GRAD NIGHTS, CLASS OF 2008

EURLING ACADEMY: BA held their second annual awards nights last week and it was another success. It was the night where staff and admin recognized the hard work put in by the students this past year and honor their achievements with parents and relatives in attendance. In addition to the hard work of many students getting over 80 or over averages, about 100 in the junior grades and 65 in the senior grades, it is also a testament to the BA teaching staff for getting the most out of their students.

In the junior grades, Stephanie Valente racked up 8 awards including 100 % in math and a 99 in Spanish. Amanda Pidlisny and Laura Bustamante each picked up 6 awards and in the seniors, Cassandra Loj earned 6 awards. Great work everybody!

There are 3 retirements that we would like to acknowledge who I worked with in several ways thru the years. Former Riverview Principal Chuck Poirier opens and closes the school doors for a last time this month. Mr. Poirier or the Chuckman, as some of us used to call him was the first Administrator we spoke with all those years ago and was also gung-ho sending us stuff on a Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. I thank you and I have a feeling we might see him around here soon, but it’s a secret!

We congratulate former Board Secretary-General Bill Stockwell, who was our media contact, on his well-earned departure and who always around to get questions answered, and to Mr. Mike McAlear, programmer at BA, who’s done a few things such as keeping marks and student schedules, making sure the PA worked in the Aud, and everything else in between and we thank you for just being a good guy.

Another year has come and gone and there were special highlights. Both BA and VE were in their 5th year and Riverview is into its 80th year. Riverview became a CLC, something to look forward to. We sent people to Disney on Ice, a Weekend at the Delta, to see a Habs hockey game in the Club Section, and to see Bruce Springsteen rock the Bell Centre.

BA was featured on a CTV Noon segment plugging the first ever fashion show at BA which I had the pleasure of co-hosting with CTV’s Lori Graham. We had a ball covering “Les Canadiens”and superstar Alex Kovalev along with 5 Riverview students as part of the Quebec Breakfast Club’s Day with the Habs.

But most of all, I had the thrill to be at BA’s Susan Young’s audition for a national anthem gig for, hopefully, an upcoming hockey game, at the 21000 seat Bell Centre at centre ice with the Canadiens red carpet. One got the shivers listening to Susan on those high notes. We look forward to her next audition just before the exhibition season.

As we give Word Document a rest for another summer, we must thank all those involved who have sent us info thru the year from the administrators to the teachers of the three schools, you all know who you are, the students who were the subjects of special features, various members of the LBPSB, and to Pierre Lussier and Mathieu Robert-Perron of the Verdun Messenger. But the biggest thanks go out to you the readers, who have been superb with all your comments all year. I take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and happy summer, and the first day back is September 2nd!