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| Mariana Castro-Lopez with her students at Pierre de Coubertin Elementary School. |
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: The EMSB's highly successful Diversity and Inclusion campaign continues. Please view our ongoing recap of proceedings, including television and radio interviews, on our special page here.
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| Spokesman Jacques Rougeau |
PINK SHIRT DAY: The EMSB launched a new anti-bullying campaign on Pink Shirt Day Feb. 23 when world famous wrestler Jacques Rougeau addressed students at a virtual presentation. Bullying is a problem in schools, workplaces, homes, and online. Over the month of February, and throughout the year, Pink Shirt Day aims to raise awareness of these issues, as well as raise funds to support programs that foster children’s healthy self-esteem. The EMSB is proud to announce that Electrika, one of the only companies to exclusively offer residential electrician services in Montreal and Laval, will be the official sponsor for the Pink Shirt Day campaign. Owner John McElligott, who started the company in 2004, notes that on t-shirts he recently had printed for staff the word “Respect” appears on the shoulder. “Clients who do not treat our employees with respect are engaging in a form of bullying,” he said. See our press release.
You can see the 32 minute program here.
Here is a radio commercial for the campaign
Here is a radio commercial with Jacques Rougeau
Here is Jacques Rougeau on Global TV
Here is Jacques Rougeau on TSN 690
Here is Jacques Rougeau on CJAD
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| Electrika team members wore their shirts to work. |
MIND INITIATIVE FOR THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION: MIND High School is working with Nakuset, a leading activist for the urban indigenous population, on a major arts installation led by internationally renowned French photographer and street artist JR. His “Inside Out” Project is a platform that gives everyone the opportunity to make a statement by displaying large-scale black and white portraits of members from their community in public spaces. “Inside Out” is a free global art project that allows communities to turn their untold stories and what they stand for into a public work of art. Montreal’s Indigenous community group action is entitled: Indigenous Forced Displacement. Fifty photographs of local Indigenous community members will be displayed throughout the city. These portraits were taken by three different Indigenous photographers representing the Algonquin, Mohawk and Ojibway nations. They will be mounted on the outsides of buildings in an exhibition designed to highlight the challenge of Indigenous forced displacement.
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| MIND students lend a helping hand. |
On Monday February 21, Head Teacher John Panetta took a group of MIND students to assist Nakuset and her team with the postering for the project at two locations. The EMSB has granted consent for the historic Bancroft Elementary School building on St. Urbain, which houses MIND High School, to be used to feature some of the portraits which will dissolve over time. See the complete press release.
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| To celebrate Black History Month, Cycle 1 students at East Hill had the pleasure of meeting Guédeline Desrosiers, an author of diverse backgrounds. She shared her passion for children's literature through her first album entitled "Lili Rose." The students then expressed their friendship with their classmates through an art activity. This workshop was a success! |
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Many EMSB schools marked Black History Month with a wide array of activities. You can see a summary here.
MONNAIE MONEY: For the past 12 years a Black History Month Event has been presented for the residents of Greater Montreal area. Since the pandemic, it went virtual. The 2022 edition of the event features seven top artists who performed at several historical locations, thus bringing the arts and history together to educate the masses. This Monnaie Money Black History Month documentary, produced by the Monnaie Money Project of the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi de Côte-des-Neiges, can be viewed here.
MUBEENAH MUGHAL RECOGNIZED: Congratulations to EMSB Parent Commissioner Mubeenah Mughal on being named a Black Changemaker for 2022 by CBC. You can read the complete story here.
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| There is nothing like an animal to relax kids. |
VACCINATION HELPERS: Reptiles and furry friends eased anxiety and kept students company at Hampstead Elementary School recently when the staff welcomed nurses from the CIUSS for their second vaccination clinic in mid-January. The animals, which were brought to the school by ReptiZoo, provided comfort and support as well as put smiles on faces throughout the day
NUTRITION MONTH: EMSB Nutrition and Food Services has planned an interactive Nutrition Month calendar for teachers to countdown March with their students. This calendar offers daily health messages, activities on foods or nutrients or links to educational material. They will also be preparing a Nutrition Month newsletter for the EMSB community which will touch on this year's theme from Dietitians of Canada called" Ingredients for a Healthy Future." It will have links to recipes and practical nutrition tips and tricks. In addition, Nutrition and Food Services has also created a cooking workshop handout for elementary school teachers to help them organize cooking activities with their students. The handout includes recipes and logistics for cooking workshops (equipment, grocery list, set up, kitchen safety), as well as suggested nutrition videos and activities for Cycles 1,2 and 3 students.
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| Basketball star Pascal Fleury talks to kids. |
HOOKED ON SCHOOL: February signals the half-way mark to the end of the school year and the start of registration for the fall CEGEP term. It’s a month when students can feel like they’ve run out of steam, sluggish, and unmotivated. Hooked on Schools Day, which took place from February 14 to 18, 2022, marked a chance for everyone to talk about persevering in school and to show their encouragement for students young and old—a chance to highlight how far they have come and give them a boost so they can finish the school year strong Held annually throughout Québec in February, Hooked on School Days are a special occasion to highlight the importance of staying in school, for the well-being of both individual students and society as a whole. HSD also celebrate the vital work of those who help young people fulfill their potential. A number of EMSB schools organized their own activities: Gerald McShane, Montreal North (Kindness Month); John Grant High School in Côte Saint-Luc (Awareness Campaign and Pledge). On February 16, basketball player Pascal Fleury, spoke Cycle 2 and 3 students at East Hill Elementary School about perseverance, determination and following their dreams!
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| Michelangelo International's Hooked on School montage. |
At Michelangelo International School, week long activities were planned for the students to encourage hard work, perseverance and pride in their work. Green “smile buttons” were pasted around the school for to symbolize their pride for being at school and to promote well-being and attention to others. Students could take a smile button to wear if they wished. A Kindness Challenge also encouraged the importance of others’ well being and enjoying the little things that people do for us to make us smile. Students, staff and parents also wrote messages of encouragement, kindness or empathy to the children that were included in our Kindness Tree. Cycle 3 students were treated to a Virtual Guest Speaker, Laurent Duvernay Tardif, who spoke to students across Quebec about how all his hard work and perseverance made him into the successful man that he is today. To end the week, Grade 6 students were given notes of encouragement written by students from Lester B. Pearson High School and given Certificates of Perseverance highlighting unique qualities they each hold. Hooked on Schools Week was a huge success as the added School Spirit enabled the students at Michelangelo International to receive an added boost of positivity and perseverance to get through to the end of the school year!
You can see the list of activities here.
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| Students had a blast engaging in winter sports. |
SEEDS AT ST. GABE’S: The SEEDS 2 students at Saint Gabriel Elementary School in Pointe St. Charles have been busy practicing winter sports after receiving a generous donation from Decathlon (Brossard and Downtown locations). It is the first-time skating, snow shoeing and board sliding for many of the students. In letters thanking the store the students wrote “I have learned to face my fears” and “I have learned why I need to wear a helmet.” Seeds teacher Sarah Howard is thankful for this opportunity to have students learning outside in real life scenarios.
ADDRESSING SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS: The Association of Directors General of English School Boards of Quebec (ADGESBQ), in collaboration with member boards and the Centre de services scolaire du Littoral, has embarked upon an ambitious project to define human resources needs clearly in order to implement a strategy to respond to those needs and to address the shortage of teachers, more specifically, French teachers. A new streamlined information portal has been launched, offering a centralized location for candidates to learn more about the regions and school boards, search for and apply for career opportunities and student internships, access resources, salary data, upcoming career fairs and events and the latest announcements. The new website can be found at https://www.quebeceducationcareers.ca. For the full press release click here.
SCHOOL TAXES: If you are a resident on the island of Montreal, your school taxes are paid to the Island School Council - CGTSIM (Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l'île de Montréal). Taxes are placed in a general fund and distributed to the school boards that are on the Island of Montreal (French or English). For more information, you can contact them directly via https://cgtsim.qc.ca/en/. The option to re-direct your school taxes only apply to residents who live off the island of Montreal.
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| Julien Feldman addresses Rotary Club. |
FELDMAN ADDRESSES ROTARY CLUB: EMSB Commissioner for Westmount and Sud Ouest Julien Feldman addressed a virtual meeting of the Rotary Club of Westmount. He provided an update on EMSB court actions on Bills 21 and 40. In addition he spoke about the impact of COVID-19 on the school board, explained how a public-school board works and some of the other challenges the EMSB faces.
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| Commissioner Joseph Lalla congratulates Ava Nicole. |
STUDENT OF THE MONTH: As the source of inspiration for many of her peers, Willingdon Elementary School’s Ava Nicole Smith (Grade 5) has been named the EMSB’s Student of the Month for February. Despite facing many academic challenges herself, Ava was determined to find a way to boost her own scholastic performance and that of her friends. As such, she asked staff at Willingdon’s Senior Campus to help her create a “Catch Up” club which would allow students extra time to complete their work, thus helping them achieve better results.
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| Maya Doughan, Joe Ortona, Ava Nicole Smith, Principal Carmen Nicolas and resource teacher Ms. Avery. |
Ava promotes the club within the school, shows up daily to complete her work as well as ensures her friends do the same. Furthermore, she convinced Support Staff: Ms. Avery and Mr. Mark to house the club in the school’s resource room and provide oversight. “The club is full every day,” said Maya Doughan, Vice Principal. “For students and staff, Ava Nicole is a breath of fresh air in these very difficult times.”
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| Gabriela Parnas-Zver presents her cheque. |
STUDENT HELPS CHEZ DORIS: Congratulations to Royal Vale student Gabriela Parnas-Zver, who dedicated a large part of her winter break to shoveling snow in the community for a good cause. After hours of hard work, Gabriela collected $1,000 which she donated to Chez Doris, a women's shelter based in Shaughnessy Village. Chez Doris provides meals, shelter, clothing, hygiene services, socio-recreational activities, and practical assistance to women in need. For more information on Chez Doris, go to: https://www.chezdoris.org/en/
SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH: Bravo to Melodie Quinquennial. The Grade 6 student at Cedarcrest Elementary School in St. Laurent is raising money for the Montreal Childrens Foundation. Last year she raised $3,056 and 100 percent of the funds went to help kids like her beat the silent demons in their heads. She’s been fighting it since her grandparents passed away. This year’s goal is $5,000, a total of $1,000 for every year she’s chosen giving instead of receiving birthday gifts. “My daughter has gone through hell and back and she’s only 11,” says mom Laura. “She’s had so many losses. with the most recent last month my grandmother.”
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| Melodie Quinquennial |
Melodie says she wants to be a doctor one day.
See her page on the Foundation website.
This is the article they wrote about her
VALENTINE’S DAY: Hundreds of heartfelt messages of thanks—complete with hearts—went out to Jewish General Hospital staff on Valentine’s Day, courtesy of students at five Montreal-area schools, with support from the hospital’s Humanization of Care Committee. “The kids really enjoy making the cards and they put a great deal of thought and emotion into them,” says Anatasia Mulcare, a Child Care Worker at Carlyle International School in the Town of Mount Royal, which sent greetings to JGH employees for the second year in a row. Joining them were children at Willingdon Junior and Senior Schools in Montreal, West Island College in Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Parkdale Elementary School in Saint-Laurent, and Good Shepherd School in Brossard. For the full story click here.
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| A scene from the IB PYP Exhibition. |
IB PYP EXHIBITION: This year’s Carlyle Elementary School IB PYP Exhibition represents the Town of Mount Royal institution’s second virtual presentation of the sixth graders’ culmination of their lifelong learning journey up until today. The context of their 2022 presentation involves undertaking a trans- disciplinary study of science, specifically how society and science are interdependent for the betterment of the human experience. The energy, perseverance, enthusiasm, and curiosity fueled the non-stop exploration of the interconnectedness throughout the ages and incredible leaps in the stages of scientific development. The syntheses garnished from the extensive collaborative learning and research evoked the sense of wonder and existential understanding of their acquired knowledge showcased in this year’s IB Exhibition. Details are here.
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION: The EMSB will honour volunteers in a virtual ceremony towards the end of April. In the interim, we wanted to share the opportunity to nominate someone for Canada’s Volunteer Awards 2021 before March 4, 2022. You can nominate an individual, a not-for-profit organization, a social enterprise or a socially responsible business who has made a significant contribution in improving the lives of others in their community through volunteering. The five award categories are as follow: One national award; the Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement Award; and four regional award categories: Community Leader, Emerging Leader, Business Leader and Social Innovator. In addition to receiving an award from the government of Canada at a national ceremony, recipients are invited to choose a not-for-profit organization to receive a grant of $5,000 (regional awards) or $10,000 (national award). Details are here.
OLYMPIC MOMENT: At Edward Murphy Elementary School in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Class 3A worked on Winter Olympic projects! One student contacted a Brazilian Olympian named Nicole Silveira (2022 Olympian - Skeleton) and she sent this video, posted on their Facebook page: https://fb.watch/bllSJeDiUm/
MISSING CHILDREN’S NETWORK: The Missing Children’s Network is proud to launch a dedicated website for its SHINE program, which aims to reduce the risk of a child running away and placing themselves in a vulnerable position in the face of sexual predators. The vast majority of disappearances in Quebec are made up of youth who run away. Unfortunately, approximately one third of these girls and boys are at risk of sexual exploitation. In order to reduce this risk, education is the key to prevention. The shineforlife.org website will allow us to reach many more young students, teachers and parents across Quebec. Created in 2017, the SHINE program has reached more than 46,000 students between eight and thirteen years- old in Quebec through interactive workshops given by experts from the Missing Children’s Network, training for professionals, publications, advice, videos and activities. To register a Québec school for the SHINE program, school personnel or parents can simply click on the “Register your school” button on shineforlife.org. Thus far this year visits have been made to four EMSB elementary schools (East Hill Elementary, Pierre-de-Coubertin Elementary, Edward Murphy, Gardenview and two high schools (John F. Kennedy and Marymount). Still to come are visits to Cedarcrest, LINKS, Laurier Macdonald and Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
QBBE: The Quebec Board of Black Educators (QBBE) is transitioning to online academic support to respond to the academic needs of its student population. You can get all the details here.
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| The Chorale performs. |
EMSB CHORALE NEWS: After more than a year of online rehearsals and virtual projects, the EMSB Chorale was thrilled and moved to be singing in person again this past fall. Valiantly dealing with the challenges of learning to sing beautifully despite masks and physical distancing, the choristers were able to present a successful holiday concert at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Montreal on December 4 before a large and appreciative audience. It was the choir’s first live performance in two years. Although the circumstances did not allow having the Montreal Citadel Band as guests, as has been the tradition for more than 25 years, contributions at the door made it possible for the chorale to make a sizeable donation to the Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign to help Montrealers in need. A week later, the EMSB Senior Chorale performed in Geordie Theatre’s Holiday Bash telethon, helping to raise more than $8,500 for the theatre. During the telethon, chorale conductor Pat Abbott was thrilled to be able to help pay tribute to outgoing Geordie Artistic and Executive Director Mike Payette, who was a member of the chorale in the 1990s. Mike is now the Artistic Director of Tarragon Theatre in Toronto and credits the choir with helping him gain confidence in himself.
COMING EVENTS: Alas, Omicron meant going back online for the Chorale at the beginning of the new year, but in-person rehearsals have now resumed, and the chorale is gearing up for a busy spring. The Senior Chorale is looking forward to singing in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana on May 28 at the Maison symphonique with the Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeur des Mélomanes under the dynamic artistic direction of FACE alumnus Francis Choinière. A week later, on June 4, the Chorale will present its Spring Gala Concert celebrating its 42nd season at the Salle Pierre-Mercure in the Quartier Latin. Tickets will go on sale April 1. For more information on the EMSB Chorale, contact conductor Pat Abbott at pabbott@emsb.qc.ca or at 514-483-7200, ext. 7234. Auditions for next season will be held in May and June.
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Leonardo Da Vinci Academy B.A.S.E. Daycare Grade 2A students get into a crabwalk position while playing Shipwreck outdoors in January. This game is part of the BOKS Recess Cards resource.
B.A.S.E. GETS PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND ANIMATED: The B.A.S.E. (Before and After School Enriched) Daycare Program kicked off its first-ever B.A.S.E. BOKS Contest in seven daycares on January 18. The goal of the three-month contest is two-fold: to get children physically active as often as possible and to encourage daycare educators to animate different games that keep physical activity fun and engaging! Participation in the contest is voluntary. Participating daycares include Leonardo Da Vinci Academy, Gerald McShane, Cedarcrest, Parkdale, Edinburgh, St. Gabriel and Westmount Park. BOKS (Build Our Kids’ Success) is a free program that aims to make physical activity and play part of every child’s day. The daycare educators will be using three different BOKS resources during the contest: Month 1: Recess Cards, Month 2: Are You Game? Booklet and Month 3: Break the Ice Booklet. Daycare educators will animate the games in three different settings: Schoolyard, classroom and gymnasium.
Daycare educators must submit pictures as proof of participation and entries into the contest. They can increase their chances at winning by animating different BOKS activities with the same daycare group or the same BOKS activity with different daycare groups. One winning daycare will be chosen at random on April 4, 2022. The daycare will win a BOKS Kit of physical activity equipment valued at $400 and a BOKS Visit from Kim St. Pierre, the Manager of Business Development for BOKS Canada. Kim also oversees all BOKS schools in Quebec. In addition, Kim was a member of Canada’s National Women’s Hockey Team as goaltender from 1998 until 2011 and is a three-time Olympic Gold medalist.
A SPACE TO BREATHE: Spiritual Community Animator Vince Lacroce and Lift Coordinator Jonathan Sbrollini will be collaborating together on a special mental health program called “A Space to Breathe” at Rosemount High School. This four week intensive self-care unit will discuss the importance of daily self-care, and help students develop coping strategies and tools to support their inner well-being. This program will include a 21-day wellness challenge which will involve a multitude of programs such as art therapy with Rosemount High School art teacher Eric Mailloux, a healthy relationships workshop, peer pressure workshops, weekly motivational and affirmation challenges, health and nutrition workshops, and testimonials from Gabriele Iacampo, motivational speaker and EMSB Alumnus. “The need for self-care is extremely important during these difficult times. We wanted to support students in creating individualized self-care success plans tailored to their specific interests and needs. The lessons and coping strategies covered are beneficial for both adults and students as we need to assess and care for our well-being in order to be a support for others who may be struggling or in need,” says Lacroce. The program will be both virtual and classroom based and will run throughout the month of February.
PreKs at Gerald McShane enjoyed learning about the customs and traditions of Chinese New Year with SCA Mary Poullas..
ONE SNOWSHOE AT A TIME: John F. Kennedy High School physical education teachers Kate Bonato and David Henrys, and Spiritual and Community Animator Rocco Speranza spent several days this month enjoying the great outdoors one snowshoe at a time with students. Together they enjoyed being outdoors, active, and in nature. They played football, took part in relay races and some orienteering games.
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| Students enjoy the great outdoors. |
Students were also treated to a surprise visit by the SPVM mounted division. “Being outdoors and connecting to nature is important for students’ mental health,” noted SCA Speranza. “For many students, this was their first time taking part in the sport and they really had great time.”
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| Students at the workshop. |
THE POWER OF MUSIC: During the months of January and February, Spiritual Community Animator Vince Lacroce launched a unique workshop in collaboration with Marco Ferri and Marco Ferri Entertainment called “The Power of Music.” This interactive workshop, offered at Nesbitt Elementary, Pierre De Coubertin Elementary, Perspectives I and II High School, and Rosemount High School, focuses on the healing power and mental health benefits of music. Research has shown that music has a positive impact on our autonomic nervous system, helping us manage stress and respond more constructively in moments of stress. The presentations will also include a live deejay session illuminating how the body reacts to certain sounds and genres of music. “Music can be a fantastic tool through which to process and express our emotions. It is the universal language of mankind and the only true time machine that exists! Certain songs have the ability to remind us of particular periods or events in our lives – some that make us smile, and some we would rather forget, but most importantly, music is the language of our spirit.”
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| Lots of homemade cards. |
HEART-TO-HEART: This year the annual “Heart-to-Heart” Valentine’s Day initiative turned six years old and included visits to the Montreal Children’s Hospital and Lighthouse. The program was coordinated by Clementina Fraga (Gerald McShane School Daycare), Jennifer De Freitas (Base Daycare Services) and Spiritual Care and Guidance, and Community Involvement Animators Rocco Speranza and Paolo Ruscito. Several schools and daycares took part; St Gabriel, LDV, Vezina. Edinburgh, Gerald McShane, Parkdale, Our Lady of Pompei, John Caboto, East Hill, Edward Murphy, L.I.N.K.S., John F. Kennedy, Royal Vale, Pierre De Coubertin came together to create thousands of handmade cards and e-greetings and raise funds for medical equipment and the Montreal Children’s world-renowned Craniofacial and Cleft Surgery program.
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| Presenting some gifts. |
This initiative aims to cheer up children who are in the hospital during Valentine's Day and deliver the messages of joy and comfort to those who need it. Senior homes and residents along with hospital staff will also be receiving cards, e-greetings, and some Valentine’s Day treats as the initiative expands. Our students' efforts help them grow in community spirit and into caring citizens as their actions make them more empathetic and compassionate. Once again, we wish to extend a great big thank you to staff, students, and administrations for their support. The project aims to instill in young children that an act of charity big or small, known or known, is a wonderful act of compassion and kindness that truly changes the lives of those who receive and perform it.
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| World Read Aloud Day. |
WORLD READ ALOUD DAY: On February 2, the FACE Elementary team and students celebrated World Read Aloud Day! This event is celebrated in over 173 countries. It marked the third year that the school marked this important literacy day at school. To help celebrate, Montreal City Councillor Sterling Downey and Liberal MNA Enrico Ciccone joined the school virtually to read books to students. Several parents also joined and surprised their child’s class virtually to read a story. Not only did the students enjoy listening to stories, but they were also reminded about the importance of literacy and the power of voices through books. More importantly, students and staff were reminded about the joy of reading!
QUEBEC AWARDS: In order to recognize the exemplary work of individuals and organizations that are helping to move Quebec towards a society without racism, the Quebec government has announced the creation of the “For a Racism-Free Quebec Awards.” This is an initiative of Benoit Charette, Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism, are an opportunity to recognize outstanding achievements that contribute to ending prejudice, discrimination and racism in Quebec society. This new official distinction of the Quebec government will be presented in the form of medals to the winners. There will be two distinct categories: individuals and organizations. Applications will be evaluated by a jury based on, among other things, their contribution to the fight against racism, as well as the quality of their achievements, their impact, their originality and their relevance. To be eligible, complete applications must be submitted by March 2, 2022 to prixQsr@mce.gouv.qc.ca. Awards will be presented in March.
ADULT EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES
SCHOOL DAYCARE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM: On April 7, the Shadd Health and Business Centre will welcome a new group of students in the School Daycare Educator Specialized Training Certificate (STC) program, which is open to the public as well as to current EMSB daycare and B.A.S.E. (Before and After School Enriched daycare program) employees. In the one year, part-time, and hybrid learning course, students will learn the ins and outs of elementary school daycare programs and how to facilitate fun, educative activities for children from Grades 1 through 6. Registration is open! Info: https://shadd.com.
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| Celebrating the Film Festival. |
GALILEO FILM FESTIVAL: On Jan. 27, Lisa Trotto and Vera Tronca’s SIS students participated in their second annual SIS film festival! The popularity of Galileo’s SIS event last year with the iBelong Digital Storytelling project has led them to participate in yet another digital project this year: Stop Motion Animation. Students have been working diligently on their Stop Motion Animation videos with their partner and mentor, Jessie Curell, from Hands on Media. Both Miss Lisa and Miss Vera are proud to announce that Galileo is the only adult centre that has taken part in this project across Quebec! Stop Motion Animation, above all else, is a project which fosters collaboration and teamwork, and truly highlights the importance of coming together! Stop Motion Animation also allows students to immerse themselves into a world of creativity through a dynamic and stimulating digital and hands-on learning experience! Through this multi-facet project, SIS students took their digital video production course to the next level and created their own original animated films. With Jessie’s weekly virtual guidance, students created five stop motion animation production videos, which can now be found on their very own YouTube channel! The project also highlights how well students have learned to use technology – namely, the Stop Motion Studio Pro App, editing techniques, original music creation, sound effects, voice, and sound altering, and the use of copyright-free material. To view the Festival see: https://bit.ly/3s851d8
CITYNEWS: The Galileo SIS students and Miss Lisa Trotto were interview by City News on their experience with digital storytelling and video creation. They were interviewed along with Jessie Curell from Hands on Media. Our students’ work and Oscar ceremony at Galileo was also spotlighted. Here is the coverage: https://montreal.citynews.ca/video/2022/02/09/digital-storytelling-workshops-for-canadian-students/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ME0vBppQBw
ÉDITION DU MOIS DE FÉVRIER 2022 / BULLETIN DE LA CSEM
LE MOIS DE L'HISTOIRE DES NOIRS: Dans le cadre du Mois de l'histoire des Noirs, neuf élèves de 4e secondaire de l'école Rosemont, ainsi que l'animateur de vie spirituelle et d’engagement communautaire Vince Lacroce, ont créé un musée portable de l'histoire des Noirs. Au terme d’un mois de recherche, de préparation et de travail, ils ont rendu visite à l'école primaire Nesbitt afin d’y présenter leur projet.
MUBEENAH: Félicitations à Mubeenah Mughal, commissaire parent à la CSEM, pour sa nomination à titre de Changemaker noire en 2022 par la CBC.
Nous vous invitons à lire l’intégral de l’article
COMPLICES DE LA VACCINATION: Des reptiles et des bêtes poilues ont contribué à apaiser l'anxiété chez les élèves de l'école primaire Hampstead lorsque le personnel y a accueilli récemment les infirmières du CIUSS à l’occasion de la deuxième campagne de vaccination à la mi-janvier. Les animaux, fournis par ReptiZoo, ont apporté réconfort et soutien aux élèves, et en ont fait sourire plusieurs tout au long de la journée.
MOIS DE LA NUTRITION: L’équipe de Nutrition et services alimentaires de la CSEM a conçu pour les enseignants un calendrier interactif à utiliser avec les élèves dans le cadre du Mois de la nutrition. Ce calendrier propose des messages quotidiens sur la santé, des activités qui gravitent autour des aliments ou des nutriments, ainsi que des liens vers du matériel éducatif. Une infolettre sera également produite à l’intention de la communauté de la CSEM et abordera le thème choisi en 2022 par Les Diététistes du Canada : « Les ingrédients d’un avenir plus sain ». On y trouvera des liens vers des recettes, de même que des conseils et astuces pratiques en matière de nutrition.
PERSÉVÉRANCE SCOLAIRE: Le mois de février sonne la mi-parcours de l’année et annonce le début des inscriptions d'automne au cégep. C'est un mois où les jeunes peuvent ressentir un essoufflement, une baisse d'énergie, un creux de motivation. C'est pourquoi les Journées de la persévérance scolaire (JPS), qui se sont déroulées du 14 au 18 février 2022, permettent à tous et chacun de parler de persévérance scolaire et de poser un geste d’encouragement à l’égard des plus jeunes comme des plus vieux, afin de souligner le chemin parcouru et de redonner de l’énergie pour poursuivre la route vers la fin de l’année scolaire. Tenues annuellement à travers tout le Québec au mois de février, les Journées de la persévérance scolaire constituent une occasion privilégiée pour souligner l’importance de la persévérance scolaire pour le bien-être des élèves ainsi que celui de toute la société. Les JPS célèbrent également le travail essentiel de tous celles et ceux qui épaulent nos jeunes dans le développement de leur plein potentiel. Des écoles de la CSEM y sont allées de leurs propres activités : Gerald McShane à Montréal-Nord (Mois de la bonté), école secondaire John Grant à Côte Saint-Luc (Campagne de sensibilisation et d’engagement). Pour consulter la liste des activités: https://jembarque.ca/fr/calendrier-officiel-des-jps/
RÉPONDRE À LA PÉNURIE D'ENSEIGNANTS: L’Association des directeurs généraux des commissions scolaires anglophones du Québec (ADGCSAQ), en collaboration avec les commissions scolaires membres et le Centre de services scolaire du Littoral, a entrepris un projet ambitieux visant à définir clairement les besoins en ressources humaines afin de mettre en œuvre une stratégie qui répond à ces besoins et qui remédie à la pénurie de personnel, plus précisément, en enseignement du français. Un nouveau portail d’information simplifié offre un endroit centralisé où les candidats peuvent se renseigner sur les régions et les commissions scolaires, consulter les possibilités de carrière et les stages étudiants et poser leur candidature, puis accéder à des ressources, aux échelles salariales, aux prochains salons de l’emploi et événements, ainsi qu’aux toutes dernières annonces. Ce nouveau site Web se trouve au https://www.quebeceducationcareers.ca. Nous vous invitons à consulter l’intégral du communiqué : http://www.emsb.qc.ca/csem/nouvelles/les-commissions-scolaires-anglophones-du-quebec-lancent-un-site-web-doffres-demplois-et-dinformations-centralisees
TAXES SCOLAIRES: Si vous résidez sur l'île de Montréal, vos taxes scolaires sont versées au Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l'île de Montréal (CGTSIM). Les taxes sont placées dans un fonds général et distribuées aux commissions scolaires situées sur l'île de Montréal (francophones et anglophones). Pour plus d'informations, vous pouvez contacter directement le CGTSIM en vous rendant sur https://cgtsim.qc.ca/. L'option de rediriger vos taxes scolaires ne s'applique qu'aux résidents qui habitent à l'extérieur de l'île de Montréal.
JOURNÉE DU CHANDAIL ROSE: La CSEM a lancé une nouvelle campagne pour lutter contre l’intimidation à l’occasion de la Journée du chandail rose, le 23 février, alors que Jacques Rougeau, célèbre lutteur de renommée mondiale, s'est adressé aux élèves lors d'une présentation virtuelle. L'intimidation constitue un enjeu dans les écoles, sur les lieux de travail, à la maison et en ligne. Au cours du mois de février et tout au long de l'année, la Journée du chandail rose vise à susciter une prise de conscience à l’égard de ces problématiques, ainsi qu'à recueillir des fonds pour soutenir des programmes qui favorisent une saine estime de soi chez les jeunes. La CSEM est fière d'annoncer qu'Electrika, l'une des seules entreprises à offrir exclusivement des services d’électricien résidentiel à Montréal et à Laval, sera le commanditaire officiel de la campagne de la Journée du chandail rose. Son propriétaire, John McElligott, qui a fondé l'entreprise en 2004, a récemment fait imprimer des t-shirts pour son personnel sur lesquels on peut lire le mot « Respect » brodé sur l'épaule. « Les clients qui ne traitent pas nos employés avec respect se livrent à une forme d'intimidation », a-t-il déclaré. Nous vous invitons à lire l’intégral du communiqué.
ÉLÈVE DU MOIS À LA CSEM: Source d'inspiration pour nombre de ses camarades, Ava Nicole Smith qui fréquente l'école primaire Willingdon, en 5e année, a été nommée l’Élève du mois de février à la CSEM. Elle-même confrontée à de nombreux défis sur le plan académique, Ava était déterminée à trouver un moyen d'améliorer ses propres résultats scolaires et ceux de ses camarades. Elle a donc demandé au personnel du campus senior de Willingdon de l'aider à mettre sur pied un club de « rattrapage » qui permettrait aux élèves de disposer de plus de temps pour réaliser leurs travaux, les aidant du même coup à obtenir de meilleurs résultats. Ava fait la promotion du club au sein de l'école, est au rendez-vous tous les jours pour terminer ses travaux et s’assure qu’il en est de même pour ses camarades. De plus, elle a réussi à convaincre le personnel de soutien, Mme Avery et M. Mark, de permettre au club de s’installer dans la classe-ressource et de fournir une supervision.
« Tous les jours, le club est plein à craquer! », de dire Maya Doughan, directrice adjointe. Pour les élèves et le personnel, Ava Nicole est une bouffée d'air frais en ces temps très difficiles. »
EXPOSITION DU PEI DE L'IB: Cette année, l'exposition du PEI de l'IB de l'école primaire Carlyle représente la deuxième présentation virtuelle de cet établissement de la Ville de Mont Royal et l'aboutissement du parcours d'apprentissage réalisé jusqu’ici par les élèves de sixième année. Leur présentation de 2022 repose sur une étude transdisciplinaire de la science, et plus particulièrement de l’interdépendance de la société et de la science dans l'amélioration de l'expérience humaine. L'énergie, la persévérance, l'enthousiasme et la curiosité ont alimenté l'exploration ininterrompue de l'interconnectivité au fil du temps et les avancées spectaculaires ayant marqué les étapes du développement scientifique. Les synthèses réalisées à partir d'une recherche et d’un apprentissage collaboratifs approfondis ont suscité un sentiment d'émerveillement et une compréhension existentielle de leurs acquis, présentés dans le cadre de l'exposition IB de cette année.
RECONNAISSANCE DES BÉNÉVOLES: La CSEM rendra hommage aux bénévoles lors d'une cérémonie virtuelle vers la fin du mois d'avril. Entre-temps, nous tenions à vous informer qu’il vous est possible de soumettre la candidature d'une personne en vue des Prix pour le bénévolat du Canada 2021, et ce, avant le 4 mars 2022. Ainsi, vous pouvez proposer la candidature d'une personne, d'un organisme à but non lucratif, d'une entreprise sociale ou d'une entreprise socialement responsable qui a grandement contribué à améliorer la vie des autres par l’entremise du bénévolat. Les cinq catégories de prix sont les suivantes : Un prix national – le Prix Thérèse-Casgrain pour l'engagement de toute une vie; et quatre catégories de prix régionaux – Leader communautaire, Leader émergent, Leader d'entreprise et Innovation sociale. En plus de recevoir un prix du gouvernement du Canada dans le cadre d'une cérémonie nationale, les lauréats sont invités à choisir un organisme sans but lucratif qui se verra décerner une bourse de 5 000 $ (prix régionaux) ou de 10 000 $ (prix national). Info: https://www.canada.ca/fr/emploi-developpement-social/programmes/prix-benevolat/candidature.html
RÉSEAU ENFANTS-RETOUR: Le Réseau Enfants-Retour est fier de lancer un site Web dédié à son programme AIMER, qui vise à réduire le risque qu'un enfant fasse une fugue et se place dans une position vulnérable face aux prédateurs sexuels. La grande majorité des disparitions au Québec sont des jeunes en fugue. Malheureusement, environ un tiers de ces filles et garçons sont à risque d'être exploités sexuellement. Afin de réduire ce risque, l'éducation est la clé de la prévention. Le site aimerpourlavie.org nous permettra de rejoindre beaucoup plus de jeunes élèves, d'enseignants et de parents partout au Québec. Créé en 2017, le programme AIMER a permis de rejoindre plus de 46 000 élèves âgés de huit à treize ans au Québec grâce à des ateliers interactifs animés par des experts du Réseau Enfants-Retour, des formations pour les professionnels, des publications, des conseils, des vidéos et des activités. Pour inscrire une école québécoise au programme AIMER, le personnel scolaire ou les parents n’ont qu’à cliquer sur le bouton « Inscrivez votre école » sur aimerpourlavie.org. Jusqu'à présent cette année, des visites ont été effectuées dans quatre écoles primaires de la CSEM (East Hill, Pierre de Coubertin, Edward Murphy et Gardenview) ainsi que dans deux écoles secondaires (John F. Kennedy et Marymount). D'autres visites sont prévues à Cedarcrest, L.I.N.K.S., Laurier Macdonald et Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
QBBE: Le programme de soutien scolaire du Conseil des Éducateurs Noirs du Québec (QBBE) sera désormais offert en ligne pour répondre aux besoins académiques de sa population étudiante. Pour tous les détails :https://www.emsb.qc.ca/csem/nouvelles/le-conseil-des-educateurs-noirs-du-quebec-qbbe-au-service-de-la-communaute
PRIX POUR UN QUÉBEC SANS RACISME: Afin de reconnaître l'exemplarité de personnes et d'organismes qui contribuent à faire progresser le Québec dans la voie d'une société sans racisme, le gouvernement annonce la création des prix Pour un Québec sans racisme. Nés d'une initiative du ministre responsable de la Lutte contre le racisme, Benoit Charette, ces prix sont l'occasion de valoriser les réalisations remarquables qui contribuent à mettre fin aux préjugés, à la discrimination et au racisme dans la société québécoise. Cette nouvelle distinction officielle de l'État québécois se présentera sous forme de médailles remises aux lauréates et lauréats. Deux catégories distinctes sont prévues, soit les personnes et les organismes. Les dossiers seront évalués par un jury en fonction, notamment, de la contribution à la lutte contre le racisme, de même que de la qualité des réalisations, de leurs retombées, de leur originalité et de leur pertinence. Pour être admissibles, les dossiers de candidature complets doivent être transmis, au plus tard, le 2 mars 2022, à l'adresse suivante : prixQsr@mce.gouv.qc.ca. La remise des prix aura lieu au cours du mois de mars. Veuillez consulter la page Web des prix Pour un Québec sans racisme pour avoir toute l'information nécessaire, notamment la manière de présenter une candidature.
BÉNÉVOLAT CANADA: Avez-vous soumis la candidature d’un bénévole pour les Prix pour le bénévolat du Canada? Il n’est pas trop tard. L’appel de candidatures prend fin le 4 mars 2022. Présentez la candidature d’une personne, d’un organisme sans but lucratif, d’une entreprise sociale ou d’une entreprise socialement responsable qui a grandement contribué à améliorer la vie des autres au moyen du bénévolat. Saviez-vous que vous pouvez soumettre la candidature de plus d’un bénévole? Les cinq catégories de prix sont les suivantes : Un prix national – Prix Thérèse-Casgrain pour l'engagement de toute une vie; quatre catégories de prix régionaux – Leadership communautaire, Leader émergent, Leadership d'entreprise et Innovation sociale. En plus de recevoir un prix du gouvernement du Canada dans le cadre d’une cérémonie nationale, les lauréats sont invités à identifier un organisme sans but lucratif de leur choix qui recevra une bourse de 10 000 $ (prix national) ou de 5 000 $ (prix régionaux). Pour infos.
SERVICE DE L’ÉDUCATION DES ADULTES ET DE LA FORMATION PROFESSIONNELLE
FESTIVAL DU FILM DE GALILEO: Le 27 janvier, les élèves des SIS de Lisa Trotto et Vera Tronca ont participé à la deuxième édition du festival annuel du film des SIS! La popularité du projet iBelong Digital Storytelling de l'événement SIS à Galileo l’an dernier les a incités à participer à un autre projet numérique cette année : Stop Motion Animation. Les élèves ont travaillé assidûment sur leurs vidéos Stop Motion Animation en compagnie de leur partenaire et mentor, Jessie Curell, de Hands on Media. Mme Lisa et Mme Vera sont fières d'annoncer que Galileo est le seul centre d’éducation pour adultes à avoir pris part à ce projet au Québec! Stop Motion Animation favorise, d’abord et avant tout, la collaboration et le travail d'équipe, et met véritablement en lumière l'importance de s'unir! Il permet également aux élèves de s'immerger dans un univers créatif par l’entremise d’une expérience d'apprentissage numérique et pratique des plus dynamiques et stimulantes! Dans le cadre de ce projet aux multiples facettes, les élèves des SIS ont poussé leur cours de production vidéo numérique à un niveau supérieur et ont créé leurs propres films d'animation. Grâce à l’encadrement virtuel de Jessie chaque semaine, les élèves ont pu réaliser cinq vidéos de production Stop Motion Animation, qui se trouvent désormais sur leur propre chaîne YouTube! Le projet met également en évidence la manière dont les élèves ont appris à utiliser la technologie, notamment l'application Stop Motion Studio Pro, les techniques de montage, la création de musique originale, les effets sonores, la modification de la voix et du son, et l'utilisation de matériel sans droit d’auteur. Pour visionner le Festival : https://bit.ly/3s851d8
CITYNEWS: Nos élèves des SIS et Mme Lisa Trotto, de même que Jessie Curell de Hands on Media, ont été interviewés par CityNews au sujet de leur expérience avec la narration numérique et la création vidéo. Les réalisations de nos élèves ainsi que la cérémonie des Oscars à Galileo ont également été soulignées. Voici la couverture médiatique: https://montreal.citynews.ca/video/2022/02/09/digital-storytelling-workshops-for-canadian-students ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ME0vBppQBw
Le prochain numéro de Pleins feux sur Fielding sera publié le 23 mars 2022. Prière de soumettre vos articles au plus tard le 17 mars 2022 à midi, à mcohen@emsb.qc.ca
The next Focus will be published on March 23. Deadline for submissions is March 17 at Noon to mcohen@emsb.qc.ca
