The Gr. 2 students in the Regular English program at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School recently participated in a program arranged between the Sudbury Public Library and the Greater Sudbury Transit. A class bus pass granted them the opportunity to ride the Sudbury Transit in order to spend the morning at the South End Public Library. For many of the students, this was their first time using the public transit and it proved to be an exciting adventure. The school program consisted of a tour of the new South End Library, a demonstration of how to locate and access books on the computer, story time and a craft. By the end of the session, students were able to leave with their personal library card, a good book to read and a reason to return with their family or classmates.
Month: November 2012
Sudbury Catholic Schools Presents Dr. Karyn Gordon
On November 26 2012, Dr. Karyn Gordon visited both St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School as well as Marymount Academy to speak to all grade 7 and 8 students. Dr. Gordon is a relationship expert for organizations and families and has over 14 years of professional national media experience in TV, print and radio including CityLine, Chatelaine Magazine and “The Mom Show”. Invited by the Catholic Regional Parent Involvement Committee (C.R.P.I.C.), Dr. Gordon spoke to the students about self-esteem and anxiety. Introduced by the student senate, Dr. Gordon helped the students to identify which self-esteem attitude they hold, to recognize the power their attitude has on motivation, dating, friendships, peer-pressure and their body, and how to empower themselves by learning practical steps to building a healthy self-image. The presentation was interactive as Dr. Gordon had students using improv and acting out different scenerios so that the group could see evidence of the power of healthy self-esteem. David DiBrina, Sudbury Catholic Student Trustee, as well as leader of the Student Senate felt it was a very impactful presentation and that the students were engaged and responsive to Dr. Gordon’s message. “This presentation wasn’t just the students sitting and listening to words, it was much more than that. Dr. Gordon really hit home with the audience about how important a healthy self-esteem is, and that we all need to work towards this positive self-confidence, as it will shape our future success. Many of the students in the audience were visibly moved by Dr. Gordon’s words and a large number of students stayed behind after the presentation to talk one on one with her about their personal situations. I congratulate C.R.P.I.C. and the Sudbury Catholic Board for being proactive in addressing the needs and well-being of the students.”
Dr. Gordon was also invited to speak to the community at a free event at the St. Benedict auditorium that same evening. Over 150 parents, teachers and other community members listened to Dr. Gordon’s message of understanding the faces of youth self-esteem and how it impacts their decision making, as well as learning about powerful communication strategies to “bridge the gap”. The audience learned different ways to encourage their child to open up, accept responsibility, build confidence and reduce anxiety.
St. Anne/Q92/TD Bank Toy Caravan a Huge Success!
On November 23, 2012, members of the St. Anne Catholic Elementary School community in Hanmer demonstrated their generosity when Terri and Mel broadcast their morning show live on location for the Q92/TD Toy Caravan. The school was bustling with Christmas spirit as students, staff, and parents brought in numerous toys and monetary donations.
This is the second year that St. Anne Catholic School brings the Q92/TD Toy Caravan to the folks in the Valley and Capreol. “It is fun! We are not only helping ourselves become better people, but we are also helping others who are less fortunate have a merry Christmas,” said Brayden Kraemer, a student at the school. Student also enjoyed listening to their very own teachers, Jen Bruneau and Dante Merigioli, participate in “Battle of the Sexes.” Mr. Merigioli secured the win for the boys. Students were excited about this victory, which meant no homework for two days.
Everyone gathered in the library to enjoy baked goods and orange juice generously donated by Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, as well as coffee and treats from Tim Hortons.
“This month, we are celebrating the Catholic virtue of Justice, and when we look at this through the lens of social justice, this Toy Drive is a prime example of what our students are able to do to help others in need,” said Guy Mathieu, principal.
Christmas Food Drive at Marymount Academy
Every year Marymount Academy holds a Christmas food drive to help stock the shelves of the Sudbury Food Bank for the holiday season. Last year the school paired up with “kids helping kids” which was started by Edgar Burton and is the biggest food drive in the city. We raised and incredible amount of cans, over 13 thousand cans. They were told in September that they raised the most cans out of all the schools participating with “kids helping kids”. MMA was then rewarded with “the handing over of the official Vancouver Olympic torch” from last years winner, Lively District School. A group of students went to the mall on Nov 15th, and several tv and newspaper reporters were there including Mel from the radio who talked about how Edgar Burton ran with the torch in Sudbury during the Olympics. He then bought the torch for $500.00 and decided to donate it to the schools who raised the most cans. Marymount Academy now gets to keep the torch for one year
As well, on Monday Nov, 19th, our Marymount Catholic Charities council was asked to visit with the Mayor, her staff, Frank Elsner (the chair of the Sudbury Food Bank), several food bank volunteers, as well as Edgar Burton’s daughter and of course the media for the official signing of the Proclamation. Several MC3 members sat with the Mayor as she explained the process of the signing of an official Proclamation. The girls were thrilled to sit with the Mayor and to be congratulated for their efforts to help the less fortunate in our community. They told her how they just learned about the steps of a Proclamation in their Civics class at school. (they got to see it in action).
The girls were very impressed at being part of history, they were very proud of their efforts and vowed to continue helping our community.
St. Paul Presents…A Night of Television Premieres: Family Math and Literacy Night
On the evening of Wednesday, November 14, 2012 St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Elementary School welcomed approximately 60 guests which included students in Grades 3 to 6 and their families for a night of learning and family fun! Families had the opportunity to participate in four different stations; Are You Smarter than a Smartboard?, Star Tech: The Next Generation, How I Met Your Math Teacher and The Amazing Game. Each station had either a math or literacy focus and demonstrated the importance of technology and how it is integrated in all areas of the curriculum. A great time was had by all!
Students Remember War Veterans
Students from St. Francis Catholic Elementary School in grades 3 and 4 eagerly wrote postcards to war veterans for Remembrance Day. The postcards were provided by Veteran Affairs Canada. The class put their friendly letter writing skills to use in order to compose a thoughtful message. Students in teacher Graziella Visentin’s class annually write postcards to thank veterans for being brave and courageous in order to protect us. The grade 3 and 4 students acknowledged the veterans’ efforts and their gratitude for the freedom we so much enjoy today. This year the postcards were sent to war veterans residing in Ottawa, Ontario.
When Life Throws You an Apple, Peel It!
During Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week students at St Bernadette school “got to know their apples” by touching them, throwing them and rolling them around. They were then asked to describe their apples. Students described their apples as bruised, dented, marked up, big and small. After a few minutes, the apples were collected, peeled and dropped into a basket. Children were then asked to find their apple within the pile. Remarkably, most children couldn’t find their apples. “They all looked the same!” students exclaimed. This activity allowed students to discover that, just like the apples, on the outside people, too, come in different sizes and shapes. But, underneath the outer layer, just like the apples, people are all the same. We have the same hopes and fears and dreams.
Having Fun with Conflict Resolution at St. Bernadette
During this year’s Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week students from St. Bernadette Catholic School participated in various lessons and activities to promote peaceful relationships and conflict resolutions; such as school-wide read-alouds, teachings around how to be “bucket fillers” by doing kind deeds for others, and, as pictured here, participating in the “Kelso’s Choice” conflict management skills program. Through active role play and puppetry students learned that they are smart enough and strong enough to make good choices.
An Evening with Dr. Karyn Gordon – Free Event
Date: Monday, November 26, 2012
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: St. Benedict Auditorium
On November 26 2012, Sudbury Catholic Schools invites all parents to St Benedict’s Catholic Secondary School at 7pm to hear Dr Karyn’s message to:
• understand the faces of youth self-esteem and how it impacts their decision making.
• engage in powerful communication strategies to ‘bridge the gap’ and encourage your child to open up.
• inspire your child to accept responsibility, building their confidence and reducing your anxiety.
The event is free to the public and all are welcome!