Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Month: June 2008

Sudbury Catholic Schools Director to Speak at CASA Leadership Conference in Halifax

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Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Catherine McCullough has been invited to speak at the Canadian Association of School Administrators (CASA) Summer Leadership Academy Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia from July 10 to 13, 2008. The theme of this year’s national conference is “Literacy-Lighting the Way.”

Mrs. McCullough’s discussion will focus on the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s extensive commitment to technology with respect to the introduction and rapid expansion of its “One to One” Apple laptop program in its elementary and secondary schools since 2002 and more specifically with the boys’ literacy program.

Sudbury Catholic Schools “Technology has quickly transformed the world around us,” states McCullough. “We know that our students need to develop different skills sets in order to live, learn and work in this digital age. As a school board in Northeastern Ontario, we decided to meet this challenge head on.” By meeting this challenge head on, McCullough is referring to the “One to One” laptop program in all of its Grade 7 and 8 classrooms, a program that was unique in the province of Ontario. Realizing that boys are visual learners and respond more positively to visual images that accelerate learning, the board is using computers and technology to support the success of this program. “We have especially observed success in the area of enhancing and engaging Boys’ Literacy through the introduction of our One to One Laptop Program,” said McCullough. “Boys thrive on the visual language of television, cartoons, and video games. Similarly, boys respond well when presented with the opportunity to present their ideas and written work using charts, flow diagrams, and other visual forms.”

Research also suggests that boys respond positively to images because boys are more oriented to visual/spatial learning. As a result, visual images accelerate boys’ learning.
(Daly, 2002, p. 16) Educators and parents may have been too quick to dismiss boys’ preoccupation with computers as a diversion from their own book-based literacy, not recognizing the computer’s capacity to empower users to gain access to, and control of, information. It is imperative that educators and parents be aware of the impact of the multimedia world, and understand the positive ways in which these new languages and cultures can be harnessed as adjuncts to book-based literacy. (Millard, 1997, p. 46)

Partners in Spirit: From the Desk of Director of Education Catherine McCullough (Vol. 1 Number 2)

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It is with great pleasure that we share with you the second edition of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board newsletter, Partners in Spirit. This newsletter is dedicated to celebrating the new and exciting events that continue to take place at our Board and in our schools each and every day.

Thanks to everyone for a very successful school year. Have great summer and see you in September!

View entire newsletter.

Sudbury Catholic Schools Celebrate End of First Year of Roots of Empathy Program

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board honoured its Roots of Empathy Babies, the world’s youngest teachers, from across the City of Greater Sudbury on Monday, June 9, 2008 at the Catholic Education Centre. For the past ten months, these one-year-olds have worked with the Board’s students by teaching an innovative classroom program about empathy and social/emotional literacy.

Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program which has shown dramatic effect in reducing levels of aggression and violence among schoolchildren while raising social emotional competence and increasing empathy. The program focuses on raising levels of empathy, resulting in more respectful and caring relationships and reduced levels of bullying and aggression. The heart of the program is a neighbourhood infant and parent who visit the classroom once a month for the full school year. A certified Instructor works with a specialized curriculum to coach students in observing baby’s development, celebrating milestones, interacting with baby and learning about infant needs and temperament.

One of the many positive outcomes of Roots of Empathy program is the fact that it creates a bridge from student to student, and from student to teacher. The end result creates a feeling of empathy among the students and a basis for dialogue as children learn to identify and name their emotions.

Sudbury Catholic Schools, Director of Education, Catherine McCullough along with the Boards Senior Administrative Team, ROE Instructors, Teachers, staff and parents showed their appreciation for the Roots of Empathy Mothers and their babies in helping to make the first year of this program a tremendous success in a special reception held in their honour.

Sudbury Catholic Schools would like to thank all Roots of Empathy mothers, babies, instructors, teachers, staff and volunteers for participating in this program.

St. Bernadette Catholic School Student, Fire Chief for a Day

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Haley Marier, a Grade 4 student at St. Bernadette Catholic School won the “Fire Chief for the Day” contest by designing a fire escape home plan. The contest was open to 1,500 students throughout the Sudbury Region and to all four boards. Haley came first out of 500 entries.

On June 6, 2008 Haley was thrilled to be picked up at her house by one of the City of Greater Sudbury’s largest fire trucks and transported to the station where she spent time with Fire Chief, Mark Leduc and had the opportunity to tour the fire station. From the station Haley was whisked back to St. Bernadette Catholic School on a fire truck complete with sirens and lights. Haley received a huge welcome from the entire student body who stood on the grass outside the school with hand made signs stating “Way to Go Haley!”

Sudbury Catholic Schools Share Best Practices with Kenora Catholic District School Board

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Sudbury Catholic District School Board members Catherine McCullough, Laura Kuzenko and Dawn Wemigwans met with their Kenora Catholic District School Board counterparts in Kenora, Ontario to share best practices in Aboriginal Education and Student Success Initiatives.

Through collaborative dialogue, both boards were able to deepen their understanding of curriculum in relation to Aboriginal learners and student success. Both teams were able to participate in purposeful team building experiences that will translate into increased success for Sudbury Catholic School students.

St. Andrew Catholic School Teacher Wins “Teacher of the Year” Award

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Representatives from Scholar’s Choice visited St. Andrew Catholic School recently to present Junior Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Chantal Morin with the Teacher of the Year Award. Jeramy Sawyer, a student in her class, nominated her with a delightful picture and story that was scribed by his Mother.

Chantal and Jeremy were both awarded $200 gift certificates, while St. Andrew School was awarded a $100 gift certificate. As a bonus prize, the entire JK class will enjoy the celebration with a complimentary pizza party at lunch break on Monday, June 2, 2008.

St. Andrew Catholic School, JK student Jeramy Sawyer poses with his teacher, Chantal Morin who he nominated for Teacher of the year with the help of his mom.The Sudbury Catholic District School Board congratulates Chantal Morin on winning the Teacher of The Year Award!

Longtime Teacher, Vice-Principal and Principal Recipient of Sudbury Catholic Schools 2008 Chairperson’s Award

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Each year the Sudbury Catholic District School Board presents its Chairperson’s Award to the individual that embraces Catholic values, demonstrates initiative and ingenuity and contributes positively to the lives of its students and staff. “Sharon Oliver, Principal of St. Paul The Apostle Catholic School is all of those things and more,” stated Sudbury Catholic Schools, Board Chair, George Middleton before presenting Mrs. Oliver with the Chair’s Award for 2008. The award was presented at the Board’s 25 Year Employee Recognition and Retirement Party held at Bryston’s on the Park during the last week of May.

Mrs. Oliver is well deserving of this award having been an exemplary teacher, vice-principal and principal for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board for more than thirty years. Her Catholicity is evident to all students, parents and staff that have had the good fortune and opportunity to meet or work with her. Her truly caring and compassionate nature is apparent daily, beginning with prayers during morning announcements to the spiritual way in which she leads liturgical celebrations of all kinds through her gift of song and words of praise.

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School is a recipient of the Childhood Enfance- Better Beginnings Better Futures Snack Program due to her efforts. The community is well informed of school events and frequently invited to join students and staff in the school gym for sit down Harvest Teas and Shrove Tuesday Pancake meals.

Mrs. Oliver has been involved in numerous committees and initiatives that champion the cause of Catholic Education over her many years as teacher, vice-principal and principal. As the chairperson of the NOCCC, (Northern Ontario Catholic Curriculum Cooperative) she continues to promote and encourage Catholic curriculum across Northern Ontario. She is a member of the CPCO (Catholic Principals Council of Ontario) Professional Development Committee and is also involved as the chairperson of the Liturgy Committee of her church.

Sudbury Catholic Board Balances Budget for 2008-09 School Year

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Trustees with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board proved successful in passing a balanced budget for the 2008-2009 school year at Tuesday night’s board meeting. The approved budget of $67,306,178 will sustain the positive momentum that has been achieved in the Board’s new initiatives and programs such as the “Learning with Laptops” program and complies with the objectives set by the Ministry of Education with respect to the reduction of class sizes in the primary classes.

The new budget allows the Board to move forward with a number of initiatives which will continue to re-enforce our Catholic identity and system priorities at all levels of the organization. Technological and academic support has also been maintained at the board and classroom level to ensure exemplary instruction and assessment for student success.

In order to arrive at a balanced budget for 2008-2009 the Sudbury Catholic District School Board projects a draw from the Reserve for Working Funds of $504,737. This draw would represent an amount equal to .8% of the Board’s Grant Revenue Allocation and falls within the Ministry of Education’s threshold criteria. The impact of the proposed draw from the Working Funds would be offset by the $608,409 that the Board identified in its 2007-2008 budget.

Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for Sudbury Catholic Schools is pleased with the budget. “I am very happy with the fact that the Board was able to bring in a balanced budget,” stated McCullough. “The new budget will allow us to meet Ministry of Education regulation and obligations and we will continue to deliver quality services and programs to our students in order that they may achieve their maximum potential.”

Board Chair, George Middleton is also pleased with the budget. “Over the past few months, Trustees and Senior Administration have worked extremely hard to bring in a balanced budget that addresses some of the key priorities of the Board and its stake holders. This new budget will allow us to move forward on present initiatives such maintaining our Special Education Program, our One to One Laptop Program and compliancy with Ministry objectives in our primary class sizes.”

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