A Welcome Experience at the Welcome Hall

Posted on September 2, 2011 by admin

Today we started our Youth Philanthropy Initiative by volunteering at a grass roots organization called Welcome Hall Mission. This organization affects the lives of many; the young, the old, families and new immigrants through their many services offered. This organization serves as a shelter, a food bank, a rehabilitation centre for men, women and youth, and as a counseling centre.

The grade 10 Woods House advisory visited this centre yesterday to give much needed help. We made food packaging for the people who will be coming in today, we inventoried school supplies from their recent ”back to school drive,” and we organized clothing that would later be given out to the clients of the Hall.

Working with such a great organization that helps so many people in our city was a fantastic experience. Knowing that the food we were distributing would go to kids and families who really needed it felt good. It was great to work with our advisory. As a whole I think we all realized how fortunate we are and that in a city like Montreal, there still is a great amount of poverty. –Alexa Dlouhy ’13

Grade 8 Students Engaged in Community Service PSAs

Posted on September 2, 2011 by admin

Lower Canada College’s grade 8 class wasted no time hitting the academic stream with vigour. On the first full day of classes, students were participating in community service trips and researching environmental issues. All of this hands-on experience will serve as the foundation for the production of public service ads on Friday, using numerous production tools in the i-Life Suite that is installed on their MacBook computers.

A particular emphasis this year is being placed upon ensuring that student work is publishable on-line, providing them with an authentic audience. To that end, the school is highlighting the importance of producing work that includes creative commons media licensed media or original content generated by the students. LCC has also established partnerships with companies such as www.libertymusictrax.com, who are supplying students with licensed music for their presentations that can then be freely published on our portal. — Chris Auclair, Teacher

Quebec City: Bringing History to Life

Posted on June 3, 2011 by admin

I went to Quebec City with grade 5 this year and it was a great experience. Even though we had to wait three hours on the bus, I had so much fun when we got there. My friends and I talked most of the bus ride and played truth or dare. When we got to Quebec city we went to the Citadelle where we saw old canons, lots of soldiers, a bunch of giant old bullets, some muskets and, at exactly 12 pm, a canon fired telling all the soldiers it was lunch time. The canon firing was the best part about the first day. The canon was so loud and we were so close! The explosion was amazing!

After a well-deserved lunch on the Plains of Abraham, we listened and watched as actors playing the two generals, Marquis de Montcalm and James Wolfe, told us about the Seven Years’ War. We also reenacted the battle on the Plains of Abraham. The actors treated us as if they were the real generals of the French and British armies.

Later, we went to see the National Assembly. It was a really fancy mansion-like building with the statues of all the important people who helped Quebec throughout the years in front of the building. The parliament was very impressive. Inside, our tour guide told us that the parliament had a clock that someone had to wind every week but, before he would wind it, he had to climb about 200 steps. What a workout! Inside the parliament there was a lot of detail in the decorations and it had lots of very nice paintings and crests that represented the different periods of Quebec City.

After a delicious dinner at la Vielle Maison du Spaghetti and a scavenger hunt around Old Quebec, we got on the bus and headed to Ste-Foy where our hotel was situated. The hotel was awesome! It was very nice and comfortable. We even had a TV! On how many school trips do you have a TV in your room?

The second day we saw an awesome 3D movie about Quebec. The effects were really cool. Muskets came out of the wall, there was a real waterfall, and there was even a talking 3D video of a decrepit old man, Jacques Cartier. After the movie, I went shopping with my group. Shopping was so much fun, even though we only had 40 minutes. After the shopping, my group and I went to another museum. When we got there we discovered that there was a closet full of old clothes that they used to wear in New France. We all put on the silly clothes and went on the set that had been prepared for us. Everyone looked funny! When we were finished we got on the bus and headed back to Montreal. After three hours we arrived, invited by the cold wind in Montreal. All in all, I really enjoyed the trip. –Erika Kaperonis ’17

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Posted on June 2, 2011 by admin

I recently spent some time talking with students in our Kindergarten program. They were all sitting near up against a wall in our main building school, dressed in shorts and T-shirts. The weather had finally turned for the better and they were on their way outside to play soccer baseball on the “big field.” The anticipation of this special event was palpable. Every aspect of this yet-to-unfold adventure was exciting for them. Each child wanted to tell me why this class was going to be the most marvelous experience ever. One boy felt a little worried, as an older Junior School student had recently told him there were bears across the street wandering near the main field. Not to worry, the other children declared; this as an absolute silly lie. Everyone settled down when Madame Manseau asked them to line up and get ready. Away they went – all smiles, ready for another adventure at school.

Remember those days – when everything in life was amazing, wonderful, challenging and fun?

In 1989, a book entitled All I really know I Learned in Kindergarten was a huge bestseller across North America. It espoused the beauty and simplicity of the “Kindergarten Principles.” Today they are also being labeled as a guide for global leadership. We should all revisit those principles; they reacquaint us with key foundations for learning and act as a reminder to live each day with wonder and a joyful disposition. –Christopher Shannon, Headmaster

Hoorah for SHOURAWE!

Posted on May 30, 2011 by admin

It’s hard to package a feeling. How do you describe a vibe that you sense but cannot touch? I’m not sure that I can do that very well. However, I would like to share that earlier this week our Middle and Senior School students participated in our annual “SHOURAWE” – an afternoon of energetic outdoor “house” competition that was friendly, spirited and a positive reflection of how our students interact. For a few hours the students adorned themselves in house colours – from clothing to body paint. They played games, shared lunch and celebrated together. House flags were waved jubilantly and school spirit was high.

I commend our House Heads and members of Grad Pride for a well-organized and well-run event with hundreds of participants. What remained unspoken throughout was that for all graduating grade 11 students, this would be their last “SHOURAWE” afternoon at LCC. In some ways they were the most outgoing – almost as if in this uninhibited celebration of paint and dancing and games was a final farewell to childhood. For most, they will move on next fall to a new school and new demands. No more “SHOURAWEs” on the horizon.

It was invigorating to witness so many students and faculty connecting and celebrating together at this year’s House Event. A positive spirit filled the air. Yes, we finally felt the sun that afternoon, and we were warmed by other special feelings of purpose, belonging and an a simple expression of young people in the moment and having fun! None of that can be taken for granted. –Chris Shannon, Headmaster