October 22, Ottawa, ON — On Monday, October 25 at noon, Russell Kelley, Head of Music for the Canada Council of the Arts will be at Berrigan Elementary School to present the school community with a cheque for $2,500. The Music Monday Grant is being awarded to Berrigan Elementary School for its participation in Music Monday last spring.

Music Monday is a yearly event that brings together thousands of students, musicians, parents, and community members from across the country to rejoice in the gift of music in their lives on the same day at the same time!

In May, Berrigan Elementary School students sang in a mass choir with more than 800 students performing the Music Monday 2010 theme song. Berrigan is one of just ten schools all across Canada to receive this grant. Esther Stumpf and co-director of Berrigan’s junior choir says, "The grant money will be used to enhance the quality of the music program at the school by providing, musical instruments, rhythm instruments, instructional guides etc. that will help teachers embed music into their classroom curriculum."

School Vice-principal Cheryl Sevigny says, "Music Monday is an opportunity for students, teachers, and their communities to show their love of music in their schools and in their lives. She added that some teachers do not have musical training and by having support through resources and materials it increases their comfort level and enables them to address this very important area."

Ms. Stumpf believes that Music Monday reminds everyone that the arts matter. She said, "Some students learn best through the arts therefore it is critical that music be a part of every classroom."

The Coalition for Music Education in Canada launched Music Monday in 2005. Next year’s event will be held on Monday May 2, 2011.

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Should you have any questions about the Music Monday Grant please contact Esther Stumpf or Vice-principal Cheryl Sevigny at 613-825-0092 or Sharlene Hunter, OCDSB Communications and Information Services at 596-8264.