Students from across Montreal took to the stage for EMSB’s annual storytelling festival

Montreal elementary students took to the stage Tuesday morning at Willingdon Senior Campus for the second half of the English Montreal School Board’s storytelling festival, presenting their stories in front of a live audience.

“I felt really nervous,” said Miles Meekins, grade six student at Willingdon Senior Campus. “But when I just got on the stage, I felt so ready to do this.”

“My parents left me to babysit my sister and it didn’t go well,” added Meekins.

That’s what his story was about, a true one, mixed with a bit of imagination.

The first half of the storytelling event took place on April 7 at Gerald MacShane.

Two students from each participating school were selected by their peers, one telling a story in English and the other in French.

“It was a little nerve-wracking, but I pushed through and let my creativity flow,” said Meekins.

“In grades five and six, the EMSB schools are invited, it’s not compulsory, but invited to go through the storytelling process,” said Julie Tytler, English Language Arts Consultant at the EMSB. “And that process is a 5-P process.”

That includes: ‘Play’ with stories, ‘Pitch’ some favourites, ‘Pick’ which stories they will tell, ‘Practice’, and then ‘Perform’.

And perform they did, as laughs and smiles filled the room.

As for anyone afraid of public speaking, the students had some advice.

“I feel like I tell them that they’re always braver than they seem and smarter than they think,” said Letizia Galve, a student from Merton Elementary.

“If you’re ever afraid, don’t forget you have your parents and people supporting you,” said Maryam Elberier, grade five student at Dunrae Gardens. “You can always be yourself, be yourself in front of everyone.”

“Anyone can do anything,” added Meekins. “Just be yourself.”