W elcome to this special 10 th anniversary edition of the EMSB Express, complete with a new design. It is hard to believe that a decade has already passed since the launch of linguistic boards. The EMSB, of course, was established as the result of an amalgamation between the English sectors of four boards – the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal, the Montreal Catholic School Commission, the Commission scolaire Jérôme-Le Royer and the Commission scolaire Sainte-Croix. To mark our important milestone, throughout the 2008-2009 school year, numerous activities have been planned. We wish to commend our 10 th anniversary committee, co-chaired by Region 1 Director Marzia Michielli and Assistant Director of Human Resources Connie Primiano. Their committee has recommended that whenever possible, a special activity occur on the tenth day of each month beginning in September 2008. In addition to the monthly activities, there will be three major events involving parents, employees and students. With your involvement and participation we will hold a concert showcasing our students’ talent. The projected date for this concert is scheduled for May 2009. The second celebration will occur on a professional day that same month. The third major event will be an evening gala for all employees in June 2009. Approximately 40,000 employees, parents, children and adult learners will celebrate these events. For a list of tentative dates and activities, please refer to our website. On September 10, 2008, one of our first activities will involve all students at the EMSB . On that day, elementary schools will hold a parade through the streets of their neighbourhood. High schools will be involved in a walk-a-thon to raise funds for a worthy cause and educational scholarships while adult and vocational centres will also be implicated in different activities. We hope that every student and employee will wear a donated t-shirt on our special activity days. A contest among our students has generated the official tenth anniversary logo which will be used on all correspondence during our celebration year. In this edition of the EMSB Express we have not only provided a look at some of our major highlights over the past decade. We also took a unique approach by having reporter Stuart Nulman go out and interview students. One group are 10 year olds, born the same year as us. Another are high school students who were in kindergarten when we began. Angela Mancini Antonio Lacroce Chairman Director General Commission scolaire English-Montréal ~ English Montreal School Board www.emsb.qc.ca volume 11 | number 1 | Fall 2008 EMSB The EMSB Turns 10 Congratulations to Hi Ying Yi Li, a student at the EMSB’s Rosemount Technology Centre, who designed our 10th anniversary logo which depicts a sunflower, health and the sunrise.
Transcript
Welcome to this special 10th anniversary editionof the EMSB Express, complete with a
new design.It is hard to believe that a decade has already
passed since the launch of linguistic boards. TheEMSB, of course, was established as the result ofan amalgamation between the English sectors of four boards – the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal, the Montreal Catholic SchoolCommission, the Commission scolaire Jérôme-LeRoyer and the Commission scolaire Sainte-Croix.
To mark our important milestone, throughout the2008-2009 school year, numerous activities havebeen planned. We wish to commend our 10th
anniversary committee, co-chaired by Region 1Director Marzia Michielli and Assistant Directorof Human Resources Connie Primiano. Theircommittee has recommended that whenever possible,a special activity occur on the tenth day of eachmonth beginning in September 2008. In additionto the monthly activities, there will be three majorevents involving parents, employees and students.
With your involvement and participation we will hold a concert showcasing our students’ talent.The projected date for this concert is scheduled for May 2009. The second celebration will occuron a professional day that same month. The thirdmajor event will be an evening gala for all employeesin June 2009.
Approximately 40,000 employees, parents,children and adult learners will celebrate these events. For a list of tentative dates and activities,please refer to our website.
On September 10, 2008, one of our firstactivities will involve all students at the EMSB .On that day, elementary schools will hold a paradethrough the streets of their neighbourhood. Highschools will be involved in a walk-a-thon to raisefunds for a worthy cause and educational scholarshipswhile adult and vocational centres will also beimplicated in different activities. We hope that everystudent and employee will wear a donated t-shirt onour special activity days.
A contest among our students has generated theofficial tenth anniversary logo which will be used onall correspondence during our celebration year.
In this edition of the EMSB Express we havenot only provided a look at some of our majorhighlights over the past decade. We also took aunique approach by having reporter Stuart Nulmango out and interview students. One group are 10 year olds, born the same year as us. Anotherare high school students who were in kindergartenwhen we began.
Angela Mancini Antonio LacroceChairman Director General
Commission scolaire English-Montréal ~ English Montreal School Board
www.emsb.qc.ca volume 11 | number 1 | Fall 2008
EMSB
The EMSB Turns 10
Congratulations to Hi Ying Yi Li, a student at the EMSB’s Rosemount Technology Centre,
who designed our 10th anniversary logo which depicts a sunflower, health and the sunrise.
APPOINTMENTSSeveral administrative appoint -ments/changes have been madefor the 2008-2009 academic year.New principals are: DemetraDroutsas, John Grant and Paul VI
(from vice-principal ofWestmount HighSchool); AliceBuchanan,Dante (from St. Dorothy);Rosetta Ortona-
Perri, St. Dorothy (from vice-prin -cipal at Pierre de Coubertin); ItratAhmad, Parkdale (from Carlyle);Jacques Monfette, outreachschools (from Mackay and PhilipE. Layton); Richard Mason, St.Monica (from Marymount); LuigiSantamaria, Marymount (fromJames Lyng), Serge Furlanetto,Lester B. Pearson(promoted fromvice-principal);Connie Forese,Willingdon (fromPierre ElliottTrudeau); JoanMacMillan,Carlyle (from vice-principal ofMichelangelo); Patricia Ciccarelli,Mackay/Phillip E. Layton (promotedfrom vice-principal); Craig Olenik,James Lyng (promoted from vice-principal); Michelle Stein, PierreElliott Trudeau (from Holy Cross);Eleni Zervas, Holy Cross (fromvice-principal of Gardenview).New vice-principals are: StevenErdelyi, Westmount High School(from teaching at Marymount); GailCallender, James Lyng (fromteaching at Dalkeith); JamesFequet, Rosemount (from teachingat Marymount); Sonia Marotta,Pierre de Coubertin (from teachingat St. Dorothy); Roberto DiMarco,St. Pius Adult and Vocational (fromteaching at Outreach/Venture); Joe Anne Desir, Mackay/Philip E. Layton (from teaching atCoronation); Ranis Delis,Gardenview (from teaching at
Roslyn); Steven Rebello, Lester B.Pearson (from teaching at thesame school); and MarylènePerron, Michelangelo (previouslya special education consultant atthe EMSB)….Roma Medwid-Michailuk has been appointedassistant director of pedagogicalservices. She succeeds IreneKonecny, who is retiring. Ms.Medwid-Michailuk began hercareer in the public educationsystem 34 years ago at DanteElementary School in St. Léonard,where she has spent all but onethose years as a teacher, vice-principal and principal…. BrigitSellato, who served as theexecutive secretary for theCommunications and MarketingDivision for five years, is now the communications consultantresponsible for the Central ParentsCommittee, special events and theliaison for governing boards….Yibing Shen is the new EMSBwebmaster and graphic artist. Ms. Shen came to Canada fromChina and enrolled at the EMSB’s Shadd Business Centre.She did an internship with theCommunications and MarketingDivision three years ago and wasthen hired part-time to work on therelaunch of the EMSB website. Fortwo years she served as thewebmaster for the City of CôteSaint-Luc, returning to the EMSBlast fall in a part-time webmaster.
RETIREMENTSRetiring as principals are TerrenceQuinn (Lester B. Pearson), IvanaColatriano (Willingdon), JacklinWebb (Parkdale), Linda Saukas(John Grant and Paul VI) and FelixGelbart (outreach schools). Retiringas a vice-principal is LuciellaCianci-Teolis (St. Pius X Adult andVocational). Taking a leave ofabsence next year as principal isAndre Vamvakas (St. Monica)….Julia Sarhan retired as director of information technology ser -
vices... Janice Lacroix retired asthe EMSB’s communicationsconsultant for parents andcoordinator of special events. …Tom Booth retired as the highschool mathematics consultant.
DISTINCTIONNina McGregor, a Grade 5 studentat Gerald McShane ElementarySchool in Montreal North, sub -mitted the winning submissionamong 700 entries to name the newMontreal Police Departmentmascot. Her choice of “Flik” wascelebrated with the unveiling of theactual mascot at the school. Ninareceived a bicycle and recognition
from the Police Commander. Sheand her classmates were invited tothe National Police Academy inNicolet to spend the day where shewas presented with a plaque. Thechildren were given the opportunityto see two police dogs in actionand talk to their trainers. Followingthat they met a group of 40 youngaspiring trainees. Each child hadhis or her personal escort to visitthe academy. At the end of the visiteach received a gift bag with astuffed bear representing themascot and a Montreal PoliceDepartment cap. To board the busthey walked through two lines ofpolice officers and they weresaluted … Thirty-two peopleattended the annual EMSB LongService Reception recently at LeChallenger Reception Hall in St.Laurent. The EMSB honoured 10employees for their 25 years ofservice with the Board, whichbegan in 1983. Sylvie Bureau(John Paul I High School), ElizabethSegelstein (Royal Vale School),Carter Mack (Galileo Adult Centre),Stavroula Platanitis and Paul Naud(LaurenHill Academy), Marie-JoséeNormandin (Rosemount HighSchool), Frima Shaffer-Ruby(James Lyng Adult Centre), RosaDel Balso-Fuoco (CommunityServices), Roch Tremblay(Buildings & Grounds) and AngelaMonteferrante-Orsi (Galilio AdultCentre) … In September 1908Roslyn Elementary School inWestmount welcomed 264 stu -dents into its halls for the first time.One hundred years later, alumniand friends were recently invitedto walk through those doors onceagain to celebrate the school’sCentennial. This was an occasionfor alumni, former staff and friendsto re-discover the school, meet upwith old friends and re-connect
with former teachers! One ofRoslyn School’s defining momentswas 40 years ago, when a group ofactive, committed and visionaryparents pioneered the FrenchImmersion education program, thefirst on the island of Montreal. InSeptember 1968, the entirekindergarten year started in theFrench Immersion program. Theythen con tinued their studies inFrench until Grade 3, at which pointEnglish was gradually introduced.Joan Rothman, one of the parentsin volved in launching the FrenchImmer sion program, who laterbecame the district’s schoolcommissioner from 1970 to 2003states: “The push for FrenchImmersion was a parent-ledinitiative, starting in 1965. Threeyears later, Roslyn was the firstschool in Quebec and Canada toteach 75 percent of their studentshow to speak, read and write inFrench as well as English. Parentdemand soon spread the programto many schools in the ProtestantSchool Board of Greater Montrealand later across Canada.” … TheEMSB held its seventh VolunteerAppreciation Evening last April 30at Le Baron Royal in St. Léonard.The 2008 Volunteer of Distinctionwas Irene Berry, a volunteer atWestmount Park ElementarySchool for the past 20 years invarious capacities. Time and space
did not allow the EMSB to honourall of its nearly 1,700 volunteers inperson. Therefore, only thoseindividuals who have volunteeredfor more than five years attendedthe reception, representing some500 people. For a full pictorial goto www.emsb.qc.ca.
MUSICIENSLe violoncelliste Denis Brott,
l’un des musiciens les plus re -nommés du Canada, a présentéson nouveau programme intituléBreakdance with Brott à l’école
primaire Coronation de Côte-des-Neiges. Le pianiste et compositeurlégendaire Oliver Jones a aussivisité l’école pour s’entretenir avecles élèves du Cycle III.
M. Brott est professeur devioloncelle et de musique dechambre au Conservatoire demusique de Montréal et il est lefondateur et directeur artistique du Festival de musique de chambrede Montréal. Sa carrière l’a menésur quatre continents en tant quevioloncelliste, membre d’ensemblede musique de chambre et membredu renommé quatuor à cordesd’Orford. Jonathan Émile, JoDeeAllen et Helen Simard collaborentavec lui à ce projet. M. Émile estle fondateur de la maison dedisques Mindpeacelove où sejoignent l’esprit (l’intellect), la paix(l’équilibre), et l’amour (émotion).Mme Allen est une danseuseaccomplie, membre du groupe debreakdance DysFunkShn. Elleapporte une perspective con -temporaine à ce projet et engageles élèves à appliquer lesmouvements de cette danse à la musique classique, jouée parDenis au violoncelle. Mme Simardest membre du Solid StateBreakdance.
L’objectif de Breakdance withBrott est de donner aux élèves uneconnaissance plus approfondie de la musique classique et de larelation entre la musique classiqueet contemporaine. Ce projetrenouvelle une appréciation desclassiques tout en répondant aux besoins des élèves de lasociété moderne.
Oliver Jones a grandi à Montréalà quelques portes de feu l’anciengrand musicien de jazz OscarPeterson. Un enfant prodige qui, à l’âge de trois ans, pouvait jouerpar mémoire des chansons qu’ilavait entendu une fois à la radio,Jones a fait ses débuts de pianisteà l’âge de cinq ans à l’Union UnitedChurch de Montréal. Il a ensuiteétudié le piano classique et aconnu une formidable carrière à travers le monde.
EMSB EXPRESS | vol. 11 | No 1 | Fall 2008w w w . e m s b . q c . c a2
Editor: Michael J. CohenCommunications & Marketing Specialist, EMSB
Gerald McShane’s Nina McGregor, in the company of mascot Flik,
receives her award.
Serge Furlanetto
Alice Buchanan
Irene Berry is congratulated by Chairman Angela Mancini and
Principal Christina Delaney.
Oliver Jones
There were lots of photo displays at the Roslyn Centennial.
3EMSB EXPRESS | vol. 11 | No 1 | Fall 2008 w w w . e m s b . q c . c a
www.emsb.qc.ca
The EMSB CAREER FAIR
2008October 21 & 22
ST. PIUS X, 9955 Papineau
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:
EMSB CommissionersLes commissaires de la CSEM
DATEBOOK~ 2008 ~
October 5World Teachers Day
October 5 to 11Fire Prevention Weekwww.afleq.ca
October 8 to 12Quebec Literacy Week
October 13Thanksgiving
October 21 and 22Career Fair For HighSchool StudentsHosted by EMSB Student Services Department and Adult Education and Vocational Services St. Pius X Adult Centre 9955 Papineau, Ahuntsic
November 3 to 7National Media Education Week
November 11Remembrance Day
November 20 and 21Quebec Provincial Teachers Association(QPAT) ConventionPalais des Congrès, Montreal
December 10Human Rights Day
December 22, 2008to January 5, 2009Christmas Break
~ 2009 ~January 26 to 30EMSB Library Week
January 27Family Literacy Day(www.fld-jaf.ca)
February 2 to 6Kindergarten Registration Week
~ 2009 cont’d ~February 2 to 8Teacher AppreciationWeek (Quebec)
February 9 to 13Teacher AppreciationWeek (Canada)
March EMSB Nutrition Month
March 2 to 6March Break
March 20Prelude to Career FairSecondary IV students Centre Pierre Charbonneau
April 22EMSB Volunteer Appreciation EveningLe Crystal in St. Laurent
MEETINGSThe EMSB council of commis-sioners meet in public once amonth. These sessions begin at 7:30 p.m. and are held in theLaurence Patterson ConferenceRoom of the administrationbuilding at 6000 Fielding Avenue.Everyone is welcome to attend.Please note that occasionallyduring the year special meet-ings are called. Parents areurged to bookmark the EMSBwebsite (www.emsb.qc.ca) toaccess Board meeting agendasand to be advised about specialmeetings. To register for ques-tion period please call 514-483-7200, ext. 7264. The meetingsscheduled for this academicyear are as follows:
Electoral Division ~ Circonscription ~ 7(Westmount)GINETTE SAUVÉ-FRANKEL Representative, Quebec EnglishSchool Boards Association Représentante, Association des commissions scolaires anglophones du Québec
Electoral Division ~ Circonscription ~ 8(Côte-des-Neiges – Snowdon – Outremont)ELLIE ISRAELVice-Chair, Finance and Legislative CommitteeVice-présidente, des affaires financières et législatives
Electoral Division ~ Circonscription ~ 10(Saint-Laurent)BERNIE PRAW Chair, Education and FacilitiesCommittee; Président, Comité des affaires pédagogiques et des services éducatifs
Electoral Division ~ Circonscription ~ 11(Saint-Laurent – Cartierville)JAMES KROMIDA Chair, Finance and LegislativeCommittee; Président, Comité desaffaires financières et législatives
Electoral Division ~ Circonscription ~ 16(Saint-Léonard)DOMINIC SPIRIDIGLIOZZIImmediate Past ChairPrésident sortant
Electoral Division ~ Circonscription ~ 17(Saint-Léonard)FRANK VERRILLOVice-Chair, Education and FacilitiesCommittee; Vice-président, Comitédes affaires pédagogiques et services éducatifs; Representative,Quebec English School Boards Association; Représentant, Association des commissions scolaire anglophone de Montréal
Electoral Division ~ Circonscription ~ 18(Rosemont)AGOSTINO CANNAVINOAlternate / Substitut, Comité de gestion de la taxe scolaire de l’île de Montréal
Electoral Division ~ Circonscription ~ 20(Saint-Léonard)FRANK DI CESARE Chair, Adult Education and VocationalServices Advisory CommitteePrésident, Comité consultatif de l’éducation des adultes et de la formation professionnelle
Electoral Division ~ Circonscription ~ 21(Anjou – Pointe-aux-Trembles –Montréal Est)TED DONNINIRepresentative, Quebec EnglishSchool Boards AssociationReprésentant, Association des commissions scolaires anglophones du Québec
Electoral Division ~ Circonscription ~ 23(Rivière-des-Prairies)PATRICIA LATTANZIOVice-Chair, Adult Education and Vocational Services Advisory CommitteeVice-présidente, Comité consulatifde L'éducation des adultes et de la formation professionnelle
Parent CommissionersReprésentants de parents
ANNE WADE
VIKY KELLER
For a complete list of which committeesEMSB commissioners
sit on, please log to thegovernance section at
www.emsb.qc.ca.
EMSB EXPRESS | vol. 11 | No 1 | Fall 2008w w w . e m s b . q c . c a4
1998 -1999• On July 1, the English
sectors of the former ProtestantSchool Board of GreaterMontreal, the Montreal CatholicSchool Commission, the Com -mission scolaire Jérôme-Le Royerand the Commission scolaireSainte-Croix merge together tocreate the English MontrealSchool Board. At the time, thenewly-formed board has more than30,000 students attending 67elementary and high schools, sevenoutreach schools, 10 social affairsschools and 11 adult andvocational centres. There are 19elected commissioners and thehead office is housed in the formerPSBGM headquarters, located at6000 Fielding Avenue. GeorgeVathilakis is elected the firstchairman.
• The EMSB introduces thedraft of a Safe Schools Policy toestablish and maintain a safeenvironment within each schoolcommunity.
• A policy is passed by EMSBcommissioners to recognizeemployees who have attained 25years of service to the board as ofJune 30 of each year. It is alsoannounced that an annual dinnerwill be held every October tohonour employees with more than10 years of service as of June 30of the academic year who haveretired from the board.
• “The Fielding Focus” isintroduced as the new EMSBmonthly newsletter.
• Plans are unveiled to relocateMIND High School from itsUniversity Street location to theBancroft School facility on St.Urbain Street.
• The first Long ServiceReception is held at the BuffetRoma in St. Leonard. About 155employees from the four mergedschool boards that now make upthe EMSB are honoured for their 25 years of service and arepresented with commemorativepins and certificates.
• A Marketing AdvisoryCommittee is established to take a closer look at the board’scorporate image.
• The Second Start pilotproject, geared towards severelysocially maladjusted students aged10 to12, is approved by the boardto begin at St. Raphael School.The project aims to provide ameaningful learning experience, inorder to promote the eventualinclusion of these students into aregular school setting.
~• Le projet-pilote Deuxième
Début, visant les mésadaptéssociaux graves âgés de 10 à 12ans, est approuvé par laCommission et lancé à l’école St. Raphaël. Le projet vise à offrirune expérience significatived’apprentissage dans le but depromouvoir l’inclusion éventuellede ces élèves dans une écoleordinaire.
1999-2000• The EMSB website is
introduced. • The “EMSB Express,” the
board’s tabloid newspaper, isintroduced. Published twice a year,the Express is distributed to everyschool, as well as every EMSBrepresentative and the local media.
• EMSB commissioners rejectthe Proulx Report scenarios, whichrecommends the gradual end toreligious instruction in publicschools, and recommends that theEMSB support the continuationof the existing right for parents tochoose between religious and moraleducation as guaranteed in theEducation Act.
• After a consultation process,the board adopts a plan toharmonize French instruction. Theminimum instruction time at theelementary level will be at 32percent; partial immersion or earlyimmersion will be at 52 percent inGrades 1 and 2; and 44 percentin Grades 3-6.
• The EMSB holds its firstannual Retirees Dinner at theOmni Hotel in downtownMontreal. About 120 retiredEMSB employees are honouredat the event.
• Commissioners adopt theEMSB’s first mission statement.
• Angelo E. Komatsoulis, theEMSB’s first Director General,announces his retirement. He issucceeded by Charley E.E. Levy.
• The EMSB announcesplans for a new elementary schoolin St. Leonard to be calledGeneral Vanier.
• The EMSB starts theprocess of establishing trans -portation boundaries for its schoolnetwork. The board adopts aresolution that the EMSB besubdivided into geographicalzones.
• An advertising campaignpromoting the EMSB’s vocationaltraining program, in the form of a52-second film clip, is played onthe screens of Famous Players,Cineplex Odeon and Guzzo movietheatres across the city. Thecampaign’s slogan is “Choose yourprogram – choose your life.”
• The EMSB adopts a homeschooling policy and a new policythat spells out the mandate of itstraumatic events support team.
~• À la suite d’un processus de
consultation, la Commission adopteun plan d’harmonisation del’enseignement du français. Letemps minimum d’enseignement auprimaire sera de 32 pour cent; de52 pour cent à l’immersion partielleou l’immersion précoce en 1re et 2e
année ; de 44 pour cent de la 3e àla 6e année et de 28-78 pour centde la 9e à la 11e année.
2000-2001• The Quebec Court of Appeal
renders a decision supportingEducation Minister FrancoisLegault and Bill 111, which forcesthe EMSB to transfer the EmilyCarr School building to theCommission scolaire de Montreal(CSDM); students are transferredto Francesca Cabrini School.
• The EMSB approves a planof action for the Ministr y ofEducation’s special nutritionmeasures that will be used toprovide snacks, breakfasts orlunches to needy students whoattend inner-city schools.
• The first Career Fair takesplace at St. Pius X Compre -hensive High School. Originallycalled “Career Day” over 2,000Sec. V and senior Outreachstudents attend and visit boothsmanned by various vocationalcentres, CEGEPs, universities,youth employment services and the Canadian Armed Forces.
• Elementary and high schoolprincipals are asked to prepareplans of action for educationalsuccess, which is required by theMinistry of Education. This planis to assist schools to do everythingin their power so that 100 percentof EMSB students leave schoolwith the proper qualifications thatwill aid them with their individualchoices and career potential.
• The Youth Horizons-ContactProgram, which is operated by theEMSB along with the BatshawYouth & Family Services, changesits name to Youth Horizons-Focus.
• Laurier Macdonald HighSchool publishes its second bookcalled Rainbow of Dreams –Memories in Black & White. The165-page book consists of old
family pictures that are chosen, re-shot and digitally restored by thestudents, as well as family historiesthat are written by the students, too.
• The EMSB publishes thefirst edition of its Outreach highschool system booklet.
• Our Lady of Pompei Ele -mentary School in Ahunsticbecomes a Canadian OlympicSchool.
• The EMSB establishes anAdvisory Committee on SpecialEducation services to focus onorganizing educational services forstudents with special needs.
• Marymount Academyreceives full authorization status asan International BaccalaureateOrganization (IBO).
~• La première Foire de carrières
de la CSEM a lieu à l’écolesecondaire polyvalente St. Pius X.Désignée à l’origine comme « Journée de carrières », plus de 2000 élèves du secondaire et desécoles innovatrices ont visité leskiosques des divers centres deformation professionnelle, desCÉGEPs, d’universités, desservices d’emploi à la jeunesse etdes Forces armées canadiennes.
• La CSEM établit un comitéconsultatif chargé d’examinerl’organisation des services éducatifsdispensés aux élèves ayant desbesoins particuliers.
• L’Académie Marymountreçoit l’autorisation de dispenser leprogramme international debaccalauréat (PIB).
2001-2002• The EMSB formally
approves the renaming ofFrancesca Cabrini School inRosemount in memory of formerCanadian Prime Minister PierreElliott Trudeau, who died inSeptember of 2000. The namechange takes effect on July 1,2001.
• A summer language camp islaunched by EMSB speech andlanguage therapists at Pierre deCoubertin Elementary School inSt. Léonard. The intent was toprovide intensive languagestimulation to a small group ofEMSB language disabled childrenliving in the East End of Montreal.
• Coronation School is the siteof an 11-hour live radio broadcast,
which airs on Radio Centre-Ville.Coronation is the only Englishlanguage school to participate inthis project, which is initiated bythe Ministry of Education. Thebroadcast features inter views,musical performances and pro -gramming in English, French andTamil.
• Q92 radio morning showhosts Aaron & Tasso launch afundraising campaign to replaceover $26,000 worth of computerequipment that was stolen from theMackay Centre. By the time thecampaign ends, a total of $26,778is collected.
• EMSB Chairman GeorgeVathilakis stepsdown to run fora city councilseat in theMontreal mega -city election. Heis succeeded by Dr. John Simms.
• TheEMSB adopts new and distinctboundaries for its elementaryschool network.
• Commissioner JosephPetraglia represents the EMSB ata Canadian solidarity mission inhis native New York City in thewake of the September 11 terroristattacks. He visits Ground Zeroand presents Mayor RudyGiuliani with condolence cardsthat were made by students at St.Pius X, Honore-Mercier and OurLady of Pompei schools.
• The EMSB establishes anew Spiritual Care and Guidanceand Community InvolvementService at the secondary level, with
1 0 Y E A R EMSB
COMPILED BY STUART NULMAN
George Vathilakis, the EMSB’s first chairman.
A music class from Elizabeth Ballantyne Elementary School in
Montreal West.
Our Lady of Pompei Elementary School becomes an Olympic School.
Dr. John A. Simms
Students and staff from the EMSB’s first language camp.
5EMSB EXPRESS | vol. 11 | No 1 | Fall 2008 w w w . e m s b . q c . c a
eight full-time spiritual communityanimators covering 17 schools.The ser vice was created toconform with the Ministr y ofEducation’s guidelines for Bill118, which responds to thediversity of moral and religiouseducational expectations. Theservice is implemented at theelementary level in September2002.
• A Sports-Études program isofficially launched at Lester B.Pearson High School in MontrealNorth.
• The EMSB AdministrationBuilding is used as a location forthe shooting of the motion picture“Confessions of A DangerousMind.” Actor George Clooney(who also directs the picture) visitsthe building on several occasionsto make arrangements for theupcoming shoot.
• A ceremony takes place atthe Administration Building toname the foyer in honour ofFrancesca Cabrini and the atriumin honour of artist Emily Carr.Two schools were previouslynamed after them, but weremerged in 2000 and later namedPierre Elliott Trudeau School.
• Nesbitt School in Rosemountcelebrates its 90th anniversary.
• The EMSB holds its firstVolunteer Appreciation Eveningat St. Pius X High School. Over500 people who have volunteeredfor five years or more attend theevent, which is emceed by GlobalQuebec’s Jamie Orchard andJonathan Freed.
• The Robert A. Peck Medalis established to honour excellencein French. Mr. Peck was a formerFrench teacher, head of the FrenchDepartment and a vice principal.The honour also comes with a$150 cash prize, which is given tothe EMSB Secondary V studentwho obtains the highest mark inFrench 139-594.
~• La CSEM approuve
officiellement le nouveau nom del’école Francesca Cabrini deRosemont qui portera le nom del’ancien Premier ministre duCanada, Pierre Elliott Trudeau,qui est décédé en septembre 2000.Le changement de nom prend effetle 1er juillet 2001.
• La CSEM établit un nouveauService d’animation spirituelle etd’engagement communautaire auniveau secondaire et affecte huitanimateurs/animatrices à tempsplein qui couvrent 17 écoles. LeService a été créé conformément aux
directives du ministère de l’Édu -cation relatives à la Loi 118 quirépond à la diversité des attentesd’enseignement moral et religieux.Le Service est mis en œuvre auprimaire en septembre 2002.
2002-2003 • The EMSB and the McGill
Faculty of Education announce a new agreement to exploreuniversity collaboration. Teachers
at Bancroft andMIND schoolswould share fieldsof expertise withMcGill facultyand students,which wouldbenefit from agreater on-goingaccess to the latestdevelopments inresearch andeducation tech -nologies under
the auspices of the Faculty of Education.
• The EMSB approves thenew electoral map in time for the2003 school board elections. Thenumber of electoral divisionsincreases from 19 to 23.
• The EMSB and the SchoolServices Department of JewishFamily Services launches a pilotproject called Building Edu cationalAssets Together (B.E.A.T.). Theproject’s aim is to lessen the riskfactors that can lead to suchbehaviour problems as drug abuse,violence, sexual promiscuity, self-destructive behaviour and gam -bling. The B.E.A.T. project isimplemented at six EMSB schools– three elementary and three highschools.
• “Once Upon A Journey,” adocumentary based on the book of the same name that is writtenand produced by the Grade 10students of Laurier MacdonaldHigh School’s Media LiteracyDepartment, airs on CBCNewsworld. The documentarydeals with the immigrant heritageof the students’ parents andgrandparents. The companionbook was launched in Decemberof 2002.
• EMSB Director GeneralCharley E.E. Levy announces hisretirement after a 36-year careerin public education. He issucceeded by Antonio Lacroce.
• At the second annualVolunteer Appreciation Evening,held at the Congregation NotreDame Mother House, 90-year-oldEugene Lehman, a math tutor atthree EMSB elementary schools,becomes the first individual to behonoured as “Volunteer ofDistinction.”
• Construction begins on twonew classrooms and two new labsat John Paul I High School in St.Leonard. The construction workis in response to two months ofboard consultations over theincreasing enrolment at two
EMSB schools in St. Leonardover the last five years, in whichenrolment rose from 497 to 620students. The new expandedfacility will allow the school itswide range of academic programsto the entire student body.Previously, 96 John Paul I studentswere housed at LaurierMacdonald High School.
• Five students from theEMSB capture medals at theMontreal Regional SkillsCompetition Gala. The EMSBhosted the prestigious event at the St. Pius X Culinary Institutein Ahuntsic. A student from hostSt. Pius X captured bronze inprofessional cooking.
~• La CSEM et les Services
scolaires des Services à la famillejuive lancent un projet-pilote intituléBuilding Educational AssetsTogether (B.E.A.T.) L’objectif duprojet est de diminuer les facteursde risques qui peuvent mener à des problèmes de comportement,dont la toxicomanie, la violence, la promiscuité sexuelle, lacomportement auto-destructeur etles jeux de hasard. Le projetB.E.A.T. est mis en œuvre danssix écoles de la CSEM - trois écolesprimaires et trois écoles secondaires.
• La construction de deuxnouvelles salles de classe et de deuxnouveaux laboratoires commence àl’école secondaire John Paul I deSaint-Léonard. Ce projet est le fruitde deux mois de consultation àl’école de la Commission, relativesà la croissance des inscriptions dansdeux écoles de Saint-Léonard aucours des cinq dernières années, de497 à 620 élèves. Les nouveauxlocaux permettront à l’école dedispenser sa vaste gamme deprogrammes académiques à toutl’effectif scolaire. Antérieurement,96 élèves de John Paul I étaientplacés à l’école secondaire LaurierMacdonald.
2003-2004• The EMSB launches the
academic year on a large scale onAugust 27. Over 4,000 EMSBemployees attend a rally at thePierre Charbonneau Centre on thetheme of “Together We Are Better.”It is the first time since the EMSBwas established in 1998 that allboard administrators, professionals,teachers, administrative andtechnical support staff, caretakersand cafeteria staff were invited togather under the same roof.
• The EMSB expands theOutreach School Network to theEast End, with secondary Cycle Iand Cycle II programs in St.Michel called Perspectives.
• Career Fair isexpanded by one day inorder to allow SecondaryIV students a chance tomap out their respectivefutures two years beforethey graduate.
• The EMSB websiteis relaunched, this timewith a completely newFrench language section.
• Marymount Aca -demy is chosen as a pilot
school for the imple mentation ofQuebec’s curriculum reforms atthe high school level.
• The EMSB formally adoptsa communications with the mediapolicy. It provides the frameworkfor staffers who deal with all typesof news and information media.
• Schoolboard electionstake place, inwhich 10 of the23 availableelectoral seatsare contested(13 of thecommissionerswin their dis -
tricts by acclamation). DominicSpiridigliozzi, commissioner forWard 16 (St. Leonard), is electedto a four-year term as chairman.
• The EMSB’s first flag isunveiled. It becomes a permanentfixture at the administrationbuilding lobby and put on displayat different board events.
• In a Ministry of Educationstudy of graduation rates from1998-2003, the EMSB recordedthe highest results amongst publicschool boards in the province witha 72.2 percent success rate (theprovincial average is 57 percent).
• Chairman DominicSpiridigliozzi, along withrepresentatives from five EMSBschools – Gardenview, HolyCross, Cedarcrest, Parkdale andLaurenHill – visit the St. LaurentCampus of United Talmud Torahs(UTT) on April 15 in the wakeof the firebombing of its library.They bring two boxes of newbooks to the school and offer theuse of the five schools’ librarieswhile their own was being rebuilt.The EMSB as a whole condemnthe act of arson and anti-Semiticvandalism, especially since it tookplace just before the Jewish holidayof Passover.
• The EMSB holds its firstfundraising fashion show, entitled“EMSB in Vogue: Fashion forCompassion” at Buffet Le Crystalin St. Laurent. Forty EMSB
administrators and professionalsfrom its schools and the admin -istration building become fashionmodels for an evening, sporting thelatest styles in sportswear, leisurewear and formal wear. Over 550people attend the show, whichraised over $10,000 for theShriners Hospital.
~• La CSEM étend son réseau
d’écoles innovatrices à l’est de laville en introduisant des pro -grammes du Cycle I et du Cycle IIdans Saint-Michel.
• Les élections scolaires dans10 des 23 circonscriptions ont lieu (13 commissaires sont élus par acclamation). DominicSpiridigliozzi commissaire de lacirconscription 16 (Saint-Léonard)est élu président pour un mandatde quatre ans.
• Le premier drapeau de laCSEM est dévoilé. Il est déployéen permanence au foyer du centreadministratif et lors de diversévènements.
2004-2005 • James Lyng High School is
the subject of a feature report on CBC’s national TV news pro -gram, regarding its extraordinarysuccess in curtailing the school’sdropout rate and improvingacademic success as a result of a $1.2 million grant it receivedfrom the Ministry of Education.
• Rosemount TechnologyCentre formally opens its secondcampus in Montreal North, as aresponse to the increased demandfor the centre’s day courses (whichincludes cabinet making andcomputer graphics), and addressa growing waiting list.
• The EMSB holds its veryfirst Scholarship Fund GolfTournament at the Lachute GolfClub. Over $20,000 is raised, andthe proceeds go towards scholar -ships for graduating EMSBstudents who are pursuing post-secondary education.
• Dina Koutsofakis, a grade11 student at FACE, makes thelist of the top 155 finalists at thatyear’s edition of “Canadian Idol.”She was inspired to audition forthe hit TV show after a visit to
T I M E L I N E
Lester B. Pearson High School students mark the debut of the Sports Études Program.
St. Pius X Culinary Institute chefs at the Montreal Regional Skills Competition.
DominicSpiridigliozzi
The EMSB Career Fair is expanded.
FACE by Canadian Idol runner-up Gary Beals in January.
• The EMSB begins itscommitment to brain tumourresearch. Staff, parents andstudents from Dalkeith Schoolinitiate Brain Tumour AwarenessDay and raise over $2,800 for theFranco Di Giovanni Foundationof the Montreal NeurologicalInstitute. John F. Kennedy HighSchool and Business Centre,Coronation, Dante and LaurierMacdonald raise an additional$3,000.
• Galileo Adult Centre isofficially dedicated at an inau -guration ceremony in MontrealNorth. It shares the facility withthe recently opened second campusof Rosemount Technology Centre.Originally called the GeneralVanier Adult Centre, the name ischanged in honour of the 17th
century Italian astronomer. • Two students from
Coronation School are part of theCanadian team that wins first prizein one of the three competitions atthe Junior World Robocup roboticstournament in Lisbon, Portugal.
• The Unicorn Children’sFoundation gives the EMSB a $1,500 grant to fund thedevelopment of the board’s firstchild development room project,located at Westmount Park School.The room helps ensure that anychild with a communication orlearning disorder will be given the greatest opportunity to reachtheir fullest potential. The projectlater expands to Nesbitt andDalkeith schools.
• Holy Cross School launchesan education program that linkspedagogy and sports training.Twenty-seven Cycle II studentsregister for the program, whichgives a quality education anddevelop skills in ice hockey. It isoffered to elite students in sportswho are recognized for possessinga certain skill level as prescribedby the West Island HockeyAcademy and the Lac St. LouisLions. Former NHL defencemanShawn Anderson is the headcoach.
• The EMSB and McGillUniversity sign an agreement fora 24-month program that will closethe gap between theory andpractice for education students,and will increase academiccooperation and flow of knowledgebetween the board and McGill.This will help bring more studentteachers to the classroom and morepupils to the university.
• EMSB schools and adultcentres step into action shortly afterthe December 26 tsunami disasterin South Asia in the form ofmemorial services and fundraisers.In all, schools raise over $50,000to aid victims.
• In light of the tsumanidisaster, the EMSB launches acultural exchange between theGrade 5 and 6 students ofCoronation School and the nearbyJewish Peoples and Peretz School(JPPS). Keshan Muthurajah, aGrade 5 student, read aloud hisessay about his trip to Sri Lankafollowing the December 26tsunami. JPPS students presenteda $150 cheque to Coronation’sTsunami Fundraising Campaignfor UNICEF and World Vision.
• CBC National News anchorPeter Mansbridge visits JamesLyng High School to speak to itsstudents. The school was featuredin a story on “The National” theprevious year because of thesuccessful turnaround of itsacademic standing and thelowering of its drop out rate.
• The EMSB adopts a five-year strategic plan for the province-wide delivery of English languagevocational training, and deals withthe major issues affecting vocationaleducation ser vice delivery inEnglish.
~• Le Centre de technologie de
Rosemont inaugure officiellementson second campus à Montréal-Nord pour faire face à la demandecroissante de cours de jour (quiincluent l’ébénisterie et les gra -phiques informatisés) et une listed’attente en croissance constante.
• La CSEM organise sonpremier tournoi de golf des Boursesd’études au Club de golf Lachute.Plus de 20 000 $ sont recueillis etce montant est versé au fonds desbourses d’études pour les élèvesdiplômés de la CSEM qui pour -suivent des études post-secondaires.
• La CSEM adopte un planstratégique quinquennal pour ladispense de formation profession -nelle en anglais dans tout le Québecet aborde les problèmes majeurs quiaffectent la dispense de formationprofessionnelle en anglais.
2005-2006• EMSB representatives
attend the opening of the newlyrebuilt United Talmud Torah’s(UTT) library at its St. Laurentcampus. The library was fire -
bombed on April 5. The boardhelped out almost immediatelyafter the incident, when it donatedscores of books to UTT.
• Marymount Academy andJohn F. Kennedy High Schoolopen their doors to foreign studentsfrom Korea, thanks to a programinitiated by the organization StudyEnglish in Quebec. Grade 8 and9 students are housed by local hostfamilies and study at the twoschools for the duration of theacademic year.
• Principal Diane Wood-Nolanof Coronation School is named as one of Canada’s OutstandingPrincipals by the LearningPartnership. She is the onlyrecipient from Quebec for thisaward.
• FACE High Schoolcelebrates its 30th anniversary with a special concert featuringperformances by current and paststudents from FACE’s musicprogram.
• The Marymount AdultCentre is re-located to the WagarHigh School facility.
• The EMSB adopts a specialeducation policy. Its objective is toprovide and organize educationalservices to students with specialneeds, with the hope of integratingthem into regular classroomsettings.
• Jamie Deshaies of WestmountHigh School finishes in first placeat the Regional Canwest SpellingBee competition. He and MarcoMonteferrante of John Paul I High School go on to representMontreal at the National SpellingBee in Ottawa, and Deshaies goes on to compete at the 78th
Scripps National Spelling Bee inWashington D.C. a month later.
• The first annual Brain WavesGala takes place at the LeonardoDa Vinci Centre in St. Leonard.Organized by four EMSB highschools – Laurier Macdonald,John Paul I, Royal West Academyand Royal Vale – the gala raises$25,000 for brain tumour researchat the Montreal NeurologicalInstitute, as well as help enhancethe lives of those stricken by the disease.
• Education Minister Jean-MarcFournier announces three majorfunding initiatives for the EMSB:$2 million to construct a new gymat Royal West Academy; $925,000towards the expansion of DunraeGardens School; and $3.5 millionto allow the EMSB to purchasethe East Hill School building fromBMO Bank of Montreal and toadd new classrooms.
• The board votes in favour ofrelocating Paul VI High Schoolfrom the Lester B. Pearson HighSchool facility in Montreal Northto the St. Pius X facility inAhuntsic.
• Westmount High Schoolbecomes the first public high school in Quebec to offer advancedplacement exams to its students.The Advance Placement Programoffers students an opportunity toearn credit or advanced placementin colleges and universities in over29 countries.
• The EMSB signs an agree -ment with the Consul General of
Italy and the Italian-CanadianPatronage for the Assistance toImmigrants to allow the integrationof teaching Italian in the ins -tructional schedule of students atEast Hill School for 90 minutes a week. Such a program issuccessfully introduced at Pierrede Coubertin, Dante and GeneralVanier schools.
• Students and personnel fromEMSB schools, centres and theadministration building do theirpart in aid of the victims ofHurricane Katrina, which struckthe Gulf Coast of the southernUnited States at the end ofAugust.
• More than 100 volunteers –comprised of parents and studentsof Hampstead School, andemployees of Decarie Saturn andHome Depot St. Henri branch –spend the day refurbishingHampstead School’s playgroundas well as plant 300 plants andbushes, four trees, dramaticallylandscape the surrounding terrain,pave a relaxation area and installwooden benches, planters andtrash bins. The Saturn KidspaceProgram provided the funding forthe repairs and improvements,while the Home Depot’s KaboomProgram for Playground Refur -bishment provided funding as wellas the necessary equipment.
• The EMSB holds its firstTown Hall Meeting, which wasinitiated by the Quebec EnglishSchool Boards Association(QESBA), at St. Pius X AdultCentre. Over 200 people attendthe meeting, which gave theEMSB and QESBA theopportunity to learn more aboutthe concerns of its stakeholders,take suggestions and hear successstories about English publiceducation in Quebec. Topicsincluded complementary services,
the range of educational programsand responding to an incrediblymulti-cultural and multi-racialpopulation. The meeting endedwith an impassioned speech aboutthe benefits and future of publiceducation by Director GeneralAntonio Lacroce.
• The LaurenHill Lynxhockey team face off against theIsraeli Junior National HockeyTeam in a high profile exhibitiongame at the Samuel MoskovitchArena in Cote St. Luc. TheIsraeli team win by a score of 8-1.
• The EMSB introduces anoccupational therapy services pilotproject to 15 elementary schoolsvia a contractual arrangement withJewish Family Services.
• Twenty-two cash scholarshipsof $500 each are distributed tograduating students of the class of2005. The money was raised atthe inaugural EMSB ScholarshipFund Golf Tournament, whichtook place in June of 2004. Thescholarships are available in two categories: high academicachievement and involvement inschool life activities, and persever -ance in the face of overwhelmingodds and personal difficulties.
• The Montreal Impact soccerclub, the EMSB and the CSDMannounce the creation of a newprogram to encourage students tostay in school, which is called “Allthe Way with the Impact.”
• Students from St. RaphaelCentre, Westmount High Schooland Marymount Academyparticipate in a program withShare the Warmth, in whichvolunteer work at that organizationwould be seen as an alternative toa school suspension.
• John F. Kennedy HighSchool renames its auditoriumafter Antonio Colannino, a formerprincipal at the school who died ofa brain tumour earlier in the year.Colannino graduated from JFK in1968 and returned to the schoolto serve as a teacher, assistant tothe principal, vice-principal andfine arts program coordinator.
• The EMSB decides torename the former Wagar HighSchool facility in Cote St. Luc as the Giovanni Palatucci facility.Palatucci, a police chief and civilservant in northern Italy during the 30s and 40s, was credited with saving the lives of over 5,000 Jews. He died in Dachauconcentration camp in 1944. Aseries of programs are plannedwith Laurier Macdonald andBialik high schools, which includea visit to the Holocaust Museum,
cultural exchanges and the officialdedication ceremony in May, in which former peacekeeper Gen. Lewis Mackenzie attends as a guest speaker. Rev. JohnPalatucci, a Catholic priest fromNew York City and one ofGiovanni Palatucci’s survivingrelatives, also attends thededication ceremony.
• John F. Kennedy BusinessCentre introduces a new hotelreception program into itscurriculum. It will prepare studentsto operate hotel computer systems,efficiently handle reservations, sell hotel products and services,and communicate effectively inEnglish and French.
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Major General (ret’d) Louis MacKenzie meets with students at the renamingof the former Wagar High School to the Giovanni Palatucci Facility.
Students raise awareness about the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia.
• Laurier Macdonald HighSchool opens its very own radiostation and recording studio, inwhich the inaugural broadcast is aired on 560 AM. The station,which will broadcast programs and announcements across theschool, can also be tuned in usingany radio receiver. It is created by Laurier Macdonald graduateDaniel C. Orsi.
• The EMSB and theMontreal Impact holds its firstannual “School Board Night” atthe June 14 game against Atlantaat the Claude Robillard Centre.Over 3,500 tickets are sold toEMSB students and staff. In apre-game ceremony, two EMSBstudents, Nicolina Zampino ofMichelangelo School and StevenMasi of Dante School, were eachpresented with a $500 bursary that was named in memory ofTony Licursi, a graduate of JamesLyng High School and Impactstatistician, who passed away inDecember of 2005.
• Rosemount TechnologyCentre Campus II is renamed the Curtis George Campus inmemory of the long time assistantdirector who died of cancer in2005. Mr. George played animportant role in the establishmentof Rosemount Technology CentreCampus II, which is located inMontreal North.
~• L’école secondaire FACE
célèbre son 30e anniversaire enorganisant un concert mettant envedette ses anciens élèves et sesélèves actuels du programme demusique de FACE.
• Le ministre de l’Éducation,Jean-Marc Fournier, annonce troismesures majeures de financementpour la CSEM: 2 millions dedollars pour la construction d’unnouveau gymnase à l’AcadémieRoyal West; 925 000 $ pourl’expansion de l’école DunraeGardens et 3,5 millions de dollarspour permettre à la CSEMd’acheter le bâtiment de l’école East Hill appartenant à la Banquede Montréal et pour ajouter denouvelles classes.
• La CSEM signe uneentente avec le Consul générald’Italie et le Patronage italo-canadien pour l’aide aux immi -grants afin de permettre l’inté -gration de l’enseignement del’italien au programme d’étudesdes élèves de l’école East Hillpour une période de 90 minutespar semaine. Ce programme estaussi introduit avec succès auxécoles Pierre de Coubertin, Danteet Général Vanier.
2006 -2007 • Laurier Macdonald High
School launches its sixth student-produced book of true stories oftheir family ’s past generationscalled Ripples in Time at theLeonardo Da Vinci Centre. Theevent also features a 48-minutecompanion film by LaurierMacdonald Media Film Pro -ductions, in which three storiesfrom the book are recountedthrough interviews and drama -tizations. The students – alongwith faculty advisors – wrote, actedand edited the film.
• Pedagogical Services designsa new pre-school and secondaryCycle I report card as a pilotproject for the 2006-2007 schoolyear. It is based on competencies– in accordance with the QuebecEducation Plan – in an electronicformat that is clear and under -standable for all users.
• For the second time in threeyears, Coronation School wins first place at the InternationalJunior Robocup Competition,which is being held that year inBremen, Germany. They also winrobotics competitions that year inMontreal and Boston.
• The EMSB expresses itsdeep sadness in the wake of the Dawson College shooting on Sept. 13. Anastasia De Souza, a former student at Royal Vale and graduate of St. Pius X HighSchool, was tragically shot andkilled at Dawson. That year ’sCareer Fair is dedicated in hermemory. The administrationbuilding holds a memorial servicefor De Souza and the students that were wounded. Royal Valeholds a dress down day on Sept.20 and raises $1,400 for theMontreal Children’s Hospital.
• The EMSB, along withFoster Pavilion and CSSS St.Leonard/St. Michel, sign a three-way entente, in which EMSBstudents and other anglophoneclients in the East End will benefitfrom access to substance abuserehabilitation services with thefounding and establishment ofFoster Pavilion East.
• The EMSB and four otherMontreal school boards hold theirvery first Public School EducationWeek from Jan. 15-19. Entitled“Following in Their Footsteps,”local celebrities are invited to returnto their former schools and talk tothe students about the benefits ofthe public school system. Guestspeakers for this year include ErnieButler from The Comedy Nest,rock star Jonas, Dr. Phil Gold,
• Westmount High School ischosen by the CBC to be the focus of that year ’s “MontrealMatters” project, in which thetopic is schools and what issues are important, what works well,what successful programs andpeople are in place and what issues and situations are presentthat need to be improved and arebeing improved. It starts with a live broadcast of the local CBCRadio morning show “Daybreak”from the school.
• The EMSB launches its new promotional campaign called“Today’s Choice, Tomorrow’sSuccess,” which is aimed atkindergarten and elementaryschool registration and enrolmentin the youth and adult sectors. The campaign relays the messagethrough banners, as well as ads on TV, radio and in newspapers.
• The Council of Commis -sioners approve the structure for the EMSB EducationalFoundation.
• Laurier Macdonald andJames Lyng high schools areamongst the 21 English schools inthe province to be designated bythe Ministry of Education, Leisureand Sports (MELS) to becomeCommunity Learning Centres(CLC), which are hubs for edu -cation and community develop -ment in their respective English-speaking communities.
• Marymount AcademyPrincipal Paola Miniaci is the only Quebec-based principal to be chosen as one of Canada’soutstanding principals for 2007 by the Learning Partnership.
• Montreal Impact owner JoeySaputo is named honourarychairman of the fourth annualEMSB Scholarship Fund GolfTournament.
• James Lyng High Schoolalumni hold their inaugural Hall
of Fame ceremonies, in which theproceeds from the event will benefitthe enrichment of academic life for current students at the school.The first inductees are GordonMcCambridge, Antoinette Sassi,John Maloney, Cathy Belisle andthe late Tony Licursi.
• Thirty-eight students and five staff from Lester B. PearsonHigh School return safely toMontreal after surviving a sinkingship disaster near the Greek islandof Santorini. They are met atTrudeau Airport by family mem -bers, local media and severalEMSB administrators and com -missioners, as well as PrincipalTerence Quinn.
• Marymount Academy winsone gold, two silver and threebronze medals at the Bell RegionalScience Fair. Student AlexanderWinkler Schwartz wins fourawards for his training analyticalperception exhibit, and wins theright to display it at science fairsin Sherbrooke, Truro, Nova Scotiaand Durban, South Africa.
• The EMSB holds its first i-movie festival for Cycle II and III students at Cedarcrest School.The idea for the festival came from three Cedarcrest teachers,who found out about i-moviefestivals from a scholarship pro -gram for classroom film and TV production that took place in several schools in Florida.Students from six EMSB ele -mentary schools participated in the inaugural festival.
• Former Quebec PremierBernard Landry visits Lester B. Pearson High School and talks to students about some of the hot issues affecting Quebecsociety, as well as sovereignty and bilingualism.
• Laurier Macdonald HighSchool premieres its latest MediaEducation Department venture, a40-minute film drama called“Class Dismissed.” The film,
which deals with the dramatic livesof ordinary teens, was put togetherby staff and students over a nine-month period, mostly outside ofclass time. Also, the schoolrenames its Media Education wing after retired teacher FrankTiseo, who launched the MediaEducation Department.
• Formula 1 race car driverKimi “The Ice Man” Raikkonenof the Scuderia Ferrari Team, paysa visit to Coronation School onJune 6, on the eve of the CanadianGrand Prix. Sponsored by F1 tiresupplier Bridgestone FirestoneCanada, the event also includedan F1 race simulator for studentsto try out and displayed an F1Ferrari show car. Coronation’sworld champion robotics team alsoperformed a special demonstrationfor the Finnish-born Raikkonen.
• Laurier Macdonald becomesthe first high school in Quebec toparticipate in the inaugural Relayfor Life fundraiser organized bythe Canadian Cancer Society.This 12-hour event, which hasgroups of 10 people each walk or run around the school’s racetrack, raises over $25,000 forcancer research.
• The EMSB Chorale is oneof the 32 choirs chosen to par -ticipate in the prestigious Festival500 choral festival in St. John’s,Newfoundland, along with choirsfrom Alberta, Ontario, Manitobaand Finland in a week filled withperforming in choral concerts andattending workshops. Choraledirector Patricia Abbott is selectedby the festival board to receive the first Ambassador Award forher outstanding contribution topromoting the ideas of the event.
~• Le club de soccer Impact de
Montréal, la CSEM et la CSDMannoncent la création d’un nouveauprogramme intitulé “Jusqu’au Boutavec l’Impact” visant à encouragerles élèves à poursuivre leurs études.
• La CSEM exprime sonprofond chagrin à la suite de la fusillade au Collège Dawson le13 septembre qui a coûté la vied’Anastasia De Souza, ancienneélève de Royal Vale et diplômée de l’école secondaire St. Pius X.La Foire de carrières de cette annéeest dédiée à sa mémoire. Le centreadministratif a tenu un servicecommémoratif pour De Souza etles élèves qui ont été blessés. RoyalVale organise une journée de tenuedécontractée le 20 septembre etrecueille 1 400 $ pour l’Hôpital deMontréal pour enfants.
• Les écoles secondaires LaurierMacdonald et James Lyng sontparmi les 21 écoles anglophones duQuébec désignées par le ministère
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Montreal comedy legend Ernie Butler visits his old school St. Monica in N.D.G. as part of Public School Education Month.
Sadly, less than a year later he passed away from cancer.
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de l’Éducation, du Loisir et duSport (MELS) comme Centrescommunautaires d’apprentissage(CCA). Ces centres sont des foyersd’apprentissage et de développementcommunautaire dans leurs com -munautés anglophones respectives.
2007-2008• The Ministry of Education,
Sports and Leisure announces thatnew report cards with percentagesfor marks will be introduced.
• Retired East Hill Schoolprincipal Maria Cesta is made aCavaliere All’Ordine Della StellaDella Solidarieta Della RepublicaItaliana by the Consul General of Italy. She receives the honour in recognition of her life longdedication and commitment toyouth and to the Italian communityfor her role in preser ving andpromoting Italian heritage,especially with the integratedItalian program that she initiatedat East Hill.
• Eva Avila, 2006 “CanadianIdol” winner, performs in front of 800 students at MarymountAcademy. She is there to promotean upcoming benefit that she
will be headlining at Place desArts to aid Leave Out Violence(LOVE), an organization thathelps youth who have lived withviolence, so they could end violentbehaviour in their lives and becomecommunity leaders in violenceprevention.
• The EMSB holds its eighthannual Career Fair at St. Pius XAdult Centre, which attracts over3,000 Secondary IV and Vstudents. Serge Tremblay, Chiefof the Montreal Fire Department,is the keynote speaker andMusiquePlus VJ Malik Shaheedserves as emcee. This year ’sCareer Fair is dedicated to thememory of John Szuber, a formerguidance counsellor and viceprincipal, and founding chair ofthe Career Fair, who died of abrain tumour in June 2007.
• Prince Edward of the BritishRoyal Family meets with studentsfrom FACE and Royal WestAcademy at the Queen ElizabethHotel to promote Free the Child -ren, a charitable organization thatthe prince supports.
• East Hill School officiallyopens up two newly-built class -rooms that increases studentcapacity to 580. Tony Tomassi,Liberal MNA for Lafontaine,formally cuts the ribbon at aceremony held at the school. Theclassrooms were built at a cost of
$3.5 million, and were funded bythe provincial government.
• Roslyn School celebrates its100th anniversary with the un -veiling of a stepping stone path, aspart of its playground improvementprogram. Each stone is engravedwith the names of families whohave donated to the school’splayground improvement fund. A re-enactment of the laying of Roslyn’s cornerstone also
takes place,exactly 100years to the daywhen it actuallyhappened.
• TheEMSB holdsits third schoolboard elections,
in which 23 ward seats are up for grabs, and 19 are contested.Ward 19 commissioner AngelaMancini is later elected as theEMSB’s first woman chair. Ward 15 commissioner SylviaLoBianco is elected as vice chair.
• Three EMSB administratorsare honoured by the Associationof Administrators of EnglishSchools of Quebec (AAESQ).Director General Antonio Lacroceand Parkdale School principalJacklin Webb received the
Services Director John Ryan wasgiven the AAESQ’s HonouraryLife Membership Award.
• Laurier Macdonald HighSchool opens its CommunityLearning Centre (CLC), makingit one of the 22 schools in Quebecto have a CLC. It’s named after Linda C. Moro, a formercomputer programmer at JohnPaul I High School and LaurierMacdonald, who was known for her outstanding communityinvolvement.
• Global Television celebratesits 10th anniversary in Quebec by launching a series called “My Planet.” Students fromWillingdon, Honore Mercier and Leonardo Da Vinci schoolsare selected to file reports onGlobal’s evening newscast dealingwith the environment.
• Fifty EMSB students arehonoured by the ProvincialAssociation of Social StudiesTeachers for scoring a perfect 100 percent mark on theirHistory/Histoire 414 exam. Eachstudent received a certificate of excellence at the Palais desCongrès, during the annualQuebec Provincial Association ofTeachers (QPAT) convention.
• Students from 18 EMSBschools are featured doing variousfundraising activities duringCTV’s annual Christmas “Spirit
of Giving” campaign. Theactivities, ranging from GeneralVanier students singing Christmascarols at a seniors’ residence, to acharity cricket match at CarlyleSchool, to a Dante School holidayconcert, were shown on segmentsof the CTV News broadcasts.
• For the first time, the EMSBsets up an information kiosk atRockland Shopping Centre.Representatives from DunraeGardens, Carlyle, John Caboto,Sinclair Laird, Coronation, JohnF. Kennedy High School and JFKBusiness Centre are present toshowcase their programs.
• Principal Ivana Colatriano ofWillingdon School is chosen asone of the only two Quebecers forthe honour as one of Canada'sOutstanding Principals of 2008by The Learning Partnership.
• The EMSB formally issuesa directive to all of its schools and centres, effectively banning the use of 15-passenger vans in the wake of the tragedy in NewBrunswick, in which sevenstudents and one teacher fromBathurst High School were killedwhen their 15-passenger van wasinvolved in an accident.
• Royal West Academy’s newgymnasium is officially opened in a ceremony attended by EMSB Director General AntonioLacroce, N.D.G. Liberal MNARussell Copeman and MontrealWest Mayor Campbell Stuart.The $2.5 million state of the art,stand alone facility will not only be available for gym classes, but also for special events, assem -blies, concerts, presentations andtheatrical productions.
• Canadian Olympic goldmedalist Jennifer Heil helps launchthe Heart of Life Fund’s fifthannual Heart Week celebrationsat John Paul I High School, alongwith Mauro Biello of the MontrealImpact, Paul Lambert of theMontreal Alouettes, and CJADSports Director and MontrealCanadiens play-by-play announcer,Rick Moffat.
• Holy Cross School dedicatesits library in memory of formerprincipal Francine Jarret Imhoff,who passed away the previoussummer after a battle with cancer.
• Students from RosemountHigh School, along with principalGinette Clarke, are featured on a series of TV commercialssponsored by the Quebec govern -ment that focuses on healthy eatingin school cafeterias.
• The Mackay Centre Schoolcelebrates the 35th anniversary ofits Reverse Integration Program.Since that time, hundreds ofstudents got the opportunity tolearn alongside students withdisabilities, and become sensitizedto their peers who have disabilities.
• The EMSB Council ofCommissioners agree to spend theequivalent of $1 per student overthe next three years in support ofa legal defence fund for parentswho are contesting Bill 104, anamendment of a provincial law thatcloses the loophole which enabledsome students access to Englishpublic schools after they have
attended a non-subsidized Englishprivate school. It was struck downin August by the Quebec Court of Appeal, but the provincialgovernment decided to appeal the decision.
• The EMSB records a $1.5million surplus in 2006-2007, anddecides to allocate the money to each school and centre, so thatthey could undergo physicalimprovements to their respectivefacilities.
• The EMSB hosts the annualBell Montreal Regional ScienceFair at Lester B. Pearson HighSchool. Over 250 students from30 schools participate in the fair,which attracted over 4,000 visitors.Seven EMSB schools won acombined 27 medals. MarymountAcademy Science Departmenthead Steven Erdelyi receives theEducational Alliance for Science& Technology Science TeacherRecognition Award.
• Popular children’s entertainerFred Penner visits Coronation andHampstead schools, where hegives special performances for thestudents of both schools.
• Secondary II and IVstudents at Rosemount HighSchool prepare 400 Project Love kits, so that children inTanzania will have better access to education. Each kit containsbasic school supplies such asnotebooks, rulers, pencils, anderasers, along with heart-shapedpersonal notes, Canadian flags and Canadian pins.
• Michelle Courchesne,Quebec Minister of Education,Leisure and Sports, pays a special visit to Merton School. Her visit consists of meeting withthe entire teaching staff, touringthe school, visiting various class -rooms while classes were in session,and getting two special pre -sentations dealing with the school’spedagogical mission.
• Laurier Macdonald HighSchool holds its first ever MediaFestival – called “M-Fest” – at theLeonardo Da Vinci Centre. Thefestival displays a wide assortmentof students’ work in animation,sculpture, painting and photo -graphy. It also features the launchof the Media Education Depart -ment’s latest student-publishedbook “Boxes Re-Opened, StoriesRe-Told,” and a film festival. Asa prelude to the festival, Montreal-born filmmaker Phil Price visitsLaurier Macdonald to talk tostudents about his new film “PromWars,” which was shot entirely inMontreal and is released acrossCanada on May 9.
• Federal Liberal leaderStéphane Dion visits ParkdaleSchool to lend his support to theschool’s book drive, which helpsput more books at the disposal ofits students and promote theimportance of literacy.
• The EMSB’s Commissionon Focus Schools holds threescheduled regional hearingsthroughout the month of May.Parents, representatives from the community-at-large and fromlocal municipalities and boroughspresent briefs on what their visions
would be for their ideal elementaryor high school with a specializedfocus program. The focus schoolcommission is chaired by EMSBCommissioner Syd Wise.
• Justin Trudeau is the guestspeaker at the launch of Down to Earth, a collection of writingsand responses about globalwarming, environmental changeand other issues dealing with theenvironment. The book was puttogether by a group of studentsfrom Lester B. Pearson HighSchool. Trudeau, along withRoberta Bondar – Canada’s firstwoman in space – wrote the book’stwo introductions.
• The EMSB ScholarshipGolf Tournament moves to a newlocation, Golf Saint-Raphaël.
~• Le ministère de l’Éducation,
du Loisir et du Sport annonce queles nouveaux bulletins de notes avecpourcentages seront introduits.
• L’école Roslyn célèbre son100e anniversaire par le dé -voilement d’un sentier de pierresdans le cadre de son programmed’amélioration de la cour derécréation. Chaque pierre est gravée du nom des familles qui ont fait des dons au fondsd’amélioration de la cour. Unereproduction de la pose de lapremière pierre de Roslyn a aussieu lieu, exactement 100 ans après l’évènement.
• La CSEM a tenu sestroisièmes élections scolaires aucours desquelles 19 sièges sur 23 ont fait l’objet d’élections. Lacommissaire de la circonscription19, Angela Mancini, a été élue par la suite la première femmeprésidente de la CSEM. Lacommissaire de la circonscription15, Sylvia Lo Bianco, a été éluevice-présidente.
• Des élèves de l’école se -condaire Rosemont, ainsi que leurdirectrice Ginette Clarke, ont figurédans une série d’annonces à latélévision commanditées par legouvernement du Québec pourpromouvoir une alimentation sainedans les cafétérias d’école.
• Le conseil des commissairesde la CSEM a convenu de dé -penser l’équivalent de 1 $ par élèveau cours des trois prochaines annéespour soutenir un fonds de défensepour les parents qui contestent laLoi 104, un amendement à une loiprovinciale qui était l’échappatoirequi permettait à quelques élèvesd’avoir accès aux écoles publiquesanglophones après avoir fréquentéune école privée anglophone non-subventionnée. Cet amendement a été défait en août par la Cour d’Appel du Québec mais legouvernement provincial a décidéde faire appel.
• La commission de la CSEMsur les Écoles à thème particulier atenu trois audiences régionales aucours du mois de mai. Les parents,les représentants de la communauté,des municipalités locales et desarrondissements ont présenté desmémoires sur leur vision de l’écoleprimaire ou secondaire idéale avecprogramme à thème particulier.Cette commission est présidée parle commissaire Syd Wise.
E M S B 1 0 Y E A R T I M E L I N E
Angela Mancini
Eva Avila, 2006 “Canadian Idol” winner, speaks to students.
JARED ZILBERGardenview ElementarySchool in St. Laurent
AGardenview student since kindergarten, and currently
living in St. Laurent, Jared Zilberis a sports enthusiast, especiallysoccer, where he has been the school
team's goalie, and has been voted best goalie in his leaguefor four years straight.
Although he enjoys gym class, Jared has excelled notonly on the soccer field, but in math as well. "I'm the bestin my class, and I love learning multiplication, since it'ssomething that I'm good at," he said. He is also involvedwith the Basic after school program and athletics.
Jared has two favorite memories of his life so far as astudent at Gardenview. The first was when he was inkindergarten, and was part of a school delegation thatpresented a donation cheque to the St. Laurent campusof the United Talmud Torahs (UTT) School after thedevastating firebombing of its library in 2004; the secondwas during Public School Education Month last January,when he got to interview former Just For Laughs CEOand Gardenview alumnus Andy Nulman before all of hisclassmates. “It was almost like being on Oprah," he says.
Jared hopes to become a pro soccer player in the future.If he does not end up stopping flying soccer balls, he aimsto stop cavities by becoming a dentist.
ALESSIA MARAVENTANODante ElementarySchool in St. Léonard
Alessia Maraventano is not the only member of her family
to attend Dante School. Her six-year-old sister Victoria is also astudent there, and her father
attended the St. Léonard-based elementary school, wherehe graduated in 1974.
Although she enjoys taking math ("When I startsomething, I pick it up very quickly," she admits), Alessia'spassion is sports, and she has a fondness for her physicaleducation classes. However, it's soccer that's in her blood.She is a member of the Dante soccer team after school andis a devoted follower of the Montreal Impact. Off the soccerfield, Alessia enjoys being a big sister to Victoria. And she wants to take her love of sports to the next level aftershe is finished her education and one day be a school gym teacher.
Her favorite memories so far at Dante were her Grade 2 classes with her teacher Ms. Josie. "She's a reallynice teacher who cares a lot about her students," she said.Last spring’s visit by the Montreal Alouette to play a game of basketball game against the staff was also a highlight for her.
HANNAH GOLD-APELWillingdon ElementarySchool in N.D.G.
Born in Montreal and currentlyresiding in N.D.G., Hannah
Gold-Apel has been a student atWillingdon since kindergarten. She enjoys all her subjects at
school, especially English and French. "I'm actually goodat it," she said. "I like to be outgoing, and I enjoy speakingin front of the class when everyone's listening, especiallywhen I'm giving an opinion about something."
Hannah likes to get involved in a variety ofextracurricular activities, including the school's GreenCommittee, the student council and peer mediation. "It'sfun learning good life skills," she said. "I get to learn howto solve life problems with people. When you help people,it's a good thing and you feel good doing it."
Hannah hopes to use those skills later in life, as sheaspires to become either a veterinarian or a teacher. Oneof her favorite moments at Willingdon was during Grade 2 when she was given a special student award atan assembly. "It felt great to get the award, and seeing all those people clapping for me, especially those whodidn't even know who I was," she remarked.
SHANNEN CIRICILLOVincent MasseyCollegiate in Rosemount
Born and raised in Rivière desPrairies, Shannen Ciricillo
While she enjoys student life at Vincent MasseyCollegiate in Rosemount, her favorite memories includeparticipating in the 2007 and 2008 school variety show – in which her singing talents easily won over theaudience – the fashion show, and the annual school trips, especially the one to Boston, where she got thechance to learn the city’s impressive history through itsmonuments. She is also involved with the Youth CoalitionAgainst Smoking.
Shannen says her favorite subject in school is English.“I enjoy reading a lot, and using my writing skills whichcan only be done in English class,” she said. She wouldlike to apply her developing writing skills when she finishesher education, as she hopes to be an author and writebooks like her favorite author, Harry Potter creator J.K,Rowling. Her favourite books in the series, she says, areHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potterand the Deathly Hallows.
MICHAEL BRUCCOLERIMarymount Academy
Anative Montrealer and residingin N.D.G. Michael Bruccoleri
started his EMSB schooling as astudent at St. Monica and has been a Marymount student sinceSecondary I.
A whiz at science (“It’s one of my easiest subjects, andit’s where I get my highest marks,” he admits), Michael isalso a sports enthusiast at Marymount, where he participatesin the school’s soccer, floor hockey and badminton teams.He is also a member of the school’s concert and jazz bands,where he plays trombone. “I really enjoy going to bandpractices and performing in concerts, because it’s a greatway to bond with the other students in the band,” he said.“Also, our band director, Mr. Grey, makes it even moreenjoyable because he is so easygoing, he gets along wellwith the students and he is very funny.”
When Michael finishes his studies, he hopes to pursuea career in the medical profession, whether it is optometry,dentistry or surgery. “Science is something that I reallyexcel in, and it’s something that I want to continue with inthe future,” he said.
MARIA SCOTTOJohn F. Kennedy HighSchool in St. Michel
Maria Scotto, a resident of St.Michel, has been a student at
John F. Kennedy High School sinceGrade 7, after she attended nearbySt. Dorothy Elementary School.
She enjoys both and math and French classes, but whenshe’s not in the classroom, she is actively involved in manyof the school’s sports leagues, particularly basketball, soccer,swimming and track and field.
“I also like when our school team goes to another schoolto compete in our G.M.A.A. (Greater Montreal AthleticAssociation) soccer league games. Everything is soorganized,” she said.
Maria believes that of the three high schools she had todecide on attending, she made the right choice to be astudent at John F. Kennedy. “I not only got to go with allmy friends from St. Dorothy, but it was great having thechance to make new friends here,” she said. “And I likehow the teachers conduct their classes here, because theyare able to explain very clearly what they’re teaching andthey do it very well. It makes it very easy for me and theother students to understand the subject.”
When she completes her education, Maria has set hercareer ambitions towards either the medical or legal field.
9EMSB EXPRESS | vol. 11 | No 1 | Fall 2008 w w w . e m s b . q c . c a
As the EMSB Turns 10, so do some of our students. Stuart Nulman profiles three of them – each from one of the EMSB’s administrative regions
Who were the first EMSB kindergarten students 10 years ago? Today they are in Grade 10. Stuart Nulman met with three of them.
EMSB Student Profiles - a 10 Year Perspective
EMSB EXPRESS | vol. 11 | No 1 | Fall 2008w w w . e m s b . q c . c a10
29 30
17
6
3
13
13
HolidaysCongés
Fixed professional daysJournées pédagogiques fixes
CALENDRIER SCOLAIRE 2008 ~ 2009 SCHOOL CALENDAROctober 2008September 2008
S E C T E U R D E S J E U N E S ~ Y O U T H S E C T O R
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2330
2431
EMSB holds fifth Scholarship Golf Tournament
The EMSB Career Fairwill move in a new directionthis fall, announced eventchair Susan Freed. A formerguidance counsellor at JohnGrant High School and nowa special education consultant
at head office, Ms. Freednotes that Secondary Vstudents will visit the St. Pius X Culinary Institute inAhuntsic October 21 and 22.Whereas over the past num -ber of years Secondary IVstudents have also been part of the program, they will instead have their ownseparate event on March 20,2009 at the Centre PierreCharbonneau called Pre -lude to Career Fair. Mediapersonality and WestmountHigh School graduate MalikShaheed will host both events.
The EMSB held its fifth annualScholarship Fund Golf Tour -nament on June 27 at Club deGolf St. Raphaël in Île Bizard.Montreal Impact president andnoted businessman Joey Saputoserved as the honourary chair -man. A record number of 240golfers helped raise a tournamenthigh of more than $40,000.Proceeds will go towards theEMSB Scholarship Program,which benefits a number ofgraduating EMSB students sothat they can pursue their postsecondary studies at a CEGEPor in vocational education.Besides 18 holes of golf, therewas a brunch, dinner, plenty offabulous door prizes (a fur linedcoat, golf clubs, a MontrealImpact signed and framed jersey,
a Dell laptop computer, anIMAC computer, a weekend inSt. Adolphe and jewelry) plusprizes for longest drive and closestto pin. There was no hole-in-one recorded during the day.Participants made valiant attempts
at the 18th hole, where an auto -mobile from Saturn Mondial wasup for grabs. The organizingcommittee for the tournament waschaired by Mario Tirelli, deputydirector general and ably assisted
by his predecessor Donald A.Reid. At the awards banquet,Mr. Tirelli and Mr. Reid thankedMother Nature for delivering fiveconsecutive years of sunny skiesfor the tournament.
Last day of classes: June 23, 2009Dernière journée de cours : 23 juin 2009
Holidays / Congés : 21
CAREER FAIR
CHANGES
Veejay Malik Shaheed will beback as Career Fair emcee.
Deputy Director General Mario Tirelli, Joey Saputo, Vice-Chairman Sylvia Lo Bianco and Director General Antonio Lacroce.
Honoré-Mercier Principal Donna Manos on the links.
Nick Katalifos and Gilles Boudreau wait by the Saturn automobile that was up for grabs.
N.D.G. Liberal MNA Russell Copeman, EMSB Commissioner Frank DiCesare, Lafontaine Liberal MNA Tony Tomassi and
George Lambrinos from Johnson and Johnson.
As theEnglishMontrealSchoolBoardcelebratesits 10th
anniversary,Director of
Student Services Lew Lewislooks back with pride on theaccomplishments of hisdepartment which promotes theprogress and education of bothstudents in the mainstream andthose with special needs. Buthaving worked for the departmentas it existed under the formerProtestant School Board ofGreater Montreal (PSBGM).
“I love what I do, and I amnever bored,” gushed Mr. Lewis,a member of the Ordre desPsychologues du Québec who has spent 36 years in the same department dating back to the days of the PSBGM.
Mr. Lewis has maintained alifelong interest in education,psychology and students withspecial needs, starting out as a summer camp counsellor at the age of 16. The EMSBExpress asked Mr. Lewis toreview what he considers to be
among the department’s mostsuccessful accomplishments overthe past decade.
• The Traumatic EventsSupport Team is equipped tohandle traumatic situations withinthe school environment, most ofteninvolving the death of a student,a staff member, an administratoror a parent, whether by accident,illness, suicide or homicide.
• Project Harbour is an on-siteinter vention program, whereStudent Services personnel visitclassrooms and help teachersdevelop strategies targetingstudents who are difficult ordisruptive in class and consistentlydisplay behavioural problems.
• The Summer LanguageCamp is a point of pride – a two-week camp for students, aged sixto eight, who are experiencingspeech and language difficulties.
• The Kindergarten Behav -iour Enhancement Program is anon-site program that is proactiveand pro-social. Kindergartenstudents are taught strategies
that enable them to function more effectively and help them insuch areas as anger managementand conflict resolution.
• The department has im -plemented an excellent andexemplary regional model ofhighly effective spiritual com -munity animators, who havedeveloped a multitude of servicesand programs aimed at instilling
communal and spiritual values inour students.
• The EMSB Career Fair hasalways been a significant event,which includes about 4,000students. As well, the Fair nowboasts a new section set aside forstudents with special needs.
• The implementation ofoccupational therapy ser vicesaddresses elementary schoolstudents who need help with fineand gross motor skills, sensoryintegration skills and mobility.
• Student Services has overthe years developed a workingrelationship with Health andSocial Services Centres. There
are now 10 of them with whichthe department has built strongpartnerships and programscentered on various issues such as drug education, diabetic clinics, gambling addictionprograms and services to specialneeds students.
• The department has es -tablished the Centre of Excellencefor Speech and LanguageDevelopment for English Quebec,which includes workshops, on-siteconsultations, a web site, a library,program development, etc.
• The department hasdeveloped a huge network of child care workers (CCW’s) and, as well, will be reinstating its highly successful ResourceTeacher Network in the fall.
• The Autism Task Forceincludes 10 to 15 StudentServices professionals who meetregularly to brainstorm andformulate recommendations tomeet the needs of students withautism spectrum disorders.
Mr. Lewis says he plans tocontinue to broaden the scope ofhis mandate with such projects asearly screening at the kindergartenlevel, the formulation of smallerteams in specific regions, and thepromotion of an ever closer liaisonwith the Health and SocialServices Centres.
“I have a lot of ideas,” Mr.Lewis concluded. “And I keeplearning something every day.”
11EMSB EXPRESS | vol. 11 | No 1 | Fall 2008 w w w . e m s b . q c . c a
The Communications andMarketing Division of the EMSBand the Student ServicesDepartment will be launching anew publication this fall calledInspirations – A Snapshot of OurSpecial Needs Community.
As a leader in catering tospecial needs children and youngadults, the EMSB is proud to be sponsoring Inspirations. It will initially be published twiceannually (fall and spring) and bedistributed widely in the GreaterMontreal area to English schoolboards, institutions dealing with special needs individuals,hospitals, CLSCs, doctors’ offices,community organizations, themedia and government. Themagazine will also be available at many dropoff points across the island.
Inspirations will provideuplifting stories of success storiesin the area of special needs. Wewill also have experts in variousfields provide timely advice toparents. While the EMSB is thepublisher of this magazine, thecontent will ultimately cover theentire Greater Montreal area. We are taking this initiative uponthe demand of many of ourparents. While another suchmagazine was launched in this city just over two years ago, it now considers itself a nationalpublication. As such, many of the good local stories are not being covered. We intend to rectify that.
Through the pages ofInspirations we will bring you feedback from psychologists,guidance counselors, speechlanguage pathologists, autismspectrum disorder consultants,behavior specialists, social workersand physiotherapists. We’ll go intothe classrooms of the intellectuallyand physically handicapped aswell as examine how the visuallyand hearing impaired populationcope day to day. The underliningmessage is that these peoplecontinue to be “Inspirations” toall of us.
Advertising inquiries arewelcome. For more informationcall (514) 483-7200, ext. 7245or email [email protected].
Michael J. CohenEditor
Student Services Department looks back on a decade of achievements
Students, parents and staffare urged to consistently log on to the bilingual EMSBwebsite at www.emsb.qc.ca,which enjoys an extraordinaryamount of traffic from stake -holders and the community atlarge. The site is estheticallypleasing and easy to navigatefor both experienced and not-so experienced web surfers,with convenient drop downmenus. Information is readilyavailable at the click of amouse.
In the Press Room section,you can read press releases andaccess publications such as the annual report, elementaryand high school guides and the EMSB Express newspaper.There is a frequently updated
photo album, featuring activ -ities at the schools. The FieldingFocus monthly newsletter isdetailed and a great resource.You can subscribe to receive this by email once a month [email protected]. It is sentas a link, meaning it will nottake up any space in yourmailbox. There are also videosof board-wide and schoolevents online.
The listing of schools andadult/vocational centres in -clude important links to theirre spective websites. Schoolcalendars for 2008-2009 areavailable if you want to checkon particular holidays andprofessional days.
Dates for registration andopen house periods, as well as
special events and meetings arealways posted. Board policies,
bylaws and minutes can also befound here.
NEW
BY CLARISE SAMUELS
SPECIAL NEEDS
CORRESPONDENT
Lew Lewis Mr. Lewis has maintained a lifelong
interest in education, psychology
and students with special needs,
starting out as a summer camp
counsellor at the age of 16.
Explore our website • www.emsb.qc.ca
Interested in seeing student photos?Log on to www.emsb.qc.ca
and go the Press Room
Special needspublication
to debut
Parents needn’t wait until their child is in Grade 6 to begin examining our diverse secondary network
Take a look at whatour High Schools
have to offer!
Take a look at whatour High Schools
have to offer!
Enriched CEGEPPreparatory
Program
InternationalBaccalaureate Middle
Years Program
Alternative Programsfor Students With
Special Needs
Emphasis on the Fine Arts;Advanced Drama; OrchestraF.A.C.E.www.face.csdm.qc.ca 3449 University, Downtown514-350-8899OPEN HOUSE :October 18, 2008; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Sports Études; Secondary I Honours Program;Advanced ScienceLester B. Pearson High Schoolwww.emsb.qc.ca/lesterbpearson11575 P.M. Favier, Montreal North 514-328-4442OPEN HOUSE:October 30, 2008; 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.Placement Exams for Secondary I Honours Program: November 8, 2008; 9 a.m.
Student-Directed Initiatives;Support for LiteracyAdvancement; Computer-Based ResearchJames Lyng High Schoolwww.emsb.qc.ca/jameslyng5440 Notre Dame West, St. Henri 514-846-8814OPEN HOUSE: November 6, 200810 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Enriched English and MathPrograms; Advanced Science;Computer TechnologyIntegration; Work StudyTransition ProgramJohn F. Kennedy High Schoolwww.emsb.qc.ca/jfk3030 Villeray, St. Michel514-374-1449OPEN HOUSE: October 16, 20086:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Fine Arts; Enriched English,Math, Science and French;Career Exploration andCEGEP Orientation;Advanced ComputerApplications; Junior (Grades7 and 8) and Senior (Grades9, 10 and 11) CampusesLaurenHill Academywww.emsb.qc.ca/laurenhillJunior Campus2355 Decelles, St. Laurent514-331-8019OPEN HOUSE:October 22, 2008; 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Unique Music ConcentrationProgram; Fine Arts; Tutoringand Peer MediationRosemount High Schoolwww.fortunecity.com/campus/creators/641/rosemount.html 3737 Beaubien Street East 514-376-4720 OPEN HOUSE: October 14, 20087 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Only Public School inQuebec to Offer AdvancePlacement Examinations;Enriched Math, English andFrench; Art, Music, ComputerScience, Wood Work,Business Education andSports Leadership ElectivesWestmount High Schoolwww.emsb.qc.ca/westmount 4350 Ste. Catherine Street West 514-933-2701OPEN HOUSE: November 6, 2008 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Alternative Environment forStudents in Secondary III toV; More Intimate Setting;Partnership with McGillFaculty of Education; Bi-Weekly SeminarsM.I.N.D.www.emsb.qc.ca/mind4563 St. Urbain, The Plateau 514-842-0792OPEN HOUSE: February 19, 2009 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.Visits to the school also by appointment.
Compulsory Extracurricular Student Involvement
Royal West Academywww.emsb.qc.ca/royalwest189 Easton, Montreal West514-489-8454OPEN HOUSE:October 7, 2008; 7 p.m. ORIENTATION NIGHT:October 15, 2008; 7 p.m. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:October 17, 2008; 3 p.m.ENTRANCE EXAMS:October 18 (A-L) & 19 (M-Z), 20089 a.m. to Noon
Vincent Massey Collegiatewww.emsb.qc.ca/vincentmassey5925 27th Avenue, Rosemount514-374-1999OPEN HOUSE:October 15, 2008; 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. ENTRANCE EXAM:November 1, 2008: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Secondary I);February 7, 2009: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Secondary II)
Advanced-LevelMathematic and Science;French Immersion
Royal Vale High Schoolwww.emsb.qc.ca/royalvale5851 Somerled Ave., N.D.G.514-481-2463OPEN HOUSE: October 23, 2008; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (tentative) Stay tuned to www.emsb. qc.ca/royalvale for details on an expanded open house day.ENTRANCE EXAMS:November 8, 2008; 9 a.m. to noon
Increased PhysicalEducation and Arts;Integrated Science
John Paul I Junior HighSchool (Grades 7 and 8)www.emsb.qc.ca/johnpaul18455 Pré-Laurin, St. Léonard514-328-7171INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATEMIDDLE YEARS PROGRAM (IBMYP)INFORMATION NIGHT:October 8, 20087 p.m. IBMYP ENTRANCE EXAM:October 18, 2008 8:30 a.m.BILINGUAL AND CORE PROGRAMINFORMATION NIGHT:January 22, 20097 p.m.
Acclaimed Media Education Department; Enriched English, French, Mathematics
Laurier Macdonald HighSchool (Grades 9 to 11)www.emsb.qc.ca/lauriermac7355 Viau, St. Léonard514-374-6000OPEN HOUSE : September 25, 2008; 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Technology, Music and ArtStudios; Photography Lab
Marymount Academywww.emsb.qc.ca/marymount4100 Côte St. Luc Road, N.D.G.514-488-8144OPEN HOUSE : October 15, 2008; 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATEMIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMMEENTRANCE EXAM:November 15, 2008; 9 a.m. DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: November 13, 2008
Psychosocial, Behavioral and Educational Programs;Problem-Solving Techniques; Confidence Building;Reintegration into Educational MainstreamSt. Raphael Centerwww.emsb.qc.ca/straphael8735 Henri Julien, Ahuntsic 514-381-0811; By appointment
Basic Literacy; Fine ArtsJohn Grant High Schoolwww.emsb.qc.ca/johngrant5785 Parkhaven, Côte Saint-Luc514-484-4161OPEN HOUSE : April 2, 20097 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Personalized InstructionWork-Study ProgramPaul VI High Schoolwww.emsb.qc.ca/paulvi9905 Papineau, Ahuntsic514-723-2845; Visits by appointment
To download a copy of the EMSB High School Guide or to learn about other programs offered to secondary level students, please log on to www.emsb.qc.ca.
