FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Centennial SS to receive $10,000 for music instruments
16 November 2005, Belleville, Ontario—Centennial Secondary School is a 2005-2006 recipient of a Band Aid grant. The Band Aid program is an initiative of MusiCan, The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ (CARAS) Music Education Program. Recipient schools are selected on the basis of need and other criteria, whereby the school is identified as having a music program that requires funding to ensure sustained growth.

2005 JUNO Award winner Sarah Harmer, on behalf of The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, will present a $10,000 Band Aid instrument grant from Universal Music Canada to music students of Centennial Secondary School on Thursday, November 17 at 10:45 a.m.

“This funding will have a dramatic impact on our program,” explains David Reed, Music Teacher. “Many of our students are playing the same old instruments that their parents played 30 years ago when they were students at Centennial. Now our students will have pride in the new instruments and with that pride comes a renewed sense of excitement and joy.”

As part of the presentation, the music students will showcase their talents on the new instruments purchased with the grant funding. The presentation will also feature an acoustic performance of “Loadstar” by Sarah Harmer and the Centennial Choir and Woodwinds.

Media representatives are invited to a photo opportunity
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 2005

TIME: 10:45 a.m.

LOCATION: Centennial Secondary School, Auditorium, 160 Palmer Road, Belleville

The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board has 46 elementary and eight secondary schools serving 18,400 students, employing 1,070 teachers and 705 support staff. The Board covers a wide geographical area of 7,221 square kilometres bordered by Maynooth to the north, Deseronto to the east, Prince Edward County to the south, and Quinte West to the west.

For more information, contact:
• Kerry Donnell, Communications Officer, (613) 966-1170 or 1 800 267-4350, extension 2354