Sudbury Catholic District School Board

St. Charles School in Chelmsford Hosts a ‘CEREALsly’ Entertaining Fundraiser For the Friendship House Food Bank 

 To spread kindness this past Fall, staff and students at St. Charles Catholic School in Chelmsford collected 245 boxes of cereal to help feed the community through the Friendship House Food Bank. 

Students collected boxes of cereal throughout the community for two weeks. On November 18, 2022, the school celebrated their efforts by creating a giant row of dominos and visually demonstrating how one small act of kindness can cause a ripple effect. 

Melodie Winn, Grade 2/3 French Immersion Teacher at St. Charles School hopes to complete this fundraiser each year! 

“At St. Charles, we are always looking for ways to help our community. Giving students an opportunity to see how a small act of kindness can make a big difference for others is always rewarding as a teacher. It was very exciting to watch as the boxes toppled over, and the students cheered with excitement, all while understanding that there is a greater cause behind it,” she said. 

“Melodie Winn’s idea that one small act can create a massive positive impact for our community has provided our students with a wonderful opportunity to help create social justice for all,” said Angela Polischuk, Principal at St. Charles School. 

“We enjoyed helping people that don’t have as much food. It was cool to watch the cereal boxes fall!” said Ashton Willoughby, Grade 3 at St. Charles School. 

To take their message of kindness one step further, St. Charles Rams are asking schools within our community to complete their own cereal box domino chains in support of local Food Banks. 

BAC Constructs Custom Warming Station for Local Snowmobile Club

Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary School built a custom warming station for the Valley Trailmasters Snowmobile Club. Over 70 students in grades seven through 12 worked on the warming shelter, which took approximately seven weeks to complete. Most of the 70 participating students were students in Grades 7 and 8, with a small group of current SHSM students acting as mentors in their supporting roles. Throughout the course of the project, the grade 7 and 8 students were exposed to Bishop Alexander Carter’s technology courses and trades areas, as well as the Green Industries and Manufacturing Specialist High Skills Major Programs, which Grade 11 and 12 students are able to enrol in.

“There are so many job opportunities in the trades right now. We try to start introducing students to the trades as young as Grade Seven, so that they can see the pathway opportunities with their own eyes. Students designed and constructed everything within the shelter – from the fireplace to the frame. I’m very proud of them,” said Paul Mailloux, Co-Op teacher at Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S.

Grade 12 student, Noah Brabant throughly enjoyed the experience.

“The best part about the experience was completing the welding. That’s why I wanted to do this, I wanted the experience to learn about trades and experience it first hand!” he said.

First Sunday of Advent: The Candle of Prophecy / Symbolizing Hope

November 27 marks the first Sunday of Advent for 2022. Together, we all await the birth of a baby boy, the light of the world, coming to transform us, so that we can transform the world. The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8th. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season of Advent and are represented by the colour purple. During Advent it is fitting that we celebrate the virtue of patience, for we recognize that we are patiently awaiting Jesus’ coming.

Advent Prayer

Dear Lord,

Send down Your Spirit to guide me during Advent this year. May the Holy Spirit help me journey closer to You and lift me up when I feel down and led me when I feel lost. I may stumble at times, but I know my ultimate journey is to draw closer to You and build Your kingdom here on earth–a kingdom that Jesus’s birth, life and death helped secure.

Amen.

Candle
The first Sunday of Advent represents the Candle of Prophecy and symbolizes Hope.

Advent Resources

The Jesse Tree

Best Advent Ever

Pray as you Go

Children’s Advent Calendar

Busted Halo

2022 Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week

November 20th, 2022 is the beginning of Ontario’s 9th annual Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. This week allows school boards to focus the spotlight for one week on promoting safe schools and creating a positive learning environment.

Bullying prevention promotes the development of healthy relationships that involve respectful interactions between people, face-to-face and online. The goal is to help ensure that all students have healthy, safe, respectful and caring relationships with everyone in their lives. 

Teachers, parents/guardians, and other adults support and act as role models for students by showing them how healthy relationships can work. Students’ positive relationships with other students depend on positive relationships with adults. 

Students who have healthy relationships will be less likely to bully others, more likely to support students who are bullied and better able to reach their educational goals. Together, we are all invited to learn more about bullying by exploring reverent resources and participating in activities to identify and eradicate it.

Resources

Prev Net Tip Sheets

Prev Net – Bullying Info for Parents

Kids Help Phone

Bullying Canada

Ontario: Bullying – we can all help stop it

Sudbury Catholic District School Board Holds Inaugural Meeting

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board held its Inaugural meeting on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. 

At the meeting, Michael Bellmore was re-elected Board Chair and Raymond Desjardins was re-elected Vice-Chair of the Board. 

“I am proud to serve as Board Chair,” said Michael Bellmore, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “I would like to thank my fellow Trustees for entrusting me with this role. I look forward to working with my fellow Trustees, the Director of Education, and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board community, as we fulfill our mission of nurturing and developing the minds, bodies, and spirits of all students within our Catholic community. I am delighted to continue to support the excellent work taking place in our schools and to continue to advance a strong and vibrant Catholic education system.” 

“I thank my fellow Trustees for electing me as Vice Chair,” said Ray Desjardins, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Working with such talented and dedicated Trustees and staff over these past twelve years has made my role much easier. I was raised in a Catholic home and attended Catholic schools throughout my childhood. I’ve been in Catholic Education as educator and Trustee for over 50 years – Catholic Education is in my DNA. I will enjoy the next four years.” 

The Inaugural Meeting also began the new term for Trustees Jody Cameron, Shirley McKnight, and Stefano Presenza. Both Shirley and Stefano are new to the Board of Trustees, having been elected to their positions as a result of the recent election. 

The meeting began with a mass which was officiated by Father Rex Lumine. Board meetings take place on the third Tuesday of each month during the school year at 6 p.m. and are open to the public. 

St. James Students Create Wampum Belts As Part of Treaty Recognition Week

The Gr. 2/3 class learned about how a treaty is a promise. They talked about how Indigenous people made Wampum belts to signify treaties.  The students designed their own wampum belt patterns and then beaded them.

St. Albert Students Attend Debwewin Play During Treaty Recognition Week

The Alternative Programs at St. Albert Adult Learning Centre PEACE and U-Turn were given the opportunity to attend Place des Arts this Treaty Week to witness Debwewin Play.  Debwewin is an Anishinaabe word for ‘speaking the truth’ and that is exactly what the play was about.  The students learned about Canada’s true history through monologues, dances, songs and mixed-media art.  It was an experiential learning opportunity that will not be forgotten.     

Local Indigenous Artist Visits St. Anne School

Jessica Somers, Indigenous visual artist from Focal Point Artistry facilitated a full day of learning about wampum belt with students in honour of Treaty Recognition Week. Along with the support from Ms. Carissa, the Indigenous Support Worker, students had the opportunity to learn about the history and significance of the wampum belt and paint their own wampum stories on a canvas. Jessica ended the day by leading the students through a smudging ceremony and a closing drumming song.

Robinson Huron Treaty Delegation Hosted at St. Benedict and St. Charles College

A Robinson Huron Treaty delegation led by Ogimaa (Chief) Nootchtai, Ogimaa Toulouse, and Ogimaa Pawis was hosted at St. Benedict C.S.S and St. Charles College in honour of Treaty Recognition Week. The theme was “Restoring the Balance – Treaty Talks with Tomorrow’s Leaders”. At this gathering, Grade 6 students from St. James School, Holy Cross School, and St. Francis School had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the Robinson Huron Treaty with the Chiefs. Ultimately, students and staff walked away with a greater perspective on the importance of treaties and treaty relationships and some prizes! Chi-miigwetch! We are incredibly appreciative of the fantastic visit and educational opportunity.

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