Nothing says summer like firing up the grill, but Lakeside Academy’s first annual community barbecue was about way more than cooking burgers.
It’s been a dramatic year for the last English high school in the Lachine-Dorval territory—that was supposed to close permanently this June—and they wanted to give back to the community for the support they’ve received the last six months.
“We’re just excited to do something fun,” said the school’s principal, Kathleen O’Reilly. “That’s what today is all about.”
Over a hundred staff, parents and students came out to have a bite, listen to the Lakeside Jazz Band (made up of students and teachers) and dunk innocent victims—like the chair of the Lester B Pearson School Board (LBPSB), Suanne Stein Day—in a water tank while temperatures reached a sizzling 26 degrees.
Organised by the Lakeside Home and School association, the barbecue got support from the Lachine borough who donated tents and chairs. Burgers, hot dogs and raffle tickets were up for grabs, and all proceeds from the event will go right back into the school.
Still Standing
After being slated for closure at the end of this academic year, parents and teachers rallied for a second chance to prove that Lakeside Academy should remain open. They got their wish, and the LBPSB will vote on the school’s fate for a second time next year.
In the meantime, the community has only gotten closer. “We were already a family, but now we’re even stronger,” said Jennifer Park, a Lakeside parent who helped spearhead the #SaveLakeside movement in December.
Park has been especially impressed by the parental support. “Parents aren’t always as implemented in high school level as in elementary,” she explained. But at Lakeside they came out in droves to support their children’s education.
With a rocky year behind them, school enrolment is on track. Lakeside is graduating as many students as they are taking in, and the final enrolment numbers for next year will be available September 30. “We have a lot of ideas and a lot of plans,” said O’Reilly. For now, the school is working on new projects and will write their next five-year success plan this August.
The next Lakeside Academy open house will take place Oct. 5.