PARENTS RALLEY TO HELP SCHOOL WITH A 60,000-TICKET LOTTERY TO WIN A SUBARU OR
CASH EQUIVALENT

AT $5 A TICKET, THE SCHOOL AIMS TO RAISE $300,000

MONTREAL, Dec. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - This holiday season, parents, teachers and friends of the NDG Waldorf school École Rudolf Steiner de Montreal (ERSM) are banking on Montrealers' love of lotteries to make a difference for their school come 2011. Launching a limited 60,000-ticket draw for a Suburu Outback PZEV car or its value in cash, the $5 per-ticket sweepstake gets underway at the school's Christmas Festival this Saturday, December 4^th. Tickets will remain on sale at the school until January 21^st, at 5:00pm when Peter McQueen, Municipal Councilor for NDG will draw the winning ticket.

The draw is the first of several bold, new initiatives that parents of the 100-children school are doing to help the school. Since taking root in NDG, ERSM, the only private, French Waldorf school in North America has faced several financial set backs. Having purchased a landmark property (Fraser-Hickson Library) after years of a forced, nomadic life, the school risked everything in order to establish a permanent home for itself. Surrounded by plush gardens, a recreational space and bathed in natural sun light, the edifice was ideal for the avant-garde, eco-conscious school. "Unfortunately, transforming an old library into a functional school is a costly commitment," says Francine Laterreur, Administrator. "We thought we had a good plan, until tough economic times hit and leasing partners never materialized."

On a mission to help this unique alternative school reach its full potential, parents are taking over the plight to aggressively raise funds. The first goal of the parent-driven lottery is to raise $300,000 to help the school pay for much-needed building renovations as well as to establish a special fund to make Waldorf education accessible to more families. This year, the schools enrollment increased to its highest level in ten years! It attributes this first, to having had a stable home base, as well as being newly discovered by urban, earth-conscious parents who are searching for an education that is based on the natural development of the child.

Many are making a mindful decision to move away from performance-driven education to age-appropriate learning, and from hyper-consumerism to conscious living. And they're finding the education available here at Waldorf a perfect alternative. As one parent testifies, "The first time I walked into École Rudolf Steiner de Montréal, I felt at home.  It is an amazing environment for both the children and parents. My son is currently in le Jardin des Enfants and we are all very happy to be part of the school's community. Now, my son even wishes he had school on the weekends!"

Having the freedom to choose the educational approach that fits one's child is an innate freedom, and yet it is increasingly offered from a smaller pool of schools. Many parents assume they choose the education of their kids. Little do they realize that although the school's character and edifice might differ, what they teach and how they teach is highly standardized in a province that stipulates one curriculum.

To be different takes courage and enormous community support. École Rudolf Steiner de Montréal is hoping Montrealers will support their cause by participating in their new lottery, while the school is proud to be able give something in return; after all, there's nothing like celebrating the New Year with a new car or $35,950 in cash!

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Tickets on sale in person AT:

École Rudolf Steiner de Montréal
4855 Kensington Avenue (corner Somerled) N.D.G.
Tel: [phone]
www.ersm.org

For further information:

And/or an interview, please contact:
Giselle Argentin
GA & Associates
514/933-2736
[email protected]