Montreal, October 7, 2026 - The ninth annual Zensa Media International Film Festival will partner with John F. Kennedy High School in St. Michel on November 4 and 5 . This is all part of an expanded five-day (hybrid) event, with various screenings and related activities. Organizers are inviting all students (and alumni who have graduated within the last three years) to submit films in a special EMSB student category just for them.  To get more information on the criteria to submit a film, one can do so directly on Zensa’s Film Freeway Film Festival page, or by e-mail zensamedia@gmail.com. The top three films will be presented in a special showcase at John F Kennedy High School on one of the two nights they serve as host. Youngsters and adults alike who have a film, documentary, creative video, or would like to produce a film on a specific topic that is important to them, have until mid-October to submit their work for consideration. “As we receive many films, our esteemed guest jud...

 By Alena Hamlett When outgoing Shadd Health and Business Centre Principal Joe Cacchione  speaks about education, he doesn't begin with programs, policies, or achievements. He does so with people. For Joe, success has always been measured by the lives touched along the way—students discovering their potential, staff members growing into leaders, and school communities coming together around a shared vision. After decades of service in education, Joe  will leave  behind more than a career, but  a philosophy built on encouragement, trust, loyalty, and an unwavering belief that every person is capable of more than they realize. Joe Cacchione gets a nice sendoff. Believing in Every Student Throughout his career, Joe's focus has remained remarkably consistent: helping students become the very best version of themselves.Whether speaking with students in the classroom, sharing lunch with them in the cafeteria, or encouraging them through difficult moments, he has alway...

Montreal, May 15, 2026 - In the spirit of promoting mental health and well-being, several EMSB schools are proud to present the third annual Build & Breathe Yoga Day, a growing initiative that continues to inspire students and strengthen school communities. This year’s program will take place across Carlyle Elementary, Pierre de Coubertin Elementary, Nesbitt Elementary, Leonardo da Vinci Academy, and LINKS High School, with sessions scheduled from late April through the month of May.  Designed to support both physical and emotional wellness, Build & Breathe introduces students to the many benefits of yoga, including stress reduction, improved focus, and enhanced overall fitness. The program has steadily expanded over the years, reflecting a deepening commitment to prioritizing mental health and well-being within educational environments. At the elementary level, this year’s initiative will also include a valuable opportunity for parents to participate alongside their childr...

Over this school year (2025-2026) seven talented students from Roslyn Elementary School in Westmount worked tirelessly and diligently as they engaged in the Global Issues Problem Solving (GIPS)  enrichment program run by the English Montreal School Board Gifted and Exceptional Learners Consultant  Dr. Camelia Birlean and her team. The seven problem solvers are Alba Miranda Grassi Tropea (Grade 4), Alessia Cheng (Grade 4), Elanore Newcombe (Grade 5), Emeric Davet (Grade 4), Lucas Saverimuthu (Grade 5), and Rowan Simard-Brennan (Grade 6).   Working collaboratively in triads or quads, students have actively researched and applied the six-steps of the creative problem-solving process (Dr. Torrance) as they resolved a Future Scene--a hypothetical scenario set 20-30 years in the future--connected to the topics of Invasive Species and Video Games and which culminated in detailed action plan entries assessed and scored by trained evaluators. Their remarkable performances in ...

By Wendy Singer Montreal, April 9, 2026-  The second annual Violence and Bullying Prevention in Schools Week took place from March 23 to 27. An initiative of the Quebec Ministry of Education, the week aims to foster safe, respectful, and inclusive school environments while raising awareness among students, staff, and parents about preventing bullying and cyberbullying. Under the direction of Assistant Director of Student Services Gail Callender,  the EMSB’s School Climate team of Victoria Della Cioppa, Louis Kolovos, and Rekeem Sutton, organized a series of impactful events over the week that engaged participants at every level. On Tuesday, March 24, the EMSB Student Services department welcomed Dr. Dewey Cornell, who led a specialized training session on Comprehensive Behaviour Threat Assessment to approximately 60 staff members from 10 pilot schools. This evidence-based approach supports school teams in assessing and responding to student threats in a balanced and though...

Montreal, April 8, 2026   - On the occasion of National Volunteer Week, which will be marked April 19 to 25, the English Montreal School Board will hold a special  reception and ceremony to honor three Volunteers of Distinction. In addition,  a Lifetime  Achievement Award and a special Alumni Recognition Certificate will be presented. The program will take place at the  St. Pius X Career Centre (9955 Papineau) in Ahuntsic on Tuesday, April 21, where the honorees, their families, EMSB commissioners, management, in-school administrators and Parents Committee executive members will be treated  to dinner catered by the culinary students. This will be followed by an awards ceremony  streamed live on the EMSB website      The Volunteers of Distinction are  Marie Di Fulvio  and Claudia Musto from Gerald McShane Elementary School in Montreal North and Leah Trineer from Roslyn Elementary School in Westmount. Angelo Komatsoulis’ ex...