By  Kathleen Victoria  Lefevre   A ginger cat met me at the door of Casa d’Italia as I gingerly approached her to enter the historic landmark. I was brimming with anticipation to see Where the Heart is: 1979 , written and produced by Anna Panunto and directed by Joe Cacchione. Both long-time beloved members of the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) community, Ms. Panunto has been teaching in the adult education sector since 1998 and has been publishing poetry and short stories internationally since 2003. Mr. Cacchione is on a one year sabbatical as Principal of the Shadd Health and Business Centre as well as a comedian, magician, actor, and director with over 30 years of experience in the performing arts. As I swung the door open, the ginger cat followed me on my heels, almost acting protective of the historical sanctuary I was now a guest of. I am not Italian nor from Montreal, so I was humbled by knowing what I don’t know. Many an Italian and French reference or joke was lost o

By Kristin McNeill Montreal , June 29,  2021 - For many students this pandemic school year, EMSB Virtual Learning was a resounding success. Some were enrolled because of their own health considerations, others to minimize risks to a vulnerable family member at home. Complete with its own principal, vice principal, teachers and helpers, the virtual school finished the year with 575 registered students .  Each student would have experienced learning from home in different ways, from different standpoints: physical, emotional and mental. Some come out of it with a preference to in-person school; others thrived in the online school setting and wish it could always be an option.  Virtual Learning student Allesia. “[It was a] dream come true,” said one mother. “Her true self came out,” said another. The experience was “amazing,” said another. “We were grateful for the opportunity,” said a dad. In this article, families share their reflections about a year with EMSB Virtual Learning. A year o

Montreal, June 18, 2021 - Over the course of the last several months, Jason Bixby and Valerie Honig, the two designated STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics) consultants at the EMSB, have been busy with the rollout of their latest professional development initiative, entitled: “STEAM Team Collaboration & Project Building.”  The purpose of this initiative was to allow time for teachers interested in STEAM to build a Learning and Evaluation Situation (LES) based on the fundamental tenets of STEAM. Saving the bees at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School. STEAM LES’s must be developed through collaboration between two or more teachers of the same grade, but of different disciplines.  They are normally grounded in the solving of a real world problem or challenge, and through the employment of a design process.  If this process is correctly employed, a prototype will be built to help illustrate how the problem can be solved.  Research indicates that correct use

By Kristin McNeill The English Montreal School Board marked Black History Month in February across its network. This was the first time schools with the EMSB  could access a specially created Black History Month Unit to use throughout the official Black History Month in February – and all year long. Designed by the board’s Spiritual and Community Animation Service (SCA), the material was designed as an entry point into a conversation about Black history, where students and teachers could engage in stories and videos about Black Canadians, through the lens of character strengths, and take part in activities that encourage reflection on identity and representation.  “The feedback from the animators who implemented the unit was very positive,” said Danika Swanson, Spiritual and Community Animation Service Consultant. “Teachers and students alike appreciated learning about the purpose, importance, and history behind Black History Month, as well as learning about the challenges and accompli

Montreal, January 19, 2021 –  While the big party will be taking place in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, January 20, the students and staff at Westmount High School will be holding a special celebration as one of their own, Kamala Harris, is set to be sworn in as the 49 th Vice President of the United States. To mark the historic day, while respecting all COVID-19 protocols, Westmount High School students will be streaming the inauguration in their classes. Students will also create a commemorative video which they will share with the community. The school is also expecting to receive items from the United States Consulate General in Montreal to mark the occasion.   Kamala Harris and Joe Biden At the age of 12, Kamala temporarily relocated to Montreal while her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, took a job teaching at McGill University and did research at the Jewish General Hospital. While living in Montreal, Kamala attended FACE School for one year before attending Westmount Hig

Writer's note:   Anna Panunto is a teacher at the High School of Montreal Adult Education Centre of the EMSB. This  interview  with her will be translated in Arabic and published in the near future in an Arabic press. The purpose of this article is to shed light on newcomers - to help them understand a little bit about the North American mentality here and what to expect in a way, from their learning process. It  will prove to be useful information. In her passionate world filled with  talent and determination, she has brightened her star to illuminate others by teaching and writing. A mentor to many… Her life mission is to make the ordinary, extraordinary. To give meaning to those that are left ignored. To shed light on the misunderstood. To love the unloved… By H’ala Aljaber  - freelance journalist from Syria Introduction She is a woman who holds glory in her hands – in the written and spoken word.   She knows what she wants like the eye of a falcon. The falcon is her spirit anim