and came up with creative projects. 

WESTMOUNT GRAD RUNNING FOR US PRESIDENT: (FROM AFP NEWS SERVICE) In the yearbook photo of the 1981 graduating class at Westmount High School, the left hand of a beaming Kamala Harris is resting on the right shoulder of Hugh Kwok. Kwok went on to run a Montreal car business with his father. Unbeknownst to him, Harris went on to be a U.S. senator. She’s now announced  a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. When Kwok was asked in December for his thoughts on his old pal’s potential run, he answered a reporter’s question with a question. “She’s running for president of what?” he asked in a tone that suggested he thought the answer might be the local Rotary Club. Informed that it was the presidency of the United States, his voice rose. “No way. Oh my goodness. I can’t believe it,” he said. Then he decided he was supportive of this idea. “We could use a good president,” he said. “She was a sweet, kind person. Very happy, very social. I’m just very excited for her, if that’s what she wants to do with her life.”

It is now possible that Westmount, the 145-year-old public school where singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen and hockey legend Art Ross also studied, will produce a U.S. president before it produces a Canadian prime minister. Harris returned to her native U.S. for university, and she long ago lost touch with most or all of her Westmount acquaintances. But some of them have traded delighted texts and Facebook posts about her ascent. And they are generally not all that surprised.  They remember the California senator, now 54, as an assured, cheery teenager who thrived both in school and on the dance floor. They say she maintained an easy popularity across the subtle divides of a racially and economically diverse student body that drew from both wealthy and lower-income neighbourhoods.

Inside the Vehicube.

GRAND DÉFI PIERRE LAVOIE:  The Vehicube of the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie touched down at Dante Elementary School in St. Leonard recently.   Since November 2008, the tour has been visiting elementary schools in the province to motivate young people to adopt a healthier lifestyle and to enter the friendly contest which takes place in May. A spectacular caravan, the Vehicube is the nerve centre of the operation and a true playground for children. Dante students will take part in the Energy Cubes contest in April.

  

FORMER GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR RELEASES BOOK: Mary Ann Lichacz-Karwatsky released her first book in September 2018, “My Father’s Store and other stories.” Mary Ann started working for the Montreal Catholic School Commission in 1969 and retired in 2008 as a guidance counsellor. She majored in Psychology and Sociology at McGill, holds a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology and also took English Literature courses given by Hugh MacLennan and Louis Dudek who she greatly admired for their fascinating interpretations of poetry and novels. “My Father’s Store and other stories” is a novel captivating the memoire of Mary Ann growing up in Montreal in the post-war-years. Her parents bought the building in 1946 and it was the first store serving a wide variety of customers such as English, French, Ukrainian and Polish. Not only did they sell canned goods and everyday foods, but they also sold pierogis, cold cuts such as kielbasa and Vienna sausages and fresh hot breads from a Polish baker.

Mary Ann Karwatsky with son Paul , husband Walter Karwatsky, brother, Peter Lichacz  and publisher, Domenic Cusmano. 

Mary Ann was inspired by growing up in a store filled with colorful characters who often spoke to her as a young child and later in adolescence. As she served customers and helped her parents, she was captivated by the beauty of Rosemount which was a newly unfolding area in Montreal in the 1950’s. The Blue Bird Snack Bar, just under her bedroom window as a teenager, was always filled with students from Rosemount High School dropping in for snacks, local customers and people who got off the cream-colored Beaubien trolley bus whose terminus was right in front of her father’s store. “Remembering the customers laughing as my father told them jokes, especially about the old country speaking in Polish or Ukrainian or English, was like watching a movie every day”, she stated.  Working on her novel part-time over several years, she was also inspired by creative writing teachers from the Quebec Writers Federation workshops such as Joel Yanofsky, Elaine Kalman Naves and Taras Grescoe. She currently has a repertoire of stories that she has written over time, but they have yet to be published. She plans to expand and hopefully present a new book.  

YAD VASHEM SCHOLARSHIPS: Canadian Society for Yad Vashem  (CSYV) Holocaust Scholarship Program is designed to educate Canadian educators, from Jewish and non-Jewish schools, and equip them with the right academic tools to teach about the Holocaust. More information can be found at https://yadvashem.ca/csyv-holocaust-scholarship-program/  Applications are being accepted until February 15, 2019.  Please contact me with any questions.

MCGILL WINTER FAIR: McGill University is happy to announce the second edition of the Winter Fair (www.mcgill.ca/winterfair) on Saturday February 2 from 10  am to 2  pm. Parents and students will have the opportunity to meet current students, speak with admission officers, and connect with program advisors. There will also be an admissions overview for high schoolers and faculty specific information sessions for Medicine and Law. This event is open exclusively to Quebec High School students and CEGEP students and we ask participants to register for the event on the website.

 ADULT EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES

Hard at work,

STUDENTS GIVE BACK : The Galileo Adult  Education Centre’s new School of Sudz welcomed ICI Montreal’s Nick and Silvana to their workshop on   January 18, to share their process in making lip balms and scented soaps and candles. The Social Integration Students ( SIS),  together with their teachers Miss Lisa and Miss Natalia, named their new sensory project The School of Sudz. It all began  via a  soap making  class introduced last year and took off without a hitch!  The students actively engaged in the different processes from beginning to end.  They participate in everything from choosing scents, colors and molds for our soaps, and finally the end product of packaging.  The precision in weighing all the oils, pouring the batter of soap into molds, and packaging/sealing the soaps, teaches them valuable work skills.  It also promotes self-confidence when they see their end product and what they have accomplished.   ICI Montreal was present not only to film the students’ process in making these products, which are made with 100 percent natural oils. They were there to celebrate a special collaboration between Galileo Adult Centre and non-profit group Italiani di Montreal E Amici, which raises funds for the Cedars Cancer Foundation, Giant Steps School and Galileo Adult Centre. After filming SIS students preparing their products, Italiani di Montreal E Amici presented Galileo with a cheque in the amount of $4,000. These funds were raised at a recent Bowling for Autism event and will fund the SIS students visit to a therapeutic horse ranch this coming June. Galileo is grateful for this partnership and is showing their appreciation by giving back to their community. They are preparing beautiful gift baskets that include all of their products. Italiani di Monteral E Amici is selling these baskets for Valentine’s Day. All proceeds will be donated to the Cedars Cancer Foundation. If you would like to purchase a gift basket, call 514-322-1030.

ÉDITION DU 29 JANVIER 2019 / BULLETIN DE LA CSEM

LITTÉRATIE PHYSIQUE: À l’aube de la semaine des inscriptions à la maternelle et au primaire (4 au 8 février), la Commission scolaire English-Montréal (CSEM) a présenté ses programmes qui favorisent le développement de la littératie physique. Des invités de marque, des médias et un petit nombre d’élèves provenant de six écoles de la CSEM ont été conviés à l’école primaire Hampstead dans le but d’en apprendre davantage sur la littératie physique grâce à diverses activités et présentations sur ce thème. Hampstead est l’une des écoles primaires ayant joué un rôle de premier plan à ce chapitre. 

La littératie physique vise à développer les compétences, la confiance en soi et la motivation pour être actif de diverses façons et dans une multitude d’environnements. En développant leur confiance en leurs aptitudes physiques, les élèves améliorent en général leur santé physique, mentale et émotionnelle. L’éducation physique est essentielle au développement de la littératie physique. Dans les classes d’éducation physique, les élèves développent leurs habiletés motrices et les enseignants d’éducation physique structurent soigneusement leurs cours de manière à stimuler la confiance et la motivation, deux composantes clés de la littératie physique. Les bienfaits associés à la pratique régulière d’activités physiques sont déjà bien documentés : maintien de la santé à long terme, accroissement des liens sociaux, amélioration du bien-être mental et physique et meilleure qualité de vie. Or, les enfants qui ont un plus grand savoir-faire physique tirent davantage profit de ces bienfaits, ce qui est essentiel à leur réussite scolaire. 

La force de la CSEM en matière de littératie physique repose sur quatre piliers : ses solides programmes d’éducation physique et à la santé, son programme qui préconise 60 minutes d’activité physique par jour (fondé sur l’initiative du gouvernement du Québec « À l’école, on bouge! »), sa participation active aux sports interscolaires et sa programmation complémentaire d’activités extérieures et de vie active.

La CSEM s’efforce d’aider tous les élèves afin qu’ils réussissent. Pour y parvenir, il importe d’appuyer le développement de la littératie physique par l’entremise de divers programmes. Qui plus est, l’ajout d’activités physiques à l’horaire quotidien de l’école se traduit généralement par une meilleure participation et un plus grand enthousiasme de la part des élèves. 

INITIATIVE SANTÉ DU GOUVERNEMENT: La CSEM compte désormais 15 écoles primaires ayant choisi de prendre part à l’initiative santé du gouvernement du Québec intitulée « À l'école, on bouge! » L’objectif vise à dynamiser la culture scolaire en s’assurant principalement que les élèves ont la possibilité d’accumuler au moins 60 minutes d’activité physique à l’école, chaque jour. Des habiletés cognitives aux compétences sociales en passant par la santé physique, cette initiative permet aux élèves de tirer avantage d’une foule de bienfaits liés à l’activité physique tout au long de la journée de classe et incite les enseignants à utiliser le mouvement de façon stratégique afin de favoriser l’apprentissage et la gestion de classe.

Cette initiative, lancée au cours de l’année scolaire 2017-2018 par le ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur (MEES), vise plusieurs écoles de la CSEM qui en sont déjà à leur deuxième année de participation : Elizabeth Ballantyne à Montréal-Ouest, l’école Hampstead, Royal Vale à NDG, Parkdale à Saint-Laurent, St. Raphaël dans Parc-Extension, St. Dorothy à Saint-Michel, Michelangelo et East Hill à RDP, Edward Murphy dans Hochelaga-Maisonneuve et Pierre de Coubertin à Saint-Léonard. Au nombre des nouvelles écoles qui ont adhéré cette année à cette initiative, mentionnons : Leonardo da Vinci à RDP, Edinburgh à Montréal-Ouest, Sinclair Laird dans Parc-Extension, Pierre Elliott Trudeau à Rosemont et Merton à Côte Saint-Luc.

La CSEM souhaite étendre ce programme à un plus grand nombre d’écoles.

WESTMOUNT PARK: La Commission scolaire English-Montréal (CSEM) relocalisera les élèves de l’école primaire Westmount Park, pendant une période de deux ans, à l’Académie internationale Marymount à NDG et à l’ancienne école primaire St. John Bosco à Ville-Émard.  Des travaux majeurs de rénovation seront effectués à l’école primaire Westmount Park. Devant l’ampleur du projet de 12,5 millions de dollars, l’ensemble des élèves et du personnel devront être relocalisés durant les deux prochaines années scolaires, soit 2019-2020 et 2020-2021. L’effectif scolaire qui compte plus de 700 élèves sera réparti entre Marymount et St. John Bosco. Des classes de prématernelle à la 6e année seront offertes aux deux endroits afin d’éviter de séparer les enfants d’une même famille.

NOUVELLE ÉCOLE: Le projet de création d’une nouvelle école primaire Français Plus à NDG a été reporté dans le but d’examiner une autre option concernant le bâtiment visé. Devant le débordement des écoles primaires dans l’ouest de son territoire, le comité de planification à long terme de la CSEM avait initialement proposé d’ouvrir une nouvelle école primaire Français Plus au 4850, avenue Coronation à NDG. Les écoles d’immersion surpeuplées dans ce secteur sont Edinburgh (127 pour cent de sa capacité) à Montréal-Ouest, Merton (107 pour cent de sa capacité) à Côte Saint-Luc et Willingdon (90 % de sa capacité) à NDG. Dans le but d’établir cette nouvelle école, la CSEM avait alors recommandé que les effectifs de deux écoles secondaires innovatrices, soit Focus et Outreach, soient relocalisés dans le bâtiment de l’école secondaire James Lyng à Saint-Henri. Cette dernière a conclu un bail avec le Collège Centennial, lequel prendra fin le 30 juin 2019.

Le conseil des commissaires a accepté une nouvelle proposition du comité de planification à long terme selon laquelle l’une des écoles surpeuplées (Edinburgh, Merton ou Willingdon) établirait un campus junior (de la prématernelle à la 2e année) dans le bâtiment de l’avenue Coronation de manière à désengorger sur-le-champ l’école en question ainsi que les deux autres écoles aux prises avec le même problème dans ce secteur. Qui plus est, l’école qui installerait son campus junior dans ce bâtiment pourrait également offrir le programme Français Plus. Le premier programme d’immersion Français Plus serait offert de la maternelle à la 4e année (plutôt que de la maternelle à la 2e année) et le programme bilingue (50 % en anglais et 50 % en français) serait offert en 5e et 6e année.

Les trois écoles primaires actuellement surpeuplées dans le secteur ouest seront maintenant consultées dans le but de savoir si elles accepteraient ce qui suit : s’implanter sur l’avenue Coronation et ouvrir un campus junior à compter du mois d’août 2019; offrir un programme Français Plus dans leur école au cours des 18 prochains mois; et accueillir le trop-plein d’élèves provenant des deux autres écoles primaires étant donné qu’elle disposerait dorénavant d’un plus grand nombre de salles de classe réparties entre les deux bâtiments.

RAPPORT ANNUEL: En vertu de l’article 220 de la Loi sur l’instruction publique, toute commission scolaire doit rendre compte de sa Convention de partenariat dans son rapport annuel. La Convention de partenariat contenue dans le rapport annuel de la CSEM informe la population de son territoire de la réalisation de son plan stratégique et des résultats obtenus en fonction des objectifs mesurables et des cibles que comporte cette convention conclue avec le ministère de l’Éducation le 1er juillet 2010. Le rapport annuel présente au lecteur les cibles et les objectifs fixés, leur raison d’être, les résultats obtenus, l’interprétation de la Commission de même que les rectifications ou les correctifs à apporter à la lumière de ces résultats.

Le rapport contribue également à analyser le niveau de réussite des stratégies déployées et leur contribution à la réalisation des objectifs, ce qui permet à la Commission d’identifier les stratégies moins efficaces de manière à les modifier ou les supprimer. Lorsque les progrès ne sont pas à la hauteur des attentes, la Commission revoit ses pratiques éducatives et organisationnelles et détermine les nouvelles stratégies à mettre en place pour accroître le taux de réussite des élèves. La Convention de partenariat est présentée pour la dernière fois cette année. À compter de l’an prochain, la Commission utilisera un format très similaire pour dresser le bilan de son Plan d’engagement vers la réussite. Ce document a officiellement été présenté lors d’une réunion publique tenue le 10 janvier.

PANNEAUX PROMOTIONNELS: À l’approche de la semaine des inscriptions au primaire qui se tiendra du 4 au 8 février, 16 panneaux promotionnels ont fait leur apparition sur le territoire de la CSEM. Ces derniers demeureront en place jusqu’au 3 février. Vous trouverez ci-dessous l’emplacement de tous les panneaux promotionnels :

1. Boul. Laurentien (Route 117) et boul. Gouin Ouest

2. Boul. de l’Acadie et rue Chabanel

3. Boul. Saint-Michel et rue de Port Royal 

4. Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges et chemin Bedford

5. Rue Saint-Jacques et av. Old Orchard

6. Rue Saint-Jacques et av. de Melrose

7. Av. Van Horne et boul. Saint-Laurent

8. Rue Wellington et rue Butler

9. Rue Saint-Patrick et rue de Laprairie

10. Av. Souligny et rue Desautels

11. Av. Rougemont et rue Notre-Dame Est

12. Boul. Rivière-des-Prairies et rue la Martinière

13. Autoroute 15 et boul. Henri-Bourassa

14. Boul. Henri-Bourassa et autoroute 13

15. Boul. Pie IX et 47e Rue

16. Boul. Saint-Michel et av. Charland

VÉHICUBE: Le 17 janvier dernier, Le Véhicube du Grand défi Pierre Lavoie est débarqué à l‘école Dante. Le Véhicube fait la tournée des écoles primaires afin de faire vivre une expérience interactive hors du commun aux élèves. Ces derniers apprennent les rudiments d’une saine alimentation pendant l’atelier Manger mieux et pédalent en peloton dans un univers complètement éclaté pendant l’atelier Bouger plus. Les élèves et le personnel de l’école s’en sont donnés à cœur joie lors des différents ateliers présentés par une équipe du tonnerre. « Nous ferons partie du Grand défi des cubes au mois d’avril prochain »,  a déclaré Elaine Frenette, enseignante.

The next Focus newsletter will be published on February  28. The deadline for submissions is February 22.

    

DECEMBER 19, 2018 EDITION / VOLUME 21 NUMBER 5 / THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE EMSB

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REGISTRATION WEEK: The EMSB has announced that Elementary School Registration Week for the 2019-2020 academic year will take place from Monday, February 4 to Friday, February 8. 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 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.

HIGHWAY BILLBOARDS: Please watch for our promotional billboards in January. They will be placed in highly visible spots near the main Montreal highways.

Students from Royal Vale enjoyed a true authentic learning experience.

CTV COMMERCIAL:  A commercial  promoting Elementary School Registration Week, which is February 4 to 8, 2019, has started to air on CTV Montreal.  You can view it here. The production took place in November at Royal Vale School, where the entire K to 11 experience could be caught on camera. 

There were some good questions.

Senior Producer Chris Malazdrewicz and advertising sales executive Stefano Guadagnino, a graduate of Vincent Massey Collegiate, showed the commercial to a Grade 10  Drama class at Royal Vale first and took part in a lesson of authentic learning as to how such a production is put together from scratch. The EMSB will also have this advertisement running on CTV.

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   December 5. 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.  His parents Peter and Roberta and younger sister, who is a student at the school, were on hand.

The Porter-Rozmovits family with school reps, Tim Fleiszer and the Alouettes.

Joining the students for this year’s dance was Tim Fleiszer, founder and Executive Director of Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada (CLFC) and a former CFL player. Fleiszer is the first player in CFL history to win four Grey Cup championships with four different teams. A graduate of Harvard University, Fleiszer played professional football for 10 years before retiring and beginning his work in youth athletics, with the CLFC and as a player agent. Fleiszer was joined by Montreal Alouettes General Manager Kavis Reed, running back William Stanback, wide receiver Ernest Jackson and defensive lineman Jesse Joseph. Physical Education and Health teacher Norman Katz once again organized the event. He also invited three Dawson College cheerleaders, who helped get the dancing started. See the report from Global TV here. 

ENROLMENT INCREASE: For the second year in a row enrolment in the EMSB youth sector is on the rise.  A total of 19,811 students were recorded as part of the September 30 count. That is 250 more than the 2017-18 academic year. With more than 22,000 students in the adult sector, the EMSB remains the largest English public school board in the province.

Liam feels the warmth and support.

A HEART TOUCHING STORY AT EDWARD MURPHY:  Last July  Liam Dubois, a Grade 3 student at Edward Murphy Elementary School  in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, received a new heart after being hospitalized for 427 days. Thanks to his incredible medical team at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Liam has made a full recovery. This year, unlike last, Liam will be celebrating Christmas at home with his family. He will be waking up on Christmas morning, excited for the day, like a typical   eight year old should be. As a way to brighten up the holiday season for many children who will not be home for the holidays, Liam’s teachers and classmates dressed up in their “ugly” Christmas sweaters and donated gifts to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. Their wish is to spread some holiday cheer to those in need and for everyone to have a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year. Edward Murphy School Principal Cristina Celzi notes: “Liam has been back since October and is doing really well! It has been quite a roller-coaster though; he first got sick at school in June 2016 and we all feared the worst. He is a true miracle child!”

Vanessa Grimaldi, Regional Director John Pevec, Cristina Celzi, the Di Teodoras and Vice- Chair Joe Ortona with students.

VANESSA GRIMALDI STEPS UP AGAIN:   On Tuesday, December 18,   Reality TV show star Vanessa Grimaldi was at Edward Murphy Elementary School to dedicate a fourth sensory room at the EMSB. She did so in partnership with the Di Teodoro family - Dan, Elvie and Enrico. They dedicated the room in memory of their late daughter/sister Giuliana who was intellectually handicapped and would have loved such a room in her school. This important financial support came from Vanessa’s No Better You Foundation. Vanessa, who worked as a special education teacher for the EMSB’s Galileo Adult Education Centre in Montreal North before starring on ABC’s The Bachelor, launched her non-profit efforts in the summer of 2017 in order to advance education by providing specialized tools and programs for exceptional learners across Canada.  Proceeds from her fundraising efforts   have been directed to the construction, maintenance and operations of sensory rooms at Edward Murphy, Galileo, and Coronation School in Côte des Neiges and Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary in Rosemount. Edward Murphy Principal Cristina Celzi  gave special thanks to occupational therapist Claudia De Luca  and caretakers Tony Orsini and Johnny Matteo for all her hard work.

Will these cookies go on the market as  a fundraiser?

Grade 6 teacher Amanda Yannelli baked cookies with the No Better You logo inscribed. “A Sensory Room provides new ways of learning while using all their senses. It’s a therapeutic space for students,” Vanessa explained. “It can help stimulate or calm students down. It heightens awareness, provides security and promotes mental and physical relaxation, which helps individuals realize that they don’t have to feel like they have to be on guard all of the time.”

Please see our video.

  

Here is Vanessa on Entertainment Tonight discussing this project. 

BAKING FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Students from Edward Murphy School and Spiritual Care & Guidance & Community Involvement Animator Rocco Speranza visited Groupe d'Entraide de Mercier-Ouest (GEMO) and took time to give back to their community and its residents. GEMO provides groceries and prepared food to underprivileged families at affordable prices.   Students took part in baking workshops and made, from scratch, yummy macaroni and cheese with broccoli and tofu, and delicious banana-cranberry muffins. After an hour and thirty minutes of being in the kitchen, they got to taste the fruit of their labour. Importantly, they aided in preparing delicious treats for those less fortunate than themselves during this holiday season. Students had the opportunity to learn about food sustainability, eating healthier and working together to aid those in need. “Giving back to the community never tasted this good,” was the general response from the students who took part in this activity, noted Mr. Speranza.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CONCERT: The  Roslyn Elementary School Multigenerational Choir performed at its annual Christmas Holiday Concert on Wednesday. Christine Long and CTV News and Laura Casella from Global TV dropped by Tuesday, turning the rehearsal into an exciting butterfly-inducing, celebrity event! Musical Director Dimitris Ilias oversaw the production and he expressed thanks to the school administration and teachers for their amazing support, enthusiasm holiday spirit!

Laura Casella records the commercial at Roslyn School.

GLOBAL TV COMMERCIAL: Watch for the EMSB Kindergarten Registration Week commercial to air on Global TV in January. It was recorded at Roslyn, with Laura Casella and some staff and students.

EAST HILL HAPPINESS WEEK: In the days leading up to Winter Break, students at East Hill Elementary School  in R.D.P. are enjoying Homemade Happiness Week: five days aimed at encourageing them to slow down, connect and foster healthy family relationships through a love of cooking. The week itself was inspired by the storybook 'A Snack for Santa,' an initiative by La Tablée des Chefs and IGA grocers. For that reason, on Friday, December 21 (1:15 pm), Stefano Faita, celebrity chef and restaurateur, as well as Jean-François Archambault, CEO and Founder of La Tablée des Chefs will visit the school to cap off the week and present students with their own copy.

“The book offers a beautiful holiday tale for the entire family and a number of recipes from a number of local chefs, including Faita,” said Jessica Monti, Vice-Principal at East Hill School. “Throughout the week, students will have the opportunity to create beautiful memories and foster strong bonds with their East Hill family. They are being asked to come in with a number of culinary accessories (aprons, oven mitts, etc.) and will be consistently exposed to aspects of the book through many events.”

Sophia Kakouratos hands out two scholarships at Marymount Academy International.

PSBGM CULTURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION GIVES BACK: Proceeds from the sale of an art collection several years ago have and will continue to provide scholarships in the thousands of dollars to EMSB students for many years to come. For decades, the former Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal (PSBGM) collected paintings through the generous donations of many benefactors, as well as the purchase of some. It was maintained by the PSBGM Cultural Heritage Foundation. There were more than 100 works of art and some were on display at the school board and various schools.  A decision was made to give the collection to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. But the museum only wanted some of the pieces. Those who cared for the art preferred that if the collection was to be viewed, it should have been in its entirety. Instead, a decision was made to auction off the work and create scholarships to benefit students.  The artwork, more than half of the collection, sold for $1.4-million in March of 2013. Since then, 46 high school students have received scholarships worth $1,000 each while 100 elementary students have received $100 scholarships. See our complete story here.

Ian Hanchet (back row with the hat) and his team.

MUSIC TEACHER RECORDING: Cedarcrest Elementary School’s legendary music teacher Ian Hanchet and his wife have produced a wonderful album, covering artists such as Neil Young, Leonard Cohen and The Boss, Bruce Springsteen. All the proceeds are being donated to the St. James Drop In Centre, so take a listen to one of the tracks below and buy your copy today! Copies are available directly from Ian at Cedarcrest.  You can access it here.

Julie René de Cotret is congratulated by her son and colleagues.

AWARD WINNER: Julie René de Cotret, Assistant Director of the Student Services Department, was the recipient of the Leadership Award in Education granted to local association members (AEMBA) by the AAESQ. She joined the EMSB in this post in November 2010 after having served in numerous posts outside the Board – resource teacher, special education consultant and Coordinator of complementary services. Among her many accomplishments are the following:KIDS (Key Information Data System). She played a major role in the development of this software application which renders student data  immediately and digitally accessible to professionals and administrators for the purpose of enhancing the comprehensive delivery of services to students in a more efficient and effective manner; In Closed Special Education Classes, she has taken initiative to spearhead of the opening of approximately 30 Closed Special Education Classes during the last five years to more effectively meet the needs of students with severe medical, behavioral, emotional, and/or developmental difficulties; In Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), she assumed a major role in working collaboratively with the group of teachers and professionals in the development of a more user-friendly IEP template which is currently in the process of being piloted in some of our schools; and  In Health and Social Services, she is currently playing an important role in strengthening our links with our Health and Social Services partners primarily by developing formalized ententes between the school boards and the CIUSSS."Julie has certainly proven to be an excellent leader – caring, supportive, resourceful, and a strong team player always well-respected by her colleagues, the Student Services Department professionals, and the many stakeholders in the EMSB," commented Director of Student Services Lew Lewis.

NEW STUDENT OMBUDSMAN: Maitre Isabelle Turgeon has been appointed as Student ombudsman for the EMSB, effective on January 1, 2019.

Ann Watson

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR: Ann Watson has been appointed Director of Human Resources for the EMSB, effective January 1, 2019. She succeeds Christine Denomméé, who moves on to her new post as Director of Labor Relations at CPNCA (Comité patronal de négociation pour les commissions scolaires Anglophones).

HISTORY COURSE: The EMSB Council of Commissioners recently accepted the independent History Experts Committee report on the revised Secondary III and IV compulsory History of Québec and Canada program.  The revised curriculum raised a number of issues of concern to the EMSB. Given these concerns, in June, the EMSB asked an independent History Experts Committee to review the content of this program as well as the Ministry-approved English-language textbooks. Here is a CBC Radio Noon program devoted to this topic. Commissioner Joseph Lalla, who had asked for the review, is interviewed near the top of the show. The report will be shared with other boards and the MEES.

Here is the CTV report.

Here is the Global TV report.

You can read the full report here.

Left to right: Gabrielle, Julia, Bryanna, Rebecca, Carl and Gilbert with EMSB officials.

PECK AWARDS: Five students from Vincent Massey Collegiate in Rosemount and one from Royal Vale School in NDG were recently presented with the 2018 Robert Alfred Peck Prizes for Excellence in French. Present day Grade 11 students Bryanna Bragagnolo,   Gabrielle Calabrese, Rebecca Dupont, Carl Le Breux and Amanda Vanasse from Vincent Massey and Gilbert Paradis from Royal Vale each attained the mark of 100 percent. They received medals and   cheques in the amount of $150.    The late Mr. Peck began teaching in the 1930s and served as the superintendent of French for the Ministry of Education and held similar posts with the former Westmount School Board and the former Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal. He was the department head for French at Lachine High School and vice-principal of Riverdale High School on the West Island, having completed his career as a teacher in Africa. Mr. Peck co-authored  Le Français Pratique, the  textbook for the teaching of French as a second language with Elizabeth Buchanan.  It was a mainstay in Quebec Protestant English schools for over 20 years.  This prize was established by the Peck family and the EMSB in 2002.

FACE SINGERS: Around 30 students from FACE High School, from Grades 7 to 11, took part in singing the National Anthem at an Olympic Ceremony in Ottawa on December 3 where Christine Girard   received two medals. She first won a bronze medal in the Beijing Summer Olympics in 2008 awarding her the title of Canada’s first ever Olympic Champion in weightlifting. She then initially won the bronze medal in the women’s 63kg category at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, but when the two athletes ahead of her were disqualified, she was awarded the gold medal. 

Santa was a big hit at Our Lady of Pompei.

GENERATIONS BREAKFAST AT POMPEI: December 12 was a cold winter’s day, but there was nothing but warmth, smiles and good cheer in Ahuntsic at Our Lady of Pompei Elementary School’s holiday breakfast, sponsored by the Generations Foundation.  A delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, waffles, sausages and toast was prepared by teachers and parents, and served to students. Adrian and Natalie Bercovici, founders of Generations Foundation, were on hand to greet students and see them enjoy their meals.  The talented Rosemount High School band, led by music teacher Debbie Best, had students and staff singing their hearts out and clapping along to their favourite Christmas tunes. Our Lady of Pompei Principal Steven Rebelo joined EMSB Deputy Director General Evelyne Alfonsi and EMSB Regional Director (East Sector) John Pevec in celebrating the students and the generosity and important work of Generations Foundation.  Students were excited by the much anticipated arrival of Santa, with his bag of gifts in tow. All 161 Our Lady of Pompei students met with Saint Nick and received a gift especially for them. Gifts were donated by the community-at-large to Generations Foundation, and Mrs. Bercovici ensured that all gifts were wrapped and labeled with each student’s name.   Please read our full story here.

Pictured above the organizing committee, front row: Leslie Butt, some volunteers from the RBC, Commissioner, Joe Lalla, Adrien and Nathalie Bercovici (of Generations Foundation) DDG, Evelyne Alfonsi, Commissioner, Agostino Cannavino and emcee and former DDG Roma Medwid.

CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY PARTY:  The EMSB Children’s Holiday Charity Event took place on Sunday, December 9 at James Lyng High School  in St. Henri, where more than 700 employees and their families were treated to a visit from Santa and his elves along with a bubble show, Elvis tribute artist, Bollywood dancer and an Elsa sing along.  Kids also had the opportunity to play in the bouncing houses, create an arts and crafts item, have their face painting, color and create their own T-Shirt, experiment with Mad Science, take photos in the photo booth and visit with reptiles.   With an all-day buffet, cotton candy, popcorn, hot dogs and snow cones everyone was treated to a spectacular event.  The proceeds from this event and the raffle sales go to the Generations Foundation, this year $18, 403.00 was raised.  We thank the organizing committee, especially the chair, Leslie Butt and all the volunteers that came out to make this day one to remember for the EMSB and their families.

The LDV singers.

LDV CONCERT:  It was another standing room only crowd at Leonardo Da Vinci Academy in RDP this year as students entertained parents and guests with a wonderful holiday concert featuring favorites in English, French and Italian.  

Mary Butt

REMEMBERING MARY BUTT: The EMSB expresses condolence on the recent passing of Mary Butt,  after a lengthy battle with Sarcoidosis (lung disease). She was 77. Mary worked for the EMSB and the former PSBGM for 33 years. She is survived by her beloved husband of 59 years, Gordon Butt, loving mother of Linda, Gary (Susan), Carolyn (Gus), Gordie (Wanda), and Leslie (Cynthia). Cherished grandmother of Samantha, Jessie, Ethan, Mary, Michael, Christopher, Kyle, Terrence, Meghan, Lyndsie, and Kaitlyn. She will be forever remembered by the Little Burgundy Community for her dedication to the youth from the area through the Little Burgundy Sports Association founded by she and her husband in the '60s to the late 1980s. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Generations Foundation would be greatly appreciated

Guidance Counsellor Stephanie Kaplan, Principal Lino Buttino, Saul Benoit and VP Marilyn Ramiakhan.

COMPASSION IN ACTION: Congratulations to Saul Benoit of James Lyng High School, one of 12 provincial winners in the 2018-19 Encounters with Canada/ LEARN “Empowerment: Compassion in Action” contest. Students submitted entries about inspiring individuals or groups who, through their compassion and leadership, have made a difference in their lives or in the community.  Saul wrote about his teacher, Ms. Warner, who went out of her way to help her students and inspired Saul through her innovation, her unrelenting belief, and transformative faith in her students. His winning essay will soon be posted on the LEARN web site at www.learnquebec.ca. Compliments of LEARN, Saul has received a fully paid week of his choice in Ottawa at Encounters with Canada, the country’s largest youth forum.  He will take part in exciting workshops and outings with students from across the country, will develop citizenship and leadership skills, and will explore career options.  For more information, go to www.ewc-rdc.ca.

Tahsin Islam (second from the right) with: Lorena Morante of Encounters with Canada, Guidance Counsellor Vanessa Zappitelli teacher Sabrina Gagliardi  and Suzanne Longpré of LEARN.

A YOUNG HERO: And congratulations to Tahsin Islam of Vincent Massey Collegiate, another one of the 12 provincial winners. Tahsin wrote about Craig Kielburger, co-founder of the Free the Children organization and ME TO WE social enterprise.  Her winning essay entitled A YOUNG HERO will soon be posted on the LEARN web site at www.learnquebec.ca.  Compliments of LEARN, Tahsin has also received a fully paid week of her choice in Ottawa at Encounters with Canada.

Students and seniors share a dance.

VMC BOOSTS SENIORS: On Tuesday, December 11, The Almage Senior Community Centre hosted its 36th annual Christmas Party for over 100 of its members. Spiritual Care and Guidance and Community Involvement Animator Rocco Speranza and eight dedicated Vincent Massey Collegiate (VMC) students, spent the day with them.  Students assisted with coat check, set-up, service of the delicious turkey lunch and amazing cheesecake dessert. Most importantly, the students spent time chatting and interacting with the seniors. The day was filled with laughter, dancing, and even new friendships were formed. “The seniors loved having the youth there!” exclaimed Tonya Wright,  a coordinator at Almage.  Mr. Speranza noted that the experience allowed students to connect with the seniors, and truly understand the importance of this holiday season: peace, love, joy and hope. Students and staff from Edward Murphy School also helped with spreading holiday cheer, by creating handmade holiday cards and for the seniors and sending them each a holiday ornament.

Christine Long at Merton.

SPIRIT OF GIVING:  In preparation for the holidays, the EMSB once again teamed up with CTV Montreal for the annual “Spirit of Giving” campaign, which brings much needed assistance to the less fortunate throughout Montreal. Non-perishable food, toys and miscellaneous items, such as soap and cleaning supplies, were collected, sorted and donated to Donald Berman Chai Lifeline Canada, Share The Warmth, West Island Assistance Fund, Renaissance Montreal, Multicaf, Batshaw Youth and Family Services, Mile End Mission, La Mosaique, The Nazareth House and The Depot (Formerly NDG Food Depot). In all, the combined efforts of the EMSB, its schools and facilities  generated over 1,000 boxes of non-perishable food, and over 50,000 toys and miscellaneous items.  For the first time in the history of the campaign, individual schools collected on behalf of individual charities. In total, more than 40 schools and centres took part in the campaign, as well as some community organizations. Please see this complete summary,  with the names of the participating schools and those which went on live TV.

It was all smiles at Michelangelo International.

Here are links to some CTV reports. We are so proud of our schools. A big thanks to EMSB coordinator Daniel Smajovits and Jason  Devine and Christine Long from CTV as well as Cindy Davis, who handled outreach to the schools.

Some members of the Lester B. Pearson High School team take the lead with CTV.

Please watch:

John Paul I Junior High School

Wagar Adult Education Centre

LaurenHill Academy   

Cedarcrest

Merton School

Lester B. Pearson High School

Michelangelo

COMMUNITY ACTION AT ROSEMOUNT: Rosemount High School will be officially launching a community action program called R.H.S. (Responsibility, Humility, Social Awareness) as part of its ERC program. This year long community action program will be spearheaded by Secondary V teachers Jessica Awadalla and Jessika Neri, along with Spiritual Community Animator Vince Lacroce. The intent of the program is to allow students to learn more about their personal motivations, develop their self-esteem, practice academic material outside of the context of the classroom, develop critical thinking skills while solving real-world problems, and to think about problems and social issues in new ways. This program will be in conjunction with the schools monthly virtues that are geared towards educating students on empathy, compassion and awareness.

Students volunteer in a kitchen.

R.H.S  has been divided into three segments: Community Service (volunteering in local soup kitchens, teaching senior citizens’ technology, We Day building a school in Kenya program, coordinating a senior citizens’ dinner dance for local centers in the community, and fundraising for the Montreal Children’s Hospital); Religious Culture/Spirituality (helping creation of multicultural celebrations/presentations, organizing sacred space visitation in the community, coordinating lunch and learn programs at school in collaboration with the Spiritual Community Animation service); and Philanthropic campaigns (CTV Spirit of Giving, Sox in a Box campaign, Will You Be My Valentine program, and prom).  Over 80 students will be participating in the program, which is also unique in that it will be open for student suggestions and recommendations to take ownership of their learning in areas of interest for our students.

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: What are some of the risks children face online?  How early do we need to start teaching them about digital safety?  EMSB Violence Prevention & Health Promotion Consultant, Daphna Leibovici   discussed this important topic on December 6 at Edinburgh Elementary School in Montreal West. 

Students and staff gather at the Toy Tea.

TOY TEA:   Students from the EMSB once again collected new toys for the 27th annual Christmas and Chanukah Toy Tea, held at Victoria Hall in Westmount on December 12. The aim of this program is to ensure disadvantaged children in Montreal have toys for the holiday season. The 2018 edition   distributed toys to over 5,000 children living in 31 shelters for domestic abuse and violence, as well as to children at The Welcome Hall Mission, The Montreal Diet Dispensary, Tyndale St. Georges Parish, St. Willibrord’s Parish, La Rue des Femmes and Batshaw Youth and Family Services. This marked the 16th year of the EMSB’s involvement, which is an initiative of former Spiritual, Religious and Moral Education Consultant Irene Miller. 

A look at some  of the donated toys.

Schools can participate by collecting new, unwrapped and non-violent toys. Donations and cheques endorsed to the Toy Tea would also be greatly appreciated.  Student representatives from various schools, along with their respective spiritual and community animators, teachers, administrators and parent volunteers, attended and received special certificates of participation from Erika Ludwick, the Toy Tea’s chairperson, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The event  also featured the singing of Christmas carols by several school choirs.  “The Toy Tea serves a community of deserving children that can easily be forgotten,” said Aaron Durocher, the EMSB consultant for Guidance and Spiritual and Community Animation. “It’s important that we, as a school board, mobilize to support such a great effort.”

See our full article here, which includes a link to a Podcast Barry Morgan did at Victoria Hall:

Vanessa Collao and former Prime Minister Harper.

STUDENT MEETS STEPHEN HARPER: Last summer, LaurenHill Academy in St. Laurent Secondary V  student Vanessa Collao was fortunate enough to work for the Canadian Senate in Ottawa as a student. Vanessa completed various tasks that enabled her to grow her understanding of the political world. She attended press conferences, assisted colleagues with written work and also had the opportunity of meeting many Senators.  Currently, she is continuing her work for the Senate during the school year from home.  She is regularly assigned with a variety of different projects (i.e. transcribing speeches, assisting with youth outreach activities, etc.).  Earlier in December, she attended former  Canadian Prime Minister Stephen   Harper’s book launch. Since she continues to work for the Senate, Vanessa was invited and attended the event where Mr. Harper spoke to her personally about his book and her role with the Senate.  Vanessa has great aspirations to continue her education and work towards a career in politics.

Nolan O'Rourke meets the legendary Georges St-Pierre.

STUDENT MEETS GEORGES ST-PIERRE: On December 6, the Georges St-Pierre Foundation awarded seven student-athletes in bursaries through the FAEQ and announced the extension of its partnership with the FAEQ. One of the 2018 Georges St-Pierre Foundation recipients was Nolan O’Rourke from LaurenHill Academy.  Nolan is a competitive wrestler in Secondary IV who is from Prince Edward Island.   Nolan is pictured with Georges St-Pierre in the photo attached, receiving the award. Info: https://www.facebook.com/FAEQuebec.

Gaetano Taverna

CHECKMATE LHA:  LaurenHill Academy Chess coach David Steiner and Julia Stark, the school librarian, spent a day at College Brebeuf with nine Senior students for the Montreal Scholastic Chess Team Championship. All students had a great time having fun and participating. Gaetano Taverna, who competed as an individual, won a bronze medal in the tournament.

GRANDPARENTS DAY:  On Friday, November 30, Bancroft Elementary School in the Plateau hosted several “Grandparents Day” assemblies as part of November’s month of “Remembrance.”  Grandparents of students were invited to an assembly dedicated to the elders of our community. The assemblies were organized and moderated by Spiritual Care and Guidance and Community Involvement Animator Elizabeth Pellicone.  Each assembly featured a play acted out by Grade 6 students demonstrating how grandparents make their lives just that much better (by taking care of us, teaching us new skills and telling us stories about our family’s history). Cycle 1 observed an interview with Mr. Iain, Bancroft’s resident elder, who spends quality time with selected students and helps them with literacy and numeracy skills.

A nice scene from Grandparents Day at Bancroft.

Mr. Iain spoke of his motivations for spending time with youngsters and what he believes a community’s elders can pass on to the next generation. Students also wrote and read poems highlighting the impact their grandparents have on their development.  Throughout the assembly, all grandparents, those still with us and those who have departed, were remembered. Grandparent guests were treated to cookies and milk as they watched their grandchildren describe and demonstrate how much they appreciate them. 

The award winners display their certificates.

STEAMING AHEAD: Bancroft  Elementary School’s Cycle 2 and 3 Science et Technologie students participated in their annual STEAM – SCIENCE FAIR. Many marvelous projects were presented and here are the winners: First  Place, Ada Gimeno Gabas, 3ème année: Phases de la Lune;  Second Place, Hanna Osajda and Noa Del Busso, 5ème année: Capillarité des Plantes; and Third Place, Justin Bourque-Meloche, Or Beth Halachmi, Mety Doyen and Rocco Karidiogannis 6ème année: Bras Hydraulique. Honourable mentions go to Leila Apale, Kadiatou Barrie, Joy Richard Gerhard, Mia Amaral Sgouromitis, Emily Cabral, Madison McNally and Simran Jagpal.

Sun Youth receives their donation.

SPOOKTACULAR CHRISTMAS: Bancroft’s Annual Halloween Fundraiser party, organized by the Bancroft PPO, was a spooktacular affair this year. Our whole community really embraced the Halloween spirit and we had a very full house of witches, goblins superheroes and princesses – and these were just the parents’ costumes! A big Thank You to all our community who made our Halloween Party Fundraiser a special night. Once again this year, in the spirit of Giving and Sharing, we are happy to announce that we raised $1300 that we donated to Sun Youth Organization for their Christmas Fund. The cheque was presented to   Helio Galego, Director, of the Crime Prevention Department and  Soula Provias, Communication Department, by   Volunteer Parent Veronica Reis.

Mark Tilden discusses his book.

FINANCIAL LITERACY:  In an effort to offer children and educators trying to promote Child Financial Literacy some educational material, local dad and 18-year investment advisor Mark Tilden, is proud to announce the launch the world’s first financial fantasy fiction stories for kids under eight years of age. The launch/reading for Kindergarten and Grade 1 students took place on    December 13   at the Roslyn Elementary School Library in Westmount. Mr. Tilden is a Roslyn parent. In the same way that David Chilton weaved basic financial fundamentals for adults into more easily read fictional stories for average readers in “The Wealthy Barber,” so too does The Adventures of Princess Mikaila and Prince Pete for young children in their habit-forming years (age appropriate fundamentals based on the “Money as You Grow Chart” from the U.S.Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website).  Jessie Nieman from the Starlight Children’s Foundation and Carolina Toteda from LEARN Quebec were als present.  For more information go to https://www.kidsmartmoney.com. See our full story here.

JP I and Mackay students and staff celebrate together.

JP I BOOSTS MACKAY: Students from John Paul 1 High School in St. Leonard helped put a lot of smiles on children’s faces when they visited the Mackay Centre in N.D.G. a few days before Christmas. The students brought gifts as well as Santa Claus flew in on his sleigh. You could feel the spirit of the holidays and a great time was had by all!

ANIMAL WELFARE CONFERENCE: Many EMSB educators undertake animal awareness programs. The 2019 National Animal Welfare Conference is happening at the Hotel Bonaventure Montreal April 14 and 15, 2019. Conference registration is now open. All two-day conference registrations come with one ticket to the opening social on April 13 and one ticket to the Animal Welfare Leadership & Innovation Awards on April 14. All conference and training day registrations include breakfast, lunch and nutritional breaks for the day(s) you have registered. EARLY BIRD RATES are good  until January 31, 2019: $330: Two-day conference registration (Humane Canada members and students); $385: Two-day conference registration (general attendee).

Teacher Brigitte Boulos and her students.

PUPPET SHOW: Teacher Brigitte Boulos organized a series of puppet shows  at Coronation Elementary School on December 20. Arts Consultant Nicholas Doyon was one of the guest puppeteers. Students from grade five and six from the French-immersion program worked together to put on a show for the whole school. They started preparing at the end of November and with help from Lucy Émard from Cultures for Schools, they put on an amazing show. This Christmas tale was about elves who helped Santa find his lost gifts. The students worked together and made the puppets with papier-machée, wrote the scripts and practiced their own choreography. Incorporating STEAM, groups of students worked with chrome books for the sounds effects, they converted sounds and songs to mp3's, worked on the back-drops and green screens and even used coding for their microbits. The classroom was filled with laughter and everyone enjoyed their performance. At the end of the show, the students from this production handed out candy-canes and prepared colored pictures for Cycle I students, created word searches for Cycle II students and created cross-word puzzles for the Cycle III students. 

 ADULT EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES

JFKAC students make their moves.

JFKAC CURTAIN CALL: William Shakespeare wrote “All the world’s a stage…” If this is the case, how do we prepare our learners for life’s inevitable curtain call? John F. Kennedy Adult Education Centre has found a way and is doing just that! New this winter term is a course called Foundations of Acting.   The idea behind it was to design a course to help foster the development of self-confidence, communication and presentation skills. Students participate in a selection of exercises and activities designed to develop the imagination and sense of play. Moreover, this course will help build technical skills such as improvising, movement, voice, speaking, analyzing texts and engaging the creative process all while working in an ensemble. Anyone who wishes to learn how to get a standing ovation in life shouldn’t hesitate to register because this class is about so much more than the art of acting. 

Galileo staff and students showcase their dolls.

DOLLS AT GALILEO: As the holidays were quickly approaching, and Social Integration Students (SIS) at Galileo Adult Education Centre in Montreal North were getting anxious to celebrate 2018, Art Therapist Erica Nicole Onofrio was inspired to offer a different kind of project: creating dolls for single mothers, via Centre des Femmes de Montréal.  As some individuals were not aware of such an organization, they were educated about the various circumstances in which people live in this city.  They were very receptive to donating dolls to children, as they too wanted the children to feel happy and not left out during the holidays.  “As we began working on bringing the 23 dolls to life, a sense of community began to form in our space,” said Ms Onofrio.  “The students worked together, helped one another, depended on one another, rather than seeking the help of the educators.  Working with different fabrics, wool, and fabric stuffing, the students explored different sensory experiences.  Many skills were required when creating these dolls, both gross and fine motor skills, and the students exercised them without difficulty.   As the dolls came to life more and more every week, a sense of worthiness and accomplishment filled the classroom.  The action of doll making was definitely powerful within our class, as connections were made between the creators and the dolls.  Storytelling skills surfaced, as this process triggered memories for some adults.  For others, just the fact of holding the dolls was a comforting experience.  We hope that all these positive experiences will remain with the dolls as they transition to their new owners!”

Scenes from the gourmet lunch at  St. Pius X.

GOURMET TURKEY LUNCH: St. Pius X Career Centre students, staff and administration spent the day with Father John Walsh and over 100 other volunteers on   December 9 at Marché Bonsecours preparing a traditional gourmet turkey lunch to the underprivileged in Old Montreal. It was an incredible way to give back to the Montreal Community and serve over 600 people.   Chef Derek Curzi helped initiate the event.

Melissa and Nadia.

COOKIES AT RTC: Students at Rosemount Technology Centre at Campus were treated to a holiday treat on December 18. Academic advisors Melissa Urso and Nadia Zuccaro organized this event to treat all of their students from all programs. The students were treated to a day of coffee and cookies from Lafrenaie Bakery in St-Léonard to celebrate the holidays.

Some of the delicious cookies.

ÉDITION DU 20 DÉCEMBRE 2018 / BULLETIN DE LA CSEM

SEMAINE DES INSCRIPTIONS AU PRIMAIRE: La CSEM a annoncé que la semaine des inscriptions au primaire pour l’année scolaire 2019-2020 se tiendra du lundi 4 février au vendredi 8 février. Si un enfant est déjà inscrit à une école en particulier, ses frères et sœurs pourront s’y inscrire une semaine plus tôt. Nous demandons aux parents d’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, veuillez composer le 514 483-7200, poste 3672 ou visiter le site Web de la Commission au www.emsb.qc.ca. Si vous inscrivez votre enfant pour la première fois, vous devrez fournir son certificat de naissance et son carnet de vaccination à l’école qu’il fréquentera. Les parents devront 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.

UNE HISTOIRE QUI VA DROIT AU CŒUR À L’ÉCOLE EDWARD MURPHY: En juillet dernier, Liam Dubois, élève de 3e année à l’école primaire Edward Murphy dans le quartier Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, a reçu un nouveau cœur après avoir été hospitalisé pendant 427 jours. Grâce à l’extraordinaire équipe médicale de l’Hôpital de Montréal pour enfants, Liam est aujourd’hui entièrement rétabli. Contrairement à l’an dernier, Liam célébrera cette année Noël à la maison entouré de sa famille. Il se réveillera fébrile le matin du 25 décembre, comme tout enfant de 8 ans. Désireux d’égayer la période des Fêtes pour bon nombre d’enfants qui ne passeront pas Noël à la maison, les enseignants et les camarades de classe de Liam ont enfilé leurs « affreux » chandails de Noël et ont offert des cadeaux à la Fondation de l’Hôpital de Montréal pour enfants. Ils espèrent ainsi propager la magie des Fêtes pour ceux qui sont dans le besoin et souhaiter à tous un Joyeux Noël ainsi que leurs meilleurs vœux de santé et bonheur pour l’année 2019.
La directrice de l’école primaire Edward Murphy, Cristina Celzi, a déclaré : « Liam est de retour à l’école depuis octobre et il se porte très bien! Ce fut une période très difficile. Il est tombé malade à l’école en juin 2016. Nous avons tous craint le pire. C’est un véritable miracle! »

ÉLAN DE GÉNÉROSITÉ DE LA FONDATION DE L’HÉRITAGE CULTUREL DE LA CEPGM : Le produit tiré de la vente d’une collection de tableaux il y a plusieurs années a permis de verser des bourses d’études totalisant des milliers de dollars à des élèves de la CSEM et il en sera ainsi pendant encore longtemps. Au fil de plusieurs décennies, la Commission des écoles protestantes du Grand Montréal (CEPGM) a accumulé des tableaux provenant de dons généreux de la part de plusieurs bienfaiteurs et en a acquis d’autres. Cette collection était conservée par la Fondation de l’héritage culturel de la CEPGM. Elle regroupait plus de 100 œuvres d’art dont certaines étaient exposées à la commission scolaire et d’autres, dans diverses écoles. Puis, la décision fut prise d‘offrir la collection au Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal. Or, ce dernier manifesta un intérêt uniquement pour certaines œuvres. Ceux qui tenaient à ces œuvres étaient d’avis que si la collection devait être exposée, elle devrait l’être dans son ensemble. Aussi, il fut décidé de vendre la collection aux enchères et de créer des bourses d’études au profit des élèves. La vente des tableaux, représentant plus de la moitié de la collection, a rapporté 1,4 million de dollars en mars 2013. Depuis, 46 élèves du secondaire ont reçu des bourses d’études de 1 000 $ chacune, tandis que 100 élèves du primaire se sont vu décerner des bourses de 100 $ chacune.

Le président de la Fondation, George Vathilakis, a déclaré que « la raison de la vente visait simplement à lever des fonds dans le but de verser des bourses d’études aux élèves ». « Ça ne servait à rien de conserver tous ces tableaux dans des bureaux, d’autant plus que personne ne venait les admirer. Si nous continuons à ce rythme, soit 46 000 $ plus 10 000 $, il faudra compter 73 ans avant que le capital ne soit épuisé. »

VANESSA GRIMALDI S’IMPLIQUE ENCORE UNE FOIS: Le mardi 18 décembre, la vedette de télé-réalité Vanessa Grimaldi s’est rendue à l’école primaire Edward Murphy afin d’offrir une quatrième salle sensorielle à la CSEM. Cet important soutien financier provient de la Fondation Votre meilleur vous (No Better You) mise sur pied par Vanessa (www.nobetteryou.org).

Vanessa, qui travaillait en tant qu’enseignante en adaptation scolaire au Centre d’éducation des adultes Galileo de la CSEM à Montréal-Nord avant sa participation à l’émission The Bachelor sur les ondes d’ABC, a lancé sa fondation à l’été 2017 dans le but de faire progresser l’éducation en offrant des outils et des programmes spécialisés destinés aux apprenants exceptionnels à la grandeur du pays. La présidente de la CSEM, Angela Mancini, souhaite exprimer sa gratitude à Mme Grimaldi puisque le produit de ses levées de fonds a été affecté à la construction, à l’entretien et au fonctionnement des salles sensorielles à l’école Edward Murphy, au Centre d’éducation des adultes Galileo et à l’école Coronation à Côte-des-Neiges, de même qu’à l’école primaire Pierre Elliott Trudeau à Rosemont.

« Une salle sensorielle propose de nouvelles façons d’apprendre qui font appel à tous les sens. C’est un endroit thérapeutique pour les élèves », a expliqué Vanessa. « Cet espace peut faire en sorte de stimuler ou de calmer les élèves. Il les conscientise davantage, leur procure un sentiment de sécurité et contribue à la relaxation mentale et physique, ce qui les amène à réaliser qu’ils n’ont pas à se tenir toujours sur leurs gardes. »

Visitez le site Web Votre meilleur vous pour rester à l’affût des activités à venir

PROGRAMME D’HISTOIRE : Le conseil des commissaires de la CSEM a récemment accueilli le rapport du comité indépendant d’experts en histoire portant sur le programme révisé  d’histoire du Québec et du Canada enseigné obligatoirement en 3e et 4e secondaire. Le curriculum révisé ayant soulevé certaines préoccupations au sein de la CSEM, cette dernière avait décidé en juin de mandater un comité indépendant d’experts en histoire afin qu’il examine le contenu de ce programme de même que les manuels en anglais approuvés par le ministère. « J’ose espérer que le travail accompli par notre commission scolaire et par le comité d’experts feront en sorte d’aider le gouvernement provincial à apporter les modifications appropriées au programme », a déclaré la présidente de la CSEM Angela Mancini. « Il importe que nos élèves comprennent bien et apprécient l’histoire riche et diversifiée de notre province. »


PRIX PECK : Cinq élèves du Collège Vincent Massey à Rosemont et un autre de l’école Royal Vale à NDG ont récemment remporté le prix Robert Alfred Peck 2018 pour l’excellence en français.  Les élèves de 4e secondaire Bryanna Bragagnolo, Gabrielle Calabrese, Rebecca Dupont, Carl Le Breux et Amanda Vanasse du Collège Vincent Massey ainsi que Gilbert Paradis ont tous obtenu une note parfaite de 100 pour cent. Chacun a reçu une médaille et un chèque de 150 $.

Le défunt monsieur Peck a débuté sa carrière d’enseignant dans les années 1930. Il a été surintendant de français au sein du ministère de l’Éducation et a occupé des postes similaires à l’ancienne Commission scolaire Westmount de même qu’à l’ancienne Commission des écoles protestantes du Grand Montréal. Il a été responsable du département de français à l’école secondaire Lachine et directeur adjoint à l’école secondaire Riverdale de l’Ouest de l’île, après avoir enseigné en Afrique. Il est coauteur avec Elizabeth Buchanan du manuel d’enseignement du français langue seconde intitulé « Le français pratique », qui fut la référence par excellence dans les écoles protestantes du Québec pendant plus de 20 ans. Ce prix a été institué en son honneur par la famille Peck et la CSEM en 2002

 A YOUNG HERO: Des félicitations sont de mise pour Tahsin Islam du Collège Vincent Massey, qui figure parmi les 12 lauréats provinciaux du concours « Empowerment: Compassion in Action » organisé conjointement par LEARN et Rencontres du Canada 2018-2019. Les élèves ont soumis des textes portant sur des individus ou groupes qui, grâce à leur grande compassion et leadership, ont fait une différence dans leur vie ou au sein de la communauté. Tahsin a rédigé un texte sur Craig Kielburger, cofondateur de l’organisme Free the Children et de l’entreprise sociale ME TO WE. Son texte qui s’intitule A YOUNG HERO sera prochainement affiché sur le site Web de LEARN à www.learnquebec.ca. Gracieuseté de LEARN, Tahsin a remporté un séjour d’une semaine de son choix à Ottawa, toutes dépenses payées, avec l’organisme Rencontres du Canada, le plus important forum des jeunes au Canada. Elle prendra part à des sorties et des ateliers des plus intéressants en compagnie d’autres élèves du Canada, développera ses compétences en leadership et son sens civique, en plus d’explorer des choix de carrières. Pour de plus amples renseignements, visitez le www.ewc-rdc.ca.

Tahsin Islam (deuxième à partir de la droite) inscrite en 4e secondaire au CVM figure parmi les 12 lauréats provinciaux du concours annuel COMPASSION IN ACTION. Elle a remporté un séjour d’une semaine à Rencontres du Canada, à Ottawa, commandité par LEARN. De gauche à droite : Lorena Morante de Rencontres du Canada; Vanessa Zappitelli conseillère d’orientation; Sabrina Gagliardi enseignante d’éthique; Tahsin Islam gagnante du concours et Suzanne Longpré de LEARN qui lui remis le prix.

CAMPAGNE ANNUELLE SPIRIT OF GIVING: À l’approche des Fêtes, la CSEM a de nouveau fait équipe avec CTV Montréal dans le cadre de la campagne annuelle Spirit of Giving dont la mission vise à venir en aide aux plus démunis de la région de Montréal. Des denrées non-périssables, des jouets et divers articles tels du savon et des produits de nettoyage, ont été recueillis, triés et remis aux organismes suivants : The Donald Berman Chai Lifeline Canada, Partageons l’espoir, le Fonds d’aide de l’Ouest de l’île, Renaissance Montréal, Multicaf, les Centres de la jeunesse et de la famille Batshaw, la Mission communautaire Mile-End, la Mosaïque, la Maison Nazareth et le Dépôt (anciennement le Dépôt alimentaire NDG). Au total, les efforts conjugués de la CSEM, de ses écoles et centres ont produit 1 000 boîtes de denrées non-périssables et plus de 50 000 jouets et articles divers. Pour la toute première fois dans l’histoire de cette campagne, les écoles étaient jumelées à des œuvres de bienfaisance spécifiques. Plus de 40 écoles et centres ont participé à cette campagne, de même que certains organismes communautaires. Pour consulter la liste des écoles participantes et de celles qui ont fait une apparition à la télé, visitez le http://www.emsb.qc.ca/emsb/articles/emsb-and-ctv-montreal-collaborate-again-on-spirit-of-giving.

LA SÉCURITÉ DES ENFANTS À L’ÈRE DU NUMÉRIQUE: Quels sont les risques auxquels s’exposent les enfants en ligne? Quand faut-il commencer à les initier à la sécurité numérique? Daphna Leibovici, conseillère en prévention de la violence et promotion de la santé à la CSEM, a abordé ce sujet fort important le 6 décembre à l’école primaire Edinburgh à Montréal-Ouest. 

CAMPAGNE THÉ-JOUET (TOY TEA): Encore une fois cette année, les élèves de la CSEM ont recueilli des jouets neufs dans le cadre de la 27e édition annuelle de Thé-Jouet (Noël et Hanoukka) qui a eu lieu à la salle Victoria à Westmount le 12 décembre. Cet événement a pour but d’offrir des jouets à des enfants défavorisés de la région de Montréal à l’occasion de la période des Fêtes. L’édition 2018 permettra de distribuer des jouets à plus de 5 000 enfants victimes d’abus et de violence domestique et vivant dans des refuges, ainsi qu’à d’autres enfants auprès des organismes suivants : la Mission Bon Accueil, le Dispensaire diététique de Montréal, la paroisse Tyndale St-Georges, la paroisse St-Willibrord, la Rue des Femmes et les Centres de la jeunesse et de la famille Batshaw. Cette année marquera la 16e participation de la CSEM à la campagne Thé-Jouet, mise sur pied par Irene Miller, ex-conseillère en éducation spirituelle, religieuse et morale.

Les écoles peuvent participer en recueillant des jouets neufs non violents et non emballés. Les dons en argent et les chèques libellés à l’ordre de Thé-Jouet sont également les bienvenus. Les représentants des élèves de plusieurs écoles, accompagnés de leur animateur de vie spirituelle et d’engagement communautaire respectif, de leurs enseignants, des membres de la direction d’école ainsi que des parents bénévoles, ont pris part à cette activité et ont reçu des certificats de participation des mains d’Erika Ludwick, présidente de la campagne Thé-Jouet, du Père Noël et de la Mère Noël. Pour l’occasion, plusieurs chorales d’écoles ont entonné des chants de Noël. « La campagne Thé-Jouet cible une communauté d’enfants dans le besoin susceptible de sombrer dans l’oubli », a déclaré Aaron Durocher, conseiller en animation de vie spirituelle et d’engagement communautaire à la CSEM. « En tant que commission scolaire, il est important de nous mobiliser afin d’appuyer une si grande cause »

DANCE FOR ALEX: Le 5 décembre, les élèves et le personnel de l’école Royal Vale à NDG ont encore une fois cette année honoré la mémoire d’Alex Porter-Rozmovits à l’occasion de l’activité annuelle Dance for Alex.

Alex était un brillant petit garçon de six ans, affectueux et épanoui, qui fréquentait la maternelle. Il est décédé subitement le 22 juin 2009 des suites d’une rare infection bactérienne. Depuis 2010, l’école organise chaque année en décembre une danse en matinée en l’honneur d’Alex. Ses parents Peter et Roberta, ainsi que sa jeune sœur qui fréquente l’école Royal Vale, étaient sur place. Les élèves ont accueilli cette année Tim Fleiszer, ex-joueur de la Ligue canadienne de football (LCF), fondateur et directeur général de Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada (CLFC). Il a été le premier joueur de l’histoire de la LCF à remporter quatre championnats de la Coupe Grey avec quatre équipes différentes. Diplômé de l’Université Harvard, Tim Fleiszer a évolué dans le football professionnel pendant 10 ans avant d’entamer une seconde carrière dans le sport chez les jeunes avec la CLFC et de devenir agent de joueurs. Étaient également présents le directeur général des Alouettes de Montréal Kavis Reed, le porteur de ballon William Stanback, le receveur Ernest Jackson et le joueur de ligne Jesse Joseph. L’activité a une fois de plus été organisée cette année par Norman Katz, enseignant d’éducation physique et de santé, qui avait invité trois meneuses de claques du Collège Dawson à venir donner le coup d’envoi à la danse. Nous vous invitons à visionner le reportage de Global TV : https://vimeo.com/305131809.

ÉDUCATION FINANCIÈRE: Soucieux d’offrir du matériel pédagogique aux enfants et aux éducateurs qui s’efforcent de faire la promotion de l’éducation financière, Mark Tilden - parent de la communauté et conseiller en placements depuis 18 ans – est fier d’annoncer une première mondiale avec le lancement d’histoires de science fiction de nature financière destinées aux enfants de moins de huit ans. Le lancement/la lecture devant les élèves de maternelle et de 1re année a eu lieu le 13 décembre à la bibliothèque de l’école primaire Roslyn à Westmount. M. Tilden est le père d’un enfant qui fréquente l’école Roslyn. À l’instar de David Chilton qui a su incorporer dans son livre « Un barbier riche » des concepts financiers de base dans des récits fictifs à la portée du lecteur adulte moyen, celui de M. Tilder intitulé « The Adventures of Princess Mikaila and Prince Pete » en fait tout autant et s’adresse aux jeunes enfants à l’âge où les habitudes se forment (des notions de base adaptées à leur âge et fondées sur Money as You Grow Chart tiré du site Web du Consumer Financial Protection Bureau aux États-Unis). Jessie Nieman de la Fondation pour l’enfance Starlight et Carolina Toteda de LEARN Québec étaient présents pour l’occasion. Pour en savoir davantage, visitez le https://www.kidsmartmoney.com.

SERVICES DE L’ÉDUCATION DES ADULTES

ET DE LA FORMATION PROFESSIONNELLE

COUP DE THÉÂTRE AU CENTRE D’ÉDUCATION DES ADULTES JFK: William Shakespeare a écrit « Le monde entier est un théâtre… ». Si tel est le cas, comment pouvons-nous préparer nos apprenants à faire face à l’inévitable tombée du rideau? Le Centre d’éducation des adultes John F. Kennedy a trouvé une façon de le faire grâce à un nouveau cours (Foundations of Acting) qui sera offert à compter de la session d’hiver. L’idée à l’origine de cette initiative visait à élaborer un cours favorisant le développement de la confiance en soi, des aptitudes à la communication et à la présentation. Les élèves participeront à une série d’exercices et d’activités conçus pour développer l’imaginaire et le sens du jeu. Qui plus est, ce cours aidera les élèves à acquérir des compétences techniques tels l’improvisation, le mouvement, la voix, l’élocution, l’analyse de textes et la stimulation de l’imaginaire tout en travaillant en harmonie. Quiconque désire recevoir une ovation debout dans la vie devrait s’inscrire à ce cours sans hésitation car on y apprend bien plus que l’art de jouer.

DES POUPÉES À GALILEO: À l’approche de la période des Fêtes, les élèves des services d’intégration sociale (SIS) au Centre d’éducation des adultes Galileo à Montréal-Nord étaient impatients de célébrer. La thérapeute artistique Erica Nicole Onofrio a eu l’idée de proposer aux élèves un projet différent : fabriquer des poupées pour des mères célibataires, par l’entremise du Centre des Femmes de Montréal. Certains ne connaissaient pas cet organisme; ils ont donc été initiés aux diverses conditions dans lesquelles les gens vivent dans la métropole. Ils se sont montrés très réceptifs à l’idée d’offrir des poupées aux enfants, car ils voulaient que les enfants soient heureux et n’aient pas le sentiment d’avoir été oubliés en cette période des Fêtes. « Lorsque nous avons commencé à confectionner les 23 poupées, un esprit de solidarité s’est installé petit à petit », a souligné madame Onofrio. « Les élèves ont travaillé ensemble, se sont entraidés, se sont tournés les uns vers les autres plutôt que de demander l’aide des enseignants. Ils ont également vécu différentes expériences sensorielles en manipulant des tissus, de la laine et du rembourrage. La fabrication de ces poupées a fait appel à plusieurs aptitudes, allant de la motricité globale à la motricité fine, et les élèves en ont fait la démonstration sans aucune difficulté. Au fil des semaines, alors que les poupées prenaient forme, un sentiment de fierté et d’accomplissement a gagné la salle de classe. La confection de poupées a sans contredit été bénéfique comme en témoignent les liens qui se sont tissés entre les créateurs et les poupées. Ces poupées ont éveillé des souvenirs chez certains adultes, ce qui les a poussés à raconter des histoires. Pour d’autres, le simple fait de tenir les poupées s’est avéré une expérience réconfortante. Nous espérons que ces expériences positives seront transmises à ceux qui recevront ces poupées!

The next Focus newsletter will be published on January 29. The deadline for submissions is January 25.