NOVEMBER 26, 2015 EDITION / VOLUME 18 NUMBER 4 / THE OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE EMSB

THE REFUGEE PROCESS: Chairman Angela Mancini gave a briefing to the Council of  Commissioners on how the EMSB might contribute to the needs of  Syrian refugees coming to Quebec. Ms. Mancini said that the EMSB has been present at meetings organized by the City of Montreal on this topic. The EMSB does have some facilities it is willing to make available for this purpose. As for the educational component, the EMSB has asked the Quebec government to allow primary and secondary students to attend our schools on a humanitarian basis despite the language laws.  Regarding adult students, the EMSB already welcomes landed immigrants. The question now is whether those with refugee status will be given that option as well.

EMSB BY-ELECTION: Three candidates have submitted their papers to run in an English Montreal School Board by-election in Ward 4 (Côte Saint-Luc-Hampstead). Voting will take place on Sunday, December 13 with advance polls opened on Sunday, December 6. The candidates are Michèle Cohen, Bernard Praw and Charlotte Sarah Smoley. This by-election was made necessary following the passing last month of long-time school commissioner Syd Wise. D’Arcy McGee Liberal MNA David Birnbaum made this statement in Quebec about the late Syd Wise, the long-time commissioner for Ward 4 who passed away last month. Here is a CTV report after the Education Minister moved to cancel the by-election.

Patricia Lattanzio

PATRICIA LATTANZIO: Congratulations to EMSB Commissioner Patricia R. Lattanzio, who won a by-election in St. Léonard as a part of Équipe Denis Coderre and is now a member of Montreal City Council. She is also Chairman of the  Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l'île de Montréal (CGTSIM). See this story in The Suburban.

SPIRIT OF GIVING: With the Spirit of Giving alive and well at the EMSB, CTV Montreal’s Lori Graham and Christine Long are set to broadcast live from eight schools, highlighting the various organizations involved in the annual campaign.

Click here for highlights from the 2014 campaign.

Live broadcasts will take place at noon on the following dates:

• Monday, December 7 at Royal Vale School in N.D.G.

• Tuesday, December 8 at Edinburgh Elementary School in Montreal West

• Wednesday, December 9 at Parkdale School in St. Laurent

• Thursday, December 10 at Pierre de Coubertin Elementary School in St. Leonard

• Friday, December 11 at Dunrae Gardens Elementary School in T.M.R.

• Monday, December 14 at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary in St. Leonard

• Tuesday, December 15 at Roslyn Elementary in Westmount

CTV will also help wrap up the campaign on December 15 with a live broadcast at 6 p.m. from Rosemount High School.

PRAYERS FOR PARIS: In light of the senseless acts of terrorism in Paris, students from Rosemount High School and Nesbitt Elementary School in Rosemount, Perspectives I & II in St. Michel and Dalkeith Elementary in Anjou will be commemorating the victims through a book of peace called “Our Prayers for Paris.” Students have written poems, messages of hope, as well as created artistic representations of peace marking the tragedy. The project, which was organized by Vince Lacroce, will also help students recognize “International Tolerance Day,” held annually on November 16. An interactive workshop called “My place in the World” will accompany the creation of the book. The workshop will be focused on the respect and appreciation of the rich variety of cultures in our world and how we can become advocates for peace. The schools involved would also like to extend a thank you to Bureau En Gros (4625 Jean Talon Est) for generously offering to sponsor the printing and production of the book. Once completed, the book will be sent to the Canadian Embassy in Paris.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY WEEK: On the occasion of Energy Efficiency Week, November 22 to 28, the EMSB wishes to once again bring attention to a second major initiative aimed at bolstering energy efficiency in school buildings continues to move along nicely. This $24.6 million project with energy efficiency experts Énergère is  focusing on 17 specific schools and centers. With work complete on the modernization of more than 20 boiler rooms, work is now proceeding on replacing 25,300 lights  All lighting fixtures will be converted from fluorescent to the latest in LED technology, which will save energy, last longer, and simplify maintenance while maintaining or enhancing lighting levels. This measure alone will account for $9 million of the budget. See the Energere website.

QPAT CONVENTION: The EMSB Communications and Marketing Division will once again have an information table (#6) at the annual Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (QPAT) Convention Nov. 26 and 27 at the Palais des Congrès.

Luigi Di Fillipo (left) shown here at a school event.

HOME AND SCHOOL CONFERENCE: Roslyn Elementary School hosted the Quebec Federation of Home and School Associations Fall Conference November 7. Former Liberal MP Marlene Jennings, most recently the chair of an Election Systems Study Panel, was the keynote Luigi Di Fillipo, talking to our kids, teamwork for success and managing stress through mindfulness.

The kids in concert.

LE TEMPS DES FLEURS: A total of 320 Montreal elementary school choristers, a symphonic orchestra and renowned Quebec actor Guy Nadon have collaborated on a children’s book/CD about the ancient Greek myth of Persephone and how the seasons came to be.   Le Temps des Fleurs, le Temps des Neiges is a massive multi-disciplinary project culminating in the creation of a book/CD for children in French, which explores the ancient Greek myth of the Goddess Demeter, her daughter Persephone and the unbreakable bond that exists between a mother and her child.   The EMSB is represented by six elementary schools: Glen Huser and adapted to French by Jean Antonin Billard and Robert Paquin, the book includes an operatic version of the story on CD, composed by Athens-based Giannis Georgantelis. Brilliantly illustrated by three time Governor General Award winning illustrator Philippe Béha and narrated by Nadon, Le Temps des Fleurs, le Temps des Neiges is a collaboration of Panarmonia Atelier Musical with Quebec publishing house Planète Rebelle and Chroma Musika, in partnership with the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal and the Hellenic Congress of Quebec.  See the full press release.

SAM SCHACHTER REPORTS: LaurenHill Academy Secondary V student Samantha (Sam) Schacter has really taken advantage of a media session she attended at last spring's Career Expo at See it all here. Bravo Sam and of course videographer Daniel Smajovits.

Sam Schacter

B.A.S.E. WEBSITE: In September of the 2015-2016 school year, the EMSB’s B.A.S.E. (Before and After School Enriched) Daycare Program launched its very own website at www.emsbbase.com. An informative, one-stop shop for parents interested in learning more about the B.A.S.E. program, the website showcases a video of what goes on in B.A.S.E. Daycares and all the information a prospective parent might need. For many years, B.A.S.E. has also maintained its own blog at daycare-matters.com, posting stories and photos of the great work done by the students in their exciting before and after school activities. These activities touch upon several educational cores from physical activity and the creative arts to media and environmental awareness.  The blog also features all past issues of the Touching Base on Daycare Matters newspaper that comes out twice a year, written by B.A.S.E. staff and students.  Finally, the B.A.S.E. program recently joined the twitterverse and has begun tweeting fun photos and snippets of daycare happenings. Follow B.A.S.E. on Twitter here.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: All five Montreal school boards are working together on the two-year project Mon service de garde physiquement actif or My Daycare is Physically Active, which encourages school daycare staff to plan and implement practices that encourage youth aged four to 12 to be physically active. Two EMSB B.A.S.E. (Before and After School Enrichment) Daycares, Leonardo Da Vinci and Cedarcrest, are participating in the project. The project stems from the Montréal Physiquement Active action plan, in partnership with Québec en forme, which aims to implement environments conducive to physical activity and to encourage Montrealers to become and remain physically active. A grant of $60,000 is funding the 18 schools participating in the project from the five school boards - Commission scolaire de Montreal (eight schools), Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys (four schools), Commission scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île (two schools), Lester B. Pearson School Board (two schools), EMSB (two schools) - and is divided by the total number of daycares in each school board.  See the detailed press release.

RECALL: Sanofi-aventis Canada Inc., in consultation with Health Canada, is recalling all lots of Allerject (0.15 mg/0.15mL and 0.3 mg/0.3 mL strength epinephrine auto-injectors) from the Canadian market. A similar recall is taking place in the United States, where it’s sold as Auvi-Q.

This recall is due to issues that may potentially affect the delivery of the required amount of the drug, epinephrine. Allerject is used as an emergency treatment by patients who are at risk and/or have a history of serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). In light of the need to manage supply associated with this recall, customers and pharmacists are being asked to limit the replacement of Allerject to one unit or the appropriate number of units as instructed by your healthcare professional until full alternative stock is available.  Click here for more information or call your school nurse, local CLSC or your family doctor.

Arnaud Lauzière

SUPPORTING FRANCE: Arnaud Lauzière, the nephew of EMSB Secretary General Nathalie Lauzière, is a young hockey player on Montreal's North Shore. After the tragic violence in France he decided to tape his hockey stick with the colours of France to show his support. Not only was his effort followed by other members of his team, but opposing clubs did the same thing. The cherry on the cake saw him score the winning goal for his team.

GENERATIONS FOUNDATION:  Global Television will be at Dalkeith Elementary School in Anjou for one day in December to film a piece on the Generations Foundation. This will coincide with Dalkeith’s annual Holiday Breakfast. Generations has sponsored the food portion of the breakfast for the past six years. However, this year they will be providing a present (Hasbro / Megablocks) for each and every student. The Rosemount High School Band has agreed to provide the entertainment and hopefully Santa might even make an appearance.

Angelike

ANGELIKE FALBO: St. Léonard teen singing sensation Angelike Falbo, a finalist on TVA’s La Voix last year, will headline a Christmas concert on Dec. 5 (7 pm) at the Marcelin Champagnat Theatre at 1275 Avenue de Collège in Laval. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation.  A total of 389 tickets were sold on the first day they Marco Bochicchio will be co-hosting this Christmas Concert, produced by Melanie Hattem, Joe Falbo and Archie Bochiccio. The event will welcome special guests Lukay and Jaden Chase, whose hit songs play on the radio on a daily basis across Canada. Dancers from L’Académie de Danse de Montréal will also be on stage. The performers recently made a personal visit to the Children’s Hospital. Angelike attended Laurier Macdonald High School in St. Léonard, as well as Gerald McShane Elementary and John Paul I Junior High.  She is a remarkably talented young lady who shot to stardom in this province while performing on La Voix, the French language version of The Voice. While she is perfectly bilingual, the daughter of an anglo dad and francophone mom, she has attended English schools her whole life. To have finished second on this blockbuster show was quite an accomplishment. Despite the fact she had to miss a lot of class last year, she maintained her grades and has now moved on to Collège Marie Victorin. She has already performed the national anthem for the Alouettes and the Impact. It only makes sense that the Canadiens be next! Tickets are $27.50. Log on here for more details.

A high school and elementary school student climb the wall (PBL Photography)

The official ribbon cutting.

CLIMBING WALL: Students at Royal Vale School in N.D.G. are rising to new heights courtesy of an indoor climbing wall that was donated by the Côte de Liesse Tennis Club (Club CDL). The state-of-the-art wall was officially inaugurated on November 25.The wall, which was built inside a renovated squash
court, is set to complement a flourishing athletics program at the school. With the recent introduction of a hockey program, students have begun to flock to Royal Vale for its athletics, in addition to the school’s first-class reputation for science and mathematics. Principal  Nathalie Lacroix-Maillette noted that the project is two years in the making. Royal Vale parent William Palmer wanted to specifically thank  Eric Newton from Club CDL for all of his support.  Click here for a video of the unique climbing wall and  here is a photo album. 

Celebrating the podcast at Edinburgh.

EDINBURGH UNVEILS PODCAST: With the QR codes printed and the plaques mounted, Edinburgh Elementary School  in Montreal West officially unveiled its podcast project to the public on November 25. The podcast project was a groundbreaking initiative that allowed students to merge both technology and history. Beginning in Spring 2015, students in Grade 6 selected 12 historical places to study in the Town of Montreal West. After delving into the history of each locale, students compiled their findings, which eventually translated into a script, and finally was recorded and edited into a 90 second podcast. These podcasts will be made available to the general public via QR codes printed on special plaques. Said plaques will be mounted at the corresponding locations in the Town of Montreal West. Individuals will then be able to use their smartphone to scan the code and listen to the brief history lesson. The 12 locations are: Edinburgh Elementary School, Montreal West Town Hall, Royal West Academy, Elizabeth Ballantyne School, Montreal West Train Station, Montreal West Fire Station, Strathern, Memorial and Toe Blake Parks, Canadian Pacific Railway Station, Montreal West Cenotaph and St. Philip’s Anglican Church. Support for the project came from the Town of Montreal West and Mayor Beny Masella as well as Edinburgh Elementary School and the EMSB. Click here for a video highlighting the project.

PARKDALE RECOGNIZED: Espace pour la vie Montréal has officially recognized the Parkdale Garden and Arboretum as a Jardin pour la biodiversité for promoting biodiversity in Quebec and contributing to urban greening.  To get the certification, the Garden had to meet criteria such as incorporating a variety of plants, containing indigenous plants, no pesticides used and tolerance with insects.  The Garden, created three years ago through an EMSB Green Grant, has been growing with the help of Vert-Cité, students and volunteers under the guidance of the Community Learning Center. For more info and photos please consult this website.

SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY THE HOLOCAUST IN ISRAEL: Teachers in the youth and adult sectors and spiritual guidance and community involvement animators can now apply for three week all expense paid scholarships to take part in the 2016 Yad Vashem International Seminar for Educators in Jerusalem, Israel July 3 to 21. As part of the Riva and Thomas O. Hecht Scholarship, Teaching of the Holocaust for Educators Program, participants will take part in a professional development program under the direction of the Faculty of the Yad Vashem Seminars for Educators from Abroad, International School for Holocaust Studies. The goal of the program is to provide professional development activities to teachers for teaching about the Holocaust and anti-Semitism to students in the youth Sector. Each recipient will be asked to create at least one teaching unit or module developed within the context learned.  Complete CVs and Yad Vashem's application form must be submitted by March 31, 2016.  All of the information teachers need to apply is here.

SEX ED FOR PARENTS: Roslyn Elementary School in Westmount will have its annual Parent Education Evening. On Thursday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m.  CJAD’s Dr. Laurie Betito will be the guest speaker and will address topics such as communication with children about sex and gender (when, why, how); the family as a source of knowledge and attitudes about sexuality and gender (including the family’s cultural background, religion, and particular approach to these topics); dealing with the sexualized environment (music, movies, tv, adds, internet, etc.); mediating this environment for our children; and best (or least damaging) ways to react to (or pre-empt) children’s adoption of sexualized vocabulary and imagery from the media.  “We think this will be a timely lecture, considering the interest generated by the sex ed program in Ontario, and the issues that we deal with on a daily basis in schools,” says Vice Principal Rosana Caplan.

TOY TEA: Students from the EMSB will once again work towards collecting new toys for the 24th annual Christmas and Chanukah Toy Tea, to be held at Tudor Hall on the fifth floor of Ogilvy’s Department Store on December 2. The toys will benefit over 5,000 children who are being sheltered and protected from abuse, or violence, as well as other children’s charities. This will be the 13th year of the EMSB’s involvement in the Toy Tea Campaign, which is an initiative of former Spiritual, Religious and Moral Education Consultant, Irene Miller. Student representatives from each school, along with their respective spiritual community animators, teachers, administrators and parent volunteers, will attend the event to drop off their donated toys and receive special certificates of participation from Claire Kruyt, the Toy Tea’s chairperson, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The event will also feature the singing of Christmas carols by several school choirs.   Schools can participate by collecting new non-violent toys. While non-violent toys are preferred and can be delivered unwrapped to Tudor Hall between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on December 2, donations and cheques endorsed to the Toy Tea would also be greatly appreciated. Log on to www.toyteamontreal.org for more information.

REMEMBRANCE DAY:  Once again, EMSB schools held a variety of Remembrance Day ceremonies. Please see this press release for a look at what occurred.  And here is a CTV report featuring Vincent Massey Collegiate's participation in the official commemoration in downtown Montreal and a CBC report from an event at Rosemount High School.

THREE SCHOOLS AND BLACK WATCH: Students from John F. Kennedy High School in St. Michel, James Lyng High School in St. Henri and Vincent Massey Collegiate in Rosemount marked Remembrance Day by participating in the Black Watch parade downtown. Many have sacrificed and continued to sacrifice on behalf of Canada and all Canadians. EMSB participation in the event was coordinated by Aaron Durocher, Spiritual and Community Animator. Students from Vincent Massey Collegiate planted 250 crosses and more than 1,000 poppies at McGill field and students from John F. Kennedy had the honour of laying a wreath at the cenotaph in remembrance. 

VMC REMEMBERS YEAR ROUND: While students across the EMSB mark Remembrance Day in various ways during November, for those at Vincent Massey Collegiate, the act of Remembrance is year-round due to their Remembrance committee. Led by Spiritual and Community Animator Rocco Speranza, the committee is dedicated to honouring veterans, past and present, every day of the year. 

“It’s extremely important to us and to our school,” said Gerlando Guarraggi, a Grade 7 student. “My great grandparents were involved in the World War II and this gives me the chance to honour their sacrifices.”

The VMC Remembrance Day Committee

CHORALE PERFORMS: The EMSB Senior Chorale was honoured to have been invited by Veterans Affairs Canada to participate in the Remembrance Day ceremony in downtown Montreal on November 11. In particular, the Chorale was asked to sing In Flanders Fields set to music by Alexander Tilley to mark the 100th anniversary of John McCrae’s famous poem. The choir also sang I’m Dreaming of Home from the movie Joyeux Noël/Silent Night about the Christmas truce during Quand les hommes vivront d’amour by Raymond Lévesque.  The Chorale is now hard at work preparing for its annual Holiday Concert which will take place Saturday, December 12 at 4 p.m. at Mountainside United Church.Anne-Marie Denoncourt will be at the piano, and the choir will welcome guest musicians Lucie Bouchard on flute, Béatrice Cadrin on viola and percussionist Kristie Ibrahim. The EMSB Junior and Senior Chorales will be conducted by Patricia Abbott and assistant conductor Marie-Ève Arseneau. As it has been doing for more than 20 years, the chorale offers this concert as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign. There are no tickets required for this concert, but a voluntary contribution will be collected for the Salvation Army’s work for Montrealers in need. For more information, contact conductor Pat Abbott at pabbott@emsb.qc.ca or 514-483-7200, ext. 7234.

Here is a link to the CBC highlights. You can hear the choir faintly in the background singing In Flanders Fields as one of the wreaths is being placed. 

BREAKFAST TELEVISION: On November 11, Rosemount High School Secondary IV student, Amanda Berger, along with Captain Corey Anhorn from the Canadian Grenedier Guards, were interviewed on City's Breakfast Television. Amanda was accompanied by Principal Marco Gagliardi and Spiritual Community Animator Vince Lacroce. Amanda was an integral part of Mr. Lacroce's Remembrance Day/Holocaust Commemoration celebration and she explained the importance of honouring our Canadian Forces. Captain Anhorn spoke of his time in Afghanistan and the role of the Canadian forces in the community. The intent of the interview is to reiterate the fact that these wars touched the lives of Canadians of all ages, all races, and all social classes. Fathers, sons, daughters, and sweethearts: they were killed in action, they were wounded, and thousands who returned were forced to live the rest of their lives with the physical and mental scars of war.  We owe the brave Canadian men and women who fought and continue to preserve our rights and freedoms, a day in honour of extraordinary Canadians. Here is a clip.

Hampstead students remember.

HAMPSTEAD REMEMBERS: On November 5, Cycle 3 students took part in the Remembrance Day ceremony organized by the Town of Hampstead.  As part of the ceremony, two Hampstead School students, Yisrael Sherrif (Grade 6) and Bianca Falcone (Grade 5) read selected poems to the public, while two others  helped with the laying of a wreath from Hampstead School.  Meanwhile, Joe Monachino.  The assembly was made more special with the reading of poems and passages by some of our cycle 3 students, as well as musical performances from a few Royal West students in attendance. 

Receiving the cheque.

SAPUTO DONATION: While students at Sinclair Laird Elementary School in Park Extension are too young to participate in the annual Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, they are not too young to reap the hard-earned rewards on November 9 the school was presented with an $8,000 cheque. It was chosen by the Saputo Foundation last year to be a beneficiary of the fundraising efforts of its participants in the annual 1,000 kilometer bicycle event which begins in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and ends in Montreal.   The funds will be used to enrich the sporting equipment at the school, keeping in line with the theme of the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, which encourages fitness as well as overall healthy living and eating habits.  Representatives from Saputo as well as a number of the bicyclists who participated in the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie were on hand to present the cheque to Principal Silvana Crigna, EMSB Director General Ann Marie Matheson, EMSB Deputy Director General Angelo Marino and Regional Director, East Sector, Anna Villalta.

Laura and the hair she clipped.

SHAVED FOR A CURE: Laurier Macdonald High School Secondary IV student Laura Grasso raised over $2,500 for breast cancer awareness, research and treatment when she courageously shaved her head in front of her peers.

PAYING TRIBUTE:   The Umpqua Community College shooting took place on October 1 at the UCC campus near Roseburg, Oregon, United States. A 26-year-old student enrolled at the school, fatally shot an assistant professor and eight students in a classroom. Nine other students were injured. LMAC teacher George Kalliabetsos and his Secondary V Creative Writing students felt the need to reach out to the administration, teachers, staff, and to the parents of the victims of this unfortunate and senseless crime. They wrote letters and poems in an effort to console and to offer emotional support.

Here is one example:

This 2015 school year

Has begun in total fear

In a place where kids should feel secure

Becomes their nightmare, black and obscure

So many lives have been taken

The worst type of fear has been awakened

Please Good Lord, bestow upon us peace

For our children’s life can no longer cease

Emilia

CHOPPED CANADA: LMAC Secondary student Emilia Augello will be featured on Food Network's Chopped Canada! Unlike most girls her age, 14-year old Emilia spends her time and money at the cooking store on knives and gadgets. Although she’s only recently set her sights on the kitchen, Emilia is a true perfectionist and hopes her Italian heritage and love of Asian flavours will give her an advantage in the competition. Emilia will use the prize money for a new gas stove and the remainder for her education. Her episode is set to air on December 19. For more information, click here. 

GENERAL VANIER’S BUICK DRIVE: With a fleet of brand new Buicks ready to roar, General Vanier Elementary School in St. Leonard welcomed 376 drivers in late September to participate in the Buick Canada/Hamel St. Léonard “Drive for Your Students” campaign. Organized throughout the summer by the school’s parent participation organization (PPO), the premise of the event was simple: the school would receive a $20 donation for each test-drive of a Buick vehicle. While the brand-new Buicks served as the main draws for drivers; Le Doral catering, les Delices Lafrenaie and Thomas Fruits donated food for and Enfant & Cie on Lavoisier provided entertainment to round out the exciting event.

The Buick cheque.

The funds raised will go directly to modernizing the school’s library. “We had a goal of raising $10,000, which would have meant 500 drivers,” said one of the organizers, Lida Rinaldi. “While 376 people took test-drives, it so happens that the General Motors dealership, Hamel in St. Leonard, was so impressed with our turnout that they surprised us with the extra $2,480 needed to reach our goal.” For more information on the Buick Drive for Your Students campaign, please visit: www.buickdriveforyourstudents.ca.

At the exhibit.

ANNE FRANK EXHIBIT: To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, students from Rosemount High School and Nesbitt Elementary School in Rosemount visited a special Anne Frank exhibit at Laurier Macdonald High School. The heartbreaking story of Anne Frank and her incredible outlook on life, despite the horrors of war surrounding her world is renowned, and students will have the opportunity to learn more about her legacy and apply it to their daily lives.  For Rosemount students, the visit is a prelude to their scheduled visit to the Montreal Holocaust Museum in the spring. The visit to the Montreal Holocaust museum will be followed by visits with Holocaust survivors. At the elementary level, the visit will be followed by a brainstorming session, whereas students and teachers will formulate ideas to counter the realities of bullying, discrimination, intolerance, and violence in schools.

LEADERSHIP: Student leaders from across the EMSB met at Lester B. Pearson High School for a day-long retreat to begin its 2015-16 campaign.  LBPHS' Student Council led the EMSB student leaders though icebreakers, experiential learning and a small workshop. These activities were focused on bonding, teamwork as well as ascertaining our visions for our own schools. Our morning of collaborative games was followed by our first meeting of the year, lunch and then the day was capped off with a yoga class. The English Montreal Student Advisory Committee (EMSAC) brings students together for monthly meetings in order to develop their leadership skills through workshops, discussions, working on common projects and as a consultative body for the School Board.

Walking to end hunger.

WALK TO END HUNGER:  For the third year in a row, Lester B. Pearson High School students have taken a stand against hunger in Montreal North for La Fondation Beaulieu-Blonden. During the entire month of October they collected non-perishable food items through Halloween events and goodwill donations. The month-long campaign concluded with a walk around Montreal North. Hunger is a real problem in our community and every year more are struggling and look to food banks in order to put food on their tables.   The October program was organized through a partnership with Free the Children’s We Scare Hunger initiative. Click here for a video from the walk.

Kiara and her teammates.

SPORT-ÉTUDES: Lester B. Pearson Sport-Études students have been busy lately proudly representing their provincially and nationally. John Cevik and Brandon Fernandes-Molerinho were in Surrey B.C., winning a bronze medal, finishing third and representing Quebec with the Panellinios Soccer Club at the Canadian Championships. Anthony Phelps was also at the event, representing a club from Halifax, Nova Scotia and his team finished in fifth overall nationally.   Kyara D’Annessa was also in Surrey B.C. at the Canadian Championship. She represented Quebec with the Lakeshore Soccer Club and won a gold medal at the event. She scored two goals in the 3-1 championship game. Tristano Fasulo, travelled to B.C. and to California with the U-16 Canadian National Soccer Team for two games versus the U.S.A.Kiara Quieti went to Buenos Aires, Argentina with girls from Quebec representing Canada 13-15 team and brought back gold at the Synchronized Swimming event. Florence Dumas-Molloy won a gold medal in Tae Kwon Do tournament in Markham, Ontario.

NOTED SPEAKER: With Canada only weeks removed from the federal election, students at Lester B. Pearson High School had a special guest on  November 9 as Michèle Nadeau, the granddaughter of Quebec’s most famous women’s rights leader, Thérèse Forget Casgrain, spoke with students about her grandmother’s incredible legacy. Born in 1896, The Honorable Thérèse Forget Casgrain led the women’s suffrage movement in Quebec prior to World War II, a right that was finally granted in 1940. Throughout her life, Casgrain fought for a number of causes that she believed in, leading to her appointment to the Canadian Senate by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1970.  Casgrain was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1967 and promoted to Companion in 1974. Additionally, in 1985, Canada Post honoured Casgrain with a postage stamp. Today, Nadeau continues her grandmother’s legacy as the chairman of the Thérèse Casgrain Foundation, whose mission is to support the education, advancement and social economy of women in Canada and to support initiatives that allow them to change society.

Pitching in at JFK.

WOTP JFK: Students of John F. Kennedy High School`s Work-Oriented Training Pathway (WOTP) were hard at work contributing to the overall cleanliness of their school and the immediate environment. Partnering with the City of Montreal, the WOTP team has embarked upon a year-long community clean-up initiative. Inspired by similar projects happening in public spaces throughout the city -such as Mount Royal’s Les Amis de la Montagne—the group known as   Les Amis de JFK, spent a good part of the day walking the school grounds and collecting and sorting various forms of waste and refuse.  Students were eager to participate in the project and felt gratified by the fact that the school’s green spaces will be maintained. The group worked through their lunch hour picking paper, plastic bottles and organic waste such as leaves and twigs off the front and back school grounds as well as the vast expanse of the soccer field.

Both students and teachers of JFK’s WOTP program couldn’t be more proud of the work they had done. They feel the sentiment will catch on and hope that it becomes contagious. “Ultimately we want to help our students understand the value of keeping their environment clean,” says WOTP teacher and coordinator Stefan Kazamias. “It’s about taking pride in your home, your community and your planet. We know that our students can benefit from an experience like this and that the lessons they learn from this project will remain with them for years to come.”

HEART FOR THE ART: Rembrandt and Renoir took a back seat on November 25 as artwork created by students at John F. Kennedy High School in St. Michel was the center of attention at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in a special vernissage. Called “Heart for Art,” the initiative, which was spearheaded by visionary local artist Thibault Zimmer along with Youth Fusion and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, began as a simple project with students in the school’s Work Oriented Training Path (WOTP) program. Students were asked to ponder a simple question: “What does the heart mean to you?” Through a series of discussions and brainstorming sessions, students engaged with the subject and were encouraged to bring their own interpretations into the project. They were then guided through a multi-step process, which included drafting their ideas, choosing a medium, sketching a mock-up and finally producing a finished work of art. For many of the students involved, it was their first foray into such a detailed process.

One of the pieces, on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

“The finished works were so captivating that it would have been a shame not to share them with the community. We held a vernissage in May, but the Museum of Fine Arts was so impressed by the students’ work that they granted space to showcase a select number of pieces.” said Stefan Kazamias, a teacher at John F. Kennedy High School. “We are quite proud of what our students have been able to achieve and honored that their works will be hanging in the hallowed halls of our city’s greatest monument to the arts.”

The JFK WOTP team at Heart For Art.

ARCTIC PARTNERSHIP:  The EMSB partnership with the St. Léonard/Montreal North Arctic of the Quebec Junior AAA League continues to thrive. Owners Joe Perretta and Lina Di Giovanni even had the EMSB logo affixed to their team jerseys. Players, most of whom attended EMSB schools, are visiting East End schools talking about the importance of staying in school.  The team has distributed tickets to the schools. Following an initial EMSB Night, with several schools represented, the format has changed.

Some of  Gerald McShane's youngest students meet the Arctic players.

Ceremonial faceoff at Lester  B. Pearson High School.

There are now separate ticket giveaways per school. Gerald McShane, Lester B. Pearson High School and Honoré-Mercier have had this opportunity so far. St. Dorothy and Our Lady of Pompei are next on Dec. 2. There has been tremendous enthusiasm generated by the students who are becoming genuine fans of the team, which sports the EMSB logo on their uniforms. School visits are highlighted by floor hockey scrimmages, Q & A’s and photo sessions. Here are some photos from the Gerald McShane visit. Lester B. Pearson High School hosted several hundred students from Gerald McShane,  East Hill, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and Dalkeith to meet the Arctic, watch a scrimmage, ask questions and win prizes. They all had a great time. Here are some photos.

Our Lady of Pompei students get into the spirit of the theme.

EARTH RANGERS: Our Lady of Pompei Elementary School in Ahuntsic recently welcomed The Earth Rangers. This event was sponsored by a parent. The Earth Rangers presented an interactive show with live animals for students in Grades 3 to Grade 6. Earth Rangers educate children about biodiversity, conservation and sustainability through live shows in schools. The students had the chance to interact with falcons, an armadillo and an iguana. Both students and truly enjoyed this presentation.  Meanwhile, on October 30, a Halloween Fair was held at the school.  PPO members worked hard to make this day entertaining for students and staff. There was fun mixed with fright especially in the scary haunted house.

MEDIA LITERACY WEEK: The 10th anniversary of National Media Literacy Week took place November 2 to 6.  This year’s theme was “Respect in a Digital World,” encouraging young people to be upstanding digital citizens by acting responsibly and ethically in their online environments by respecting themselves, others and the spaces they’re in. This comes at a time when the EMSB Education and Technology Services team of consultants are working with teachers to implement digital citizenship lessons in class. This year’s National Media Literacy Week theme was applied in many ways. For instance, Lynn Lawrence, a librarian at Lester B. Pearson High School approached the theme via a unique contest. Students were invited to critique media, finding its “secret messages” by decoding advertisements to see what they really say. The critiques adorned the library like works of art, and students were free to absorb the reflections of other students, or make their own.  Meanwhile, media teachers and librarians at East Hill Elementary School in RDP  set up a unique event that partners the Granby Zoo with a class of Grade 3 students for a Skype Session. Animal expert Jonathan Deom presented on a number of species and giving students all kinds of “fun facts” to get students’ wheels turning.   See the press release.

Celebrating the revamped library.

REFURBISHED LIBRARY: To mark the conclusion of National Media Literacy Week, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held on November 6   for the newly renovated Montreal West Children’s Library at Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary School. The library is unique, in that it is shared by the Elizabeth Ballantyne School and the Town of Montreal West and the support for libraries and literacy in the community is incredible. A Capital Campaign raised over $100,000 towards the total investment of   $420,000.    Floor renovations were undertaken by the EMSB, with the help of a grant from Quebec’s Ministry of Education. Renovations took place over the summer and just recently concluded.  Besides colourful vinyl flooring, there is now a custom-designed circulation desk relocated next to the main entrance, new shelving units, upgraded lighting and air conditioning systems, and a fresh coat of paint, new seating and a “reading tree” made of durable, safe materials.

PHOTOS: New photos of the EMSB Board and School Administrators are now on the ePortal.  The photos are filed by alphabetical order as well as by school for ease of use.   Please click on this link to directly to the Communications ePortal site. If you are an administrator (Principal, Vice-Principal, Manager, Director, Assistant-Director, Officer) and do not have your photo on the portal, please attach a recent photo of you to an e-mail with your full name, title and place of work and we will add you to the directory. Please note that the administrator photos on the OLD INTRANET are no longer up-to-date and should not be used anymore.

Getting their letter done.

WRITING LETTERS TO SANTA: On November 18, Grade 6 and Kindergarten took part in Dante Elementary School's annual tradition; writing letters to Santa.  Group 601 were welcomed by K-001 and everyone demonstrated great teamwork in writing, coloring, and cutting out a personalized letter. Not only did the seniors get a chance to mentor the younger students, the little ones reminded everyone how important it is to “believe.”    Meanwhile, earlier in the month  all of the Dante art classes were held outdoors with the art teacher, Madame Franca. Students made color studies of the fallen leaves using wax colors in their sketch pads.  The students  explored texture and color mixing using  "frottage" technique.What a beautiful experience to have an art class as the leaves surrounded the students!

CENTRAIDE: These days, under such stressful economic circumstances, more and more people are turning towards community organizations and social service agencies to give them a hand when times are tough. This is where Centraide comes in.  This year, 362 agencies and organizations across the Greater Montreal area are reaching out to people who are enduring the sting of poverty (over 500,000 residents in the Greater Montreal area live below the poverty line), as well as dealing with other urgent concerns such as domestic violence, child abuse, and improving the quality of life of our growing senior population.  Until December 7, the EMSB will conduct its annual Centraide campaign. Last year, we raised nearly $2,000 for Centraide, and our objective this year is to increase our employee participation rate. The money that is raised benefits such local agencies and organizations as Action centre-ville, La Table Ronde de St. Leonard, the Park Extension Youth Organization, Project T.R.I.P., Moisson Montreal, and seven neighbourhood YMCAs across the island of Montreal.

Earlier this month, all EMSB schools and centres, and the administration building, received packages containing donation forms that were distributed to every employee. Donations can be made as either one lump sum, or through payroll deductions beginning in January, 2016. Employees are also encouraged to stage their own fundraisers to benefit Centraide.  So if you plan on making a donation by payroll deduction, cheque, cash or credit card, Centraide asks that you manually fill in the form, so that a tax receipt can be issued. All completed donation forms must be sent to Centraide Coordinator Stuart Nulman, in Room 107 of the Administration Building, by no later than Monday, December 7.  For more information, please call ext. 7429, or e-mail  snulman@emsb.qc.ca.

ALOUETTES VISITS: The Montreal Alouettes will resume their school visits in January and introduce a program designed to get kids physically active, which greatly contributes to better grades. Active body/active minds. The program is federally recognized. Here is the link.

The group at the event.

ANIMATORS GATHER: L’Association professionnelle des animateurs et animatrices de vie spirituelle et d’engagement communautaire du Québec (APAVECQ) held a 5 à 7 on  November 3 to mark the success and accomplishments of 15 years of the service in Quebec schools at the EMSB head office. Six out of the nine English Sector public school boards were represented at this event to underline the important work done by Spiritual Care, Guidance and Community Involvement Animators (sometimes referred to as Spiritual & Community Animators) serving students, families, and school staff teams across Québec.   Spiritual and Community Animators are responsible for an extensive gamut of programming. This includes: spiritual practices; intercultural dialogue; values education; consciousness raising (i.e., in the English Sector: Holocaust; Armenian & Rawandan Genocides); residential schools; world events; justice & social concerns);  anti-bullying programming; individual support; self-esteem; critical thinking/ethics; community service (i.e.: Share the Warmth, Spirit of Giving, Toy Tea and Santropol); anti-drug and alcohol programming; meditation as stress reduction; school community ceremonies; grief and trauma support; community partnerships; and environmental Awareness & Action. Click here for the full press release.

MARCEL FOX: Marcel R. E. Fox, who served as Director General of the former Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal, passed away recently at the age of 93.  After studies in  Strasbourg, Alsace, France,  he obtained his French Baccalauréat and German Abitur. To escape Nazi conscription he hid in a Rhine barge to Basle whence he was sent to Perigueux École Normale. Guided by the French Resistance he crossed the Pyrenees on foot. Franco's Spanish police imprisoned him for months. Upon release by the Red Cross, he joined the 1er Régiment des Chasseurs Parachutistes in Morocco, taking part in parachute assaults in Sicily, Italy, South of France, The Vosges Mountains, the Poche de Colmar and the Libération of Alsace. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre and la Médaille des Évadés. Post-war studies in the theology faculty of the University of Strasbourg led to the awarding of a scholarship to St-Andrews University, Scotland. After marrying Joyce, a fellow student, he became manager of a YMCA camp for displaced Ukrainian and Polish military. Marcel, with Joyce, new daughter and puppy returned to France to teach for nine years adding a baby son. After immigration to Canada, another son was born, and Marcel taught at John Grant High School, was principal of Baron Byng High School, and finished his career as Director General of the PSBGM. He also taught German for several years at Concordia and was Vice-Chairman of the Superior Council of Education of Quebec.

BLACK THEATRE WORKSHOP SCHOOL TOUR: For Black History Month in February, Black Theatre Workshop will present Binti’s Journey, adapted by Marcia Johnson, from the novel The Heaven Shop by Deborah Ellis, directed by Lynda Hill, in association with Théâtre Direct. Binti’s Journey tells the story of Binti Phiri, the young star of a popular Malawi radio program “Gogo’s Family”. After losing her home and family to AIDS and enduring separation from her siblings, 13 year-old Binti finds her way to her Grandmother’s village and discovers a deeper understanding of the power of family and community.  Deborah Ellis’s acclaimed novel for youth addressing the human impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa is brought to life through the power of drama, storytelling, dance and music in an inspiring theatrical production.  “Binti’s Journey is the kind of production that encourages young audiences to crave theatre,” says Now Magazine.  The show is appropriate for ages 11 and up.  On tour from February 1 to 19, 2016.  To book a visit to your school, contact Black Theatre Workshop at 514-932-1104 ext. 228 or email   events@blacktheatreworkshop.ca.

ENCOUNTERS WITH CANADA: Every year, Encounters with Canada - the country’s leading youth forum - welcomes students aged 14 to 17 from across the EMSB. The students join teens from across the country at the Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre in Ottawa, for an unforgettable week of bilingual workshops, outings and cultural events.  They learn about Canadian institutions, meet accomplished Canadians, explore exciting career options and develop their civic leadership skills. They experience Canada’s diverse culture and heritage, learn about contemporary issues, and explore their own potential.  More than 100,000 students have already lived the experience! Encounters with Canada offers a choice of 13 different themes, each one week long:  Arts & Culture;  Canada Remembers; Democracy & Youth; Experience Canada; First Responders; International Relations; Journalism & Communications; Law & Our Justice System; Medicine & Health; Science & Ecology; Science & Technology; Sports & Fitness; and Vimy: Canada’s Coming of Age.

Encounters with Canada is open to all students aged 14 to 17, and approximately 130 teens from across the country take part each week.  The EMSB offers 20 subsidies each year, with a maximum of two per school.  For more information about this year’s program, subsidies and registration, contact your school’s guidance counsellor or Travis Hall, Pedagogical Consultant, Career Development at thall@emsb.qc.ca or (514) 483-7200, ext. 7818.  For additional information about Encounters with Canada, go to www.ewc-rdc.ca.

AUTHOR AVAILABLE TO SPEAK: Dr. Sima Goel is the author of the mémoire, Fleeing the Hijab: a Jewish Woman’s Escape from Iran, published in March 2014. Her book has been described as inspiring and riveting and she has a valuable lesson to share with students. As the beginning of the new school year is upon us, she is inviting high school teachers who wish to teach their students the importance of freedom of expression, resilience, compassion and empathy from a firsthand source. “Mine is a true story - my quest to live a life with freedom of choice—from matters of dress, to education, to political and religious expression –things I dreamed of while a young girl under house arrest in Shiraz,” said Dr.  Goel. “I was challenged to keep my creative soul alive while living under great repression, and I learned what it means to counter despair with the power of the human heart. As a teenager, I faced great dangers after I spontaneously defended a Baha’i classmate, an action that eventually led to my flight across the desert. My memoire is a testament to the human need for freedom of expression and to the power of forgiveness and empathy. In every way, this book is a love story to the free world and will remind the reader of this country’s greatest strength: the right to be the person you were born to be. I do believe that I have an exceptional and unique story to share. I would very much welcome the opportunity to speak with your students. I have already shared my story through a number of different platforms and I have seen people of all ages respond enthusiastically to my message.”

Dr.  Goel notes that this is an election year across North America. She believes it is time for youth to absorb her message in hope that they will realize how truly they are to live in open democracies. She can be reached at drsimagoel@gmail.com. Log on to www.fleeingthehijab.com.

KIDS HELP PHONE: Kids Help Phone/Jeunesse, J’écoute has launched a new service for young men aged 14 to 18; a segment that is 31 per cent less likely to discuss mental and emotional health issues than girls, and 36 per cent less likely to talk about suicide and suicide related issues and yet death by suicide among males is four times higher. Kids Help Phone/Jeunesse, J’écoute recognized the need to create a resource to address the unique needs of teen guys and through a youth Advisory Committee and various focus groups conceived BroTalk/Coin des Gars.  With funding from the Movember Foundation, a dedicated online support zone and referral service for teen guys aged 14 to 18 is now available. Designed with young men in mind, the new service aims to improve help seeking behaviour in young men through supports like Live Chat, online resources and interactive tools. Log on to to http://brotalk.ca and http://coindesgars.ca. Schools are encouraged to call Suzanne Gautier-Duff at 514-948-8355 Suzanne Gautier-Duff or email Suzanne.Gautier-Duff@jeunessejecoute.ca

EMSB IN THE MEDIA: The EMSB would like to point readers to the media clippings section of our website where we provide links to newspaper articles about our  Board or relevant to the local education system. You can click here to access all of the links.

EMSB TV: The EMSB  posts links to television and radio reports, as well as videos produced in-house on our website.  EMSB TV is hosted by Vimeo and we have sections for EMSB TV Coverage, EMSB Videos  and others. See this excellent report on Radio Canada about the home schooling of Hassidic Jews by the EMSB. 

EMSB RADIO GUIDE: EMSB Radio can now be heard via SoundCloud, the world’s leading social sound platform. Sound Cloud can be accessed anywhere using the official iPhone and Android apps, as well as hundreds of creation and sharing apps built on the SoundCloud platform.

CAREER FAIR MAGAZINE: Please check out our Career Fair Magazine, which was distributed to all Grade 11 students attending our event on October 28.

BIG CLEANUP: Year after year, Montrealers of all ages are invited to take part in the Big Cleanup. This program helps to beautify public or private places, parks, alleys, sports fields and schoolyards. It involves the community in an eco-responsible project.  Organizers are called upon schools to mobilize massively and get children involved for a successful sixth edition of the Big Cleanup.     The city can provide garbage and recycling bags, garden picks, rakes, brooms or shovels. It can also supply t-shirts for special school draws.   This cool activity is an opportunity to show community leadership, and teach children about garbage and recycling containers. It is great way to take care of the environment and make new friends for the new school year.  See this flyer on how to join. You must register your Big Cleanup project at least 72 hours in advance to receive your material, organizer’s guide and safety instructions. Contact Julie Millette at 514 872-0588 or julie.millette@ville.montreal.qc.ca.

CENTAUR THEATRE OF TOMORROW PROGRAM:   Centaur Theatre Company announces its Luminous Theatre of Tomorrow (TOT) Program for the 2015-2016 Season.  The TOT program makes live English theatre accessible to High School students at a discounted price. Tickets remain at $16 for another year thanks to our sponsors. Program benefits include a teacher’s guide providing background information, discussion topics and improvisation activities; and talkback sessions following the performances where students meet the cast, voice their comments and ask questions. For schedule and teacher’s guide, go to http://www.centaurtheatre.com/schools.html. For Bookings and inquiries email groups@centaurtheatre.com or call 514-288-1229 x245.

Additionally, Centaur hosts the SATURDAY MORNING CHILDREN SERIES for younger siblings!

Fun, affordable family entertainment to awaken the imagination and introduce children to the enchanting world of theatre. On select Saturday mornings throughout the season, young children and their families enjoy affordable and engaging live performances by some of Montreal’s best talent for kids. The Saturday Morning Children’s Series programs local and touring artists. Some are established companies while others are independent, emerging or aspiring professionals. Check out the line up at www.centaurtheatre.com/children-s-theatre.html.

Now over 30 years old, Centaur Theatre is proud to present new theatre for young audiences and their families, and is dedicated to continuing its community-minded children’s programming. Ticket Prices: Adults: $8.00 Children: $6.00. Limited Seating Available – book your tickets now! Tickets available by calling 514-288-3161.

SEGAL CENTRE OFFERS:  The Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Snowdon is committed to giving its audience the most engaging theatre experience possible. For families and students of all ages, they offer a number of public programs for each season free of charge, including their Sunday @ the Segal series, Monday night talkbacks, Study Guides, and behind-the scenes videos and insights on their blog.  Students can attend for up to 50 percent off the price of an adult ticket. Call 514-739-7944 for more information or to reserve, or buy your tickets online at segalcentre.org. In addition, school groups are welcomed for weekday afternoon performances, including reduced ticket prices, private tours, and talkbacks. Log on here or contact Patrick Lloyd-Brennan (plbrennan@segalcentre.org) at 514-739-2301 ext. 8360 for more information.

AFTER-SCHOOL AND CAMP PROGRAMMING: The Segal Centre Academy offers a wide variety of after-school musical theatre training courses. There is Broadway Stars,  Grades 2 to 8, which offers training in classic and contemporary musical theatre;  Young Artists for Young Audiences, (YAYA), Grades 2  to 6 (YAYA Kids) & 7- to 11 (YAYA Teens) which provides musical theatre training from the perspective of Jewish heritage and Yiddish culture; the new Glee Academy - Grades 4 to 8, which gives kids the chance to build their confidence by learning to sing, dance and perform in an environment that’s friendly, supportive and nurturing and also new, Acting Up- grades 2-6, a Sunday morning class that focuses primarily on theatre. All courses run from October 2015-June 2016. Segal Centre Camps include one for SPRING BREAK- February 29 to March 4 and SUMMER CAMP- offered in 2 sessions- July 4 to 15 and August 1 to 12, 2016. Camps are open to kids in Grades 2 to 6.Registration now open! http://www.segalcentre.org/whats-on/academy/courses-for-kids/  For more information, please contact: Liana Wiener at .739.2301 x8331 (lwiener@segalcentre.org)

PED DAYS: The Segal Centre Academy is offering  two Ped Day camps on November 26 and 27. Come spend time with their awesome instructors singing, dancing and acting! To register/for more info: Liana Wiener- lwiener@segalcentre.org or 514.739.2301

PROMOTIONAL ITEMS:  Funkins (www.funkins.ca) was a sponsor of the EMSB’s most recent Volunteer Appreciation Evening. They are a leading supplier of customized promotional products.  Call or email Steven Mitchell  at 514-333-9552 or steven@funkins.ca.

SHAKESPEARE SELFIE: The web page for the 2016 CBC "Shakespeare Selfie" writing challenge for students grades 7-9 and 10-12 is live on CBC Books. The writing challenge will take place in April 2016. Here's the link. This page is your destination for everything about the challenge. As we get more details, this page will be updated.The 2016 Shakespeare Selfie is a great way to incorporate current affairs, creative writing and - of course - Shakespeare into the classroom. Info: jennifer.warren@cbc.ca      

ADULT EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES

It was a memorable day at the Shadd Business and Health Centre.

SHADD’S HOLOCAUST LESSON: Nechama Surik, one of three EMSB teachers who got the chance to participate in the annual Teaching of the Holocaust for Educators Program last summer at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Israel, is already applying what she learned in the classroom at the Shadd Health and Business Centre in NDG. Ms. Surik recently gave a presentation at the Old Orchard Avenue building for special guests to see firsthand how she integrated this subject matter into the classroom. The Consul General of Israel for Quebec and the Maritimes Ziv Nevo Kulman was in attendance, marking the first time someone in his position had ever visited an EMSB school. Principal Roma Medwid and her Assistant Director Maria Caldarella made sure to make everyone feel comfortable by ordering an authentic Israeli lunch of falafel, chicken, pita and different vegetable dishes. Ms. Surik, a native of Israel, teaches nursing at the Shadd Health and Business Centre in NDG. The program she participated in was made possible through the Riva and Thomas O. Hecht Scholarship Program. Its goal is to provide professional development activities to teachers for teaching the Holocaust and anti-Semitism to students in the youth sector, and starting this year, in the adult education and vocational sector. As well, each scholarship recipient is asked to create at least one teaching unit or module developed within the context learned. "We at Shadd are proud to help people remember the people who died during the Holocaust, but even prouder that we are providing comfort and solace to the patients who were survivors and who are reliving the horrors of the past today," said Ms. Medwid. See the press release and here is our video.

 BULLETIN DE LA CSEM

ÉLECTION PARTIELLE: Trois personnes ont soumis leur candidature à l’élection partielle de la circonscription 4 (Côte Saint-Luc-Hampstead) de la Commission scolaire English-Montréal. Le vote aura lieu le dimanche 13 décembre et le vote par anticipation aura lieu le dimanche 6 décembre. Les candidats sont : Michèle Cohen, Bernard Praw et Charlotte Sarah Smoley. Cette élection partielle a dû être tenue suite au décès du commissaire de longue date Syd Wise. Voici l’avis. Le député libéral de D’Arcy McGee, David Birnbaum a fait cette déclaration à Québec au sujet de Syd Wise.

SITE WEB DE B.A.S.E.: Au mois de septembre de l’année scolaire 2015-2016, le programme des Services de garde B.A.S.E. (Before and After School Enriched) de la CSEM a lancé son propre site Web à www.emsbbase.com. Un site informateur pour les parents intéressés à obtenir plus d’informations au sujet du programme B.A.S.E, le site met en vedette une vidéo des évènements aux Services de garde B.A.S.E. et donne toutes les informations dont un parent pourrait éventuellement avoir besoin. Pendant plusieurs années, B.A.S.E. a aussi maintenu son propre blog à daycare-matters.com, affichant des histoires et des photos de l’excellent travail accompli par les élèves avant et après les activités d’école. Ces activités touchent plusieurs sujets académiques depuis l’activité physique jusqu’aux arts créatifs, aux médias et à la sensibilisation à l’environnement. Le blog met aussi en vedette tous les numéros précédents du journal Touching Base on Daycare Matters qui est publié deux fois par an et rédigé par le personnel et les élèves de B.A.S.E. Finalement, le programme B.A.S.E. a récemment joint l’univers de Twitter et a commencé à publier des photos et des aperçus des évènements des Services de garde.

RAPPEL: Sanofi-aventis Canada Inc. en consultation avec Santé Canada, retire tous les lots d’autos-injecteurs d’épinéphrine d’Allerject  (0.15mg/0.15ml et 03mg/03 ml) du marché canadien. Un rappel similaire a lieu aux États-Unis où il est vendu sous le nom de Auvi-Q. Ce rappel est principalement dû aux problèmes qui pourraient éventuellement affecter le dosage de la quantité requise de l’épinéphrine. Allerject est utilisé comme traitement d’urgence pour les patients à risque et/ou qui ont un antécédent de réactions allergiques graves (anaphylaxie). En vue du besoin de gérer la demande associée à ce rappel, il est demandé aux   clients et aux pharmaciens de limiter le remplacement d’Allerject à une unité ou au nombre approprié d’unités tel que recommandé par un professionnel de la santé jusqu’à ce que tout l’inventaire de rechange soit disponible. Info ici ou appeler l’infirmière de votre école, le CLSC ou votre médecin de famille.

SOUTIEN À LA FRANCE: Arnaud Lauzière, le neveu de la secrétaire générale de la CSEM, Nathalie Lauzière, est un jeune joueur de hockey de la Rive Nord de Montréal. Après les évènements tragiques survenus en France, il a décidé d’enrouler son bâton de hockey de ruban adhésif aux couleurs de la France. Son initiative a été suivie, non seulement par les membres de son équipe, mais aussi par les autres clubs. Pour couronner le tout, il a marqué le but gagnant pour son équipe.

MARCHE POUR METTRE FIN À LA FAIM: Pour la troisième année consécutive, les élèves de l’école secondaire Lester B. Pearson ont pris position contre la faim à la Fondation Beaulieu-Blondin de Montréal-Nord. Durant tout le mois d’octobre, ils ont recueilli des aliments non périssables lors d’évènements d’Halloween et par le biais de dons. La campagne d’un mois s’est terminée par une marche à Montréal-Nord. La faim est un vrai problème dans notre communauté et chaque année plus de personnes sont dans le besoin et s’adressent aux banques d’aliments. Le programme d’octobre a été organisé en partenariat avec Free the Children’s We Scare Hunger. Voir la vidéo ici.

SPORTS-ÉTUDES: Les élèves du programme Sports-Études de l’école secondaire Lester B. Pearson ont été occupés à représenter fièrement leur province. John Cevik et Brandon Fernandes-Melerinho étaient à Surrey, C.B. où ils ont remporté une médaille de bronze en se plaçant troisième et en représentant le Québec avec le club de soccer Panellinios aux championnats canadiens. Anthony Phelps était aussi présent, représentant un club d’Halifax, N.E. et son équipe a terminé au cinquième rang à l’échelle nationale. Kyara D’Annessa était aussi à Surrey, C.B. et elle a représenté le Québec avec le club de soccer Lakeshore et a remporté une médaille d’or. Elle a marqué 2 buts lors de la partie de championnat qui s’est terminée avec un score de 3-1. Tristano Fasulo a été en Colombie Britannique et en Californie avec l’équipe nationale canadienne de soccer U-16 et il a joué deux parties contre les E.U. Kiara Quieti a été à Buenos Aires en Argentine avec des jeunes joueuses du Québec représentant l’équipe canadienne 13-15 et elle a remporté la médaille d’or en nage synchronisée. Florence Dumas-Molloy a remporté la médaille d’or au tournoi de Tae Kwon Do à Markham, Ontario.

PFAE (JFK): Les élèves du Programme de Formation Axée sur l’Emploi (PFAE) ont travaillé d’arrache-pied à contribuer à la propreté générale de leur école et de son environnement immédiat. En partenariat avec la Ville de Montréal, l’équipe PFAE a lancé une initiative de nettoyage communautaire à l’année longue. Inspiré par des projets similaires qui se déroulent dans des espaces publics à travers la ville, dont les Amis de la Montagne de Mont Royal, le groupe connu sous le nom de Les Amis de JFK ont passé une grande partie de la journée à parcourir les terrains de l’école et à recueillir et trier diverses formes de déchets. Les élèves étaient enthousiasmés par le projet et se sentaient heureux du fait que les espaces verts de l’école seraient entretenus. Le groupe a travaillé tout au long de la période du repas de midi à ramasser du papier, des bouteilles en plastique et des déchets organiques, tels que des feuilles d’arbre et des brindilles devant et à l’arrière de l’école ainsi que sur le vaste espace du terrain de soccer.

Les élèves et les enseignants du programme PFAE de JFK ne pouvaient pas être plus fiers du travail qu’ils avaient accompli. Ils pensent que ce sentiment prendra racine et ils espèrent qu’il deviendra contagieux. « Au bout du compte, nous voulons aider nos élèves à comprendre la valeur de maintenir leur environnement propre » déclare Stefan Kazamias, enseignant et coordonnateur de PFAE. « C’est le fait d’être fier de votre foyer, de votre communauté et de votre planète. Nous savons que nos élèves peuvent profiter d’une expérience comme celle-ci et que les leçons qu’ils apprennent de ce projet les influenceront pour des années à venir. »

SEMAINE ÉDUCATION MÉDIAS: Le 10e anniversaire de la Semaine Éducation Médias (http://www.medialiteracyweek.ca) a eu lieu du 2 au 6 novembre. Le thème de cette année était « Respect dans un monde numérique » encourageant les jeunes à être des citoyens numériques modèles en agissant responsablement et éthiquement dans leur environnement en ligne en se respectant eux-mêmes, les autres et les espaces qu’ils occupent. Cette semaine coïncide avec la collaboration des Services éducatifs et de la technologie de la CSEM avec les enseignants visant à mettre en œuvre des leçons de citoyenneté numérique en classe. Le thème de la Semaine Éducation Médias de cette année a été appliqué de plusieurs façons. Par exemple, Lynn Lawrence, une bibliothécaire de l’école secondaire Lester B. Pearson de Montréal-Nord a abordé le thème par le biais d’un concours spécial. Les élèves ont été invités à critiquer les médias et à trouver « leurs messages secrets » en décodant des annonces publicitaires pour découvrir ce qu’elles voulaient vraiment dire. Entretemps, les enseignants de médias et les bibliothécaires de l’école primaire East Hill ont organisé un évènement unique qui a mis en contact  le zoo de Granby avec une classe d’élèves de 3e année par le biais d’une session Skype. L’expert Jonathan Deom a présenté une série d’espèces et a présenté aux .élèves toutes sortes de faits divertissants qui les a porté à réfléchir. Voir communiqué de presse
http://www.emsb.qc.ca/emsb_en/media_en/onepressrelease.asp?id=3727

MARCEL FOX: Marcel R.E. Fox, qui a occupé le poste de directeur général de l’ancienne Commission des écoles protestantes du Grand Montréal est décédé récemment à l’âge de 93 ans. Après des études à Strasbourg, en Alsace, il a obtenu son baccalauréat français et son abitur allemand. Afin d’échapper à la conscription nazie, il s’est caché sur une péniche qui l’a amené à Bâle d’où il a été envoyé à l’École Normale de Périgueux. Guidé par la résistance française, il a traversé les Pyrénées à pied. La police espagnole de Franco l’a emprisonné pendant plusieurs mois. Après sa libération par la Croix Rouge, il s’est engagé au 1er Régiment des Chasseurs Parachutistes au Maroc et il a pris part à des assauts en parachute en Sicile, en Italie, au Sud de la France, dans les Vosges, la Poche de Colmar et à la libération de l’Alsace. Il a été décoré de la Croix de Guerre et de la Médaille des Évadés. Des études d’après-guerre à la faculté de théologie de l’Université de Strasbourg lui ont permis d’obtenir une bourse d’études à l’Université St. Andrews d’Écosse. Après avoir épousé Joyce, une condisciple, il a occupé le poste de directeur d’un camp YMCA pour les militaires déplacés, polonais et ukrainiens. Marcel, accompagné de Joyce et d’une fille, est retourné en France où il a enseigné pendant neuf ans et a ajouté un garçon à sa petite famille. Après avoir immigré au Canada, un autre fils est né et Marcel a enseigné à l’école secondaire John Grant, a occupé le poste de directeur de l’école secondaire Baron Byng et il a terminé sa carrière en tant que directeur général de la CEPGM. Il a aussi enseigné l’allemand pendant de nombreuses années à l’Université Concordia et a été vice-président du Conseil supérieur de l’éducation du Québec.

RENCONTRES DU CANADA: Chaque année, Rencontres du Canada accueille des élèves de la CSEM âgés de 14 à 17 ans. Ces élèves se joignent à des adolescents d’à travers le pays au Centre de la jeunesse Terry Fox à Ottawa pour une semaine inoubliable d’ateliers bilingues, de sorties et d’évènements culturels. Ils apprennent à connaître les institutions canadiennes, rencontre des canadiens talentueux, explore des options intéressantes de carrières et développent leurs habiletés de leadership civique. Ils font l’expérience de la diversité de l’héritage et de la culture du Canada, et explorent leur propre potentiel. Plus de 100 000 élèves ont déjà vécu cette expérience! Rencontres du Canada offre un choix de 13 différents thèmes d’une semaine chacun : arts et culture, le Canada se souvient, Démocratie et jeunesse, Expérience Canada, Premiers répondants, Relations internationales, Journalisme et communications, Loi et notre système de justice, Médecine et santé, Sciences et écologie, Sciences et technologie, Sports et forme physique et Vimy : le passage pour l’autonomie du Canada.

Rencontres du Canada est ouvert à tous les élèves âgés de 14 à 17 ans et près de 130 adolescents d’à travers le pays y participent chaque semaine. La CSEM offre 20 subventions chaque année avec un maximum de deux par école. Pour plus de renseignements au sujet du programme de cette année, des subventions et des inscriptions, communiquer avec le conseiller d’orientation de votre école ou Travis Hall, conseiller pédagogique, Développement de carrières à thall@emsb.qc.ca ou téléphoner au 514-483-7200, poste 7818. Pour des renseignements additionnels au sujet de Rencontres du Canada, visitez www.ewc-rdc.ca


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

LEÇON SUR L’HOLOCAUSTE À SHADD: Nechama Surik, l’un des trois enseignants de la CSEM qui a eu l’occasion de participer, l’été dernier,  au programme annuel de l’Enseignement de l’Holocauste pour les éducateurs au Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial en Israël, applique déjà ce qu’elle a appris dans sa classe au Centre d’études commerciales et de santé Shadd de NDG .Mme Surik a récemment donné une présentation au bâtiment de l’avenue Old Orchard devant des invités spéciaux afin qu’ils constatent de première main comment elle a intégré ce sujet dans sa classe. Le consul général d’Israël pour le Québec et les Maritimes, Ziv Nevo Kulman était présent et c’était la première fois qu’une personne occupant un tel poste avait visité une école de la CSEM. La directrice, Roma Medwid et sa directrice adjointe, Maria Caldarella se sont assurées de rendre toutes les personnes présentes confortables en commandant un authentique repas israélien de falafel, poulet, pita et divers plats de légumes. Mme Surik, originaire d’Israël, enseigne les soins infirmiers au Centre d’études commerciales et de santé Shadd. Le programme auquel elle a participé a été rendu possible grâce au programme de bourses d’études Riva et Thomas O. Hecht. Son objectif est d’offrir des activités de perfectionnement professionnel  aux enseignants qui enseignent l’Holocauste et l’antisémitisme au secteur des jeunes et, à partir de cette année, au secteur de l’éducation aux adultes et de la formation professionnelle. Il est aussi demandé à chaque récipiendaire de bourse d’études de créer au moins une unité d’enseignement ou un module développé dans le contexte appris. Video ici.