Students at The Priory School have a long-standing tradition of community service. Students participate in a number of community service initiatives, learning a sense of responsibility and the joy of giving.
 

The Gift of Giving

During this holiday season, principal Deborah Heuff and teachers are reminding students about the importance of giving. With the true meaning of Christmas in their hearts, Priory students reach out and help others in the community. As part of the Priory’s community outreach program, the Grade 1 children donated toys and books to less fortunate children. Each student specially selected a “gently used” item from their home. They brought their donations to class and during a show and tell activity, the students explained why they chose to donate their item and why they thought another child would enjoy it. The toys and books will be put into special gift baskets which will be then given out to needy families during the Women’s Centre of Montreal’s Christmas Campaign.

The Grade 2 children spread some holiday cheer when they recently visited VISTA senior's residence. They performed a few Christmas songs for their audience and shared milk and cookies with senior citizens.

The Grade 3 students experienced the joy which comes when giving from the heart. Penny Bears dressed in cozy and colorful hand-crafted sweaters is Grade 3’s present to the children at the Shriner’s Hospital. Through the initiative and help of Priory parent, Mrs. Harrington, Peggy Wigglesworth from The Penny Bear Foundation donated 24 volunteer-made teddy bears. The Grade 3 students dressed the bears, created cards full of good wishes for a quick recovery and packaged the bears with lovely ribbon. Many students confessed, "I would really love to keep this bear for myself but I know that another child will enjoy it even more than me." Thank you to the Harrington family for allowing The Priory to take part in this worthwhile endeavor. Both the children receiving the bears and the Grade 3 students will remember this act of kindness forever.

On Wednesday, December 7th, a touching performance was given by The Priory School's choir, "The Choiry" and the Grade 4 class at this year's annual Toy Tea fundraiser. The students sang five varied selections including "Holly Jolly Christmas", "My Favorite Things" and "Christmas Time Is Here" while Mr. Lahteenmaa accompanied them on the piano to an audience of supportive parents, choir members from other schools and a host of other appreciative listeners. Each year, the Toy Tea, which takes place in the Tudor Hall on the 5th floor of Ogilvy's, helps to raise money and collect toys for the children of battered women and other children's charities in Montreal over the Christmas season.  Read More In The News: The Priory helps out at Toy Tea.

Grade 5 students brought a little joy to the elderly residents of the Montclair Seniors’ Residence in NDG by bringing some homemade gifts and sharing some Christmas treats as they played board games together and sang Christmas carols. They certainly proved that it takes little to bring smiles of joy and happiness to those around us.

The annual Priory Santa’s Flea Market does much more than just serve as a means to buy Christmas presents at bargain prices. The spirit of the season is evident as our Grade 6 students organize this event and help younger children shop and wrap presents, all the while raising money for charity.

The Priory's SWAT Team (Students Working to Advance Technology) are putting their tech skills to good use as they will film, produce and create a Christmas Concert DVD to benefit less fortunate families in our community.

In the spirit of Christmas, The Priory Community is holding a food drive to support St Gabriel’s Parish Christmas Basket Program. Last year St. Gabriel’s Parish distributed more than 550 Christmas baskets to families in their community.

May the true meaning of Christmas fill your heart and home with joy.


Student Council Bake Sale and Free Dress Day

Every year during the month of October, The Priory Student Council,  led by Ms. Bouchard,  organizes a special day to raise funds to support our foster children in Africa. The families of students in Grades 3 - 6 are asked to donate baked goods which are sold to the children throughout the day during recess periods. Students also buy a “free dress” for $2 and this money is added to the proceeds. It is always an exciting event and this year was particularly “sweet” with 1,100$ raised! The Student Council would like to thank the school community for supporting this event. Our foster children, Faith and Nesbert, will have a better life this year thanks to The Priory School!


Terry Fox Run

The Terry Fox Run was held this year on Wednesday, September 28th. All students from Kindergarten through Grade 6 worked tirelessly to fundraise amounts both large and small in an effort to continue the fight against cancer. The weather was very cooperative this year, allowing Priory students and staff to walk and run around Beaver Lake in honour of a true Canadian hero. This year’s event was about energy and determination, with the hope that the students of The Priory continue charitable work throughout the rest of the year and the rest of their lives. READ MORE IN THE NEWS: MARCHING FOR TERRY


Jump Rope for Heart

On Friday, May 20th, Priory students got jumping and skipping through hoops and over ropes and raised over $6,500.00 for the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation. Jump Rope for Heart is a school-based program aimed at educating students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 about healthy eating, active lifestyle and smoke-free living.
 

Grade 3 is Wild About Daffodils

The daffodils are blooming and their sunny yellow faces are beaming thanks to Grade 3 students who planted over 200 daffodil bulbs in early October, generously donated by Westmount Florist. After planting, twisting, feeding and covering the bulbs, the children organized a fundraiser and sold over 800 Narcissus Fortune bulbs to raise money for Shitima Community School in Zambia, Africa. The funds raised helped provide nourishing meals to the orphaned children attending the community school. READ MORE IN THE NEWS: PRIORY KIDS SUPPORT AFRICAN SCHOOL THROUGH FLOWER FUNDRAISER
 

Phones and Cartridges for Trees!

Annually, over 300 million print cartridges are consumed in North America, and more than 500 cell phones are retired. That's millions of pounds of electronic waste that usually ends up in landfills. The Priory School’s SWAT Team (Students Working to Advance Technology) has embarked on an environmental fundraiser that does not want money! They are collecting empty print cartridges and unused cell phones from The Priory community to help offset the negative impacts of cartridge consumption and improper disposal. Through their initiative and hard work and through the Think Recycle Program, two trees will be planted on The Priory School’s behalf with Tree Canada and $82.10 received from the Think Recycle Program will be used for future SWAT Team projects. READ MORE IN THE NEWS: PRIORY'S SWAT COLLECTS CARTRIDGES AND CELL PHONES TO PLANT TREES
 

Hope For Japan

Our peace assembly on Friday April 8th was titled "Hope for Japan". Students, staff and a few parents watched a video on the recent earthquake and Tsunami that devastated Japan. The images celebrated the beauty of Japan while the text described the horrific aftermath and the magnitude of the earthquake. Our thoughts were with the people of Japan who now have to rebuild their country and especially with the children of Japan who have lost so much. Following the assembly, the Priory students wrote and illustrated their messages of hope on cards that were in the shape of maple leaves. These cards will be sent to a children's centre in Japan along with money raised in the amount of $523 to help with relief efforts.

The Annual Priory Craft Fair

The annual Craft Fair held on February 4^th, was a resounding success and a real showcase of our parents' talents. Among the items for sale were handmade wooden storage boxes, artistic prints and engravings, class quilts, jewelry, knitted hats and scarves and delicious edibles all lovingly made by our very own Priory parents. Proceeds from the Fair will benefit both The Priory School Library and the Atwater Children’s Library. A big thank you to Dora Knez for organizing the event and to all the Priory parents for their creative work and great contributions to the success of this event.
 

The Priory Collects Shoes For Soles4Souls

When Gabrielle Graceffa was in Grade 2, she borrowed a book from The Priory School Library that inspired her to help other children through something as simple as donating a pair of old shoes. The book, New Old Shoes written by Joanne O’Sullivan tells the story of a young boy in America who sends his used red sneakers to a needy child in another county. The book contains information about a charitable organization, Soles4Souls, which collects shoes and redistributes them to some of the 300 million children worldwide who have none. Gabrielle rallied the children from her Grade 3 class as well as the students in Grade 2 to clean out their closets and donate shoes they had outgrown. Her initiative collected 78 pairs of shoes and through Soles4Souls, the shoes will be worn and appreciated by needy children around the world. READ MORE IN THE NEWS: THE PRIORY COLLECTS OLD SHOES FOR SOLES4SOULS


Rebuilding Haiti One Book at a Time

During a special assembly, Sue Montgomery, a reporter for The Gazette, spoke to Priory children about her experiences in quake-stricken Haiti. She spoke about the devastation that she witnessed and reported on the Haitian people's incredible resilience and spirit. She also spoke about the shortage of food and water, the lack of shelter and medicine and how it is affecting the survivors. Sue is working closely with a Haitian orphanage, and she has been working tirelessly to raise funds and awareness for the relief effort for Haiti and the displaced children. The Priory School is sending more hugs to support Sue's work in Haiti. On Thursday, May 6^th , the school participated in the Rebuilding Haiti Book Fair. Many children brought gently used books to school to be sold. Also sold in the Book Fair were special bracelets of hope, handmade by Grade 1 students, and lovely bookmarks designed by our Kindergarten children. The Grade 5 students participated by creating a DVD that featured their own music video of K’naan’s song “Wavin’ Flag”. The Rebuilding Haiti Book Fair was a huge success raising an astounding $2,357.00! A special thanks to everyone who participated. Through the generosity of our Priory family, we can now send more hugs to Haiti.
 

The Priory Hugs Haiti

Times of difficulty present opportunities to teach our children that they too can make a difference. With the support of parents, Priory children experienced first-hand how many little actions can add up to make a significant result. As a response to a cry for help from a wounded country, The Priory School has decided to HUG HAITI. There is no better way to console someone in time of need than with a hug. Priory students have set the table for dinner, washed dishes, made their beds and shoveled snow each day for a week and received a Toonie for each chore from their parents. Thanks to our supportive parents and our hard working and generous students, we are sending lots of hugs to Haiti. READ MORE IN THE NEWS: STUDENTS DO THEIR CHOIRS FOR HAITI
 

Fulford House

On May 4th, Kindergarten visited Fulford House, a senior citizens residence. The children were welcomed warmly and their singing brought big smiles to the faces of the residents. The children took much delight in chatting with the “Grandmas and Grandpas” and sharing yummy treats with them. It was a wonderful experience that both the senior citizens and the students thoroughly enjoyed!
 

The Montreal Alouettes's Playbook for Success

With their “Playbook for Success” in hand, six members of the 2009 Grey Cup winning Montreal Alouettes brought their inspiring message and considerable basketball talents to The Priory School on March 17th. Grades 3-6 were treated to words of wisdom from players Anwar Stewart, Brian Chiu, Avon Cobourne, Shawn Mayne, Scott Flory and Joel Wright who encouraged the children to challenge themselves to become a champion in their own lives by establishing goals and staying focused and determined. They also spoke to children about the importance of making a difference in other people's lives and how our choices affect others. Priory students, in wanting to do their part in giving back to the community, brought in non-perishable food items for St. Gabriel’s Food Bank as their admission fee for the big basketball game - Montreal Alouettes vs. Priory Panthers Staff.