The monthly news bulletin of the EMSB
Vol. 6 No. 10
EDITOR: MICHAEL J. COHEN
PRINTING SERVICES: L. SHAW, C. PETERS, D. D’ORNELLAS
Principal Wayne Commeford, EMSB Chairman
Dominic Spiridigliozzi and students make a
presentation to Peter Mansbridge,
PETER MANSBRIDGE VISITS: The
EMSB had the privilege of welcoming Peter
Mansbridge, the award winning anchor of
the CBC National News, to James Lyng
High School in St. Henri. Mr. Mansbridge
was in town for a live broadcast of The
National for which the theme was Renewal.
He responded enthusiastically to a request
from the EMSB Communications and
Marketing Division to visit James Lyng, an
inner-city school he is familiar with. The
National ran a feature last year on the
school’s promising turnaround in terms of
its academic standing and lowering of the
dropout rate. James Lyng Principal Wayne
Commeford was invited, along with some
staff and students, to attend a live taping of
The National at the Château St. Ambroise,
also in St, Henri. CBC Radio One’s Home
Run program did a report on Mr.
December 17, 2004
PROOFREADING/TRANSLATION: ALINE ZEROUNIAN
Mansbridge’s speech at James Lyng. And
Mike Boone of The Gazette covered it in his
city column. EMSB Chair Dominic
Spiridigliozzi,
Vice-Chair
Elizabeth
Fokoefs,
Director
General
Antonio
Lacroce, Regional Director Mario Tirelli
and Quebec English School Boards
Associaton (QESBA) Executive Director
David Birnbaum were among those on
hand to greet him. Mr. Mansbridge admitted
to never having finished high school. “It was
a different time 40 years ago,” he said. “But
now when I come visit schools like yours I
see a much different energy. At the National
we have featured James Lyng. I look at what
has happened here as a great story.”
TORONTO ADDRESS: EMSB Director
General Antonio Lacroce and Deputy
Director General Donald A. Reid were
invited to deliver a keynote address at the
fourth annual Turnaround Strategies in
Education Conference in Toronto. Their
topic was Quebec Initiatives for School
Improvement. “In Quebec, we outperform
the rest of Canada in education,” Mr.
Lacroce and Mr. Reid reported to the
conference.
REGISTRATION: The EMSB has
announced
that
Elementary
School
Registration for the 2005-2006 academic
year will take place Wed. Feb. 2 to Fri. Feb
4 and continue on Mon. Feb. 7 and Tues.
Feb 8. 2005 for children entering the
kindergarten level. If one child from a
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family is already enrolled in a particular
school, a sibling registration period will take
place Jan. 24-26 and Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
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) 4837200 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. Please note that as a result
of the recent adopted Bill 104, this criteria
excludes studies completed in the Quebec
Private School system.
CORONATION TALENT: Proof positive
of the Norshield Development Foundation’s
successful Tomorrows Schools Today project
– the recent work being done by Coronation
Elementary School in Côte des Neiges.
Already the defending 2004 Primary World
Robocup champions, a title earned in Lisbon,
Portugal last year, they will head to Osaka,
Japan next summer to defend the crown.
Teacher Patrick Charland and Principal
Diane Wood were instrumental in accepting
the task of doing the video for EMSB Career
Fair 2004. With the assistance of two
students, Mr. Charland prepared an excellent
video which will soon be available on the
EMSB website. Their next challenge:
producing
the
EMSB
Kindergarten
Registration radio commercial which will run
in Q92 Jan. 17 to 21.
While Coronation continues to be in a
fundraising mode for their trip to Japan, they
have also been successful supporting other
programs. Employees of the local
neighbourhood Scotia Trust Bank raised
$900 in two garage sales they had this fall.
The bank doubled the amount raised and
they donated a total of $1,800 to go towards
the extension of our subsidized lunch
program. Each year they also sell chocolate
bars to their customers with the proceeds
going towards the preparation of Christmas
baskets for needy families at Coronation.
MAJOR SCHOOL CHANGE: The EMSB
Council of Commissioners will hold a special
meeting on Monday, Jan. 17, beginning at
7 pm. at Royal Vale School (5851 Somerled)
on the subject of major school change. Four
elementary schools and two high schools are
being considered for closure. In addition, the
relocation of two adult centres and three
outreach high schools for the 2005-2006
academic year is also being proposed.
Elementary schools being considered for
closure are: St. Ignatius of Loyola in
N.D.G., St. Gabriel in Pointe St. Charles, St.
Patrick in the Plateau and McLearon in
Pointe-aux-Trembles.
Another
recommendation deals with the core English
program being phased out at Roslyn in
Westmount to allow for growth in its French
immersion program. High schools proposed
to close are: St. Pius X in Ahuntsic and
Wagar in Côte Saint-Luc. For the adult
sector, it is being recommended that the High
School of Montreal, presently based in St.
Michel, move to the St. Patrick facility
where it was previously located and that the
Marymount Adult Centre relocate to the
Wagar building. Finally, it is being proposed
that Perspectives I and II in Montreal North
take up residence in St. Michel where the
High School of Montreal is now and for
Program Mile End to move from rented
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quarters on De L’Épée Street in Park
Extension to the St. Patrick building.
Governing boards for each school and centre
affected by possible major school change
were given the opportunity to present briefs
at hearings on Dec. 6.
LAURENHILL
HOCKEY
BOOST:
Verdun Dragons star James Desmarais, the
leading scorer in the North American Hockey
League, will take part in a very special onice happening at Raymond Bourque Arena in
St. Laurent on Tues. Jan. 25 (3 p.m. to 4:30
p.m.). He and a number of his teammates will
suit up to practice and scrimmage with the
LaurenHill Academy Lynx hockey team,
coached by Kosta Papoulias. Desmarais
25, is a graduate of LaurenHill. His son
Jeremy currently attends kindergarten at
Gardenview. Desmarais played in the Quebec
Major Junior Hockey League for Laval and
Rouyn Noranda. In his final junior season he
scored 62 goals and 73 assists for 135 points.
He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in
1999 and played in the minor leagues in
Peoria, Worcester, B.C., Springfield,
Arkansas, Reading, Greensboro, Italy,
Adirondack and Granby.The five-foot-ten,
174 pound forward has a day job in sales for
Karmin Industries, a company owned by
team owners Sheldon Ludwick (Wagar High
School grad ) and Lee Karls (West Hill/now
Royal Vale). “I expect the first hour to be
drill-based,” said Papoulias. “I hope James
can help us with some fundamentals that he
and his team practice repeatedly. This way
they can get the message across that even at
the semi-pro level, repetition is still key to
their development.” The LaurenHill team
will head to the Verdun Auditorium Feb. 15
to watch the Dragons play against St.
Hyacinthe.
LaurenHill grad James Desmarais to hit the ice
Jan. 25.
KINDNESS TOUR: The Kindness Tour
stopped at John Paul I Junior High School in
St. Léonard Nov. 30. Four members of the
Kindness crew have been touring the country
and doing exactly what their name suggests:
displaying acts of kindness. “I decided to get
them to visit my school because we are
quickly approaching the holiday season and
students and staff here at John Paul I are
working very hard to collect food and clothes
for many charitable organizations,” said
Spiritual Community Animator Rocco
Speranza. “These are all great acts of
kindness. The presentation was a way to
help spread the acts of kindness and a way to
increase motivation. The students at my
school took the message to heart and are
letting the kindness from within them shine
through. They were committing acts of
kindness during recess and lunchtime as they
hugged each other, paid each
other
compliments and some bought each other
lunch.”
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Meanwhile, the students of LaurenHill Junior
Campus in St. Laurent were awed by the
Kindness Crew during their visit. Through
videos and interactive activities, the guys
exemplified how easy and rewarding it is to
brighten up another's day says Vice Principal
Solly Gliksman “We were all left amazed
by how far a hug or a pat on the back can
go,” he said. “No doubt, the hour we spent
with them will inspire staff and students alike
to perform Random Acts of Kindness and
helpful gestures on a daily basis.”
SPIRIT OF GIVING: CFCF TV reported
directly from John Paul I Junior High School
Dec. 16. Weather reporter Lori Graham
interviewed students who were taking part in
the Spirit of Giving Campaign. A soccer
game was held in the gymnasium in which
the students played against the teachers. In
order to participate, all players had to bring in
a donation in the form of food or toys. And to
watch the game, students were asked to do
the same.
Proceeds went to the Park
Extension Share Store, one of the six Spirit of
Giving charities.
CFCF’s TV’s Entertainment Spotlight
program, was among the special guest of
honour and gave an inspiring address.
LMAC students at the launch.
ST. LÉONARD MEETINGS: The EMSB
Marketing Committee, the Education and
Facilities Committee and the Central Parents
Committee all held meetings at John Paul I
Junior High School in St. Léonard, a block
away from the Da Vinci Centre. This was
done to facilitate those who wished to attend
the book launch.
TELETHON: The staff and students at John
Paul I helped raise over $1,500 for the
Telethon of Stars, their sixth successive year
working towards this cause. Students and
staff gave generously at a juice sale held on
Nov. 30 as well as through the purchasing of
small Teddy Bears and a chicken lunch in the
days that followed. A raffle was also held
BOOK LAUNCH: The students and staff at
Laurier Macdonald High School officially
launched their new book, Faded Memories,
on Wednesday, Dec. 1
at the Centre
Leonardo da Vinci
in St Léonard. This
dynamic program featured a video, guest
speakers, readings of excerpts from the book,
and some theatrical interpretations of stories.
The book is the latest publication in a series
including Rainbow of Dreams, Memories in
Black and White, Once upon a Journey and
Whispering Dreams. Mosé Persico, host of
Antonio Lacroce gets a tour of the new UTT
library from Maureen Baron.
UTT LIBRARY: EMSB representatives
were invited to attend the opening of the new
United Talmud Torah (UTT) Library in St.
Laurent. When the library was firebombed on
April 5, EMSB schools were quick to
respond with book donations. EMSB
Director General Antonio Lacroce and
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Gardenview parent volunteer Schelley
Scherer were among those on hand. Mr.
Lacroce received a personal tour of the stateof-the-art library by Maureen Baron, the
head of technology at UTT/Herzliah. Ms.
Baron is on a leave of absence from the
EMSB where she was the manager of media
services.
PROVINCIAL AWARDS: Westmount
High School Secondary V students took
home two of three prizes awarded by Quebec
Minister of Justice Jacques Dupuis for a
contest which called upon them to write a
composition in French on the civil code. A
total of 250 entries were received . Stefan
Hnatiuk and Kamruz Zaman were invited
with their parents, teacher and Principal
Claude Dansereau to go to Quebec City on
December 15 as the guests of the minister.
They also attended a luncheon at the Palais
de Justice de Québec where the prices were
presented. Bursaries range from from $500
to $2,000.
EMSB join Commission Scolaire de Montréal
officials at the Generations Foundation breakfast.
GENERATIONS BREAKFAST: The
Generations Foundation, headed by the
dynamic husband and wife team of Adrian
and Natalie Bercovici, held their semiannual breakfast event at Buffet La Stanza
in Saint-Laurent last month. It was broadcast
live on Global Television. Generations’
daily breakfast, lunch and snack programs
benefits more than 2,400 students in 29
schools. At the EMSB, this includes six
elementary schools (St. Gabriel, St. John
Bosco, Bancroft, Pierre Elliott Trudeau,
Parkdale and St. Brendan), three high
schools (M.I.N.D., Westmount and Wagar);
three outreach high schools (Vezina,
Venture and Options I), one social affairs
school (Mountainview) and the St. Raphaël
elementary, high school and Second Start
programs. EMSB Chairman Dominic
Spiridigliozzi,
Vice-Chair
Elizabeth
Fokoefs, Commissioners Frank Verillo and
Marvin Helfenbaum, a number of inschool administrators, teachers and students
were on hand. Buffet La Stanza generously
donates the food to Generations Foundation.
“The teachers of our recipient schools are
telling us that their students, once fed, are
much more attentive in class and their
grades are improving because of our work,”
says Adrian. “As well, this past summer we
removed more than 300 children from city
streets and sent them for at least two weeks
of camp in the Laurentians. The feedback
from the children and parents was very
encouraging. We are definitely on the right
track.” Mr. Spiridigliozzi also sat down at
the breakfast with commissioners from the
Lester B. Pearson School Board and the
chair of the Commission Scolaire de
Montréal, Diane De Courcy. “On this day
we all had one common goal in mind,” he
said. “To feed hungry children.”
LIVE FEED: St. Dorothy Elementary
School in St. Michel experienced a
technological first on Dec. 17 - a live feed
of its Breakfast with Santa event via
http://qtss.emsb.qc.ca/breakfastwithsanta.m
ov.
DROPOUT RATE: At the Écomusée du
fier monde – the perfect setting for such a
visionary program – and in the presence of
several school board representatives and
other partnered organizations, the Carrefour
de lutte au décrochage scolaire officially
6
launched its operations recently. The
Carrefour de lutte au décrochage scolaire is
a service, reference and information hub for
young school dropouts and concerned
parents, as well as for the interveners who
help them get back on track. This concerted
effort stems from a genuine desire to
provide Montreal with a solid base for
focused actions aimed at significantly
reducing dropout rates. It will be open to
both francophone and Anglophone youth
who are looking to go back to school.
Young people are being offered a variety of
support services allowing them to identify
their interests, explore career paths and to
become aware of opportunities offered
within the educational system. These
interventions will occur within a wellplanned framework designed to ensure that
these youth training programs are a success.
Assistance and support is also offered to
parents. Other activities, targeted to
interveners, aim to create a zone dedicated to
the sharing of expertise and successful
initiatives. In addition, Carrefour de lutte au
décrochage scolaire personnel intend to offer
workshops in schools, in order to increase
student retention. “Our motto is ‘Stay hooked
on school – discover the many paths to
success!’ underlines Executive Director
Michèle Glémaud. The Carrefour de lutte
au décrochage scolaire is an initiative
launched by two other organizations, the
Table des partenaires pour la persévérance
scolaire à Montréal and the Fondation de
lutte au décrochage scolaire.
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL: Two history
classes from John Grant High School in Côte
Saint-Luc visited the Montreal Holocaust
Memorial Museum earlier this month. The
theme for the visit was "Spiritual
Resistance." Students were prepared for the
visit by Spiritual Community Animator
Michael Donkers by reflecting on some of
the theological questions on the nature of
"good and evil." Students came to appreciate
the strength of spirit of the Jewish people
during the darkest times of WWII. The
EMSB has applied for another grant from the
Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal
so that it can continue the program of visits
by high schools that was organized last year.
News should be forthcoming in January. The
John Grant visit was facilitated by the
Communications and Marketing Division of
the EMSB.
KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM: As a
means to address the serious issues of
bullying and other types of aggression early
in a student’s school life, the EMSB has once
again initiated the Kindergarten Behaviour
Enhancement Program. This comprehensive,
interactive and prevention-oriented program
is aimed to provide kindergarten students
with the necessary pro-social skills and tools
that will help them respect the norms and
customs of other ethnic and cultural groups in
their school, home and community
environment. Organizers hope that by
teaching students such skills at an early age,
it helps prevent teasing, bullying and other
acts of aggression in the schools before they
surface and become more serious if they are
not dealt with appropriately. Six EMSB
schools were chosen to participate in the
program this year for the first time: Carlyle
and Dunrae Gardens in TMR, Our Lady of
Pompei and Gerald McShane in Montreal
North, Holy Cross in St. Laurent, and
Leonardo Da Vinci in RDP.
Running from now until May, the program
consists of eight weekly sessions of 45
minutes each. They are led by two special
education technicians, who use a wide variety
of interactive methods and strategies, so that
the students can acquire the necessary skills
that the program hopes to promote. Through
role-playing,
music
and
movement,
storytelling,
games,
puppetry
and
instructional videos, the students will explore
such relevant topics as: making friends,
conflict resolution, anger management,
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problem-solving,
expressing
feelings
appropriately, and understanding and
celebrating differences.
SPELLING BEE: Twenty-two EMSB
schools will participate in a major Spelling
Bee competition being organized for March
by The Gazette Newspaper. The EMSB has
the highest registration numbers (2,938)
compared to 1,700 from the Lester B.
Pearson School Board. Overfall, there are
75 schools and 7,697 students signed up. The
EMSB schools are: Bancroft (60), Dalkeith
(105) Dante (74), East Hill (150), Honoré
Mercier
(200),
Edinburgh
(55),
Elizabeth Ballantyne (90), Gardenview
School (205), Général Vanier (87),
Hampstead (80),
Holy Cross (100), John
Paul 1 Junior High School (600),
Leonardo Da Vinci (152), Rosemount (30),
Royal Vale (130),
Sinclair Laird (130),
St. Brendan (80), St. Ignatius of Loyola (51)
St. Patrick (24), Venture High School(24)
Vincent Massey Collegiate (275), Westmount
High School (25) and Willingdon (209).
The competition winner, and up to two
runners-up, will represent the Quebec region
at the CanSpell National Final in April. In
addition, the first-place regional winner will
also earn the opportunity to represent Canada
at the prestigious Scripps-Howard Spelling
Bee in Washington May 29 to June 3. Each
school must conduct their own classroom and
school spelling bees by Feb. 21.
The Toy Tea was a big success.
TOY TEA: Fourteen participating EMSB
schools managed to collect over 3,000 new
toys for the 13th annual Christmas and
Chanukah Toy Tea, which was held on
December 1 at Tudor Hall on the fifth floor
of Ogilvy’s department store. The recordnumber 3,000 toys will benefit children of
battered women, children with AIDS and
other children’s charities in Montreal during
this holiday season. This is the second year of
the EMSB’s involvement in the Toy Tea
Campaign, which is an initiative of Spiritual,
Religious and Moral Education Consultant
Irene Miller. The participating EMSB
schools were: Gardenview and Parkdale in
St. Laurent; Honoré Mercier, Dante, and
Laurier MacDonald in St. Léonard; Dalkeith
in Anjou; Edinburgh and Elizabeth
Ballantyne in Montreal West; Dunrae
Gardens in TMR; Royal Vale in NDG; St.
Pius X in Ahuntsic; Lester B. Pearson in
Montreal North; John F. Kennedy High
School and Vincent Massey Collegiate.
Student representatives from each school,
along with their respective spiritual
community animators and Ms. Miller,
attended the event to drop off their donated
toys and receive special certificates of
participation from Quebec Superior Court
judge André Ruffo. Also accompanying the
students was Maria Lafontaine, a former
teacher at Merton School who is stricken
with Multiple Sclerosis, and now acts as a
motivational speaker for several EMSB
schools. The guests were entertained by
performances from two school choirs and by
Priya Kalsi, a grade 11 student at Vincent
Massey Collegiate, who played a selection of
classical and popular tunes on the piano. The
Toy Tea, chaired by Montreal philanthropist
Ginger Petty, collects and donates brand
new toys to over 5,000 children in over 26
shelters of various ethnic and religious
backgrounds in Montreal.
CHINESE DELEGATION: Lester B.
Pearson High School recently welcomed 24
colleagues from China who are presently at
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McGill
University
on
professional
development activities. They spent the day
visiting English Arts classes at all levels
followed by a school tour, a luncheon and a
general meeting where they had many of
their questions addressed.Meanwhile, Lester
B. Pearson students known for their
generosity to those in need are holding their
annual Christmas Basket Project/ food drive
organized Carol Lavoie and in coordination
with the homeroom teachers. The drive is
well underway as the Spiritual Community
Centre is filling with non-perishable food
items. Christmas baskets will be picked on
December 15, 16 and 17.
NEIGHBOURLY NESBITT: Students at
Nesbitt Elementary School
enjoyed
spectacular
performances
from
the
Rosemount High School Band in celebration
of the holiday season, under the direction of
conductor Debbie Best. The school also had
its annual holiday lunch in the school. Food,
toys and monetary donations were collected
by students and staff throughout the month of
December and distributed to St. Brendan’s
Church on Dec. to help neighbouring families
in need for the holiday season.Two Grade 6
classes were invited back to be part of the
studio audience for the French cable TV preteen show “Abormal.” Finally, a team of
Nesbitt staff and parents have been invited by
Supporting Montreal Schools to attend and
represent the EMSB at a conference in
Chicago in March. This will include school
visits on “Building Community Schools.
SOCKS FOR POPS: This holiday season,
Rosemount High School’s Student Council,
under the direction of Spiritual and
Community Animator Gerry Westphal, has
ignited the entire student body into
participating in their “Socks for Pops”
campaign. They are asking for new cotton or
wool socks to help Montreal’s street kids stay
warm. The goal is to collect at least 1,000
pairs of socks for immediate distribution. The
project is in conjunction with Dans la Rue.
After the holidays, staff members of Dans la
Rue plan on visiting Rosemount to share
stories and experiences with the students.
The annual Christmas Basket Drive,
coordinated by teacher Nicole Finn, is
underway. This drive will go towards
supporting
families
in
Rosemount’s
immediate community as well as community
centers in the neighbourhood. The objective
set is 2000 non-perishable food items and
toiletries for inclusion in the Baskets.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT: Ida De Laurentiis
from Michelangelo Elementary School in
RDP and her two classes, 311 and 312, have
adopted five families for Christmas. In
collaboration with Sister Dianna from St.
Gabriel Parish, Ms. De Laurentiis received
food, new toys and new clothes to give to
these families. The parents of her students
have been very generous in donating these
wonderful gifts. Along with these donations,
the families will be receiving a gift certificate
to purchase turkey, milk, fresh fruits and
vegetables for their Christmas dinner. Ms. De
Laurentiis took along parent volunteers and
five students from both her classes on
December 15 to deliver these items to the
families. Ms. De Laurentiis would like to
thank her two classes and their parents for
doing such a great job preparing for this
special event.
DA VINCI GOODS: The Leonardo Da
Vinci Elementary School community has
been showing the true holiday spirit by
collecting non-perishable goods and winter
outerwear for the St. Gabriel’s Food Bank
and toys for the local fire station. In
addition, a grand total of $3,136.00 was
collected for the Telethon of Stars. This year
a Christmas Concert will be held at the
CEGEP Marie-Victorin. Students from
Kindergarten to Grade 3 will be performing
in the “Christmas around the World”
concert. Meanwhile, the older students are
gearing up for the end of the year musical.
More info will be coming your way on this
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topic in the new year. And congratulations
to two students, Erica Bove and Luca
Galardo, who won prizes for their
participation in the RDP 2004: Portrait d’un
Quartier en Development Drawing contest.
They and their teacher, Daniel Lefrançois,
will be featured along with other winners in
the local R.D.P. community newspaper
“L’Informateur”.
BURNT PIANO : In the production of
'Burnt Piano' by Justin Fleming at the
Centaur Theatre, Grade 5 Willingdon
Elementary School
student Nicholas
Wheeler-Hughes portrays Jonah.. « The
part of Jonah played by Nicholas is not
merely a brief walk-on, but a role with quite
a lot of dialogue, » says Gary Sullivan, who
was the vice-principal at Willingdon when
Nicholas was in kindergarten. « It is a fairly
substantial role. »
TEACHER APPRECIATION: While the
Ministry of Education designates the first
full week of February each year as Teacher
Appreciation Week, the Canadian Home and
School Association does so for the second
week. The EMSB Communications and
Marketing Division and the Quebec
Federation of
Home and School
Associations (QFHSA) have attempted to
resolve this confusion. The EMSB will
celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week Feb. 7
to 11.
Meanwhile, the QFHSA had
requested that the Ministry change their date
“We have been advised by the MEQ that
they will not change the timing of Teacher
Appreciation Week from the first one in
February,” said QFHSA Executive Director
Glenna Uline. “The rationale offered was
that a decision was made, several years back
to have the week of Valentine’s Day paired
up with "la Semaine des Arts" in Quebec
and therefore move the Teachers
Appreciation Week to the first complete
week of February. The MEQ also considers
that if individual schools or boards prefer a
different time, it is their choice.”
CIAO BELLA: Actress Ellen David
returned to Wagar High School in Côte
Saint-Luc, where she graduated from more
than 25 years ago, to talk to the visual arts
class of teacher Stacy Nash. David is
presently starring in the new hit CBC
Television show Ciao Bella. She portrays
Sofia, the mother of the lead character
Elena (Claudi Ferri). In a stunning exhibit
of their talents, the series makeup crew has
taken this attractive woman in her forties
and aged her into a senior citizen with
plenty of worry lines. Add the bang on
Italian accent and few would believe this is
someone who grew up in the Saint-Luc. The
“dramedy,” as producers are referring to it,
can be seen again Wednesday nights
beginning Jan. 5 at 7 p.m., on CBC. It also
airs on Radio Canada. The 13-episode
series was shot simultaneously in both
languages. In addition to Ciao Bella, David
is presently reprising her standout role as the
effervescent Anna in the theatrical
production of Mambo Italiano
at the
Centaur Theatre. While she’s had many
roles and acting challenges during her 15year career, David says none has given her
more satisfaction than the role of Sofia.
David portrays the strong-willed matriarch
of a Montreal Italian family.
Ellen David (third from the right) is greeted at
Wagar.
David is no stranger to the trade. Since her
professional debut, she has landed lead roles
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on several TV series (Sirens, Urban Angel,
Bouscotte, The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo),
film (The Stork Derby, Savage Messiah,
Afterglow, A Walk on the Moon, Stardom,
Joyeux Calvaire and Mambo Italiano), and
theatre (Dancing at Lughnasa, Cat on a Hot
Tin Roof, The Substance of Fire, Tit-coq,
Accidents de parcours and Mom’s the Word),
working with directors as acclaimed as David
Mamet, Alan Rudolph, Denys Arcand and
Patricia Rozema. She earned a Prix des
Masques
Best
Supporting
Actress
nomination, for Si j’avais la seule possession
dessus le jugement dernier. And the fact that
Montreal has been a hot market for motion
pictures and television movies of the week
has also been beneficial.
Log on to
www.emsb.qc.ca (in the news- press
releases) for more details and some very
inspiring comments from Ellen.
AUTHOR VISITS: While in Quebec as
part of Canadian Children’s Book Week last
month,
Vancouver
author
Shelley
Hrdlitschka visited Wagar High School in
Côte Saint-Luc. A former school teacher,
Hrdlitschka now divides her time between
parenting and writing. She wrote articles
and book reviews before deciding to focus
entirely on teen fiction and has penned five
books. Teacher Kim Sipos says that
Wagar’s Grade 10 and 11 students had read
two of her novels- Kat’s Fall and Dancing
Naked in anticipation of her visit. Her
message was that persistence pays off and to
be prepared for rejection letters.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED WORKSHOP:
Several Cycle 3 students at Cedarcrest
Elementary School in St. Laurent had a
taste of what it is like to navigate around the
classroom without any eye sight, using a
blindfold and a white cane. They were
shown the ropes by special speaker, Alan
Dean, who is himself completely blind. Mr.
Dean spoke to the students and demonstrated
some of his "toys" (talking clocks, a talking
calculator, a paper money reader, light
sensors, liquid sensors and a braille typing
machine). He also handed out at random
special cards with all the students' names
typed in braille. Each child had to decode a
card and deliver it to the corresponding
student to be kept as a souvenir. "We all
came out of the workshop with a new respect
for the visually impaired and we are better
informed on how we can help blind people in
our community", said Dave Trewin, one of
the Cycle 3 teachers at Cedarcrest.
The Merton doll house.
DOLL HOUSE: Nicole Sculley, a Grade 2
teacher at Merton Elementary School in Côte
St. Luc, has a wonderful hobby. She builds
dollhouses for her nieces and her friends
children. The detail in every house is truly a
work of art. This year she decided to donate
the benefits of her talents to the Ste. Justine’s
Hospital by raffling off one of her
magnificent doll houses. The raffle was
launched on Nov. 24, during Parent-Teacher
interviews. The students and parents had a
chance to admire the museum quality work of
the house. Each raffle ticket was $5 and all
the proceeds will go to the hospital. The
lucky winner gets to keep the doll house.
Merton students, staff and parents were glad
to participate in this worthwhile project and
are very proud of Ms. Sculley. Meanwhile,
the school recently held its own Terry Fox
Run and raised $2,816.11. “The enthusiasm
for this annual event is always great and
everyone loves the warm-up exercises led by
11
our wonderful Physical Education teacher,
Mr. Romolo ‘Molo’ Finelli,” said Principal
Raizel Candib.
EDINBURGH
EXPRESS:
Edinburgh
Elementary School in Montreal West has
unveiled a redesigned edition of its
newsletter. The Edinburgh Express was
revamped courtesy of
parent
Jeanne
Rheaume,
whose
daughter
Emma
McSherry is in kindergarten.
PED ON THE WEB: The new Pedagogical
Services website, which can be accessed via
www.emsb.qc.ca (go to services), is running
a contest to win $100 of classroom materials.
The first winner is Martine Brosseau from
John Caboto Elementary School in Ahuntsic.
STUDENTS NEED HOMES: As of Jan.
10 John F Kennedy High School in St.
Michel and Marymount Academy in N.D.G.
will be opening their doors to foreign
students (Grades 8 and 9) from Korea. To
help them get a taste of what it is like to live
in Canada, an organization called Study
English in Quebec (SEIQ) is looking for
English-speaking families to act as “hosts”
while the students stay here and study in high
school until June 23. Host families will be
paid. If you are interested, please call Brian
Polan at
217-7369 or email him at
[email protected].
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: The East
Hill Elementary Home & School
Association once again organized Breakfast
With Santa. This East Hill Tradition took
place Dec. 5 at Buffet Le Châteaubriand.
Joanne Alberici and a team of volunteer
parents worked very hard to prepare for
this activity. “Events like this one bring
parents, children, staff and our entire school
community together, creating a solid bond
in a venture that enhances our children’s
social development in interacting with
adults and their peers,” says Principal
Maria Cesta.
Meanwhile,
the
“Corporation
de
développement communautaire de Rivièredes-Prairies organized a drawing contest to
help local children gain a sense of
belonging to their neighbourhood. Out of
500
participants
from
elementary,
secondary and CEGEP institutions, two
East
Hill
students
distinguished
themselves: Jennifer Iasenza was selected
as one of the finalists, and Glenn Gatineau
was recognized as a worthy participant.
Both were honoured at an afternoon
ceremony which took place at Notre Dame
de Fatima and received gift certificates
from Archambault.
ST. THOMAS AT ST. GABES: Santa
Clause came early to St. Gabriel Elementary
School in Pointe St. Charles and this is a well
known tradition! Santa came hot on the heels
of the St Thomas High School Choir and
Band. Both groups of teenagers played
music, sang, danced, and thoroughly
entertained the students of St Gabriel. “Every
year our students are treated to Christmas
carols, Chanukah songs, gifts, and plenty of
entertainment,” said Principal Leah Auclair.
“In the afternoon, for the first time, the preschool and Cycle I students from Verdun
Elementary School of the Lester B. Pearson
School Board came to our school to join in
the festivities. We are very appreciative of all
the consideration and effort the students,
staff, and helpers of St .Thomas show us. We
would like to give a special mention to Mrs.
Debra Barry, Sister Lorna Cooney, Ed
Samoluk, and Douglas Bray and family for
their generosity and hard work!”
CURE
NUMBERS:
The
EMSB
Communications and Marketing Division
has been presented with a beautiful trophy to
recognize the efforts that have been made by
students and staff at central head office and
schools and centres for the annual National
Denim Day. Each May, the Cure Foundation
welcomes people to wear denim and make a
12
donation for breast cancer research. The
EMSB family has done remarkably well,
contributing a total of $121,807.03 from
2000 to 2004. Overall, Canadians have
raised $8.7 million. The next National
Denim Day will be on Tues, May 10, 2005.
Luciano D’Iorio
LES AMIS DE LA MONTAGNE: On Feb,
17, 2005, Mount Royal will light up for the
most original event of the winter season in
Montreal: the snowshoe run and the Tuques
bleues celebration. Almost 900 people will
get together to take part in this fundraising
evening organized in conjunction with the
Montréal High Lights Festival. They can
participate in the friendly competition of the
legendary snowshoe race, or simply walk
along the paths of Mount Royal illuminated
by flickering torchlight. The evening will
culminate in a party at the Mount Royal
Chalet, preceded by an outdoor barbeque.
EMSB Commissioner Luciano D’iorio is
putting the word out to staff, parents and
students to take part in this event organized
by Les Amis de la montagne, which works to
protect, conserve and promote Mount Royal.
Your help would be most welcome. The
objective is to raise $250,000 to enable Les
Amis de la montagne to finance their many
programs and activities for the conservation
of the mountain. Mr. D’irio is asking schools
and centres to help out by distributing
invitation cards, purchasing tickets for a team
to participate. ( $150 each ) or by sending a
donation to Les Amis de la montagne. For
more imformation please call Marie-France
Thibaudeau, Director of Development at
(514) 843-8240, extension 243.
STAGE FRIGHT: In its fourth production
this season, Purple Dragon Theatre
(www.purpledragonmauve.com) will present
Stage Fright, a sensational, cabaret-style
song and dance extravaganza February 3-6,
2005 at the Centre Culturel Calixa –Lavallée
(3819 Calixa-Lavallée) in Lafontaine Park.
A number of EMSB students make up the
cast of this show, including Reveena
Rothman-Rudnicki and Megan Lindy
from Royal Vale in N.D.G. Stage Fright,
directed by Purple Dragon vocal coach
Lydie DuBuisson, is a hilarious song and
dance extravaganza. It features songs from
the 60s to today, telling the story of a young
girl, Charly, who dreams of a career on the
stage but suffers from stage fright. The
audience will love the soundtrack which
includes favorites such as Get This Party
Started, ABC, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,
Love Can Move Mountains, I Will Survive
and Just Like A Prayer. Shows are on
Thursday 6:30pm, Friday 6:30pm, Saturday
( 1p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Sunday ( 1 p.m.
and 5p.m.) Tickets are $15 for adults and
$10 for children For more information call
(514)
995-9924
or
e-mail
[email protected].
WIZARD OF OZ: Mon. May 30, 2005 has
been bookmarked for a unique presentation
of the Wizard of Oz. EMSB administrators
and other staff will make up the cast and
crew. Plans call for the show to benefit
Cystic Fibrosis. For years, this dreadful
disease has robbed children of the many
pleasures of childhood and has terminated
young lives. This year’s choice will be a
modern fairy tale (partly surreal and partly
humoristic). It is being written for an adult
audience and will include many different
fairy tale characters such as Dorothy, The
Wizard of the EMSB, Scarecrow, Céline
Dion and many others. It is based on The
13
Wizard of Oz theme. Prospective volunteers
can contact Tina Lavranos at EMSB
extension 2014, or Connie Primiano at
EMSB extenson 2018. Other planning
committee
members
include
Paul
Saunders, Don Houston, Sandra Furfaro,
Phyllis D’Amato, Ivana Colatriano,
Evelyne Alfonsi and Judy Simpson.
provides food for undernourished school
children. Nine EMSB schools benefit from
this program, including James Lyng,
Westmount High,
Westmount Park,
Doorways, Gardenview, Options I and II,
Roslyn, St Ignatius and Willingdon. All
employees were encouraged to donate items
of non-perishable goods.
SAFETY FOR KIDS: The Missing
Children’s Network’s innovative and unique
child safety programs are renowned for their
effectiveness in preventing children from
becoming victims of kidnappings and
aggression.
“How I Stay Safe” is an
interactive safety curriculum designed for
children from kindergarten to grade six. The
goal of this program is to reduce child
victimization by teaching children effective
personal safety strategies. In 2004, the
Missing Children’s Network had the pleasure
of visiting 8 elementary schools within the
EMSB, delivering a total of 61 personal
safety workshops, thus empowering 2,135
students students with the knowledge needed
to stay safe in potentially dangerous
situations.
In the next few months, 8
additional schools will also benefit from this
unique service, offered free of charge to
every elementary school in the Greater
Montreal area.
Since 1985, the Missing
Children’s Network has undertaken the
mission of accompanying our children on the
pathway of safety throughout their young
lives. After all, every little step counts as far
as safety is concerned! By taking part in our
unique prevention services and activities, you
can help make our community a harmonious
and safe environment for all children. To
learn more about our services, or to support
the humanitarian efforts of the Missing
Children’s Network, please contact 8434333.
CHILDREN’S PARTY: The annual EMSB
Staff Children’s Party was held at James
Lyng High School this year. A collaborative
effort between central office staff and the
Montreal Teachers Association, more than
$21,502 was raised for the Generations
Foundation. The program featured the
Montreal Chinese Lion Dance Club, Ish
Kabbibble’s roaming magic, Bingo the
Bear’s Amazing Balloons, Fine Line
Serpents, Kathy’s Dance Academy, an Elvis
Tribute Artist, a Holiday Sing Song, the
presentation of gifts to the kids by Santa and
La Fée des Étoiles, a huge raffle drawing
and a goldfish giveaway. A Light buffet was
served all day.
SHARE THE WARMTH: The EMSB
administration
building
once
again
supported the Christmas Box Campaign for
Share the Warmth, an organization which
BRIEFLY: Elizabeth Roy, 7, a Grade
2 student from Royal Vale Elementary
School in N.D.G. is performing the role
of a mouse ( in Act 1) at the Place des
Arts run of the Nutcracker. She is
loving the experience, says her mom
Susan Murphy. The open audition was
held in September. The youngest of the
performers, the mice (seven per show)
are aged seven to nine years …Anthony
Scozzari, a teacher, has been appointed
vice-principal of Rosemount High
School.
ADULT AND VOC ED
RETIREMENT:
The
staff
and
administration
from
the
Laurier
Macdonald Career Centre in St.
Léonard, got together at Restaurant
Laguna on Dec. 10 to celebrate the
retirement of hairdressing teacher
14
Irene Argyris. For the past 28 years Ms.
Argyris has transmitted her skills to
students in the field of beauty care.
February 7-11, 2005
Teacher Appreciation Week
April 20, 2005
Parent Volunteer Appreciation Evening
Oscar Peterson Hall
Concordia University
Sponsored by First Canadian Financial
Services
(www.fcfs-inc.com)
May 10, 2005
National Denim Day
May 30, 2005
The Wizard of Oz
7 p.m.
Presented by EMSB Staff
Locale TBA
*change of date
Irene Argyris is congratulated by
Centre Director John Greene (left)
and Assistant Director Agostino
Porchetta.
IMPORTANT DATES
January 17, 2005 *
EMSB Special Board Meeting
Major School Change
January 18, 2005
Leonardo Da Vinci Elementary School
12025 André Dumas, RDP
Multicultural Fair Open House
January 26, 2005
Council of Commissioners
7:30 p.m.
February 2,3, 4 & 7,8, 2005 *
Elementary School Registration
PLEINS FEUX SUR FIELDING
VISITE DE PETER MANSBRIDGE : La
Commission scolaire English-Montréal
(CSEM) a eu le privilège d’accueillir Peter
Mansbridge, le célèbre animateur de CBC
National News, à l’école secondaire James
Lyng de Saint-Henri. M. Mansbridge était à
Montréal pour une diffusion en direct du
National
dont
le
thème
était
‘Renouvellement’. Il a accepté l’invitation
de la Division des communications et du
marketing de la CSEM de visiter James
Lyng, une école en milieux défavorisés dont
il est familier. L’an dernier The National a
présenté un documentaire sur l’avenir
prometteur de l’école en termes de
rendement académique et de diminution du
taux de décrochage.
15
INSCRIPTIONS : La CSEM a annoncé que
les inscriptions au primaire pour l’année
scolaire 2005-2006 auront lieu du mercredi 2
février au vendredi 4 février et qu’elles se
poursuivront le lundi 7 février et le mardi 8
février 2005 pour les enfants qui s’inscrivent
à la maternelle. Une période d’inscriptions
pour les frères et sœurs des enfants déjà
inscrits à une école de la CSEM aura lieu du
24 au 26 janvier et du 31janvier au 1er février.
Il est demandé aux parents d’inscrire leur
enfant à l’école primaire de la CSEM la plus
proche de leur domicile et offrant le
programme de français de leur choix. Pour
tous
renseignements
supplémentaires,
veuillez appeler au (514) 483-7200 ou visiter
le site Web de la Commission à
www.emsb.qc.ca.
Tous les élèves qui s’inscrivent pour la
première fois doivent soumettre un certificat
de naissance et leurs dossiers de vaccination
à l’école qu’ils fréquenteront. Il est demandé
aux parents de compléter les formulaires qui
permettront à l’école de faire la demande
d’un
certificat
d’admissibilité
à
l’enseignement en anglais. Selon la Charte de
la
langue
française,
un
certificat
d’admissibilité est émis aux enfants qui ont
fait la majorité de leurs études primaires et
secondaires en anglais au Canada; dont le
père ou la mère a fait la majorité de ses
études primaires en anglais au Canada ou
dont le frère ou la sœur a fait la majorité de
ses études primaires ou secondaires en
anglais au Canada. Veuillez prendre note
qu’à la suite de l’adoption de la Loi 104, ce
critère exclut les études complétées au sein
du réseau d’écoles privées du Québec.
CHANGEMENTS MAJEURS : Le conseil
des commissaires de la CSEM tiendra une
réunion extraordinaire le lundi 17 janvier
2005 à compter de 19 h à l’école Royal Vale
(5851 Somerled) pour débattre les
changements majeurs affectant les écoles. La
fermeture de quatre écoles primaires et de
deux écoles secondaires est considérée. En
outre, le transfert de deux centres d’éducation
des adultes et de trois écoles secondaires
innovatrices est aussi proposé pour l’année
scolaire 2005-2006. Les écoles primaires
sont : St. Ignatius of Loyola à N.D.G., St.
Gabriel à Pointe-Saint-Charles, St. Patrick
au Plateau et McLearon à Pointe-auxTrembles. Une autre recommandation porte
sur le programme anglais de base qui est
graduellement éliminé à l’école Roslyn de
Westmount pour permettre l’expansion de
son programme d’immersion française. Les
écoles secondaires dont la fermeture est
proposée sont : St. Pius X à Ahuntsic et
Wagar à Côte-Saint-Luc. Pour le secteur des
adultes, il est recommandé que le High
School of Montreal actuellement situé à
Saint-Michel soit transféré au bâtiment de
l’école St.Patrick où il se trouvait
antérieurement et que le Centre d’adultes
Marymount soit transféré au bâtiment de
l’école Wagar. Finalement, il est proposé que
Perspectives I et II de Montréal-Nord soit
transféré à Saint-Michel aux locaux
actuellement occupés par le High School of
Montreal et que le Programme Mile End
soit transféré de locaux loués à la rue de
l’Épée à Parc Extension au bâtiment de
l’école
St.
Patrick.
Les
conseils
d’établissement de chaque école et centre
affecté par ces propositions ont eu l’occasion
de présenter leurs mémoires aux audiences
du 6 décembre dernier.
TÉLÉTHON : Le personnel et les élèves de
John Paul I ont aidé à recueillir plus de 1 500
$ pour le Téléthon des Étoiles marquant ainsi
la sixième année de participation à cette
cause. Les élèves et le personnel ont donné
généreusement lors d’une vente de jus qui a
eu lieu le 30 novembre ainsi qu’en achetant
des petits oursons et un repas de poulet dans
les jours qui ont suivi. Un tirage au sort a
aussi eu lieu.
LANCEMENT DE LIVRE : Les élèves et
le personnel de l’école secondaire Laurier
Macdonald ont officiellement lancé leur
16
nouveau livre Faded Memories le mercredi
1er décembre au Centre Leonardo da Vinci.
Ce programme dynamique a présenté un
vidéo, des conférenciers invités, des lectures
d’extraits du livre et quelques interprétations
dramatiques des histoires. Le livre est la
dernière publication en date d’une série
incluant Rainbow of Dreams, Memories in
Black and White, Once upon a Journey et
Whispering
Dreams.
Mosé
Persico,
animateur du programme Entertainment
Spotlight de CFCF TV, qui faisait partie des
invités d’honneur, a prononcé un éloquent
discours.
TAUX DE DÉCROCHAGE : Le Carrefour
de lutte au décrochage scolaire a
officiellement lancé ses opérations à
l'Écomusée du fier monde – un emplacement
idéal pour un programme visionnaire tel que
celui-ci, en présence de représentants de
plusieurs commissions scolaires et d’autres
organisations partenaires. Le Carrefour de
lutte au décrochage scolaire est un service, un
lieu de référence et d’aiguillage pour les
jeunes décrocheurs et les parents concernés,
ainsi que pour les intervenants qui les aident
à retrouver la bonne voie. Cet effort concerté
découle d’un sincère désir de donner à
Montréal une base solide d’initiatives visant
à réduire les taux de décrochage de façon
significative. Le Centre accueillera les jeunes
francophones et anglophones qui cherchent à
retourner à l’école. Une gamme variée de
services de soutien est offerte à ces
adolescents leur permettant d’identifier leurs
intérêts, d’explorer des cheminements de
carrières et de se rendre compte des
occasions offertes au sein du réseau
d’éducation. Ces interventions auront lieu
dans un cadre bien planifié, conçu pour
assurer que ces programmes de formation
réussissent.
L’aide et le soutien sont aussi offerts aux
parents. D’autres activités à l’intention des
intervenants visent à créer un environnement
dédié au partage de l’expertise et des
initiatives réussies. En outre, le personnel du
Carrefour de lutte au décrochage scolaire a
l’intention d’offrir des ateliers aux écoles
dans le but de diminuer le taux de décrochage
scolaire. Notre devise est «Accrochez-vous à
l’école - découvrez les nombreuses voies qui
mènent au succès!» souligne la directrice
administrative Michèle Glémaud. Le
Carrefour de lutte au décrochage scolaire est
une initiative de deux autres organisations,
La Table des partenaires pour la persévérance
scolaire à Montréal et la Fondation de lutte
au décrochage scolaire.
CONCOURS
D’ORTHOGRAPHE :
Vingt-deux écoles de la CSEM participeront
à un grand concours d’orthographe qui aura
lieu en mars sous l’égide du quotidien The
Gazette. La CSEM a le plus grand nombre
d’inscriptions (2,938) comparé aux 1700 de
la Commission scolaire Lester-B. Pearson.
Un total de 75 écoles et de 7,697 élèves s’est
inscrit au concours. Les écoles de la CSEM
sont : Bancroft (60), Dalkeith (105), Dante
(74), East Hill (150), Honoré Mercier (200),
Edinburgh (55), Elizabeth Ballantyne (90),
Gardenview (205), Général Vanier (87),
Hampstead (80), Holy Cross (100), école
secondaire John Paul I (600), Leonardo da
Vinci (152), Rosemont (30), Royal Vale
(130), Sinclair Laird (130), St. Brendan (80),
St. Ignatius of Loyola (51), St. Patrick (24),
école secondaire Venture (24), Collège
Vincent Massey (275), école secondaire
Westmount (25) et Willingdon (209). Le
lauréat du concours et deux finalistes
représenteront le Québec en avril aux finales
du CanSpell National. En outre, le lauréat
régional aura aussi l’occasion de représenter
le Canada au prestigieux Scripps-Howard
Spelling Bee qui aura lieu à Washington du
29 mai au 3 juin. Chaque école doit organiser
ses propres concours d’orthographe de classe
et d’école d’ici le 21 février.
SOCKS FOR POPS : En cette saison des
Fêtes, le conseil d’élèves de l’école
secondaire Rosemont, sous la direction de
17
Gerry Westphal, animateur de vie spirituelle
et d’engagement communautaire, a incité tout
le corps étudiant à participer à sa campagne «
Socks for Pops ». Les élèves recueillent de
nouvelles chaussettes en coton ou en laine
pour aider les jeunes itinérants de Montréal à
se réchauffer. Leur objectif est de recueillir
au moins 1000 paires de chaussettes pour
distribution immédiate. Ce projet est
entrepris en collaboration avec ‘Dans la Rue’.
Après la période des Fêtes, des membres du
personnel de ‘Dans la Rue’ ont l’intention de
se rendre à Rosemont pour partager leurs
expériences avec les élèves. La campagne
annuelle du Panier de Noël, coordonnée par
l’enseignante Nicole Finn, bat son plein.
Cette campagne a pour but d’aider des
familles de la communauté de Rosemont,
ainsi que celles des communautés
avoisinantes. L’objectif de la campagne est
de recueillir 2000 articles d’aliments non
périssables pour garnir les paniers.
APPRÉCIATION
DES
ENSEIGNANT(E)S : Le ministère de
l’Éducation désigne chaque année la
première semaine de Février « Semaine
d’appréciation des enseignant(e)s ». Pour sa
part, l’Association canadienne parents-élèves
y consacre la deuxième semaine de ce mois.
La Division des communications et du
marketing de la CSEM et la Fédération des
associations des foyers et écoles du Québec
(FAFEQ) ont tenté de mettre fin à cette
confusion. La CSEM célèbrera la semaine
d’appréciation des enseignant(e)s du 7 au 11
février. Entre temps, la FAFEQ avait
demandé au ministère de changer sa date «
Nous avons été informés que le MEQ ne
changera pas la date de la Semaine
d’appréciation des enseignant(e)s » déclare
Glenna Uline, directrice exécutive de la
FAFEQ « La raison de ce refus est que la
décision a été prise , il y a plusieurs années,
de jumeler la semaine de la Saint-Valentin
avec la Semaine des Arts au Québec et de
consacrer la première semaine complète de
février à la Semaine d’appréciation des
enseignant(e)s . Le MEQ considère que si les
commissions scolaires ou les écoles préfèrent
une date différente, elles sont libres de le
faire. »
MAISON DE POUPÉES : Nicole Sculley,
enseignante de 2e année à l’école primaire
Merton de Côte-Saint-Luc, a un passe-temps
merveilleux. Elle construit des maisons de
poupées pour ses nièces et les enfants de ses
amis. Les détails de chaque maison en font
une véritable œuvre d’art. Cette année, elle a
décidé de faire don du produit de ses talents à
l’hôpital Sainte-Justine en organisant une
loterie, dont le prix serait l’une de ses
magnifiques maisons de poupées. La loterie a
été lancée le 24 novembre au cours des
entrevues parents-enseignant(e)s. Les élèves
et les parents ont eu l’occasion d’admirer la
qualité de ce travail qui est digne d’un musée.
Le coût de chaque billet de loterie est de 5 $
et le produit des ventes sera entièrement
versé à l’hôpital. L’heureux(se) gagnant(e)
gardera la maison de poupées. Les élèves de
Merton, le personnel et les parents sont très
heureux de participer à ce projet de valeur et
ils sont très fiers de Mme Sculley. Le nom
du/de la gagnant(e) sera annoncé le 17
décembre. En attendant, l’école a récemment
organisé sa course Terry Fox et a pu
recueillir 2 816,11 $ « Le degré
d’enthousiasme généré par cet évènement
annuel est toujours très élevé et tous les
participants apprécient les exercices de
réchauffement menés par notre merveilleux
enseignant d’éducation physique M. Romolo
‘Molo’ Finelli » déclare la directrice de
l’école Raizel Candib.
PETIT-DÉJEUNER AVEC LE PÈRE
NOËL : L’Association parents-élèves de
l’école primaire East Hill a organisé, à
nouveau, le petit-déjeuner avec le Père Noël.
Cette tradition de l'école a eu lieu le 5
décembre au Buffet Le Châteaubriand.
Joanne Alberici et une équipe de parents
bénévoles ont travaillé d’arrache pied pour
préparer cette activité. « Des activités telles
18
que celle-ci réunissent les parents, les élèves,
le personnel et notre entière communauté
scolaire, et créent des liens solides par le
biais d’un projet qui rehausse le
développement social de nos enfants par leur
interaction avec les adultes et leurs pairs »
déclare la directrice Maria Cesta.
FONDATION CURE : La Division des
communications et du marketing de la CSEM
a reçu un très beau trophée en reconnaissance
des efforts déployés par les élèves et le
personnel du centre administratif et des
écoles et centres au cours de la Journée
Nationale du Denim. À chaque mois de mai,
la Fondation Cure encourage la population à
porter du denim et de faire un don pour la
recherche sur le cancer du sein. La famille de
la CSEM a un palmarès remarquable avec
des dons de 121 807,03 $ de 2000 à 2004. La
contribution totale à l’échelle nationale s’est
levée à 8,7 millions $. La prochaine Journée
Nationale du denim aura lieu le mardi 10 mai
2005.
SHARE THE WARMTH : Le centre
administratif de la CSEM appuie à nouveau
la campagne des boîtes de Noël de Share the
Warmth, une organisation qui procure des
aliments aux enfants sous alimentés d’âge
scolaire. Neuf écoles de la CSEM, James
Lyng,
école
secondaire
Westmount,
Westmount Park, Doorways, Gardenview,
Options I et II, Roslyn, St. Ignatius et
Willingdon, bénéficient de ce programme.
Tout le personnel est encouragé à faire don
d’articles non périssables et de les placer
dans la boîte spéciale qui se trouve près du
bureau de la sécurité. Pour plus de
renseignements, veuillez vous adresser à
André Boucher ou Terry-Lee Leroux au
bureau de la sécurité; Carol Maker, bureau
201 ou Bruno Bourcier, bureau 343. Les
écoles sont aussi encouragées à organiser
leurs propres campagnes.
DATES IMPORTANTES
17 JANVIER 2005 *
Réunion extraordinaire
commissaires
Changements majeurs
du
conseil
des
26 JANVIER 2005
Réunion du conseil des commissaires
19 h 30
7-11 FÉVRIER 2005
Semaine d’appréciation des enseignant(e)s
20 AVRIL 2005
Soirée d’appréciation des parents bénévoles
Salle Oscar Peterson
Université Concordia
Commanditée par les Services financiers
First Canadian
(www.fcfs-inc.com)
10 MAI 2005
Journée Nationale du Denim
30 MAI 2005
The Wizard of Oz
19 h
Présenté par le personnel de la CSEM
Emplacement à être annoncé
* changement de date
Submissions for the Fielding Focus should
be made to Michael J. Cohen by e-mail
([email protected]), fax (483-7213) or
drop it by room 109.