May 21st! and more about École Saint Albert Le Grand

May 21st is rapidly approaching, and we're REALLY excited about the fundraiser that is coming together! Before we get into those details, we wanted to share a bit more information about École Saint Albert Le Grand.

Number of students: 212

Number of staff: 1 principal, 3 teachers

Class size: on average 70 students per room (2 classes of 35 students with 1 teacher), about 19 boys and 16 girls per class

Source of school funding: 100% comes from school fees (no government support), 11,000 FCFA (~$23) per student per year

Now for May 21st...we're really excited! The Gladstone Hotel is generously allowing us to hold two events on May 21st.

Afternoon Family Fun - 3pm to 5pm

The afternoon features some of Toronto’s favourite children’s performers. Included are:

• SOLI & ROB with ALISTAIR ANT!, voted Toronto’s #1 Children’s Entertainers in City Parent Magazine’s 2008 Readers’ Choice Awards
• MARNI’S MOVE-N-MUSIC, integrated music, movement & yoga workshops for kids
• Story and music time with the energetic and engaging NJACKO BACKO

Everyone attending this portion of the event will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase Njacko’s first published storybook (illustrated by Bruce Parsons) entitled “Baki and the Magic Egg / Baki et l’oeuf magique” before it is formally released this summer. A portion of the proceeds will go directly to this project.

Evening of Music and Celebration - 8pm doors, show starts at 8:30pm sharp!

We have a line-up of wonderful artists who have generously contributed their time for this cause.

• The interlocking rhythms, magical melodies and infectious joie de vivre of NJACKO BACKO & KALIMBA KALIMBA (Anne Lederman, Bwana Moto, Celina Carroll, Chip Yarwood, Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo, Roberto Riveron)
• Canadian roots music legend KEN WHITELEY,
• HANNAH BURGÉ & PACO LUVIANO, dynamic and captivating jazz duo
• up and coming opera star SAHARA SLOAN with “Men Without Hat’s” founding member and classical composer COLIN DOROSCHUK
• 2011 Harry Jerome Award winner in entertainment MUHTADI and his group THE WORLD DRUMMERS
• the rhythmic melodies of THE MARNI LEVITT COLLECTIVE (with Terri Segal and Valery Woloshyn)

Finally, here is a slideshow that Peguy has compiled showing photos from the projects in 2010. Enjoy!