Kindergarten Registration for 2021 has already arrived. This year, to avoid those weekend long lineups, the EMSB is going on-line. A pilot project involving 5 elementary schools goes live on the EMSB website at 7am Monday, January 25.

Parents will be able to make a reservation online for their child’s registration. To explain more and how this all works, Principals from 2 of the schools in the pilot project, Rosana Caplan of Merton School and Libby Amato of East Hill School join me to provide the information parents need.

Please be advised, all Covid-19 safety protocols are in place for kindergarten registration at all schools.

Another aspect of the EMSB’s comprehensive effort to provide education for all, is highlighted by what’s going on at the Wagar Adult Education Centre along with Giant Steps School. It’s a pilot project for people on the autism spectrum to receive hands on learning in business. In this case, it’s a mini-grocery store set up in Wagar’s cafeteria. Small perhaps, but an authentic store nonetheless.

Offering not only hands on work experience, the project is opening up corporate eyes to the value of employing people on the spectrum.

For more, here’s Wagar Adult Education Centre Principal, Nick Katalifos, Andre Pereira, Project Manager Employment Initiatives Giant Steps School & the Polaris, as well as Enterprise Initiative and student Alexis Despland.

If you love to sing, to perform and have a passion for your community…to help out other young people like yourselves, have we got an event for you!

EMSB students it’s a chance to have your voices heard by experts and a way to have some fun over the extended holiday school break while doing some good for ER patients at the Montreal Children’s Hospital

The annual Just For Kids Voices fundraiser and competition is going online.

Go to: JFKvoices.com to get started with your crowdsourcing page and practice, practice, practice until you’re ready to record yourself and join the competition. This year’s judges are top-notch talents in their own right: Mark Bergman (The Beat 92-5), Jason Rockman (CHOM), Shannon King (Virgin Radio) and singer-songwriting duo Eric Dick & Celleste in Los Angeles.

Cory Garfinkle, Just For Kids Foundation event manager, past participants & VCM teacher and Clef Notes coach, Stephanie Rossy along with VCM student Stephania Zambardi join me to talk about this annual event and how you can participate.

JFKVoices.com

JFKfoundation.ca

160 Shadd students met the incredible challenge of completing a condensed 375 hour course in patient support this summer, at Shadd Heath And Business Center. Listen, as Mark Bergman chat with school principal Joe Cacchione about what it took to put the course together. We'll also hear from 2 graduates, Maria Dhe Paganon & Dave Morin about their incredible experience in the program and on the field.

In this podcast, Mark Bergman speaks with the wonderful students and staff at John F. Kennedy High School. Rocco Speranza, JFK's Spiritual Care & Guidance counselor, set up a multitude of projects where the students can learn about why it's so important to remember and honour our veterans on November 11th and always. Grade 8 students, Sarah Chiby and Santhina Thaurairajasingam talk to us about some great school initiatives such as No Stone Left Alone, Faces Behind Our Freedom, and more!

COVID-19 has changed everything for everyone: there are so many questions on how to get our children back to school and how to keep everyone as healthy as possible.

To answer these questions and to give parents the best current advice available, three doctors join the EMSB podcast: Gerald Fried, Professor of Surgery at McGill, MUHC Surgeon and Associate Dean Education Technology & Innovation, Dr. Debbie Schwarcz, ER physician at Lachine Hospital and Family Practitioner at Santé Mont Royal and Dr. Christopher Labos, Cardiologist and Epidemiologist.

Flu shots? Masks? Buses? Testing? Tracing? And what about that second wave?

The latest information on how best to keep children, families and school as safe as possible and how things may look and change as the school year progresses.

EMSB teachers have been doing triple duty during the COVID-19 shutdown: keeping up with their schools, their students and finding other ways to help out the community.

Grade 4 French teacher, Edith Myriem Bouyer has been doing just that and her Willingdon Elementary student Leili Lencucha has been cheering on her on!

Listen to their story here!

As we are all learning during this pandemic, science plays a huge role in our safety and our future. EMSB science teachers nurture their students’ curiosity everyday…curiosity that spurs their questions of how and why and why not?

Science Fairs across the country were cancelled but student projects were not.

Meet 15 year old Lauren Hill Academy student Harini Karthik and LHA Science teacher Magy Dimitry and hear how Harini’s science project evolved into a real time possibility for controlling the spread of a virus like Covid-19.

We all need some laughter to help us through these very difficult times. As we know, social distancing, masks, clean hands and laughter is the best medicine. This podcast is special: a reunion of sorts as three former colleagues catch up…once known as “Aaron, Tasso & Suzanne”.

It’s been a long couple of months for both students and teachers. Trying to keep students engaged with learning has been a priority for the EMSB through their website and the constantly updated Educational Websites & Resources page.

LaurenHill Academy Grade 11 student, Jonah Kontolemos found a way, not only to remain engaged, but used this time away from school to make a huge contribution to frontline workers…doctors, nurses and healthcare workers…who have to live in life-saving masks while treating those inflicted with Covid-19.

Using his Christmas present from his parents…a 3D printer…Jonah came up with an “Ear Saver” that removes the uncomfortable pressure from the mask’s ear elastics.

His math teacher Sarah Ditchfield and Jonah Kontolemos join me for the story.

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