Verdun School News

A recent fundraiser was brought to our attention, which bought in $175.00.The money was raised following the influence of the CJAD Radiothon for the Mtl. Children’s Hospital as a couple of students bought popcorn at a bake sale for 50 cents and then proceeded to resell it for $1.00 to the animators at Dawson’s and picked up $6.00, then the ball picked up steam as the two boys, Gavin Parr and Keon King put together a popcorn fundraiser day with all the money going to the Jennifer Martin Memorial Fund and to the Hospital. Jennifer Martin died of cancer and her mother works at Riverview. Kudos to those two students who thought that sick children could use medicine instead of donated popcorn.

From outgoing Home and School President Diane Lussier, we get this note, a special thanks to everyone for participating in Riverview home and school fundraisers this year and she also would like to thank all the wonderful volunteers that made this year a success as without our volunteers and supporters it would not be possible. A special thanks also goes out to the great folks at Woodland Restaurant for their generous donations of spaghetti sauce for the school’s fundraisers.

BEURLING ACADEMY

BA held their first nighttime Awards evening this past Tuesday for the Sec. 1 and 2 students and the previous Thursday for levels 3 and 4, and they were a smashing success. It was the turn of the staff and administration, and invited guests to honor those who excelled in the various subjects, athletic achievements, community and citizenship awards, and the recognition of those for honor roll and exceptional awards, which is for overall averages between 80 and 89 % and over 90% respectively.

In the Sec 1 and 2 levels, it seemed like the whole grade got these lofty plateaus, as 105 in Sec. 1 and 70 in Sec. 2 walked to the stage to receive their honors. It is a testament to both teachers and administration supporting those wishing to reach for the top and to the students seizing the chance to set some lofty goals, thus resulting in these impressive numbers.

Students, along with parents and other relatives were on hand to partake in the proceedings with about 400 attending this past Tuesday. As Principal Chris Cyr stated in her opening remarks, this will be an annual event, and special kudos goes out to VP Dona Bianchi for coordinating both evenings.

Regular readers to this column might recall the powerful interview we had with Verdun student and BA graduate Britany Ardelli, who spoke to us about that tragic day in September at Dawson College.

We’ve kept in touch from time to time with Britany and her family and we’re so proud and happy to say that Britany persevered and made honor roll with an 88 % overall average with 4 subjects getting over 90 % and 95 % in Business Administration in Recreation. I wonder if Britany will run La Ronde one day! Like those others who lived the day, you took back the school and it is a testament to the human spirit. Well, Britany, for all your hard work, you deserve a night out at the flicks with some movie passes and maybe some popcorn to munch on. It’s the least we could do.

We say it every year, but it’s that time of the year, when we as parents realize that our young ones have grown up. We might hark back and recall the first giggle, the first tooth, and the shedding of a tear or two as we separated in their first day at school all those years ago, and now are moving to another stage in their lives.

Riverview and Verdun Elementary will be holding their Grade 6 grad evenings this Wednesday and Thursday respectively and Beurling Academy will be holding their evening in September after all the marks are in. We salute the Class of 2007.