Commission scolaire English-Montréal ~ English Montreal School Board EMSB www.emsb.qc.ca volume 16 | number 2 | Spring 2014 Find us on: TheThe Arts Arts Are Are Alive Alive Spreading positivity, one post-it at a time @@EMSBEMSB Laurier Macdonald student Stefania Restagno becomes a media sensation Like all International Baccalaureate students, Stefania Restagno was required to undertake a personal project. Yet, for this Grade 11 student at St. Leonard’s Laurier Macdonald High School, her project has become anything but personal. Carrying a backpack full of post-it notes and pens, Stefania’s goal was to mirror the “Operation Beautiful” project, a viral initiative created by American parent Caitlin Boyle, in which she began posting positive messages in public bathrooms, hoping it would catch on. “If I could help at least one person, that would be amazing,” said Stefania. “Just the thought of having someone write a positive Stefania Restagno’s project has attracted national media attention. Rock star Jonas and actress/radio show host/James Lyng High School grad Marina Orsini meet some members of the Coronation Elementary School Steel Pan Band at the Arts Are Alive@EMSB press conference. On the eve of the annual various opportunities for students incorporated Urban Arts into Kindergarten Registration Week, to share their talents on a larger its Extra-Curricular Activity English Montreal School Board scale through vernis sages, programming. One of its feeder Chairman Angela Mancini festivals, poetry slams, shows and elementary schools, St. Gabriel hosted a press conference at concerts,” stated Ms. Mancini. in Pointe St. Charles, is doing which time she introduced a new “The arts bring out empathy, the same thing. campaign aimed at promoting creativity, self-esteem, critical excellence in the arts. (The Arts thinking, and commu nication Are Alive @EMSB). skills in our students. Art edu - message, will not only help the person that is writing it, but also From Pre-Kindergarten to cation empowers students and See our video on EMSB TV: a random stranger that happens to be in the girls washroom.” Secondary V, EMSB students contributes to the construction of https://vimeo.com/85444617 Entitled #EndNegativeSelfTalk, Stefania’s goal was are exposed to the arts in many their identity and the enrich ment Also watch Melissa Ledo, stated, however, it was up to her peers to come through. Since different forms. “Our schools of their world-view and narrows Pierre de Coubertin posting her first message in early December, the result has offer a variety of artistic options the gap between academic Elementary School teacher been overwhelming. continued on page 3 that can include the visual learning and the world.” Stephanie Napolitano and arts, music, dance, digital and The press conference was Grade 1 student Maggie multimedia arts, dramatic arts held at James Lyng High Petrecca on Global TV’s and spoken word poetry offer School in St. Henri, and has Focus Montreal: http://vimeo.com/85655559 PASSESPASSES INSIDE THIS EDITION Chairman’s Message . 2 The Arts Are Alive @EMSB . 5-8 List of Commissioners. 3 SportsScene. 9 Shadd: Pharmacy Grads. 4 Expressline . 10 DG’s Message. 4 EMSB Alumni Showcase . 11 A Six Flags Theme Park® EMSB Quiz . 4 Volunteer Appreciation . 12 see page 4 2 www.emsb.qc.ca EMSB EXPRESS | vol. 16 | No 2 | Spring 2014 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE STANDING UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY ON BILL 60 Quebec government adopted Bill “Article 37 of the Education Act disposal so that this legislation can is working well and makes us 56 in 2012. This requires that stipulates that the educational never apply to our school board. so proud? school boards ensure that their project of the school must respect To Minister of Democratic Since our inception, enrolment schools provide an environment the freedom of conscience and of Institutions, Bernard Drainville, in the youth sector has dropped that allows students to develop religion of the students, the parents we had this question: which law from a high of 27,000 to just fewer their full potential, free from any and the school staff. The proposed must we disobey? than 20,000. The language laws, form of bullying or violence. The Charter is therefore in direct Speaking on behalf of not Bill 101 and latterly Bill 114, are school boards were deemed contradiction of the Act.” only the members of the EMSB chiefly responsible for this. We responsible for the commitments Bill 60 states that public Board, but also the teachers and respect the laws, and do what made in that regard. Public and institutions must adopt policies to executives of their unions and of the government insists we do – private educational institutions implement the Charter, and post student parents’ committees, it was refuse access to students without were also required to adopt and those policies on their websites. further explained how we had English eligibility. implement an anti-bullying and We cannot, in all good conscience, always abided by the spirit of the We have adhered to Bill 118, anti-violence plan and designate a instruct any of our administrators Education Act to the letter and a law responding to the diversity person to implement it. to discipline an employee for made it our duty to teach students of moral and religious expectations We find it ironic that a quietly following their religious the respect of religious diversity in Quebec. Bill 60 is different, it government which still stands beliefs,” the brief states. This is and pluralism. We have reduced is a legislation we cannot support ANGELA MANCINI behind this important piece of simply not something that we find ignorance and prejudice, thereby nor enforce. To do so would be legislation would subsequently go acceptable in what we still believe fostering a climate of respect and contrary to both the mandate the The English Montreal School ahead and introduce Bill 60, is a free and democratic society. of acceptance of diversity. We Ministry of Education has given Board was recently invited to which if we must be blunt, gives We shall fight by summoning wish to continue to do so. There - us, as well as contrary to our Quebec City to formally present a government endorsement to all possible recourses at our fore, we asked, why change what mission and values. our brief on draft Bill 60, the bullying. We see Bill 60, in fact, proposed Charter Affirming the as a bullying tactic. In speaking to Values of Secularism and the leaders of the Muslim community, Religious Neutrality of The State, they felt that what this does is As well as the Equality of Men allow citizens to become vigilantes. Hallmark Mobile App Unveiled and Women, and the Framing of The intolerant among us now have Accommodation Requests. tacit support from the government I was pleased to co-present our to carry on their ways. position with vice-chair Sylvia Lo During our presentation we Bianco and commissioner Patricia emphasized how the proposed bill Lattanzio, one of my special is in total contradiction with the advisors on government relations. Education Act, the Quebec In our brief, which can be education system’s founding viewed in its entirety on our legislation. We recalled the website, we called the Parti principles underlying the funda- Québecois government to task for mental legislation that defines effectively endorsing bullying. The our Quebec education system. EMSB Produced by the Communications and Marketing Services Division of the English Montreal School Board 6000 Fielding Avenue, Montreal (Quebec) H3X 1T4 Phone: (514) 483-7200, ext. 7245 Fax: (514) 483-7213 E-mail: [email protected] The English Montreal School Board (EMSB), emAPPetizer Inc. and Microsoft Canada Web site: www.emsb.qc.ca jointly unveiled the newest generation of their hallmark mobile app, Hall Monitor, at a press conference at Carlyle Elementary School in Town of Mount Royal. Hall Editor: Michael J. Cohen Communications & Marketing Specialist, EMSB Monitor allows school administrators to quickly identify and look up student and classroom information within their daily rounds, during meetings or in emergency Copy Editors: Stuart Nulman and Brittany Witt situations. Pictured above, Carlyle Principal Anna Maria Borsellino tests the App with Translation: Aline Zerounian Bruce Seidel of emAPPetizer, EMSB Director of Information Technology Services Luigi Layout & design: Ponctuation Grafix Inc. Di Filippo, Jocelyn Hamelin of Microsoft and students. With the introduction of this www.ponctuation.com second version of Hall Monitor, not only has the basic functionality been improved, but new highly requested features have been added. These include the displaying of Legal Deposit: Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec busing information, ability to navigate to any data from anywhere within the app, National Library of Canada ISSN 1488-416X and the ability to add special notes such as allergy information on a student. EMSB EXPRESS | vol. 16 | No 2 | Spring 2014 www.emsb.qc.ca 3 EMSB COMMISSIONERS DATEBOOK LES COMMISSAIRES DE LA CSEM Electoral Division ~ Electoral Division ~ Electoral Division ~ 2014 Circonscription ~ 19 Circonscription ~ 17 Circonscription 22 (Rosemont – Hochelaga Maisonneuve) (Saint-Léonard) (Rivière-des-Prairies) ANGELA MANCINI FRANK VERRILLO ROSA CERRELLI April 6 to 12 May 14 Chair / Présidente Volunteer Appreciation EMSB Impact Night Electoral Division ~ Electoral Division ~ Week Electoral Division~ Circonscription ~ 18 Circonscription ~ 23 May 15 Circonscription ~ 15 (Rosemont) (Rivière-des-Prairies) (Montréal Nord / Montreal North)