It was a day long awaited for the past few years, as the staff and students of Verdun Elementary finally raised the flag of PSI, emblematic of being a member of Peaceful Schools International. It was also a special moment for Pastoral Animator Mary-Anne Fyckes who spearheaded this effort tirelessly the past several years.
It was a dignified occasion suitable for an elementary school, which included an afternoon filled with songs, speeches from invited guests and the moment that every awaited, when Judy Grant, coordinator of Peaceful Schools for the LBPSB, proudly proclaimed Verdun Elementary, a member of Peaceful Schools International.
PSI was founded in 2001 by Hetty Van Gurp in Halifax, after seeing a need for peace education. Miss Van Gurp was involved in her own personal tragedy as in 1991, Hetty’s older son Ben died, following an act of aggression by another student who had been bullying him at school. Ben was just 14 years old. Before founding PSI, Miss Van Gurp was involved in peace lessons in and around Halifax and then across Nova Scotia.
The afternoon began with invited guests and students from Beurling Academy under the guidance of teacher Miss Debi Dixon, who is actively involved in peer leadership at BA, going around the various classrooms and helping the VE students make paper butterflies which were to be hung later in the gym.
Miss Fyckes proudly welcomed everybody to the event and after the playing of the national anthem; then it was the opening address of VP Miss Sylvie Martin, who was standing in for Principal David Chisholm who was unable to attend on this day. After the presentation of the PSI flag by Miss Judy Grant, it was the turn of representatives of parents, staff, and two grade 6 students to make statements and pledges of peace for the school to operate in an atmosphere of peace and security. It was an afternoon for all to be proud of.
The school has been teaming with activities these days from everything to Curriculum Night to Open House on the 8th and everything in between such as the Annual Pep Rally which gets the sports teams of the fall season off to a roaring start and the Annual Terry Fox Run, which is on Oct. 1st, today if you’re reading this on October 1st.
A reminder to all that the Annual Opening of the Doors to the School is on next Thursday the 8th from 7 to 9 pm. this is your chance to check out the gem of the LBPSB and to talk to all the teachers about all the wonderful programs…..and with the new windows and doors last year and the recent completion of the Extreme Makeover of the lockers, and Sandra Reynard’s Green Team of students that keeps the building spic and span in support of the caretakers, well, you’re in for a treat. So see ya at the Open House.
Also, this coming Sunday, teacher Amanda Liste will be leading around 100 students in the Annual CIBC Run for the Cure. This worthwhile charitable event tales place at Maisonneuve Park with the start of the run is slated for 9:30 am. And the walk at 10 a.m. We wish all a successful run and we will be there to catch all the action.
With all these activities going on, we will have a full summary in a few issues with lots of pictures.
BA Sports. When Coach Tamara Beach mentioned that the juvenile volleyball ladies of the court were on fire, it looks like she wasn’t kidding. This past Tuesday at Laurier Mac High in St.Leonard, the team picked up 5 out of 6 points with two wins and a tie and is in a tie for first place. So it seems that Miss Beach and Kyle Rougeau have got the team on a roll.
In soccer action, also this past Tuesday, Gary Lindner’s juvie boys team shut out St. George’s 4-0 for their second win in a row, and the midget girls team lost their first in 4 starts to MacDonald High 1-0 in the rain. Both of these mentioned soccer teams are in first place ties in their divisions. In girls juvenile softball, Coach Tanya Magotiaux also has her charges in gear as the team picked up a second straight win this past Wednesday by pounding Villa Maria 14-6, and also on the same day the boys juvie touch football squad won their third straight by edging out Billings 13-12. Let the games continue.
Get ready for lots of activities from both Home and School and CLC this month. From Home and School, on the 22nd the ever growing Pumpkin Patch will take place next to the school and your chance to buy a pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch and to take in some of the other goodies that are part of that afternoon….and the Halloween evening is on the 29th with the exhibits of those pumpkin works of art, and we also understand there might be some new characters in the corridor that evening ready to scare the wits out of you.
From CLC, besides the Brazilian Capoeira martial art activity which is ongoing on Tuesdays and Thursdays, a new season of kickboxing will start up again on Friday the 16th, at a cost of $24 per month or $6 a session and it’s on from 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm. This is the adult session and is open to the public. For more info, call CLC coordinator Audrey Ottier at the school at 761-4524. HAVE A GREAT WEEK.
