March 2016 - Sudbury Catholic District School Board

St. David School Learns the Dangers of Fast Moving Water

Posted on March 11, 2016August 23, 2018 by admin

The students at St. David Catholic Elementary School have been learning about the dangers of fast moving water in their community. Students have been reminded that even city ditches filled with water can pose a danger. As spring approaches and the weather continues to get warmer, the amount of water in our creeks, streams and ditches continues to rise. Students were reminded about Adam Dickie, a youth in the community who tragically drown in Junction Creek due to fast-rising water and about the educational campaign that supports the prevention of such tragedies.

Students were cautioned about playing near creeks and streams and reminded to tell their parents where they are playing and with who. “It is so important for all students to understand the seriousness of being around fast moving water, especially in the spring. We hope that our students become leaders in our community and share this message of safety with other children and family members.” said Ginny Long, St. David School grade 3/4 teacher.

SCDSB Survey Almost Closed – We Want to Hear From YOU!

Posted on March 10, 2016August 23, 2018 by admin

Okay Sudbury Catholic community… we are getting close to the closing date of our survey – it will close on March 12th, 2016 at 11:00 p.m. It is VERY important to us that you participate – we want to hear from you! YOUR VOICE MATTERS at Sudbury Catholic and you can take part in phase two of this survey even if you haven’t participated in phase one! To take part, click on the “Join the Conversation” link on the right-hand side of the main page of our SCDSB website.

SCDSB Bringing Literacy to the Community

Posted on March 9, 2016August 23, 2018 by admin

Christine McCracken, a teacher with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board does not teach out of your typical classroom. With the board since October, 2015, McCracken works with adult learners in two different locations. One of her locations is on the Atkikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation Reserve. The second is at the Sudbury jail. It is this second location that inspired a call-out to her fellow SCDSB staff. After meeting with the learners in jail, she realized that many were desperate for something to read. McCracken brought the newspaper in with her during her visits and they couldn’t get enough. After some inquiry, she realized that there weren’t very many books available to the inmates. Inspired by the enthusiasm of these learners, McCracken discussed some strategies with her principal at St. Albert, Aaron Barry. The two decided to do a call-out to all SCDSB staff to see if anyone wanted to donate any new or gently used books to the Sudbury jail. After only a two-week collection period, the staff had donated close to 500 books. “We currently have at least 50 inmates taking part in this programming at the Sudbury jail,” explain McCracken. “We even already have a few really close to getting their high school diplomas. Reaching out to them in this environment has inspired them to want to continue their education after as well, which is wonderful. These books will really help in their learning!”
The St. Albert principal explained that through the St. Albert Learning Centre, some of these individuals were able to gets some credits through PLAR which is the Prior Learning Assessment Recognition program. This assigns credits to individuals towards the secondary school diploma (OSSD) for knowledge and skills that they have acquired outside of secondary school. “McCracken has been a real inspiration with these particular learners as she really motivates learning and encourages them to continue working towards their OSSD,” Barry stated. “Through the support of the SCDSB, we are able to bring continuing education to a group that may otherwise not consider continuing on with their education. It is a great program, and we are thankful to all of our coworkers and SCDSB staff for their generous book donations –they will make a positive difference!”

For more information about continuing education, PLAR, or getting your OSSD, contact St. Albert Learning Centre at (705) 673-3031.

SCDSB Hosts FitSpirit Launch for a Second Year

Posted on March 9, 2016August 23, 2018 by admin

On Wednesday, March 9, 2016, Olympic Athlete Angella Goran, visited MMA to introduce FitSpirit. FitSpirit is a specialized program solely for women and girls. It is a cardio-based program, alternating between running, calisthenics and fitness. SCDSB teacher Chantal Dagostino hosted the launch, and invited female students from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School, St Anne Catholic Elementary School, St. Paul Catholic Elementary School and St. John Catholic Elementary School who will be participating in Fitspirit to the event launch. Fitspirit is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help teenage girls discover the advantages and the enjoyment that come from taking part in physical activity. This knowledge will allow them to develop a healthy lifestyle based on realizing their own potential.
Since 2007, FitSpirit has travelled to the four corners of Ontario and Quebec to create awareness among teenage girls about the various ways they can take part in physical activity. Through the school based FitClub program, FitSpirit provides the opportunity for teenage girls to learn the basics of healthy nutrition and exposes them to activities that inspire physical activity with their friends. In Ontario and Quebec last year, over 10,000 girls participated in Fitspirit.
Last year the Sudbury Catholic District School Board had ten Catholic Elementary and Secondary schools involved with even more participating this year. In the final culminating run that was held at Laurentian University at the end of last year, there were over 286 girls who participated. This year looks very promising with a potential of over 500 girls gathering at Laurentian University on June 5th, 2016 to partake in their final task, completing either a 5 k or 10 k with over 20 schools from the Sudbury Region participating. As well, this 5k and 10 k will be open to all women and girls in Sudbury!

For more information on FitSpirit, please contact Chantal Dagostino at: Chantal.dagostino@fitspirit.ca

St. Charles Elementary Students are Shown the Door!

Posted on March 8, 2016August 23, 2018 by admin

Students at St. Charles Catholic Elementary School in Chelmsford had the opportunity to admire a commemorative door that arrived at their school. This symbolic door contains beautifully laser-etched panels representing every school in the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. The door unites all of our schools with this year’s Catholic Education Week theme “Opening Doors of Mercy”, which aligns with Pope Francis’s declaration that this be a Holy Year.

This stunning piece of woodcraft has students, parents and visitors stopping in their tracks to marvel in it’s beauty. Several students shared what they thought of the door. Emma Carpenter, Grade 6, said “this door shows us that each school is different in their own way”.
Nicole Walker, Grade 8 explained, “I like how the door represents our Catholic school communities and how much we love each other through God by showing each other mercy”.
Andrew O’Brien, Grade 5 shared that “this door reminds us that the door to God is always open”.
Delia Ross-Arseneault, Grade 6, stated “I like how the door shows us all of the Catholic schools around Sudbury that come together to pray to God”.

Students gathered in the gymnasium for a brief introduction and prayer service. The door was then sent to St. Alexander’s Parish for a school mass and shared with the parishioners on the weekend and will return to St. Charles for another week before moving on.

St. James Chess Team Wins First Place

Posted on March 8, 2016August 23, 2018 by admin

Congratulations to the St. James Catholic Elementary School Chess Team who won first place at the recent Sudbury Catholic District School Board Chess Tournament. Coach, Ms. Machum has been strategizing with this group of chess players in preparation for the tournament as well as a club at the school to just have some fun! Way to Go Bears!

St. Charles Elementary FDK FI Students Have an ‘Amazingly Delicious’ Field Trip at Topper’s Pizza in Chelmsford

Posted on March 8, 2016August 23, 2018 by admin

In Mme Wissell and Mme Huneault’s FDK FI class, St. Charles Catholic Elementary School students have been doing an inquiry about pizza for the last few weeks. They have been writing menus, ordering sizes from small, medium and large and counting slices. At the art centre, students painted pizzas and decorated pizza boxes. In the dramatic play centre, students created their own pizzeria, where they took orders and filled the order by building pizzas using ‘dough’.
To culminate this inquiry, students went on a field trip to Topper’s Pizza in Chelmsford, where they learned how real pizza is made! Students made their own pizzas and were fascinated as they watched the pizzas they created go into the oven on one side and come out ‘amazingly delicious’ on the other side!

St. David Students Make Cards of Compassion

Posted on March 4, 2016August 23, 2018 by admin

To highlight February’s virtue of the month and continue to instil in students the importance of compassion, St. David Catholic Elementary School students from teacher Lindsey Michel’s FDK class, teacher Todd Rayne’s grade 2/3 class, and teacher Terry-Lynn Lepage’s grade 3 class made get-well cards for children across Northern Ontario who are currently undergoing treatment for various types of cancer. “When I contacted the NOFCC (Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer) and explained to them what we wanted to do they thought it was a great idea” Rayne explained. The cards of hope will be given to the Pediatric Interlink Nurse who will deliver them to the children as she travels across Northern Ontario.

To find out how you can help, you are encouraged to visit http://nofcc.ca

Or stop by their head office:

Northern Ontario Families of Children With Cancer
667 St. Clair Street
Sudbury, Ontario
P3E 4G9
Phone Number: 705-586-3229
Toll Free: 1-888-993-9227
Fax Number: 705-673-7715

SCDSB “Door of Mercy” On Display at SCDSB Schools

Posted on March 4, 2016August 23, 2018 by admin

To celebrate the Year of Mercy, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board ‘Door of Mercy’, created by SCDSB staff has been “traveling” throughout the system and is on display at our schools and some parishes. Launched in December at St. David Catholic Elementary School, the door is pictured here at St. Alexander Parish with St. Charles Catholic Elementary School Principal David Soehner and SCDSB Trustee Ray Desjardins.