The entire student body at St. Christopher Catholic Elementary School gathered in the gym on October 31 to take part in the school’s halloween parade. All of the gym walls were lined with parents holding cameras – ready to snap photos and take video. As part of their annual halloween celebration, parents were invited to participate in the festivities and celebrate the spookiest of holidays with their children. Each class had the opportunity to show off their costumes, as well as their dance moves as they took turns strolling around the gym and moving to the music. Some of the classes also recited poems and performed plays for the audience – all having to do with Halloween. Principal Enzo Del Riccio grinned with delight as they students began their parade for the parents. “As always, holidays are a great opportunity to have parents visit the school,” Del Riccio stated. “Halloween is certainly no exception – we love having parents take part in our celebrations and it brings much joy to both the student and the parents.”
Month: October 2011
Fun Had By All Ages
St. David School celebrated Halloween this year by hosting a school wide halloween parade. This year, teachers, educational assistants and even lunchroom monitors got into the spirit. The school also shared messages about halloween safety and precautions students and their families should take to ensure all children enjoy a fun-filled evening of trick or treating.
Good Samaritans Food Drive at St. Paul
Students at St. Paul the Apostle were Good Samaritans” this past week and a half and became “strangers helping strangers.” The students and staff at the school collected canned and dried food items and some cash to help their feeder school, St.Charles Colege reach their goal of 60,000 cans to help those in need. Pictured here are the SCC Cardinal with Mr. Jim Szilva, his son Parker, daughter Maicie, Mrs. M. Henry the school principal, Ella Sisk and Darion Gratton from JK and several St. Charles student helpers.
An Evening of Learning and Sharing with Parents
Schools under the jurisdiction of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board exist primarily to assist parents in developing to the fullest the academic, the intellectual, spiritual, physical, cultural and moral growth of their children. The aims of education for exceptional pupils at Sudbury Catholic are essentially the same as those for all other students – to develop completely their individual talents as members of society and as unique and responsible Christian persons, and to provide them with the opportunities to grow in Faith and in an understanding of the nature and purpose of life.
On Wednesday, October 26, 2011, parents and community partners were invited to take part in an evening of learning and sharing with parents, to inform and discuss the needs of all learners and to get a better understanding of the different strategies and technologies used to assist students in their learning. “This evening was inspired by what the schools are doing,” Rossella Bagnato, Superintendent of School Effectiveness stated. “At Sudbury Catholic Schools, we believe in open and honest transparency, and we want our parents to know exactly how our board team works with their children and help them better understand how we can positively support them.”
On hand throughout the night were several speakers from this team including Christina Raso, Special Education Consultant for the Board, Jennifer Connelly, Assistive Technology Teacher, and Catia Temelini, one of the Board's Communicative Disorders Assistants. Each speaker explained their role to the parents and described how their role assists the students in the classroom and school communities. Rossella Bagnato also addressed the group and defined for them their two main goals. “The first is to build relationships and develop the capacity of parents to help their children and achieve their goals.” The second goal, Bagnato explained, is that the Board is embracing the strategy implemented by our schools to increase parent understanding of our programs, services and procedures. “Whether our students, have learning disabilities, physical disabilities or other learning challenges, the special education staff at Sudbury Catholic strives to provide the maximum growth and development opportunities for every pupil including the exceptional.”
The team also took some time to model much of the assistive technology for the parents so that they could see what tools are being used, how they are being used, and to ask any questions they may have to better support their child. Resource material was available for the parents to review, discuss and take home after the session so that the parents could learn even more about the supports for the special education needs of their children. For more information about special education at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, call 673-5620, or visit the Board’s website at [ http://www.sudburycatholicschools.c ]www.sudburycatholicschools.ca
St. Charles College Supports Community With Most Successful Canned Food Drive Ever
The students at St. Charles College greatly surpassed their goal on October 28, 2011 of collecting 60 thousand cans for the Sudbury Food Bank. More than 121 thousand cans were collected for the food bank and many of the cans will be housed at the Sudbury Food Bank’s new can stock location on Webbwood Drive. The school presented Chief Elsner, President of The Sudbury Food Bank with all of the food as well as a cheque for $21 000. St. Charles College is proud to be the first organization to stock the new Food Bank on Webbwood Drive.
Jim Szilva of Freedom 55 and graduate of the high school continued the yearly tradition of remaining on a Greater Sudbury transit bus for a whole week until the students’ achieved the goal set by school administration to commemorate the 60 year anniversary of the school.
The bus also made stops to St. Andrew, St. Bernadette, Pius XII, St. Raphael, St. John, St. Paul and St. David schools. Students there traditionally join the cause and collect in their respective neighbourhoods.
Principal Patty Mardero said: “Seeing our students succeeding and doing well academically inspires me, but there is nothing more uplifting than watching the students at St. Charles College pull an entire community together by collecting one can at a time.”
In partnership with Rogers Radio Q92 and EZRock 105.3, the students worked tirelessly to collect as many food items as possible, and also worked at many of the local grocery store chains by bagging groceries in exchange for cans or monetary donations. Buses were also sent out every night of the week for students to reach out to every part of the large community and canvass the area.
The secondary school has been taking part in a community food drive since the mid eighties.
Local Schools Work as a Team to Share with Those Less Fortunate
St. David Catholic School has teamed with their sister school, St. Charles College to raise non-perishable items for the St. Charles College canned food drive. The students were motivated by David Dibrina, St. Charles College student Council president, in a school wide assembly. David’s message was clear: “work as team and achieve success”. The students from St. David School were clearly inspired by Dibrina because they continue to bring in non perishable foods on a daily basis and have collected over 3000 items to donate to the St. Charles College canned food drive. St. David grade 5/6 student, Brittany Thain, stated, “this feels good to do. When we act in a charitable way towards those in our community, it makes our community a better place to be.”
Nickels for the North at Immaculate
During the month of October, the children at Immaculate Conception School have been busy collection “Nickels” and other change for the “Nickels for the North” for “Easter Seals Kids”, supporting children with physical disabilities and their families. We have been doing this for the past 4 years. Last year, we collected $700.00. Thank You Cougars!
Fire Prevention at St. Andrew
Students in Gr.2/3 and in Gr.4/5 were invited to the New Sudbury Shopping Centre to participate in Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention week is celebrated and observed from Oct 9-15. The theme is “Protect Your Family From Fire.” Fire Prevention Canada provides worthwhile information and education programs than can reduce losses from senseless and predictable and preventable fire events.
Our local Fire Department is making students aware of the simple measures that can be taken to prevent a devastating fire from occurring in homes. They are ensuring that the public is well informed and educated. It’s about life safety first!
“Witchy” Visitor at St. James
To the amazement of students at St. James Catholic School, “Cynthia” the Witch from the Walden Public Library landed in the kindergarten classroom. With her “bag of tricks”, Cynthia captivated the young listeners with her “spooky” stories. Cynthia’s interactive storytelling created magic, imagination, and a lot of enjoyment.