Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Month: April 2010

Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Dual Credit Program Announced

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The press room was filled to capacity at Laurentian University as the Right Honourable Paul Martin announced the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Dual Credit Program on April 27, 2010. In partnership with Laurentian and the Rainbow District School Board, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board made the announcement about this initiative that is the first of its kind in Ontario and is a program that enables Aboriginal youth to earn high school and university credits at the same time.

Throughout his business and political careers, the Right Honourable Paul Martin has been devoted to the cause of Canada’s Inuit peoples, First Nations and the Metis Nation. After retiring from politics, the former Prime Minister Paul Martin and his family established the Martin Aboriginal Initiative (MAI). MAI’s overall goal is to work with Canada’s Aboriginal peoples to enable them to enjoy greater economic self-reliance and an ever-increasing quality of life. The new dual credit program announce at Laurentian evolved as part of this initiative.

Domenic Giroux, President of Laurentian University talked excitedly about this new initiative. “Today’s announcement builds on the successful work completed in the Ontario college sector and the secondary school boards. This pilot program will extend the dual credit concept to the university environment for the first time ever in Ontario.”

Jody Cameron, Sudbury Catholic District Board Chair also felt that it was an important and necessary step to support aboriginal youth. “The SCDSB is proud to support Aboriginal secondary students in such an exciting and innovative initiative. We continue to build pathways that engage, challenge and provide new and varied learning opportunities for Aboriginal students. It is through these real world opportunities that our youth can achieve success in the future.”

Vanessa Lewis, a Grade 11 student from St. Charles College had the opportunity to be one of the few students chosen to be a part of the pilot dual credit program in Native Human Services with Laurentian this past year. According to Lewis, this program allowed her expand her plans for the future and the experience has been excellent. Lewis has, in fact, decided that she will be signing up for the new Entrepreneurship Dual Credit program for the fall.

“Walk For a Second Chance”

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Paula Peroni, Trustee for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board was a guest speaker at the Irish Heritage Club’s “Walk for a Second Chance” media conference held at Tom Davies Square to promote organ donation in Sudbury. Mrs. Peroni spoke on behalf of her son Justin Peroni who was killed in a tragic accident in 2002. It was during this most difficult time that the Peroni’s was a family made the unselfish decision to donate Justin’s organs.

Thanks to this donation, a 28 year old woman and a 70 year old gentleman received the gift of sight. Both transplants were successful for these very grateful individuals.

Each year thousands of Ontarians get a second chance to live life to the fullest thanks to the kindness of people who have given the gift of life. The Irish Heritage Club’s 11’th Annual Awareness walk, “Walk for a Second Chance” takes place this Saturday, May1 at 10:30 at Memorial Park.

Sudbury Catholic School Staff Inspired to Make a Difference in the Life of a Child

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World renowned motivational speaker, performer and artist Lesley Andrew was the keynote speaker at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Professional Development Day on April 23, 2010. All S.C.D.S.B. staff including teachers and educational assistants were blown away by Andrew’s presentation entitled “Beating the Odds”. The staff gathered at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School to take part in a day dedicated to special education. Andrew, who is gifted learning disabled, spoke to the group about overcoming her learning difficulties and not only surviving but thriving in the arts. She inspired the crowd with her story of her life growing up with a learning disability and then becoming a successful singer, actor, textile artist and speaker. Her message was clear – one single teacher can make a huge difference in the life of a child. The teachers showed their appreciation for Andrew’s message with a standing ovation and it set the stage for an innovative and inspiriing inservice for staff on the subject of special education.

SCDSB Students are “Spellbound” at C.P.C.O. Spelling Bee

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Elementary students from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board spelled their way to the Championship at the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario ( C.P.C.O. -Sudbury Chapter) Spelling Bee on April 21, 2010. Every two years, the C.P.C.O. sponsors this event and the Sudbury Catholic students have the opportunity to compete for the title of Spelling Bee Champion. In order to qualify for this event, each school participated in their own spelling bees and a semi-final competition was held in early April. The students that placed in the top three then qualified to compete in the final event. At the end of the night, the students that claimed the title of top spellers were Kaedan Cronk (Grade 7, St. Paul Catholic Elementary School) for the Intermediate Division and Kamilla Kowal (Grade 6, St. Michael Catholic Elementary School) for the Junior Division.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board wishes to congratulate all of the participants for their excellent spelling efforts!

SCDSB Elementary Band Makes the Grade

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On Wednesday April 7, students from our Sudbury Catholic Elementary School Band took first place in the Elementary School Band category at the Kiwanis Music Festival with a high Gold award and a score of 91. The adjudicator was so impressed with the students that he would like to recommend them to the Provincial level of the Kiwanis Music Festival ) The band consists of grade 7 and 8 students from three different schools, St. Francis, St. Raphael, and Pius XII and is under the direction of teacher Leanne Urso. (And formerly teacher Joanne Comisso). The students are being presented with a special award at the Final Concert and Awards Ceremony for the Kiwanis Music Festival on May 10. Urso said that she is very proud of the hard work the students have put into this band and it is because of these efforts, the band has been so successful!

St. Christopher Student’s Poem Advances to Provincial Finals

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On April 22nd, St. Christopher School was very proud to celebrate Demerice Smith’s (Gr. 4) writing talents. As a part of the OECTA Young Authors Awards, Demerice’s poem, If I Were A Painting, claimed top honours at the city and unit levels. As a result, Demerice was presented with a certificate of accomplishment and her poem will advance to the provincial finals. Winners will be announced in early June. A big thank you to Mrs. DiGioseffo for co-ordinating the in-school event.

St. Mary Students Make the Most of Earth Day

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St. Mary Catholic School students celebrated Earth Day by cleaning debris and picking up garbage along Lakeshore Street in Capreol..They filled 39 bags, some pieces of wood, collected several discarded large items and even found a bicycle! The Vermillion River area by the beach looks so much cleaner. Even the Canada geese came for a visit and honked their appreciation. Upon their return to school students created chalk Earth Day messages in the school yard.

Families Have Fun at St. Mary’s Family Math Night

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St. Mary Catholic Elementary School recently was involved in another in the series of the Esso Family Math Nights where everyday materials and math games are used to help children understand math ideas and where parents and children have fun sharing their thinking and understanding of Mathematics.

“Don’t Bug Me” was the focus of the Early Years (ages 4-6) workshop facilitated by Miss Waern. Both present and future St. Mary Monarchs listened to the story “Mouse Count” and then participated in several activities: singing about going on a Math Walk, a bug count using dice, finding red things in a school wide scavenger hunt and playing with home made play dough. Ms Bruneau,lent her expertise as well.

Miss O’Reilly, Mr. Merigioli and Miss Mantha, led the “Number Sense and Numeration” workshops for Grade 2-5 students. Students were able to estimate, use a number line, play card games and Go Fish.

All families were treated to a pasta supper before beginning the math projects. Many thanks to all who participated, cooked, and cleaned up! Thanks as well to the St. Mary Catholic School Council who funded the meal. We eagerly look forward to the next Math session. For more information about the Esso Family Math Nights please visit www.edu.uwo.ca/essofamilymath.

Technology Showcased at St. Francis

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Sudbury Catholic District School Board Trustee Estelle Scappatura stopped by St. Francis Catholic Elementary School recently. She was invited to join teacher Lyanne Marion’s Grade 5/6 French Immersion class as they worked with Tina Timpano, a Sudbury Catholic Teacher Integration Mentor teacher. The class was learning how to use different programs like Comic Life on the macbook as well as incorporating different technology like the ipod and digital video cameras into the classroom. Trustee Scappatura was amazed at how well the students could utilize the technology and was quite proud of their accomplishments!

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