On Tuesday, June 23, 2009, students from Father Frederick McGinn visited the York Central Hospital.
Ms. Fernandes' grade 4 class performed four outstanding dances for the patients in the atrium of the hospital
after spending some time and talking with them on the 5th floor. Parents from the community were also invited to celebrate this memorable
occasion with the students and we all shared our stories over lunch.
While performing to (1)The Arms of the Angel by Sarah McLaughlin (2) Apologize by One Republic
(3) Say It Right by Nelly Furtado (4) Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Rae Cyrus, the patients and parents at the hospital
came together as a community to embrace the joy that the students shared with them through their unique movements.
(A few of these dances were performed at the Aeropop dance competition with Ms. Fernandes' Fours and won first place last year).
Shells were also given out to the palliative care patients by the grade 4 students during a presentation entitled
"Building Community Through Love". The students used the shells as a symbol of how we are all fragile, delicate,
easily broken and how we need to handle each other with care and respect. They noticed that the shell,
once very tiny, was built up one layer at a time. The children in the community, similarly must be taken in as they are and
we must help them mature by giving them experiences that are meaningful to them so we can watch their layers build.
One of Ms. Fernandes' students (Augusta Campoli) was given the opportunity to sing two songs that are found on
the CD she made (of which 100% of the proceeds are donated to Princess Margaret Hospital for Cancer Research).
Her professional CD was dedicated to her grandfather who had passed away from cancer at York Central Hospital in 2002,
so her family and the surrounding community was very touched by the performances on Tuesday. Listening to her breath-taking
voice left her teacher, her classmates and the patients and parents who watched in tears.
In an effort to raise funds and awareness for cancer research, YCDSB's very own new school, Fr.Frederick McGinn, was represented by Ms. Fernandes' grade 4 class who volunteered months of time and energy to deliver several performances that will not be forgotten by the students, their families in the community, and the patients at the hospital.