VERDUN E. SINGS THE ANTHEM AT THE MONTREAL JUNIOR HOCKEY GAME

It was a proud looking VE choir that sang the national anthem at the Verdun auditorium last Friday at the Montreal Juniors game. The students after waiting in their section made their way down the stairs with excitement for the start of the game along with the Juniors’ mascot and proceeded to sing away accompanied by a soundtrack. A special mention should also go to Music teacher Kathleen Turcotte who filled in admirably for Miss Jennifer Hayden who was unable to be there on that evening for the choir’s big performance.

Raffle tickets are now on sale for Home and School’s Christmas Raffle, 10th anniversary edition with the draw taking place on December 22nd, and get this, the first prize is a pair of tickets in the Club section to the Canadiens” game against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday afternoon, January 3rd courtesy of Verdun School Express and the voice of the Habs, CJAD/800. Concession goodies are included, coat check, more spacious seats, and of course, private elevator to the Club Section.

Tickets are 5 for $5.00 or 20 for $10.00. So drop by the school during regular hours or contact Bob at the School News office at 766-8232 and we’ll take care of you. There are also secondary prizes of a Cineplex gift certificate just in time for the Christmas season and an autographed Habs’ t-shirt and cap.

Our sources at the North Pole also inform us that Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to spend some time at the school next Saturday the 12th as the Grade 6 Grad committee host a “Breakfast with Santa”.

The breakfast starts at 9 and ending at 11, and the community is invited to this special event. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for kids with a family of 4 costing $20.00 with extra persons costing $5.00. There will be door prizes and family photos will be available for purchase. So see you at Santa’s breakfast.

If you know some of our local Grade 6 students at either Riverview or Verdun Elementary, you might be in for a treat. The Annual MathOlympics takes place this coming Wednesday at 6:30 and this year, it’s right in our backyard over at Beurling Academy. This always exciting event brings in crowds of parents and relatives from the Eastern sector of the Board, as we watch the math skills of these bright students in competition with their peers in various events like the popular relay event.

Teacher Miss Tamara Beach informs us that her Sec 1 and 2 ERC students, as part of their community components are now involved with some great charitable fundraisers for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There’s Pennies for Patients with students and anybody else bringing in bags and jars of pennies and change. There’s also Chores for Change, in which students offer to do a task such as maybe yard work or maybe some housework for a neighbor. So if you know some of those students, then this is the perfect time to get some willing bodies to help you catch up on some work around the house before winter sets in.

Last but not least, for the good folks at Dans la Rue, “Socks for Pops”, in which new pairs of socks are collected and/or purchased by students to be then distributed to disadvantaged youth is currently now ongoing. Last year, this worthwhile campaign brought in 194 new pairs, so feel free to drop by the school and drop some off. These campaigns end on Monday Dec.14th.

Pencil in your calendar for Friday the 18, as that is the date for Gary Lindner’s Annual Christmas Concert, an always highly anticipated and well attended event. We are also informed by our sources in the music department that the memory of the musical genius of, arguably, the most electrifying performer of our time, Michael Jackson will not be forgotten. So we look forward to that event. HAVE AGREAT WEEKEND.