Students’ video tribute bids farewell to principal
Teacher works with W.C. Kennedy teens to create musical message for educator
Who says Windsor high schoolers don’t care about their principal?
W. C. Kennedy Collegiate Institute’s Josh Canty must have been feeling the love when his students presented him with a video tribute to say goodbye and wish him good luck.
“He’s been here for two years, but he’s made a big impact on our school,” said Megan Simon, who teaches media arts at Kennedy.
“He’s brought us together, and we’ve had a whole bunch of cool school accomplishments.”
Canty is moving on to a superintendent position with the Greater Essex County District School Board this fall. He was previously principal at W. F. Herman Secondary School before coming aboard at W. C. Kennedy in 2017.
The video tribute was organized by Simon, who enlisted students and staff to dance, lip sync, and act out skits to clips of various famous songs.
Simon said the songs were chosen because of the appropriateness of their lyrics. They included: Hit the Road Jack, Movin’ On Up and Takin’ Care of Business.
But the concept had its challenges: Many of the students were unfamiliar with tunes that Simon thought would be instantly recognizable classics.
“The Beach Boys. I Get Around. ... No kid knew that one. They had never heard of it,” Simon said.
Nevertheless, a squad of Kennedy teens gamely danced and mugged along with the 1964 track, with a green screen background.
“I had to teach them the words,” Simon said.
Another challenge was ensuring Canty was kept in the dark about the tribute — no small feat considering some of the scenes were shot in his office.
“I had a secretary email me and text me when he was leaving, so we could sneak in and get it done before he came back,” Simon said.
Simon even arranged for Canty to participate in the project — without his knowledge of what it was about.
The outgoing principal makes a split-second appearance to act mad and point at the camera.
“He didn’t know what it was for,” Simon explained.
“He’s done lots of things for our projects. He’ll do pretty much anything he can for the kids. I told him I was doing a grad video, and — of course — he said, no problem.”
The video was shown to Canty on June 18 at the last assembly of the school year.
“He was very touched. I think he left a little bit teary-eyed,” Simon said.
He’s been here for two years, but he’s made a big impact on our school. He’s brought us together