St-Clement Appreciates Its Teachers

During this week’s Semaine de l’enseignement, the École Saint-Clément showed its appreciation to its 55 hard-working teachers with several activities.

“We’re trying to enhance the image of the teaching profession and make them feel valued because they have very demanding work and have had to adapt to many reforms during the past few years,” said principal Gétane Marquis.

At the start of the week on Monday, she asked the 885 students over the intercom to make some special gestures to their respective teachers. Everyday parents would offer cake and other baked goodies to the teachers.

The administration also received the support of many local businesses with various gifts and gift-certificates for a daily draw. They included restaurants Del Verde, Pizzaiolle, La Cage aux Sports, Dupond & Dupont, the Rockland shopping centre, Fleurs McKenna, and the Clinique de massothérapie, among others. About half of the teachers would receive these prizes.

“If their teacher won a prize, the students would all let out a big cheer that I could often hear all the way in my office,” Marquis remarked. Everyone whom they solicited helped them as much as possible, she added.

On Tuesday, officials and support staff took over supervisory duties of the children to give the teachers a bit of a break. This morning, the teachers were given a special breakfast and there were also “petites surprises” all during the week.

In one Grade 2 classroom, the students paid compliments to their teacher Annie Lafond who’s in her first complete year. They described her as being “very kind,” well-organized,” “dynamic,” as well as someone who gives clear homework assignments, “just” punishments, and special “permissions.”

At last month’s “Public Education Week” activity held at École Saint-Clément, Marquis recalled that many speakers referred to teachers who inspired the course that they took and helped them make a difference in our society. They included TMR Mayor Vera Danyluk, journalist Julie Miville-Deschenes, nutritionist Hélène Laurendeau, and comedian and TV host André Robitaille.

As a teacher herself for 24 years, Mme Marquis said that teaching is rewarding work because they get to see their students overcome difficulties and achieve successes, but feels that the profession is still under-appreciated. “Teaching is an affair of the heart and a story of passion and faith.”