September 2007

The Partnership
CBC Television’s CBC News at Six, CBC Radio One's Homerun (88.5 FM), the Foundation of Greater Montreal (FGM), the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) and Lester B. Pearson School Board (LBPSB) are proud partners in the School Needs Project. This partnership demonstrates our continued commitment to involving Montrealers in building our schools for the benefit of our children and the future of our community.

The Project
The School Needs Project was created to help meet a need at an elementary school that could not be met through its normal operating budget. This need was determined by the students themselves, with the support of a teacher or staff member. Students benefited from this project on many levels, from the educational and growth experience, to the concrete results of receiving services or equipment that helped them as well as leaving a legacy for future students.

Projects were submitted by five elementary schools from the EMSB and LBPSB and were judged by four secondary school students trained by the FGM. The Foundation of Greater Montreal committed $5,000 for this project as part of its Youth in Philanthropy initiative. The total cost of each proposed project was limited to between $1,000 and $2,500.

Students from each elementary school presented a short Case for Support on CBC News at Six and Homerun. Topics included: Healthy Bodies, Getting Along With Others, Celebrating Success and Helping Mother Earth.

You can read summaries of each case by visiting the pages for each individual school. Feel free to comment on the various projects through the ‘Send us your comments’ link on this website.

On September 19th, CBC hosted an awards event for participants where the grant winners were announced. Highlights were shown that evening on CBC News at Six. Homerun also provided live comments that afternoon from participating teachers, principals, the Foundation, School Boards and, most importantly, from the students involved in the project. You can watch and listen to the Award Ceremony highlights in the story archives section. CBC will do follow-up coverage on the winning grants as they are implemented in the respective schools.

The Schedule for Television and Radio
CBC Television's CBC News at Six (weeknights 6:00PM-7:00PM) and Radio One's Homerun (weekdays 3:30PM-6:00PM) will be following this project with an on-air series. Viewers and listeners will be able to follow the project as it unfolds, from the training of the judges and the student presentations, to the judges' deliberations and awarding of grants.

Stay tuned to this series! If you've missed part of the coverage on CBC News at Six or Homerun, go to the Story Archives section to watch it on line.

Friday, September 7th:
General Project Set-Up
Watch [Runs 2:04]

Monday, September 10th through Friday, September 14th:
One project pitch per day by elementary school students

Monday, Sept. 10th: Carlyle Elementary:
Watch [Runs 2:42]
Listen [Runs 6:48]

Tuesday, Sept. 11th: Purcell Academy:
Watch [Runs 3:16]
Listen [Runs 2:45]

Wednesday, Sept. 12th: Westmount Park Elementary School:
Watch [Runs 2:14]
Listen [Runs 2:30]

Thursday, Sept. 13th: Orchard Elementary:
Watch [Runs 2:05]
Listen [Runs 2:33]

Friday, Sept. 14th: Thorndale Elementary:
Watch [Runs 4:21]
Listen [Runs 2:58]

Monday, September 17th:
Judges' Training
Watch [Runs 3:38]

Tuesday, September 18th:
Judges' Discussion
Watch [Runs 3:26]

Wednesday, September 19th:
Awards Ceremony Highlights
Watch [Runs 2:27]

Part 1 - Introduction and Pitches Highlight
Listen [Runs 8:32]

Part 2 - Judging Process and Announcement of Results LIVE!
Listen [Runs 11:46]

Part 3 - Radio Panel Live: Kathleen Weil, President of the Foundation of Greater Montreal; Briel Keizer, student from Orchard Elementary; Dianea Phillips, teacher from Thorndale Elementary
Listen [Runs 8:27]

Friday, December 7th:
Follow-up report on adding the sport of cricket to the Carlyle Elementary curriculum.
Watch [Runs 2:26]