July 2007 - Sudbury Catholic District School Board

SCDSB Celebrates Technology

Posted on July 9, 2007August 23, 2018 by admin

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board celebrated its first technology session by dedicating an entire evening to showcasing the authentic works of the Board’s Grade 7 and 8 students with respect to its brand new “1 to 1 learning with laptops program” at
St. Charles College recently. Students, parents, teachers, and staff along with SCDSB Trustees and Senior Administration were treated to a host of high tech presentations in the form of movies, podcasts, interpretations of creative poetry, and historical events.

Lisa Samuels, Curriculum Coordinator for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Laptop program stated in her opening remarks to the audience that even though the Sudbury Catholic District School Board was the first and only board in Ontario to take on such an innovative project and faced numerous challenges, the students responded quite admirably and succeeded beyond the Board’s expectations. “When we started this journey in September, I don’t think any of us knew where this path would take us,” stated Samuels. “We had no road map as no other board in Ontario has implemented a 1 to 1 laptop program system wide. Like the voyageurs who explored what was to become Canada, we set out into unfamiliar territory to learn how to effectively use the technology. Our goals were simple: increase student engagement, increase student achievement, provide every student with access to digital resources, and provide our students with learning experiences that are inquiry based in nature and foster what are called 21st century skills.”

The Board’s laptop program provided its students with an opportunity to explore the Ontario curriculum differently by allowing them to become critical thinkers and problem solvers. The project also afforded the students a great deal of flexibility in demonstrating their creative and innovative talents while working collaboratively as team. To assist and support the project, the Board sought the services and expertise of Apple Canada and its access to skilled educators who have been working with the laptop program for more than 15 years.

The evening showcased the authentic work from 5 schools, 8 teachers, and 200 students who were engaged with the Board’s laptop program over the last year which included, multimedia poetry interpretations, mini documentaries on the opening of the west, a video diary of a science experiment, and public service announcements about the choices facing teenagers today.

Sudbury Catholic District School Board Chair, Paula Peroni is quite proud of the efforts of her students and the initial results of Board’s laptop program. “Laptops have become a tool to learn with and not solely a tool to learn from,” states Peroni. “Over the last several years the Board has committed itself to the expansion of the wireless laptop program into our Grade 7 and 8 curriculum. In June 2006, our Board purchased eleven hundred wireless laptop computers for every grade 7 and 8 student in our system. The wireless laptop program has had a dramatic impact on student learning and student achievement. This evening has been dedicated to showcasing the creative talents of the Board’s students as they embrace the technology they will be using in their upcoming careers.”

SCDSB Teacher Receives Best Practice Award

Posted on July 9, 2007August 23, 2018 by admin

Rosanna Battigelli, a teacher at St. James Catholic School in Lively, has been awarded a Best Practice Award from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) for an essay she wrote highlighting her teaching experiences dealing with loss, grief and healing, and the support systems she developed within the classroom and school setting. She also received a Best Practice Award in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

Rosanna’s writing has been published in a number of Canadian anthologies. In August 2006, she was awarded an Ontario Arts Council “Writer’s Works in Progress” Grant for her second novel. Out of 116 applicants, 14 writers were each awarded $12,000.

Rosanna plans to spend her summer relaxing, reading, researching and writing.

SCDSB Appoints New Director of Education

Posted on July 4, 2007August 23, 2018 by admin

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Catherine McCullough as its new Director of Education. Previous to her appointment as Director with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Mrs. McCullough was the Superintendent of Education for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.

Catherine McCullough obtained her Catholic Leadership Certificate from the University of Toronto (2004), and her Supervisory Officer Certificate (1998), she also holds a Masters of Education in Curriculum Development from Brock University (1995). Mrs. McCullough began her career in Catholic education 25 years ago with the Dufferin Peel Roman Catholic Separate School Board. Building on a lifelong commitment to faith-filled learning, she served with the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District Board for the past 17 years. She is an active member of many education related groups including the Board of Directors and Provincial Representative for the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers’ Association (OCSOA), the Institute for Educational Leadership for OCSOA, the Canadian Association of School Administrators, the Children’s Coalition Table, Community Partners with Schools (COMPASS), the Canadian Safe Schools Network, Women in Education in Ontario and is a member of the Advisory Group for Lakehead University, Orillia Campus. In these various capacities, Mrs. McCullough’s focus has always been on advancing student learning and on promoting Catholic education.

“I am honoured to assume the role of Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board,” stated Mrs. McCullough upon accepting her new position. “I am looking forward to continuing the excellent standard set by the Board’s Senior Administrative Team and the Board of Trustees.”

“It is with a great deal of pleasure that the Board announces Mrs. McCullough as our new Director of Education,” stated Sudbury Catholic District School Board Chair, Paula Peroni. “She is well suited for the position given her previous experience as a teacher, consultant, vice-principal, principal and Superintendent. Catherine McCullough is a highly experienced and passionate advocate for Catholic education and will be a credit to our board.”

Mrs. McCullough and her husband Mike have two children who are enroled in university. She officially assumes her position as Director of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board effective, August 1, 2007.

SCDSB Proud Partner in “Books for Ethiopia” Campaign

Posted on July 4, 2007August 23, 2018 by admin

Some 20,000 educational books no longer being used in area schools are being shipped to Ethiopia this summer thanks to the generous support of local donors.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board in partnership with the Rainbow District School Board and numerous individuals in the Sudbury Community have donated excellent used educational materials for the Books for Reading program. The books are being sent to a brand-new school of 250 children in Ethiopia with very few resources. Thanks to the generosity of the two English school boards and through the support of local Sudbury businesses and volunteers these badly needed books will be in the hands of the students over the next two weeks.

CVRD Inco donated $5,000 to help cover the costs of shipping the books. The Rainbow Local of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) contributed $600 toward the project and Taylor Beange Doors and Frames provided space to store the books and also donated $800 toward the shipping costs.

“Thanks to the generous contribution of many participants, this literacy project will assist in breaking the cycle of poverty for many children for generations to come,” said Guy Campeau, Director for The Mission of Tears, Northern Ontario region. “We are most grateful to the schools who donated their surplus books for this program. We are also grateful to CVRD Inco, ETFO and Taylor Beange Doors and Frames for their collective contributions.”
To date, local schools have provided in excess of 80,000 surplus books to third world countries. The books include teacher resource guides that have since been updated by the Ministry of Education.

The Books for Reading program is spearheaded by the Northern Ontario region of The Mission of TEARS.

St. Paul Catholic School Students Have a Lot of Heart

Posted on July 3, 2007August 23, 2018 by admin

Students at St. Paul The Apostle Catholic School raised more than $8,500 for the Heart and Stroke Foundation during the school’s annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraising campaign.

The school’s students attribute much of their success to the tremendous support they received from both family and friends including the Coniston, Minnow Lake and Wahnapitae communities for the fundraising event.

Allison Hall, a Grade 1 student in the French Immersion program at St. Paul was the top fundraiser bringing in a total of $351 in donations.

The money was raised during the school’s annual Jump Rope for Heart.Representatives from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Area Manager, Cathy Macey and Diane Larose, School Coordinator who were on hand for the cheque presentation at the school thanked the St. Paul Catholic School students for their hard work and generous donation. Macey informed the students that St. Paul The Apostle Catholic School was one of the top schools out of 50 schools that raised money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation this year.