Elaborate Art Project Debuts at EMSB Admin Building

Students displayed their talent in various forms. There are about 250 pieces of art ranging from self-portraits to graffiti art, paintings, collage and multi-media works. Students from Michelangelo International Elementary School showcased a number of songs from their choir and performed a few dance numbers with costumes and beautiful choreography. The St Dorothy Elementary School choir also performed several wonderful songs and a group of their students entertained our audience with a bucket drumming show. Royal Vale School also featured live drama performances of Commedia dell’arte and an unforgettable live performance of their string orchestra. The art display will remain in place for visitors to the Administration Building to see until the fall. Videos of the performances will soon be available online.

“It’s very eclectic,” said EMSB Arts Consultant Nicolas Doyon. “We try to get our kids to be very creative. In general, we try to help them to find ways of creating new outlets. We have really, really good teachers, too. I’m really impressed.”

Athina Galanogeorgos, the EMSB’s Assistant Director of Education and Technology Services, said that they are currently working on revitalizing the Arts programs and this event was important in launching the Arts Initiatives. The goal was very straightforward. “Let’s showcase all the wonderful work from every school, every grade level, not only elementary but high school as well, using various media,” she said.  “Our consultant went out on a treasure hunt and spoke to all of the teachers and got them involved.”

Eleven -year-old Melania Cioffi, a Grade 5 student from Royal Vale, took part in a play. “At first I was kind of nervous because I’m not really used to being in front of an audience doing things, but when I’m doing it, I’m like ‘Ok, I have to calm myself and don’t put any extra pressure on me so I just do it,’” she said.

Classmate and fellow actor Lola Pepinduret summed it up perfectly. “It was a lot of fun,” she said. Everyone in attendance seemed to agree.