Organ Donations

Posted on May 4, 2011 by admin

I saw both courage and hope speak passionately before a large audience the other day. One of our graduating students, who was the lucky recipient of a liver transplant in 2009, addressed our assembly of Middle and Senior School students. She explained how fortunate she was to receive a new organ after a difficult 10-month wait. Her surgeon, Dr. Lallier from Hôpital St. Justine, also gave a broad overview of the topic of transplants in Quebec. He reminded us that there are never enough organs available to people in need. In fact the gap is quite striking – only about one in ten patients are able to receive an organ in a timely fashion and, unfortunately, dozens die in Quebec every year while waiting for a final lease on life.

There’s a simple solution to the organ supply problem. More of us should sign an organ donation sticker and place it on the back of our Medicare card. It authorizes medical officials to use our organs at the time of our death. It is a unique way to give life and provide a lasting legacy.
I was inspired by today’s presentation and will definitely be a donor some day. Maybe you should too.

For more information, visit www.quebec-transplant.qc.ca

Non Nobis Solum

—Chris Shannon, Headmaster

Corvée du Mont-Royal

Posted on May 4, 2011 by admin

Afin de souligner l’année internationale des forêts, les élèves du Middle School ont décidé de participer à la 20e édition de la corvée du Mont-Royal. À 8h30, tout le monde était au rendez-vous et, pendant toute la matinée, les élèves ont planté, planté, planté…
Photos

Planter des arbres au Mont-Royal était très amusant, on a travaillé pour le service communautaire et on a passé une bonne journée. Je voudrais faire ce type d’activité encore une fois. Cela a ouvert mes yeux sur le monde et sur les changements que je peux faire pour aider l’environnement.
—Arielle Shiri ’14

Mon expérience au Mont-Royal a été une tonne de plaisir. Quand nous sommes arrivés, un groupe de personnes a parlé de l’importance de planter des arbres. Ensuite, en groupes, nous avons eu du matériel et des t-shirts. Nous avons ensuite creusé des trous et planté de jeunes arbres qui deviendront grands. J’ai eu beaucoup de plaisir et j’aimerais le refaire.
—Samantha Adessky ’14

Planter des arbres au Mont-Royal était une expérience que je n’oublierai jamais. Maintenant chaque fois que j’irai là-bas, je pourrais dire à mes amis « Voyez-vous cet arbre ici? C’est moi qui l’ai planté ». Rien que ça est assez pour dire que c’était une bonne expérience.
—Matthew Kaspy ’14

Planter des arbres pour la fondation “les amis de la montagne” était une expérience que je ne vais pas oublier. Une pelle dans une main et un sceau dans l’autre, nous avons planté toute la matinée.
—Montana Black ’14

L’expérience au Mont-Royal était très amusante! Premièrement, j’ai fait beaucoup d’exercices en montant et en descendant la montagne! Je n’avais jamais planté d’arbres de ma vie. Je suis très heureuse d’avoir pu faire une différence dans la communauté et de la rendre plus belle! J’espère qu’il y aura beaucoup d’autres activités comme ça à l’avenir.
—Kaitlin Markus ’14

C’était un matin chaud, le soleil brillait, une journée parfaite pour planter des arbres. Quand nous sommes arrivés, la guide nous a montré comment faire. Après, nous nous sommes mis au travail. À la fin, nous étions fiers de notre travail.
—David Rosenberg ’14

Pour moi, planter des arbres était une nouvelle chose et je ne pouvais pas être plus heureuse avec ma première expérience. Tout était très bien organisé et que les instructions étaient très claires. Notre guide a été très gentille et elle m’a énormément aidée. Elle m’a donné le goût de planter d’autres arbres.
—Stephanie Shannon ’14

J’ai vraiment apprécié planter des arbres. C’était la première fois et ce fut une bonne expérience. C’était une bonne journée pour cette activité. Je suis impatiente de retourner au Mont-Royal pour voir les beaux arbres que nous, en tant que groupe, avons plantés ensemble.
—Jaclyn Lavy ’14

Cette expérience m’a fait du bien. C’était ma deuxième visite à la montagne pour travailler au service communautaire et c’était aussi satisfaisant que la première fois. Je sentais que je faisais vraiment quelque chose de bien et qui faisait une différence. Cela m’a permis d’apprécier la nature et l’environnement. Planter juste un arbre était beaucoup de travail mais j’en ai planté 4 avec l’aide de ma partenaire, Julianna. Je le referai encore si j’avais la chance. —Stephany Hwang ’14

À lire:
Corvée du Mont-Royal 2011

À regarder (film et photos):
Des forêts et des hommes par Goodplanet.org

Students Compete to Support Local Charities

Posted on April 27, 2011 by admin

Last night, six groups of grade 10 LCC students made presentations on behalf of six grass roots charitable organizations in Montreal. Their purpose was to convince a panel of four judges that their chosen charity was deserving of a $5,000 donation provided by the Toskan Foundation through an active learning project called the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative. Students in grade 10 had been working since the starting week of school, learning about the need for charitable organizations, the role of philanthropy in our society and doing actual volunteer work at various charities. They then researched each organization to find out about their mission and history, impact on the communities that they serve, and the nature of the volunteer experience. Working in small groups, the students then put together intricate presentations with the sole purpose of convincing the judges that their respective organizations were deserving of the donation. The presentations took place in the Chamandy Auditorium.

Once again I was amazed at the abilities of the students and the good work that takes place all around Montreal. The students used their oral presentation skills to convey the passion that they felt for their chosen charities. They also seamlessly wove the use of technology, including still images, music and stirring videos to make their respective cases. All six groups were amazing, but the judges had to choose some winners.

Due to a generous donation from members of the Class of ‘85, the usual $5,000 donation from the Toskan Foundation was to be doubled. For the first time we would now be able to give $3,000 to the second place charity and an additional $2,000 to the third place finisher. It is really hard to talk about “winners” because all of the groups did an exceptional job. One day we hope to be able to give donations to any group that makes it to the finals.

Congratulations to all of the students, and a special nod goes out to Centre Philou, which took away the $5,000 donation from the Toskan Foundation, Generations which will receive $3,000 and Share the Warmth which will receive the $2,000 donation, both of which come courtesy of the Class of ‘85. –Patrick Peotto, Assistant Head – Advancement

This Year’s YPI Finalists:

Taylor Hodhod, Yvonne Hercun & Gabby Rappaport (Centre Philou)
Alix Faraggi & Alex Sinor (Generations Foundation)
Alexa Weiser, Helene Osterman & Valerie Rivest (Share the Warmth)
Christie Heseltine, Chelsea Voronoff & Chloe Stroll (Welcome Hall Mission)
Emily Tiberi, Olivia Auclair & Alexandra Masella (The Friendship Circle)
Julian Miller, Max Rabinovitch & Greg Wainberg (NDG Food Depot)

Eyes Wide Open

Posted on April 11, 2011 by admin

I have just returned from the most incredible trip to a small Peruvian village named Lunahuana. My last four days have been packed with adventure and memories that I will treasure forever. As I rafted the rapids, zip-lined across the beautiful lands and climbed the Inca ruins, I was amazed with this beautiful country.

Lunahuana is a very poor area that was hugely affected by the earthquake that hit Peru in 2007. On Friday, we packed into a small van and drove to a nearby school. Along with 15 other students, I was given the task of building a garden for the children to play in. I will never forget it; the faces of the children brightened as we walked into their tiny rundown building. As I began to work, I suddenly felt small warm hands on the back of my leg. I turned around and saw three little girls looking up at me with the sweetest expressions. For the rest of day, those girls were attached to me. I was amazed by how much affection they showed me. It was very hard to say goodbye to them.

When I arrived back at the campground and started to change into warmer clothes I heard soft Spanish whispers outside my tent. As I peered outside to see where the voices were coming from, I saw two little girls covered in dust and wearing worn-out clothes. They quickly approached and motioned for me to come sit with them on the grass. Although we could barley understand each other, I sat with them for over one hour. At one point, they kept repeating one question over and over again pointing towards my shoes. I kept telling them I didn’t understand them but they wouldn’t give up until they had the answer to their question. I finally asked another student to translate for me and found out they had been asking me how expensive my shoes were. I had never thought twice about my shoes, I’ve been lucky enough to always have something to wear on my feet. When I was their age the price of shoes would have never crossed my mind. As I thought of an answer, I looked at them; neither girl was wearing shoes. Both had filthy feet covered in cuts. Lunahuana was an unforgettable experience. –Alexia Miller ’13

The World At Lunch

Posted on March 25, 2011 by admin

One of my most powerful memories from my grade seven year at LCC was an event planned by Grad Pride called, “The World at Lunch.” We had been told that instead of having our 5th and 6th period classes we would be going to the Velan Gym for a special event. Upon entering the gym, my hand was marked with a red dot and I was told to sit down at a table at the back of the room. A few other students from different grade levels soon accompanied me—around 12 students. Roughly four or five times as many students were marked with blue dots and told to sit at separate tables along the sides of the gym. The majority of the students sat on the floor in the middle of the gym. The sounds of periodic snapping could be heard, approximately every three seconds. Among the crowd could be heard a distinct sense of confusion and wonder to the meaning of such an odd procedure. We were soon told that the select students sitting at my table, represented first world countries and that we would be served a three-course meal. The blue tables represented second world countries and they would be eating pizza. As for the rest of the students, they inevitable represented the majority of the human population; the third world countries, and they would be served rice and dyed water. It was only later that we discovered that the periodic snapping that rang in our ears was the representation of a single child dying due to lack of food, resources, care and money.

It was only a fluke that I had been chosen to sit at the first world countries’ table. I couldn’t fathom the reasoning behind it. Why me? Why had I been chosen? Why was it fair that I lived a life of surplus in Canada and not others? Listening to the guest speakers, hearing devastating facts, and being tormented by that ever-lingering series of snaps, a single question rang in my mind: what could I do to help? The money that would be gathered from the upcoming free dress would be designated to helping children living in poverty. Even knowing that the school was making an effort to help such a great cause, I somehow felt personally connected, I felt like I wanted to do more than donate the mere $2 and move on. For that free dress I had gathered over $100 to donate to the organization. It seemed as if I was not the only person who was touched by this assembly and many students decided to bring more than the required minimum. Perhaps it was a sense of guilt that compelled us to bring more. However, I would like to think that a sense of widespread community was felt that day.

The Grad Pride of grade 11 chose to hold a “World At Lunch” this year that took place on Friday, March 25, 2011. We felt that it was our responsibility, being the last year that would have experienced the initial “World At Lunch,” to share with the rest of the school the event that, for many of us, allowed us to truly feel a sense of global identity and responsibility. One of the major values that LCC tries to pass onto its students is the sense that, due their luck in having been born in such a great country, it is their responsibility not to turn their back on the majority of the people in the world that find it hard to live day-by-day with the money and food that they have. It is our responsibility as a prosperous community, to look out into a world where people struggle to get by and realize that we have the potential to, in some way, improve their standard of living. It would be unrealistic to think that this single event would drastically have any major impact on child poverty or human rights, however the point of this event isn’t to make a single change. The reason behind the event is to allow students to begin wondering about their role to play in a world that they are just beginning to discover.—Noah Schouela ’11