Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Month: November 2007

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary Presents “Stepping Into Secondary School”

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St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School extends an invitation to all grade 7 and 8 students, parents and guardians to attend an information night entitled ‘Stepping Into Secondary School’ on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the school located at 2993 Algonquin Road, Sudbury.

The evening will provide information on the secondary school Catholic curriculum and allow students and parents the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the various programs that the school has to offer and how it may impact on their son’s or daughter’s career plans.

For additional information on “Stepping Into Secondary School,” please contact Mr. Maurizio Visentin, Program Leader, Academic Services, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School at ph. 523-9235.

Marymount Academy Hosts “OSAID ’07: Sink or Swim” Regional Conference

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Marymount Academy will be hosting its very first Regional OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) conference this weekend (November 16 to 18) at Marymount Academy, 165 D’Youville Street, Sudbury.

Seventy OSAID members from across Northern Ontario will be participating in the event representing seven schools; (Korah Collegiate and Vocational School, Sir James Dunn Collegiate, Alexander Henry High School, Michipicoten High School, Lasalle Secondary School, Sudbury Secondary School and Marymount Academy).

The three-day conference will include a number of workshops such as yoga, self defence, smart serve presentation as well as a number of guest speakers. Keynote speakers will include Ron Roy of Action Sudbury (who will be performing a smart serve workshop for forty students), and Stephanie Kovala, a student from Sault Ste. Marie, whose father passed away in an impaired driving accident.

OSAID was created in 1987 by students who passionately wanted to spread the anti-impaired driving message. Marymount Academy is the only school in the City of Greater Sudbury with an active OSAID chapter.

St. Benedict Science Teachers and Laurentian Students Represent Ontario at National Science Competition

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St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School students were treated to edge-of-their-seat action and suspense at the Ontario Iron Science Competition which was held at Science North on November 3, 2007. Bearing signs and banners, St. Benedict students cheered on two of their own science teachers, Mr. Aaron Barry and Mr. Michael Sipos, who were competing againstt another local and two Southern Ontario teams for the Ontario championship title.

The Iron Science Competition is held across Canada with the intention of increasing the appeal of science and scientific experiments to students and the general public. The goal was undoubtedly met as the crowd which consisted of both students and adults responded to the scientific displays with incredible enthusiasm. Each ten minute presentation was based on the “secret ingredient” in the human body. The teams were judged by a panel of scientists, teachers, and local media.

St. Benedict Catholic School teachers, Mr. Barry and Mr. Sipos, teamed up with two graduate students from the Laurentian University/Science North Science Communications program, Lisa Lambert and Brandi Chuchman. Together, they formed the “Ferral Nerds” and solved the baffling mysteries of the human body. The sinuses were explained through the use of a “Booger Cannon” and the steps of the Digestive System were demonstrated with a larger-than-life working model. Their presentation impressed the crowd and judges alike, and their supporters were delighted with their scientific antics. After lengthy deliberation, the “Ferral Nerds” were crowned the champions of the Ontario Iron Science Competition for their unparalleled originality, delivery, entertainment value, overall knowledge of scientific principals and general “nerdiness.” St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School received a Smart Board as the top prize which will benefit all students in the science classrooms.

The “Ferral Nerds” will represent the province at the National Iron Science Competition in Calgary, Alberta on November 22, 2007. The entire event will be webcasted live at 12:00 p.m. local time from www.ironscience.ca.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board would like to congratulate the “Ferral Nerds” on their excellent achievement in winning the Ontario Iron Science Competition and wish them the best of luck as they represent St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, Laurentian University, and Ontario on the national stage.

SCDSB Students Participate in Young Philanthropist Challenge

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Sudbury Catholic District School Board students from Marymount Academy, St. Benedict and Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary Schools have been presented with a unique opportunity to learn and appreciate the value of volunteer action in the City of Greater Sudbury.

In conjunction with Volunteer Sudbury, the 2007 Young Philanthropist Challenge will require students (in a four to six-person team) to select a nonprofit organization that provides a valuable social service to the community. The students will prepare a research paper outlining the history, past accomplishments, and future challenges of that organization. Upon completion of the research stage, students will prepare a report and later present their findings to a panel of judges. The team which best portrays their organization as accomplishing a valuable social cause through volunteer involvement will win the $5,000 first place prize.

The Challenge kicked off with a Media Conference on Monday at Better Beginnings, Better Futures. Two teams from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School have entered the competition in hopes of promoting two essential community organizations. Dayna Corelli, Kathryn Piché, Kyle Deegan, and Karen Lee will be representing the Sudbury Action Centre for Youth in hopes of raising awareness and appreciation for the social services that the organization provides. Veronica Summerhill, Erica Sorensen and Shannon Fyfe have chosen the Elgin Street Mission, which has worked with the people of Sudbury’s inner city since 1989. Both teams hope to be able to help their organization financially, but are pleased at being able to raise awareness for these nonprofit organizations.

All teams are actively working and preparing in hopes of winning the $5, 000 grand prize for their organization. Regardless of the outcome, it is certain that these young students will gain an appreciation for the value of volunteer organizations in Greater Sudbury.

St. James to Host Mishoomis and Nikoomis Day

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St. James Catholic School in Lively will be hosting a Mishoomis and Nikoomis Day (Aboriginal Grandpa and Grandma Day)on Monday, November 12, 2007.

This year the St. James Catholic School Parent Council has initiated an Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Committee to promote Native cultural understanding and appreciation to both native and nonnative students. As part of this initiative, Grandparents of the St. James Catholic School’s Native students have been invited to visit the school to make a variety of presentations such as; eagle feather teaching, native craft making, aboriginal storytelling, how to clean a fish, how to do bead work, how to make moccasins, etc. One child in each class up has been linked up with their own grandparent (Mishoomis or Nikoomis) for the morning event.

SCDSB Launches School Conservation Challenge for 2007-2008

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is hosting year two of its School Conservation Challenge and is inviting all SCDSB Dearness Schools, Classes and Clubs to participate. The “challenge” will run from October 30, 2007 to May 1, 2008.

The School Conservation Challenge was created by the Sudbury Catholic District School Board to increase the participation in the Dearness Conservation (DC) initiative that was introduced into all of the Board’s schools in 2001. Since the inception of the DC program, the Board has been able to achieve substantial utility savings by educating teachers, students and staff and providing them with the necessary resources through this program.

To help revitalize the program in 2006-2007, senior administration decided that a “Conservation Challenge” would be an excellent way to enhance the effectiveness of the program in addition to acknowledging the “Environmental Champions.” The selection of the School Conservation Champion involves a point system based on three categories; (i) an unannounced site visit by the SCDSB’s Facility Services Department during the school year (ii) an interview to be conducted with the principal from each participating school (iii) in late May, schools will be asked to submit reports dealing with Lifestyle Conservation Campaigns and other relevant materials such as videos/newsletters/announcements and presentations. Schools will be awarded points based on the above three categories.

The school that attains the most points will be deemed the winner of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s 2007-2008 School Conservation Challenge and will be awarded a Grand Prize of $500.00 (toward an approved greening/grounds improvement project) and the right to display the “SCDSB School Conservation Challenge Champions” banner for a year.

Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board supports the board’s new initiative with respect to the far reaching positive effects and implications this program will have on students and the environment. “The SCDSB School Conservation Challenge provides our students with an opportunity to integrate the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations into their lives in an authentic manner,” states McCullough. “This Conservation Challenge invites all students to become responsible citizens and stewards of creation by respecting the environment and using the earth’s resources wisely.”

For more information on the SCDSB School Conservation Challenge please contact, Mark Gervais, Energy Coordinator at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

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