Student Services

At Villa Maria, students can easily find the help they need. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., our student services counter allows students to find answers to their questions and requests in a single location. Here, our staff welcomes them, answers their questions and, if need be, refers them to the right people.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

SARAN BERTHÉ
Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Directors – 1^st cycle
berthes@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, extension 3233

JACINTHE LAPORTE
Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Directors – 2^nd cycle
laportej@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, extension 3239

Along with the Director of Educational Services, the Assistant Directors ensure the quality of all activities related to academic programs, teaching approaches and evaluations. They follow-up on students’ academic and disciplinary records, collaborating with teachers, parents and other members of the administrative team to help all students live up to their full potential during their time at Villa Maria. Within a co-ed environment and in collaboration with the faculty, the Assistant Directors foster a safe, progressive and stimulating environment geared towards the development of the student as a whole. Working directly with the students, they help strengthen their sense of belonging and pride in the school.

In short, the Assistant Directors:

• monitor the students’ academic progress and develop school success plans ensuring that each student flourishes
• follow up on any challenges faced by students
• collaborate with the school team and parents to monitor the intervention plans of students with academic/behavioural difficulties
• act as a liaison between the staff, students, parents and parent associations

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

REBECCA PEARCE
Assistant Director – Educational Services, Secondary 1 and 2
pearcer@villamaria.qc.ca
(514) 484-4950, extension 3233

KRISTIAN PETRAKOS
Assistant Director – Educational Services, Secondary 3
petrakosk@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, extension 3239

JENNIFER FURTADO
Assistant Director – Educational Services, Secondary 4
furtadoj@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, extension 3239

NIKOLAÏ LAFRAMBOISE
Assistant Director – Educational Services, Secondary 5
laframboisen@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, extension 3239

Remedial education services are provided by specialized educators who help evaluate and work with students experiencing problems with reading, writing, mathematics or learning disabilities.

At Villa Maria, this specialist:

• Develops intervention plans adapted to students’ individual needs
• Supports and advises teachers in their interventions with students experiencing learning difficulties
• Identifies and evaluates learning disabilities and disorders in the areas of spoken and written language as well as logico-mathematical reasoning
• Teaches students, in groups or individually, to develop reading, writing and mathematical reasoning strategies
• Works with the family environment, involving parents and providing the required educational support
• Maintains detailed files on each student’s progress
• Can, in certain cases, refer a student to other specialists
• Works in partnership with the educational community

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

MAUDE MESSIER-BOISVERT 
Learning specialist
messierm@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, extension 6011

Special education technicians work in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team to support individual or groups of students likely to experience behavioural, social or learning difficulties.

Their work involves:

• Developing, organizing and leading educational or pedagogical support activities as well as cultural, recreational and sports activities designed to develop social, cognitive, psychomotor, communication, and other skills.
• Applying specialized educational techniques and methods within the framework of an intervention plan, or program designed for students requiring special support.
• Supporting students in their learning; helping students organize themselves and develop study plans.
• Meeting with students under their responsibility, as well as the parents and teaching staff, to advise and inform them, providing relevant documentation and references.
• Maintaining a supportive relationship with students in order to help diffuse crisis situations, encourage a return to calm and if need be, suggest solutions for modifying behaviour.

MARIE-CLAUDE ARDOUIN
Special Education Technician, Secondary 1 and 2
ardouinm@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950 extension

FLORENCE HAMEL-COROA
Special Education Technician, Secondary 3 and 5
hamel-coroaf@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950 extension 6019

RENÉ ANDRÉ SAINT-FLEUR
Special Education Technician, Secondary 4
saint-fleurra@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950 extension 1647

Guidance Counselling services at Villa Maria primarily target the following areas:

ACADEMICS
Help students achieve their full potential by motivating them and helping them cope with exam anxiety.

EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE
In order to help students set realistic career goals, the Guidance Counsellor supports and encourages students to explore and take advantage of a wide range of resources available to help them with their career choice, including community resources, college and university open houses, and online career guidance programs. He provides students with up-to-date information on college and university programs, and helps them complete application forms related to their further education.

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 
The Guidance Counsellor helps students develop a positive self-image and appropriate social skills and, when appropriate, provides short-term counselling and referral to outside professional assistance. The Guidance Counsellor organizes a number of activities to motivate students in their personal and academic development including:

• College and university information evening
• Presentations by professionals in various fields
• Conferences and symposiums
• And more.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

IRINA PATRATANU
Guidance Counsellor, Secondary 1, 2 and 3
patratanui@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, extension 1659

STEVE LAROSE
Guidance Counsellor, Secondary 4 and 5
laroses@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, extension 3224

Villa Maria’s Heath and Prevention Program was created with an eye to helping students make informed and constructive choices with regards to their own behaviours. It seeks to empower students to make the right decisions based on their knowledge of self and the values they hold dear. The program also teaches students to enhance their interpersonal stills and communicate more effectively. Over the years, we have developed partnerships with various competent organizations and institutions, in order to offer students training activities and workshops on a range of current issues:

ADDICTION PREVENTION
For students from Secondary 1 to 5
In partnership with the Maison Jean-Lapointe and the Cumulus organization

BALANCED USE OF SCREEN TIME
For Secondary 2 students
In partnership with the Maison Jean-Lapointe

SEX EDUCATION (QUÉBEC MINISTRY OF EDUCATION PROGRAM)
For students from Secondary 1 to 5

BABYSITTING COURSE
For students 11 to 15 years of age
In partnership with the Canadian Red Cross

FIRST AID
For Secondary 3 students
In partnership with the Protect Enfant organization

WORKSHOPS ON TRAVELLING BY PUBLIC TRANSIT
For Secondary 1 students
In partnership with the Société de transport de Montréal

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
For students in Secondary 1 to 5
Mental Health Awareness Week in April, organized by our special education technicians

CAREER LUNCHES
For all students
In partnerships with various experienced professionals from the working world

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERING ACTIVITIES
For students from Secondary 1 to 5 (accounts for 10% of the mark for the Ethics and Religious Culture course)
In partnership with various community organizations in the Montréal area

As an institution using two education modules, we have the resources required to ensure that our students, parents, faculty and staff have the support needed to carry out our vision of Education 3.0. To this end, our Coordinator of Information and Communication Technologies, ensures the smooth integration of changes required by the new educational landscape. At the school, he works with our teachers, employees and students and is involved in all aspects of the implementation of technology, from planning to delivery. He is often spotted in the school or the Robotics Club, helping students with day-to-day questions about the iPad or the use of technological tools at their disposal. He can be found in the halls, discussing innovative pedagogical practices with the teaching staff or in his office, developing and preparing professional development workshops. Parents can contact him directly at any time for any technology-related questions or to discuss the school’s courses or digital citizenship.

CURRENT FILES

• Pedagogical Innovation and Technology Integration
• Classroom Development
• Professional Faculty Development
• Coding, Robotics and FabLab
• 1:1 iPad Program
• Education 3.0

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

services@villamaria.qc.ca

The activities offered at Villa Maria allow students to develop a feeling of belonging to their school. By choosing to participate in a sport, social or cultural activity, students not only create a network of friends sharing the same interests, but acquire the physical, intellectual and relationship skills essential for building their self confidence. Our dedicated team selects a variety of appealing activities. Our activity and student life animators and our sports technician are available to help students with their choices and coordinate extracurricular activities and events. They help make student life at Villa Maria an enriching and positive experience.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

STUDENT LIFE AND ACTIVITIES ANIMATORS

CASSANDRA MARSILLO
Student Life and Activities Animator, English and French
marsilloc@villamaria.qc.ca
514-484-4950, extension 3250

OLYVIA FAILLE
Recreation Technician, English and French
failleo@villamaria.qc.ca
514-484-4950, extension 3250

JOAN OF ARC EDOUARD WILLIAM 
Recreation Technician, English and French
williamsj@villamaria.qc.ca
514-484-4950

SPORTS

JACQUES LAURENT
Sports Technician, English and French
laurentj@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, extension 1616

Our laboratory technicians help students and teaching staff with the preparation, presentation, supervision and evaluation of hands-on lab work. They ensure that students comply with safety rules when carrying out practical work, make proper use of materials, and apply appropriate techniques.

SYLVAIN ROY
Technician in Practical Work
roys@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, ext. 3231

DJENANN SAINT-DIC
Technician in Practical Work
saint-dicd@villamaria.qc.ca
514 484-4950, ext. 3231

Every Tuesday and Thursday, from 3:10 to 4:10 p.m., all students wishing help with their homework are welcome to seek Homework Assistance, a free service that does not require registration. Each day, teachers of various subjects will be available in the study room to answer students’ questions to the best of their ability.

Please note that this is not a one-on-one tutoring service, but assistance with specific questions related to homework assignments. At the beginning of each week, a list of teachers available that week along with their specialty will be published in the Daily Announcements allowing your child to choose the right time to seek homework help.

At Villa Maria, student safety is our priority. That is why we have 12 student supervisors who actively monitor the school. They ensure the rules are followed and that all our students are safe. They walk the hallways, give warnings, praise good behaviour and work in collaboration with special education technicians and the school administration. From 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., students have adults that they can refer to and always rely on them.

During school hours, supervisors walk the hallways and are available to assist students as needed. They are also present throughout the day in the locker room to lock open locks, to assist students who have lost their lock combination or other items, and to direct more fragile students to appropriate resources. They deal with lateness, absences and provide first aid when necessary.

At lunch time, they are present in the cafeteria, the Chapel, the games room, the lockers, in the school hallways, and outside on campus.

At the end of classes, they are present in the locker room to ensure the safety of all students. They also handle detention and supervise the gym lobby with students who need to stay in school until 5:00 p.m.