Hedley thanks Westwood High Jr. Campus...Free the Children *Haiti*

This is HUGE...........Such a powerful message when delivered by none other than Hedley as they praise Westwood High Jr. Campus .

videos3.freethechildren.com/watch/westwoodhighschooljuniorcampus/

School's Out Vandalism?

Not exactly, as Sales Rep. Pat pointed out to me, his crew were actually responsible for the "papering" of IGA parking lot as seen Tuesday morning. What seemed to be a really thorough Mat Night papering was the handiwork of these men laying toilet paper over a special rubberized product carefully marking cracks to be repaired!

Senior’s Treated

by Sherri Graham

Hudson Dance Center’s swing team entertained seniors who attended this years Generations Tea hosted by Hudson’s Youth Services and As Kneaded’s volunteer bakers.On hand to help serve were Julie-Ann Henderson and Jessica Graham as well as Margaret Hickman from As Kneaded along with Donna Karpman and myself. Three beautiful baskets were awarded as door prizes as well as one lucky person at each table got to take home the lovely floral arrangement donated by Wendy Smith who has always been very generous in the community with her botanical talents!

Given the extreme heat of the day, organizers were very grateful to the dancers for getting themselves prepared for this performance. Still gracious and smiling, dancer Mariah Van Kessel sighed afterwards, “It is such a relief to get the black spandex off!” The group had walked down to the center following a final rehearsal at the dance studio. Their audience who had been treated to a decadent table of treats, prepared by As Kneaded, suggested that they would enjoy seeing this kind of talent from our youths more often! One guest related that this brought back memories of being in a chorus line herself. Although there was a noted shortage of men, I am convinced that the gentleman in attendance would have been in high demand had we had some dance music on for these seniors. Perhaps we will consider this next time!

Zachary Fieldsend & LaRissa Vialard, Loic Freeman-Lavoie & Kaitlyn Crossley.
Cameron McGee & Mariah Van Kessel and Daniel Lloyd & Megan Thorpe

photos by Sherri Graham

Zachary Fieldsend & LaRissa Vialard, Loic Freeman-Lavoie & Kaitlyn Crossley.
Cameron McGee & Mariah Van Kessel and Daniel Lloyd & Megan Thorpe

Hats off to Westwood Senior’s Class of 2010!

According the to the United States Naval Academy's website,

this time honored tradition of throwing graduation caps in the

air began with their military class of 1912, with the cadets celebrating

their graduation from the Academy by throwing their hats into the

air one memorable June day.

Hats off to Westwood Senior’s Class of 2010!

Convocation was held for this year’s graduating class of Westwood Senior on Tuesday, May 31 at John Abbott College. This year’s Valedictorian, Jon Goddard was welcomed to the stage with such loud enthusiasm that his popularity became immediately obvious to all. His speech focused on the importance of using humor to get us through tough times. This practice also helped Jon keep his address interesting and enjoyable. With great pride, he pointed out the fact that these students had survived the first year of The New Reform and that they had initiated the Bridge to Burundi Project, already a remarkable achievement credited with the construction of two grade 1 classrooms there!

The senior band played O Canada as their final recital together which was performed superbly even through all the nervous emotion of the evening.

What now?

Many students headed out to celebrate as a grad parent was brave and generous enough to accommodate them. There was a sense of relief in the midst of all of the stressful planning that surrounds these students “capping off” one phase of theirs lives and making important decisions about the next. To them, the traditional Prom event has become a little less like the ones of the past. Organizing something following the supervised Ball, has now become a challenge considering they must come up with realistic plans that would allow them the thrill without the risk of breaking the law. This is that age where they are too young to go to bars, but still need to socialize, dance and in many cases, perform music themselves. Having that “stepping stone” of a Junior High Campus was great, but what is supposed to be that step in their social lives? One student commented, “Why should we have to go all the way into a sketchy part of Montreal to hear a local band play?” Society is open to read of their accomplishments but prefers for them not to be seen or heard from while they are relaxing and just being young! How will they get any solutions or compromises?

Valedictorian, Jon Goddard