The Priory’s mission is to nurture each child’s inherent curiosity, develop an enthusiasm for learning and encourage intellectual and creative initiative, preparing the child to be a responsible, tolerant and self-confident global citizen.

Dear Priory Families,

In our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety of our students and in honouring the respect we share with our neighbours, we kindly request that all parents:

• Avoid double parking along The Boulevard to prevent traffic congestion.
• Keep our neighbours' driveways clear at all times.
• Watch over children in your parked vehicles.

We understand that parking can be a challenge, especially during pick-up times. In communication with our PPA Class Parents, we have taken your feedback into account and developed some suggestions to enhance the afternoon pick-up experience for our entire Priory community.

1.Available Parking Spaces

To alleviate congestion and ensure the safety of our families, we have identified available parking spaces on Trafalgar Ave. and Belvedere Rd. These parking spaces have been highlighted on the map for your reference.

2.Departure Time for Kindergarten

As of Friday, December 8, Kindergarten parents have the option of picking up their children at 3:00 p.m. This measure will reduce the number of cars parked during peak times.

3.Staggered Departure Times for Cycles 1,2 and 3

We invite parents of children who are not in the after-school program, to pick up their children at the following suggested staggered times:

• Parents of Cycle 1 students at 3:15 p.m.
• Parents of Cycle 2 students at 3:25 p.m.
• Parents of Cycle 3 students at 3:35 p.m.

We hope that this measure will spread out the number of cars between 3:00 p.m. and 3.45 p.m.

4.Request the City of Montreal to install a stop sign

To enhance the safety of our families crossing The Boulevard, we plan to contact the City of Montreal to request the installation of a stop sign at the intersection of Trafalgar and The Boulevard.

Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support. With everyone's patience and cooperation, we are confident in improving the pick-up experience for our entire Priory community. Should you have any questions or need additional information about these suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

AQEFLS Guest Visit

We recognize the importance of providing our students with a strong French education, and we are fully committed to nurturing our students' language skills as well as developing an appreciation for the French language and Quebec culture.

Key features of our French program are the innovative ideas and initiatives we have in place. Thanks to our pedagogical coordinator, Ms. Caroline Bouchard, we had the privilege of hosting a special guest, Marc-Albert Paquette, the vice-president of AQEFLS (Association Québécoise des Enseignants de Français Langue Seconde), who visited our school yesterday and witnessed the incredible work being done here. This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with other experts in the field.

In addition to Mr. Paquette's visit, The Priory will be hosting a Professional Development (PD) event for the AQEFLS in late March, le Forum Pédagogique. This pedagogical session aims to bring French teachers and pedagogical consultants from various schools together to exchange ideas, share best practices, and further refine the exceptional quality of our French Program.

Priory Pride!

This past weekend, Canada's National Chess'n Math Scholastic Chess Organization held its annual Tournament at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf. Samuel Arenas Pinto, James Brown, Jack Giacomini and Sunny Liang are to be commended for forming a team and representing The Priory admirably, in an all-day chess competition. They each participated in 5 intense games, scoring an impressive 2.5 points, which resulted in a well-deserved 4th place finish. Our chess enthusiasts worked incredibly well as a team, supporting each other, and we are very proud of their accomplishments! Congratulations to our amazing chess team, "The Panthers"!

Empowering Parents through SEL

Thank you to all the parents who joined us last week for the Ruler and Mood Meter parent workshop, which welcomed families not only from our school but also from neighbouring Quebec Association of Independent schools such as Selwyn House and The Study.

Hosted by our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Coordinator, Mr. Karl Mercuri, this insightful session provided an exploration into unlocking Emotional Intelligence (EI) at home. Throughout the workshop, parents gained an understanding of how we use the Ruler and Mood Meter program at The Priory, and the role it plays in fostering emotional intelligence and emotional awareness.

At The Priory, we take great pride in providing an educational experience that nurtures the development of the whole child. This commitment involves the integration of SEL principles such as the Mood Meter and Ruler Program, as well as our community matrix, across all classes, from Kindergarten to Grade 6.

Thanks to the dedication and innovative practices of Mr. Mercuri, through his weekly SEL assemblies and Professional Development sessions, we actively incorporate SEL strategies among our students and faculty. In addition to his roles as a well-being leader, mentor, and collaborator with school boards and several schools throughout Montreal, Mr. Mercuri also serves as our educator in Grade 5, where his passion and compassion shine through. Thank you, Mr. Mercuri!

Please click on the button below to access the parent workshop handout distributed during the presentation.

The Choiry Goes Carolling

The cheerful sounds of singing filled the air yesterday morning, all thanks to Ms. Campbell, our passionate music teacher and our choir members, who went on a carolling tour. Over the past several weeks, The Choiry, consisting of 38 talented children from Grades 3 to 6, had been preparing a musical program for this special event, and their hard work certainly paid off with a brilliant performance.

The beautiful voices of our young performers brought joy as they visited not one, but three preschools singing classics like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "A musical Time of Year", "Holiday Lights", "Cold Snap", "Vive le Vent", and Good, Good Holiday Feeling." The preschoolers and their teachers couldn't resist tapping their feet, clapping along and singing to the rhythm of these tunes.

A heartwarming thank you to Ms. Campbell and The Choiry for spreading holiday cheer and bringing smiles to many during the holiday season.

REMINDER: Santa's Flea Market - Wednesday, Dec 13

Please look around your home for treasures you no longer need, place them in bags labeled "Flea Market," and ask your children to drop them off in the grade 6 classroom.

Items range in price from $2-$5. To provide your child with the opportunity to purchase presents for every member of their family, please plan to send your child to school with $10 to $20 (preferably in loonies and toonies) no later than December 13th.

Food Drive for Those in Need

We are incredibly grateful to have everything we need during the holidays. At this time of giving, the Student Council is organizing a food drive for families in need. You can help make a difference by bringing in non-perishable food items, starting tomorrow. Consider donating items such as cereal, canned food, soup, pasta, tomato sauce, apple sauce, treats, and more. Please place your donations at the front office. All collected items will be donated to Joan's Pantry to provide for those in need during the holidays!

REMINDER: Our Annual Christmas Concert

DATE: Wednesday, December 20, 2023

TIME: 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

PLACE: The Paré-Howlett Hall

DRESS: Please click on the button for details

School Closure Guidelines (i.e. Snow Day)

Now that we've had our first snowfall of the school year, we would like to remind you of The Priory’s guidelines regarding school closures in the event of inclement weather. While our commitment is to keep our school open and learning ongoing, should severe weather conditions pose a safety concern necessitating a school closure, we will do the following:

• Send parents an email notification upon cancellation.
• Post the school closure notification on The Priory's website and social media accounts.
• Send a message through the class WhatsApp groups.

The Priory's First "Panther Day"

Thursday, December 14

We're starting a wonderful new tradition at The Priory: Panther Days! These special days are all about showing our support for our incredible sports teams and showing our school spirit. On Panther Days, students can proudly wear their Panther-themed shirts. Whether it's the new performance T-shirt or long-sleeve shirt, or even the vintage Panther tee, we invite you to wear your Panther pride on these special days.

On December 14, our Priory Panthers play against St-George's in a home game. This is a perfect opportunity to show your support, cheer on our athletes, and make the day come alive with Panther spirit!

Go Panthers!

REMINDER: Parent Survey

Your feedback about our After School Program is important to help us provide the best possible experience for our students and families.

The Potter Boutique is open every Friday, after Assembly or email for an appointment.

Visit our Boutique: www.potterboutique.ca and explore our uniform collection. Once your online order has been processed and filled, our dedicated team of parent volunteers will directly place the items in your child's locker. Please include your child's name and grade in the "Order special instructions" when viewing the cart.

Eva Sokol, Potter Boutique Manager at potterboutique@priory.qc.ca

REMINDER: Early Dismissal on Friday, December 22 at 12:00 p.m.

Friday, December 22, is an early dismissal day, with students being dismissed at 12:00 p.m. The school will then close for the holidays. Lunch will be served on this early dismissal day. We ask that you please arrange to have your child picked up from school at 12:00 p.m.

Please note: Our After-School Program will not be available on early dismissal days. Monday, January 8 is a Pedagogical Day. Students will return to school on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.

Extracurricular Activities

Meet Our Laurus Animators

Our After School Program



Join our After-School Program for specialized activities and exciting weekly themes, all thanks to our enthusiastic team of Laurus animators!

Please contact our After School Program Coordinator, Yasmeen Salehnia, for more information, by phone: 514-600-0504 Ext 1016 or email: afterschool@priory.qc.ca

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

From snow fort building to snow angels, the joy of winter is here!

Important Upcoming Dates

Friday, December 8

• Assembly

Monday, December 11

• Matilda Rehearsals at recess

Wednesday, December 13

• Santa's Flea Market (PLEASE NOTE: DATE CHANGED)

Friday, December 15

• Kindergarten Gingerbread Houses (PLEASE NOTE: DATE CHANGED)

Tuesday, December 19

• Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal -- school-wide

Wednesday, December 20

• Christmas Concert & PPA Bake Sale

Thursday, December 21

• Quebec Traditional Dancing Workshop

Friday, December 22

• Holiday PJ/Sweater Day and Annual Sing-Along in assembly
• Last Day of School Before Holidays - Early Dismissal at 12:00 p.m.

December 25 - January 5

• Christmas Holiday Break

Monday, January 8

• Pedagogical Day - No School for Students

Tuesday, January 9

• School Re-Opens at 8:15 a.m.

Quick Links

Our Values

Caring | Community | Curiosity | Creativity | Respect

At The Priory, we believe that children should be allowed to be children: to play, sing, perform, discover, and explore their world in a caring and nurturing environment.

The Priory School inc. ~ École Priory inc.

3120 The Boulevard Montreal, Quebec H3Y 1R9

www.priory.qc.ca Tel.: 514-935-5966