“Read, Return, Repeat!”, was the library’s motto during a school-wide celebration of books held at St. Benedict CSS during Catholic Education Week. To further develop the love of reading, teachers encouraged students to use integrated technology like Facebook, Twitter or YouTube to share their favourite novel with a friend. Students were given time to Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) using their e-readers or an old-fashioned book. Later in the week, students met for Book Club, to swap books and journaling on the library’s Graffiti Wall. Grade 9 student Alexandria Folino stated, “I especially liked the Book Club meeting because are the first to see and take out the new books. It’s also fun to mingle with the other members, and discuss the interesting books we’ve read.”
Month: May 2012
Gathering Stone Ritual
On May 17 Father Jim Hutton and parent Brenda Cavallin travelled to three of the Sudbury Catholic District Schools that are closing in June – St. Theresa, St. Christopher and Corpus Christi. Students at each of these schools collected stones from the yard to symbolize something they wanted to bring to the new site of Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School opening in September. The stones will be placed in the yard but will represent the spirit of the school that have travelled from all three sites. With Father Him Hutton and Brenda Cavallin’s visit to each of the schools, students were invited to remember love, patience and the virtues they hold true at their school while holding onto the stone. The stones were then collected and brought to St. Patrick’s Parish to be stored until the students begin their new school year at Holy Cross.
St. James Students Look Through “God’s Eye”
Using an ancient tradition originating from Mexico, the Grade 5/6 French Immersion class at St. James Catholic School wove yarn around two sticks glued in the shape of a cross to create a “Sikuli”–“God’s Eye”. This tradition of the Huicholl Indians of Mexico is based on the belief that the person that “God’s Eye” was created for, will be more knowledgeable to the ways of Jesus and wiser. According to the belief, the father creates a Sikuli (God’s Eye) for their newborn and continues to add a length of yarn to the Sikuli on the child’s birthday until the child is 5 years old.
St. David Participates in Police Week
Students at St. David Catholic School were very excited to have Constable Lapalme visit the school. The students were welcomed by Constable Lapalme first thing this morning in the school yard, he then assisted with the Breakfast Program and had the opportunity to speak with all students in the classrooms. Ms. Lepage, Gr.2/3 students were very thrilled to sit in the police cruiser, sound the siren and look at the radar and other devices in the vehicle. Police week runs from May 13-19 and is dedicated to increasing community awareness and recognition of policing services and strengthening partnerships between police and the community. ” What a great experience for students to interact with the police in a positive way” says Grade 1/2 teacher, Eleanor Anderson.
St. Raphael School helps rule out Diabetes and Participates in Sudbury Rocks!
On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, students from St. Raphael School participated in the 5K Sudbury Rocks! run/walk for Diabetes. Students trained after school to prepare for the run. Eighteen students and Teacher Ms. Reynolds ran on Sunday. Students were also encouraged to collect pledges for this worthy cause. Over $1340.00 was collected by the Royals to help rule out Diabetes! It was a great way to help the community and to keep fit and stay healthy!
Catholic Education Week Photo Contest Results
We would like to share with everyone the winners of the Catholic Education Week photo contest. Firstly, we would like to thank all the schools, students and teachers that participated. The photo submissions and reflections were outstanding, and made for very hard decisions for the judging committee!
Thank you again to the students and staff that participated, for your hard work and creativity!!
And here are the winners…
Primary Division
First place – Kayleigh MacNeil, grade 3 St. Bernadette “My Tulip”
Second place – Ava Levecque, grade 1 St. Francis – “Daddy and Sam”
Junior Division
First place – Gianluca Ongaro, grade 4 St. Christopher “God Made the Sun”
Second place – Samantha Thorpe Judd, grade 4 St. David – “Express Yourself”
Intermediate Division
First place – Darnell Peltier, grade 8, St. Raphael “Shoes”
Second place – Cora Audette, grade 8 St. Anne – “Walking into God’s Light”
Senior Division
First place – Elissa Punkkinen, grade 10 St. Benedict “God Works Through the Hands of His Children”
Marymount Academy Student Selected as Youth Ambassador for National French Forum
With a French father, and an English mother, Amanda Daigle knew that speaking both of Canada’s official languages would be an asset in her life. As a result, the grade 11 Marymount Academy student has been in French Immersion her entire academic career, and this year, it has provided her with an amazing opportunity. Daigle has been selected as one of thirty students from across the country to be a youth ambassador at the National Ambassador Youth Forum (Le Forum National des jeunes Ambassadeurs) which provides bilingual high school students the chance to meet like-minded student leaders from across the country. This event is hosted by French for the Future, a non-profit student-centred educational program that encourages and promotes bilingualism in Canada.
The one week forum will be taking place in Edmonton, Alberta, in which students will learn about diverse career paths and possibilities, take part in unique cultural events, as well as share their experiences and discuss the challenges and advantages of learning two languages. This opportunity came about from her teacher Christine Masimiliano. Masimiliano informed her class about the forum and Daigle decided that this was something she wanted to apply for. After writing her own letter explaining why she would be a great candidate, Daigle also had to provide two letters of recommendation to support her application. At the end of April, she got the call. This all expenses paid trip is something that Daigle is very, very excited for. “I am so grateful for this opportunity,” Daigle stated. “Not only will it allow me to strengthen my French-language skills, but I will get to make new friends, and learn how to be a better leader in my community.” Daigle is no stranger to being a leader, as she often takes part in community service activities in Sudbury, as well as being a part of the Girl Guides of Canada for many years. “I am very honoured to have been chosen to join the 29 other students for this national forum,” Daigle said. “French Immersion has opened many doors for me in the past, and I am confident that being selected as a youth ambassador for this national French forum will continue to open doors for me in the future!”
Learning About Life as a Writer at St. Benedict
During Catholic Education Week at St. Benedict, students were given the opportunity to listen to local author Sarah Lashbrook. She began by reading an excerpt from her book Where the Stream and Creek Collide, and after talked about her life as a writer. Lashbrook explained that she had been writing since she was 12, but was also inspired by two amazing high school English teachers. Students then learned how the concept for her book came from a nightmarish dream which led to her writing an outline, then realistic characters, and of course lots of research. Life as a writer isn’t easy. Lashbrook informed students she once had writer’s block for two months, that her book was edited four times, and therefore was written a total of five times before it was completed. During the Q&A session, grade 7 student Joshua Kroll asked, “Do you become attached to your characters?” Lashbrook responded, “I definitely do! I get right into them, and I’m sad when I’m done.” The recently published author advised students who want a career in writing to take drama courses to become a screenwriter, English courses if they want to be a journalist, and even history is a necessity for writers. Later, elementary teacher Sherry Trowbridge approached Lashbrook with an offer to return to St. Benedict to work with her intermediate students and write a class novel together. Her reply was an excited, “I’m in 100% for that!” Clearlly, those St. Ben’s students will be in for a treat when Sarah Lashbrook comes back to visit in the fall.
St. David Running Club Takes Part in the Sudbury Rocks Walk, Run, Race For Diabetes
As part of their ongoing commitment to fitness, St. David students participated in the 1K Strong Kids Fun Run at the recent Sudbury Rocks Walk, Run, Race For Diabetes. During education week the students collected pledges and raised approximately $100 dollars. The running club has not only been running but have also been reading once a week with community volunteers and reflecting on their running in their running journals as a way to promote literacy and physical fitness.