Grade nine students in the province of Ontario participated in Take a Kid to Work day on November 7, 2012. At St. Charles College, over one hundred students were on site at job locations around the city. A number of students took on positions in healthcare, education as well as the retail and industrial sectors.
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for grade nine students to learn about a career opportunity that interests them and illustrates the importance of education, skills development and training.
The day is organized by “The Learning Partnership”, a non-for-profit organization.
Month: November 2012
“Bucket Filling” at Pius XII
Grade 6 student, Grace Tilbury reads the book “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” to Kindergarten students Gabriel Broughton and Ramsey Tolkacz. The message of the book is to be kind to people. In the story, you fill a bucket when you show love to someone, when you say or do somethink kind, or even when you give someone a smile. Every student at Pius XII had the story read to them. Pius is striving to become a school of ‘bucket fillers’ – loving and caring students who say or do nice things that make others feel special.
“Operation Christmas Child” in Full Swing at St. Andrew
Staff and students from St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School have taken on the Operation Christmas Child Project as a Social Justice project during the month of November. On the website of Operation Christmas Child it says:”Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desparate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the message of God’s unconditional love. Every gift-filled shoe box is given unconditionally regardless of religion, gender or race.” We are very proud of the generosity of the staff, the students and many of their families for all of their support for this project.
“I know I am a small person, but why do you need to make me feel smaller?
A special pre-screening of a bullying documentary took place today at St. Charles College on November 21, 2012 for one thousand students.
The movie Bully was featured at Cinefest in September. It is not being released in American theatres until May 30th, 2013.
Teachers involved in student council and the school leadership class contacted the film company about showcasing the film to the student body before its release to the public and they agreed.
The director of the film, Lee Hirsch was bullied as a child and follows the stories of two families dealing with the deaths of their children who were victims of bullying and took their own lives.
Students at St. Charles College also heard a first hand account from a senior student who was a victim of ethnic bullying in the past.
Justin Trac bravely shared his story of bullying and urged others to stand-up for what is right and just to make other people’s high school experiences that much better.
He said the powerful question that he used when he finally stood up this bully: “I know I am a small person, but why do you need to make me feel smaller?”
Each student in the audience also received a wristband with the slogan “delete” the drama.
S.C.D.S.B. Celebrates L.D.A.S. Teacher of the Year – Caroline Mansourian
On Tuesday, November 20, at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board monthly board meeting, St. David Catholic Elementary School teacher Caroline Mansourian was recognized by the Learning Disability Association of Sudbury as Educator of the Year. On hand to present the award was L.D.A.S. Chair Liz Brett-Dickie and Vice-Chair Giulia Langlois. According to Brett-Dickie, the L.D.A.S. selects outstanding educators who work day in and day out to release the power of students with learning disabilities. “This Teacher of the Year award recognizes an exceptional educator who consistently supports, encourages, and advocates for the success of students with learning disabilities.” She goes on to explain that the committee was very impressed with Caroline Mansourian’s nomination letter (of which she was not aware as it was submitted without her knowledge by the staff of St. David) but also the letters from four former students that accompanied the nomination letter.
“The committee was extremely impressed with Caroline’s accomplishments and her efforts to help students with learning disabilities achieve to their full potential by maximizing their strengths.” The school’s nomination letter was scripted by the whole staff and submitted by the principal Dawn Wemigwans. In it, the staff stated, “Caroline always works with her students’ strengths in mind, coaching them to become leaders and independent thinkers. She takes inventory of their interests, stages of readiness and overall social and academic needs…”
After the presentation of the award, Mansourian was visibly moved by the support of the L.D.A.S., the S.C.D.S.B. trustees and superintendents, as well as the full audience of St. David staff that were on hand to share in her celebration, and took a few minutes to share her feelings.
“What a great honour it is to work with a staff that is so understanding and intuitive of one another’s needs, that they don’t just step in with a kind thought or words, but carry out their kindness through compassionate and benevolent acts… One of the best descriptors about working at St. David Catholic School alongside a staff of devoted and tireless advocates, is that we not only provide our students with the knowledge and tools to enrich and build skills, but we also provide them with an overly generous dose of care, compassion, and charity, infused with our genuine concerns for their well-being. We not only teach with our minds, but with our hearts. When we take on this task, we do so wearing many hats… Human relationships are at the heart of all we do in our school. By establishing and building these trusting rapports with our students and their families, we seek to show that the close connectivity in human bonds is the crux of the dignity of the human being.”
The students and staff of St. David also celebrated Mansourian’s award on Wednesday, November 22 with a school presentation of gifts, as well as a short video montage honouring all of her contributions to the school. The event ended with a standing ovation from the entire audience, as they are very proud to call Caroline Mansourian one of their own.
Elders in the Classroom at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School
First Nation Elder, Vince Pawis visited all grade 5 and 6 students at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School on October 30th. The “Elders in the School Project” promotes awareness, understanding and appreciation of the rich histories, cultures and perspectives of First Nation, Metis and Inuit people. The students experienced a smudge and learned about the Medicine Wheel and heard some of the Seven Grandfather Teachings.
SCDSB Educational Assistant’s PA Day- Kelso’s Choice Conflict Management
Educational Assistants were trained on a conflict management curriculum. It is intended for Grades K-5 students and is based on the premise that every child is capable of becoming a peacemaker. Designed around Kelso the frog, this program offers nine options that students can choose from to resolve conflict.
Taking the “Pinky Pledge” at Pius XII
Pius XII Catholic Elementary students participated recently in a ‘Pinky Pledge’ as part of their anti-bullying week events. Pius has linked up with Secret Deodorant with an anti-bullying campaign ‘Mean Stinks’. Girls made a pinky promise to be a ‘Drama Free School’. Students pledged that they will be kind, symbolized by wearing blue polish on their pinky fingers. Pius XII school has many activities and events lined up for 2 weeks to celebrate Bullying Prevention.
“If I can do it, why can’t you?”
Close to one thousand students were touched by the life story of Shayne Smith at St. Charles College this week.
Smith is a member of the Canadian National Wheelchair Basketball team. He competes with only half a hand for dribbling and passing the ball.
Shayne contracted a dangerous and deadly form of meningitis at four months of age. The blood poisoning forced doctors to amputate both his legs and a hand.
To make matters worse, Shayne also had to deal with a rough relationship with his father that led him down a path of drugs, and school suspensions.
His determination has allowed him to triumph and he brought his inspiring message to the students. The story tied in nicely with the school’s anti-bullying message. This month, St. Charles students are active in presentations and activities centred around Bullying Awareness and Prevention month.
Students were very receptive of the presentation and many wanted to take pictures or to exchange words personally with Shayne afterwards.
Students continued the conversation by tweeting and sending Facebook messages to Shayne.
Shayne lives in Toronto but his presentation was provided by an organization called the Tutor Doctor.