Student Voices: Looking Back at the EMSB Leadership Camp

 By Ciara Thun

 Secondary IV Royal West Academy Student

For many years, the EMSB has encouraged  students to step out of their comfort zones through various activities, clubs, and other learning experiences. One of these activities is the EMSB Student Leadership Camp: a three-day event, planned entirely from scratch and executed each year by students. Located in the Laurentians, Camp Papillon hosts students from Grades 7 to 11 as they learn important  leadership skills and meet new people. 

For many, camp begins as a nerve-wracking experience, though it quickly shifts into a welcoming community — a home away from home. Given how short the camp is, it may be hard to believe that long-lasting connections and friendships can blossom. Initially, the kids can be a little shy, but by the start of day two, the magic happens: students begin participating in activities, sharing stories, and greeting people they've never met before.

The organizers worked diligently, beginning to plan the camp months in advance. They come up with games and puzzles for the group, choose interesting and inspirational keynote speakers, and prepare fun activities like the dance and bonfire — they bring everyone together.  Those who attend "Camp Pap" tend to come back every year until they graduate, often finding their final year to be  especially emotional, considering the profound impact the camp has had on them. During the 2025 edition, several of the graduating organizers gave heartfelt speeches about how the camp had shaped them and changed their lives forever. When asked what their favourite part of camp was, delegates gave a myriad of answers. While some explained the “deep talk” sessions — where they realized they weren’t alone in their struggles — another said it was “the positivity being spread, and the friendships made between everyone getting out of their comfort zones.” Behind each of the different answers, however, the reason was the same: it all comes back to feeling accepted. 

The lessons of camp last beyond the moment in which the  buses pulled away. Delegates, animators, and organizers  return home with lasting life skills and new outlooks —        including confidence, empathy, optimism, and a willingness to spread positive change in their schools, communities, and home lives.  The EMSB Student Leadership Camp offers so much to its participants, thanks to its overwhelmingly positive environment.   When asked how camp had affected their lives, Eden, one of      his year's animators, said, "It changed my perspective on the world — that though there is good and bad in it, there is a whole generation that is willing to choose good.” And that is     u      ltimat       ely what Camp Pap is all about: creating a new  generation of kind and empowered leaders who believe in both community — and each other.

Student Voices and Changing Lives: The Prom Does Exactly What Its Opening Number Promises at Royal West

By Alice Myers

Student Reporter 

Photo Credits Marrone Films

The second night of Royal West Academy’s The Prom (lyrics by Chad Beguelin and book by Bob Martin and Beguelin) was a deliciously flamboyant affair, full of personality, heart, and humour. Following four Broadway stars on their search for good publicity (their charity case being a  17 year-old lesbian from Indiana), the production packs every possible emotion into its two-hour runtime. The audience is sure to find themselves crying (Melody Marrone’s Emma Nolan is left heartbroken and alone at her prom), laughing (Brad Coleman’s Trent Oliver performs a jazzy Bible-themed anthem of acceptance titled “Love Thy Neighbor”), and swooning (Marrone and Gaby Pomerleau [Alyssa Greene] sing a dreamy duet called “Dance With You”) – and sometimes doing all three at the same time. 

While each actor was strong in their portrayals of their characters, it was Jane Raimbert (playing a Dee Dee Allen with an air of Blair Waldorf-meets-Glinda about her) who stole the show time and time again. With just the right balance of wittiness, charm, and glamour, she was impossible to look away from. From her voice (traced with a hint of an Old Hollywood, transatlantic accent) to her comedy (her rendition of “It’s Not About Me” had the audience in tears of laughter), Raimbert made the perfect Dee Dee: conceited, to be sure, but delightful and lovable from start to finish. Her acting talent paired with a stunning singing voice (her “The Lady’s Improving” dropped several jaws), she was unstoppable. She portrayed her character’s growth with skill and grace, and despite having all eyes on her whenever she stepped on stage, she excelled not only individually, but also during group scenes.

Ben Atlas (Tom Hawkins), was brilliant as Raimbert’s love interest and the school’s awkward but caring principal. Dry yet kindhearted, he was unexpectedly hilarious and had the audience guffawing on several occasions. His character was clearly well thought-out; his voice had a tone and cadence that had the audience fully convinced that they were watching a forty-year-old man who had lived a long and tiring life rather than a high school student. The chemistry between Mr. Hawkins and Dee Dee was notable, and Raimbert and Atlas were unbeatable as scene partners.

The dynamics between the four Broadway stars – Ruven Barrell’s Barry Glickman, Charlie Wylie’s Angie Dickinson, Dee Dee, and Trent – were outstanding. The four of them played off each other exquisitely well, bantering and bickering with remarkable ease. Each one had a unique, defined, and multidimensional personality, and the manner in which they were written avoided tired stereotypes and clichés. Barrell’s humour and flair brought Barry to life as he grew from a narcissistic egotist to someone full of compassion, fully winning over the audience during his solo, “Barry is Going to Prom,” a sweet, heartwarming, and upbeat number that had everyone in the room grinning from ear to ear. Wylie, meanwhile, played a wonderfully quirky Angie with terrific stage presence and contagious energy (“Zazz” was an entertaining and spirited number). Coleman’s Trent, magnificently extravagant, was a riot (his delivery of “We’re liberals from Broadway!” while holding a sign reading, “We are all lesbians” was truly peak comedy). 

Shifting from the adult cast of characters to the teenage roles, Marrone played a beautiful Emma and had a good portion of the audience in tears by the end of Act One, where she is abandoned at prom. Her extraordinary singing voice shone during numbers like “Just Breathe” and “Unruly Heart,” where she had the whole room under a spell. Captivating and funny, she had the audience deeply invested in her character and her journey. Meanwhile, Pomerleau glowed during her self-titled solo ballad, “Alyssa Greene.”

The costumes featured in the show were well-chosen, revealing aspects of each character’s personality. Dee Dee, for example, was draped in various sparkly ensembles. In contrast, Mr. Hawkins wore beige, and Angie was dressed in classy, smart black. One of the most accurate costumes was that of Mrs. Greene – her dresses screamed “emotionally detached PTA mother,” and the recognizable clack of her heels warned the audience of her presence.

The musical numbers enhanced the quality of the show, which would likely not be anywhere near as entertaining if it were a straight play. While there were several mishaps in terms of the sound quality – many a microphone crackled with static; some were much too loud and others so quiet they may as well have been off – the actors dealt with the issues well, refusing to pause or repeat themselves, not even wincing at the sharp feedback squealing from the speakers.

The audience, ranging from toddlers to grandparents, was entirely captivated by the story by the end of Act One, rising shakily from their seats at intermission to work through the intense emotions conjured up by the show. After the cast took their bows, there was nary a dry eye in the house, the audience’s tears stemming from both laughter and heartbreak. The message of acceptance shone through the show loud and clear, every scene infused with moral value transmitted in an entertaining fashion. I loved the musical and was impressed with its level of professionalism and the clear amount of hard work that went into its production.

Student Voices: Royal West Academy gives an important boost to Tyndale-St-Georges Centre

By Alice Myers

Secondary III

“Fostering community and care for one another.” This is one of the five core values listed on the Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre’s website, which also include “practicing inclusion” and “leading with integrity.” These are the same commitments that encompass Tyndale Week at Royal West Academy in Montreal West – the only school in the EMSB to hold a fundraiser for this underserved community.

The community centre, which offers academic and social programs for all ages, states that its mission is to “empower, help develop and be a presence to the community of Little Burgundy by offering programs designed to promote self-reliance, growth and fulfillment.” They currently serve around 150 families, offering them play groups and workshops, among many other programs. Having been in action for almost one hundred years, since 1927, the non-profit is dependent on donations, which represent over 65 percent of their operating budget. 

Since 2007, Royal West has raised over $140,000 for the community centre. However,  Tyndale Week has been a staple of the school community since at least 1997. The event consists of each homeroom brainstorming creative fundraisers to encourage people to donate to the Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre, with an additional – and extremely popular – activity called Penny Wars, which raises an impressive amount of money every year. The game divides the school into teams by grade and has members of the Leadership & Leisure Studies course., who took over running the activity fifteen years ago, carry buckets to collect money from students during the recess and lunch periods. Each grade aims to raise the most money using only coins, motivated by the prize of a half-day for the whole grade later on in the year. Dollar bills act as “bombs,” subtracting points from whichever bucket they are deposited in. This leads to an extra influx of donations, as the seventh graders, determined to win, are often seen dropping twenty-dollar bills into the other grades’ buckets. However, they have not yet been introduced to the Tyndale Week tradition, which the school’s principal Tony Pita calls his favourite part of the week: on the last day of Penny Wars, after having consistently placed last for the duration of the fundraiser, the seniors bring buckets of coins to deposit and a number of bills to “bomb” the seventh-graders, winning by a landslide.

The game has evolved over the years, specifically in 2012, when pennies stopped being produced in Canada. Physical Education and Leadership & Leisure Studies teacher Jeffrey. Bateman, who has spent 20 years at Royal West, explains. Presently, all coins count for points, though there have been some challenges involving local banks being unable to supply sufficient loonies and toonies to meet the students’ demand. More recently-created fundraisers are quickly weaving their way into Tyndale Week culture, including Mr. Pita’s personal favourite: teacher karaoke. Students can pay to see their teachers get onstage in the auditorium and sing their hearts out. Marie-Claire O’Neil, a physical education teacher who has been working at Royal West for 32 years, notes that Tyndale Week is not only entertaining for the students, but also provides a fun environment for the staff. She says the event serves as “an opportunity for the community to come together,” noting the elevated levels of excitement in her homeroom during Tyndale Week. Ms. O’Neil also highlights the fact that students are more eager to be at school during the fundraisers. “It feels like a family,” she emphasizes.

Jamal Zigby, a finance, biology, and physics teacher who has worked at Royal West for 25 years, shares this sentiment. He calls Tyndale “a week of activities that builds and fuels homeroom bonds,” noting the positive effect it has on the community. Like Ms. O’Neil, he notes that the “excitement of working together” during the fundraisers strengthens relationships within the school.

Mr. Pita agrees, emphasizing the importance of building community with shared values and goals. “We talk too much about what divides us,” he says, “instead of what we have in common.” He has been working at Royal West for 14  (non-consecutive) years combined, saying, “Life always brings [him] back to Royal West.” He says that despite our individual differences, we all come together in the spirit of giving, and that when we do so, there is “nothing we couldn’t do.” 

Student Voices: Rosemount High School Weight Room is now open for business

By Jayden Ogiamien, Secondary V student

 The long-awaited Rosemount High School Weight Room is officially open to students on a regular basis. Previously, the room was exclusively for teachers and staff to work out during their off hours. But not anymore. Now students, too, get to reap the benefits of working out. Why should teachers have all the fun?

The room features a variety of equipment for workouts, covering all the major muscle groups. Equipment includes a bench press, barbell squats, and bicep curls. In addition, it features two treadmills, dumbbells ranging from 2.5 lbs to 60 lbs, kettle weights ranging from 5 lbs to 40 lbs, multiple pull-up bars, and a lat pull-down machine. Novice gym-goers may find the room overwhelming at first. Luckily, the weight room’s fitness coach knows how to put them at ease with his welcoming attitude.

“Many students, stressed by homework and assignments, sometimes can’t work out because they don’t have the time,” the weight room committee states. “But they forget that you will never have the time to work out. Time isn’t something you have or don’t have—you have to dedicate time to it. Our accessible weight room helps students find some time in their day to prioritize their well-being.”

The truth is, for most students, a private gym is often inconvenient and comes with a hefty price tag. This makes Rosemount’s facility all the more important for students hesitant to join a gym.

The weight room is a place where students can focus on building stronger mindsets that will serve them well later in life—provided they put in the hard work necessary. Fortunately, the weight room’s fitness coach keeps students motivated.

With all this taken into consideration, the weight room perfectly aligns with Rosemount’s core belief. This belief is encapsulated in the proverb on the school’s crest, engraved on all RHS uniforms: Labor Omnia Vincit, meaning “hard work conquers all.”

Watch Jayden's video on Instagram

EMSB Election Results Information Centre/Centre d'information sur les résultats des élections de la CSEM

Voters within the territory of the English Montreal School Board have cast their ballots for the choice of chair and commissioner in 10 wards. There was a 22.9  percent voter turnout. Joe Ortona was re-elected chair while each of team members won their wards.

Here are the final results:

Chair: 

Katherine Korakakis, Team Katherine Korakakis  4,701

Joe Ortona, Team Joe Ortona 13,407

Ward 1  (FINAL)

Ahuntsic-Cartierville–Montréal-Nord   

Franco Mazzariello, Team Katherine Korakakis  425

Susan Perera , Team Joe Ortona  916

Ward 2  (FINAL)

 Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce 

Chelsea Craig,  Team Joe Ortona 820

Howie Silbiger, Team Katherine Korakakis 337

Ward 3  (FINAL)

 Côte-Saint-Luc. Montreal West, Hampstead 

Samara Perez, Team Katherine Korakakis   1,110

Paola Samuel, Team Joe Ortona   1,607

Ward 4  (FINAL)

 Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve–Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie–Plateau-Mont-Royal–Anjou–Montreal-Est 

Maria Corsi, Team Joe Ortona    1,121

Viktoriya Grosko, Team Katherine Korakakis    333

Ward 5  (FINAL)

 Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

Joseph Lalla, Team Katherine Korakakis    853

Sharon Nelson, Team Joe Ortona   1,132

Ward 6 (FINAL)

 Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles 

Tony Aversano, Team Katherine Korakakis  340

Pietro Mercuri, Team Joe Ortona  2,248

Ward 7 (FINAL)

Saint-Laurent 

James Kromida, Team Joe Ortona  974

Vicky Pololos, Team Katherine Korakakis  471

Ward 8   (FINAL)

 Saint-Léonard 

Mario Pietrangelo,  Team Joe Ortona    1,681

Antonio Zaruso,  Team Katherine Korakakis  521

Ward 9  (FINAL)

Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension–Mont-Royal–Outremont 

Joanne Charron, Team Katherine Korakakis 310

Paula Kilian,  Team Joe Ortona  938

Ward 10  (FINAL)

 Westmount–Sud-Ouest–Ville-Marie 

Shalani Bel, Team Katherine Korakakis     706

Julien Feldman, Team Joe Ortona  1,243

Les électrices et les électeurs ont exercé leur droit de vote lors des élections scolaires 2024 de la Commission scolaire English-Montréal.

 Président

Katherine Korakakis, Team Katherine Korakakis  4,674

Joe Ortona, Team Joe Ortona 13,289

Circonscription 1 (FINALE)

Ahuntsic-Cartierville–Montréal-Nord 

Franco Mazzariello, Team Katherine Korakakis 425

Susan Perera, Team Joe Ortona  916

Circonscription 2 (FINALE)

Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce 

Chelsea Craig, Team Joe Ortona      1,039

Howie Silbiger, Team Katherine Korakakis   631

Circonscription 3  (FINALE)

Côte Saint-Luc–Montréal-Ouest–Hampstead 

Samara Perez, Team Katherine Korakakis   1,110

Paola Samuel, Team Joe Ortona   1,607

Circonscription 4  (FINALE)

Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve–Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie–Plateau-Mont Royal–Anjou–Montréal-Est 

Maria Corsi, Team Joe Ortona    1,121

Viktoriya Grosko, Team Katherine Korakakis 333

Circonscription 5  (FINALE)

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce

Joseph Lalla, Team Katherine Korakakis    853

Sharon Nelson, Team Joe Ortona  1,132

Circonscription 6  (FINALE)

Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles 

Tony Aversano, Team Katherine Korakakis     340

Pietro Mercuri, Team Joe Ortona   2,248

Circonscription 7  (FINALE)

Saint-Laurent   

James Kromida, Team Joe Ortona  974

Vicky Pololos, Team Katherine Korakakis  471

Circonscription 8   (FINALE)

Saint-Léonard 

Mario Pietrangelo, Team Joe Ortona  1,681

Antonio Zaruso, Team Katherine Korakakis  521

Circonscription 9  (FINALE) 

Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension–Mont-Royal–Outremont 

Joanne Charron, Team Katherine Korakakis 310

Paula Kilian,  Team Joe Ortona  938

Circonscription 10  (FINALE)

Westmount–Sud-Ouest–Ville-Marie 

Shalani Bel, Team Katherine Korakakis    752

Julien Feldman, Team Joe Ortona   1,243

Conference for professionals: understanding sibling relationships throughout the lifespan

 

Ometz excited to announce that the Pearl Leibovitch Clinical Day, a conference for professionals, is back by popular demand. Hosted by Ometz, this year's event promises to deliver insights and strategies to enhance your understanding of sibling relationships throughout the lifespan.

 

Roots and Branches: Cultivating strong Sibling Bonds from Childhood Onwards*

with speakers Dr. Corinna Jenkins Tucker and Dr. Tanya Rouleau Whitworth

November 12, 2024

9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Location to be confirmed upon registration

 

Registration Fees (includes light lunch):

Standard: $200

Early Bird: $175 (Register before September 15th)

Language: English with simultaneous translation

 

There's more!

The Pear Leibovitch Community Webinar for parents will be taking place on November 11th, click here to learn more.

--

Pour faire suite à la demande générale, nous avons le plaisir d’annoncer le retour de la journée de perfectionnement Pearl Leibovitch, une conférence pour les professionnels. Organisé par l’Agence Ometz, l’événement de cette année a pour objectif de vous apporter des informations et stratégies afin de mieux comprendre les relations fraternelles à tout moment de la vie.

 

Créer des liens solides entre frères et sœurs dès l’enfance : Gérer les conflits, éviter le favoritisme et préserver l’harmonie

Avec nos intervenantes Corinna Jenkins Tucker et Tanya Rouleau Whitworth

12 novembre 2024*

9 h – 13 h

Lieu à confirmer au moment de l'inscription

 

Frais d’inscription (repas léger sera servi):

Standard : 200 $

Inscription anticipée : 175 $ (s'inscrire avant le 15 septembre)

Langue : Anglais avec traduction simultanée

 

Il y a plus!

Le webinaire communautaire de Pearl Leibovitch pour les parents aura lieu le 11 novembre, cliquez ici pour en savoir plus.

Information for Schools Planning Terry Fox Runs

 Here is a letter the EMSB received from the Terry Fox Foundation in Montreal

Thanks so much for your support of the Terry Fox School Run. Every year, we continue to be blown away by the generosity of schools across Canada.  We can’t thank you enough for your leadership to foster a culture of giving within your family of schools.  We have another exciting year planned for this year’s Terry Fox School Run scheduled for Friday, September 27 or any date that schools choose.

 Every school that signs up receives a complementary Terry Fox Toolkit of promotional materials, a customized online fundraising page and access to a wide array of online resources. Here are just a few of the resources we provide:

Complimentary Virtual Presentations:  Our dynamic and engaging speakers will inspire students by covering topics including Terry’s life and legacy and advancements in cancer research, along with a live Q and A.

K-12 Terry Fox Lesson Plans: Teach Terry – Our Terry theme-based lesson plans are written by educators for educators and are widely used across the country each year.

Leadership Guides: Our resources strive to broaden student social awareness and support new young leaders by empowering them to lead their Terry Fox School Run.

This year we have almost 10,000 schools coast to coast to coast participating. We are working towards a goal of signing up every school in Canada, but we need your help! Please share the sample message below with your school communities in support of this year’s School Run. 

As we begin the school year, the Terry Fox School Run is fast approaching, and we encourage all schools to participate in this fantastic event to help continue the legacy of one of our greatest Canadian heroes. This year the Foundation has a goal to sign up every school in Canada. Let’s all work together to help them reach their goal and support cancer research!

The School Run is scheduled for Friday, September 27 but you are welcome to choose any date that works for your school. If you have not already registered for this year’s Run, please visit terryfoxschoolrun.org/register-school-run/ for a quick and easy registration. Upon registering, a complementary Terry Fox Toolkit of promotional materials will be shipped to you by your provincial Terry Fox Foundation office located at:

Terry Fox Foundation School Provincial Office

8255 Mountain Sights, Suite 400, Montreal Quebec H4P 2B5 USA

(Also - Please direct schools to use this address above to send any cheques or pledge sheets for the Terry Fox Foundation)

Thank you for continuing to uphold Terry's enduring legacy and inspire future generations in the fight against cancer! We hope you have a terrific Terry Fox School Run!

Your support will make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families today and in the future! Thank you!

Lyne Benoit

Director, Community & School Runs, Quebec

lyne.benoit@terryfox.org

1-888-836-9786