An "au revoir" message from Mme Lorenz:

Dear Parents and Students,

Music matters. It gives us joy, helps us work through our sadnesses, comforts us, gets us moving, and feeds our spirit. It has been my honour to teach music to Quarterway students for 18 years. Now it is time for me to bid you all "adieu".

I am driving my station wagon into the sunset of retirement. I have been blessed to teach thousands of students in the course of my career, from Yellowknife to Kyoto, Scarborough to Uganda, Kobe to Nanaimo. Most of the time, I've been a music teacher, which has been my passion. I've also taught strings, beginner band, ESL, FSL, Grade 6 French Immersion, grade 4, high school English Lit, high school French, and been a "sub". I've worked very hard and hope that the things I have done well outnumber the things I have done poorly. If I spoke words which hurt you, please forgive me. I am human and imperfect.

It is my hope that I have inspired my students at Quarterway to make music a part of their lives. I hope they have a better understanding and appreciation of good music, whatever the genre. I hope they understand that music binds humanity together and we are not that different, one for another. And I hope that my "kids" will always turn to music and the Arts when their spirits need healing and expression.

I am inspired by the human decency of my students. This year's grade 7's turned their loss, a cancelled 3 day overnight trip to Camp Quanoes, into gold. They donated the $2700 needed, to purchase a brick oven/stove for Hope for Youth Elementary School in Uganda. Now these Ugandan students will be able to have one hot meal a day, and those students not continuing to high school, will receive training as cooks and bakers. Un grand merci aux septièmes. Your generosity touches me deeply.

I plan on dusting off my cello and finally having time to make music with my husband and friends. I'll be working in my garden, cleaning out clutter in my house, on my computer and in my head. Travelling will have to be limited to travelling virtually via books and skype until COVID time is no longer. You can be sure, once it is safe, I'll be booking plane tickets to distant places.

I send an Irish blessing to all of you. Until we meet again.

Au revoir,

Mme Lorenz (aka Elizabeth Lorenz)