"Each young person needs daily encouragement"

Hooked on School Days set to take place February 13 to 17, 2012

MONTREAL, Feb. 8, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Montreal Hooked on School is proud to launch the second edition of Montreal Hooked on School Days (HSD), a reminder of the importance of school perseverance and success among young people. From February 13 to 17, 2012, more than 1000 activities, planned by various local and regional stakeholders from the educational, institutional, community, business and media fields, are intended to highlight both large and small gestures that can have a positive effect on the school perseverance and success of young people.

In Montreal, nearly one in four students drops out of school without getting a diploma. The reasons for quitting school are many, and there is no unique drop out profile. It's a complex phenomenon and we must be increasingly vigilant to prevent young people from dropping out and contribute to their academic success. Each young person needs daily encouragement and we have to make it everyone's business to provide it. The campaign entitled "School Perseverance: Get on Board!" is aimed at encouraging the Montreal community to get involved in the academic success of young people.

"School perseverance is everyone's business, not just that of parents or teachers. We often underestimate the power that a simple word of encouragement can have on a child," says Catherine Jasmin, a continuing education student and mother. As an ambassador of HSD, Catherine will take part in the different activities throughout the week and produce short video reports that will be broadcast on social networks. Through this initiative, Montreal Hooked on School hopes to highlight new approaches that have been adopted to encourage school perseverance and success and be a source of inspiration. The media will be regularly informed of the activities in which Catherine will be taking part along with regular updates to the Hooked on School Facebook page.

In addition to promoting these activities, Montreal Hooked on School will reveal, during the HSD launch, a Wall of encouragements which is easy-to-use and accessible to all. The public is also invited to show its support to youth by replacing their current social media profile picture with a green-and-white school perseverance ribbon, available on the Montreal Hooked on School Facebook page. During the week, young people who have made the decision to persevere every day will also be handing out ribbons inside several metro stations.

The HSD launch event will take place at the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT) on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 10 a.m. The 200 expected attendees will have the opportunity to watch a video broadcast by Line Beauchamp, Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports. Gilles Petitclerc, President of Montreal Hooked on School, and Secretary General of the Commission scolaire de Montréal, and Catherine Jasmin will also be sharing words of encouragement. This interactive event will also be an opportunity to attend a play by Mise en jeu, write encouragements to young people and watch a video on perseverance and success at school. After the event, Gilles Petitclerc and Catherine Jasmin will be available for interviews.

Montreal Hooked on School would like to give special thanks to its associate partner, La Presse, and its main partner, The Gazette, for their contributions to the success of Hooked on School Days.

About Montreal Hooked on School
Montreal Hooked on School is a regional organization comprising 30 partners from all walks of life who want to contribute to the school perseverance and success of young people. Its mission is to mobilize all partners on the island of Montreal and become a focal point for initiatives that have a positive impact on young people, parents, and other concerned parties, with the objective of increasing school persistence and success, and getting young people to reconnect with school.

Hooked on School Days (HSD) happens at a crucial time in the school year where all of Quebec mobilizes for educational success. From February 13 to 17, 2012, thousands of activities will be organized throughout Quebec and more than 250,000 ribbons will be distributed. To find out about the activities taking place in each region visit www.perseverancescolaire.com/en/ or follow the Facebook or Twitter pages of Instances régionales de concertation sur la persévérance et la réussite éducative du Québec.

To find out more about the activities happening in Montreal, visit www.jembarque.ca/en/.

Marie-Pierre Longpré
Account Executive
Edelman
514-315-1972 or [email protected]