Students and staff from Marymount Academy received word the last week of January that their participation in the attempt to set the World Record for the Largest Practical Science Lesson at Multiple Venues this past October was a success. The event had a record number of participants – over 17,000 Canadians at 121 different locations across the country taking part in the science lesson. After reviewing all the information, data and video submitted, Guinness has confirmed that the record was in fact set and the attempt was successful. As some events and data were exempt, the official total of participants is 12, 701 and 88 different locations. Students at Marymount Academy had the opportunity to participate and teacher Lise Callahan organized the event for the grade 7,8,10 and 12 students.
“It was a really unique event for our students,” Callahan stated. “Just at the school level, our students really jumped on board and had a lot of fun working through the experiments and applying their science knowledge. Having learned that Marymount Academy’s participation in such a large record setting attempt was successful, it makes our the event even that much more exciting on a much, much bigger scale! Working through all of the set up, organization and follow-up, being a part of the inclusion into the Guinness Book of World Records definitely makes it all worth while!”
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St. Benedict Receives Grant from Lowes
St. Benedict Catholic Secondary teacher John Doyon figured he had nothing to lose when he applied for a grant through Lowes Canada for his woodshop class. Each year, Lowes Canada gives away $10,000 to community organizations to support their projects. Doyon had a plan for his class and thought it would be worthwhile to see if perhaps it could be funded through this initiative. Doyon, as well as the St. Benedict staff and students were thrilled to learn that they were successful in their grant application and would receive a cheque for $5000 to support their project. Based on the curriculum expectations, Doyon’s project involves the production of a tool crib for his woodshop classes that would allow for improved monitoring of tool inventory for the school. As part of the application process, the students had to put together and submit all specs for the project including design and drawings. As well, the group had to endorse their project to Lowes and show them why they should support and fund the project.
Mike Porter, Manager for the Sudbury Lowes presented Doyon with $5000 cheque on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 on behalf of the store.
“What a great surprise for the students and staff at St. Benedict,” said Doyon. “ We are very thankful to Lowes for generously supporting us with this project, and are excited to get started with the second semester class to bring our idea and project design to fruition.” The class will be working to get the tool crib plans constructed and finished by this June.
Rocks and Rings a New Experience at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School
Recently, students at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School in Hanmer had the opportunity to participate in Rocks and Rings, a program that is delivered to elementary school students to develop an awareness of the Olympic sport curling. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board students were engaged in a variety of activities throughout their session and actively participated in a curling experience in the school’s gymnasium. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 enjoyed their new experience and asked a number of questions about the game of curling. “It was fun to interact with and learn the game of curling with our peers,” said Spencer Gagnon, a grade 8 student at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School. “It was fun having a friendly competition with our friends while we were learning the game,” said Seth Duguay, another student at the school. Overall, students were engaged with this new experience and enjoyed trying a new physical activity.
Every Penny Makes a Difference at St. Anne Catholic School
Over the past two weeks, students from JK to grade 8 at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School in Hanmer participated in a fundraising activity as they celebrated “Responsibility”, the Catholic Virtue of the month. Students raised $531.21 for “Pennies for Pediatrics” and are very proud of their accomplishment. “Bringing in coins made me feel good to help the kids who need this pool,” said Samantha Boyd, a grade 5 student at the school.
“Pennies for Pediatrics” is a fundraising campaign that raises funds for a therapeutic Snoezelen Pool, a pool with specialty lighting and other sensory stimulation equipment. This pool is used for the treatment of children with autism and other developmental conditions. The St. Anne Catholic School community volunteered to do its part and work with Perkin’s Restaurant and Bakery to donate change to “Pennies for Pediatrics.” The students hope that St. Anne Catholic School is making a difference in the lives of other young children in our community.
Bringing in Small Change to Make BIG Change
Since October, the Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School grade 3 students from teacher Eva Scola’s class, and the grade 3/4 students from teacher Shanna Whalen’s class have been learning about the water crisis in Ghana, Africa. The students were involved in the 2012/2013 School Challenge through the Ryan’s Well Foundation, that involved raising awareness, and money, to build a well and laterines in Ghana. The students came together to engage in discussions, and to create a plan that would make others in the school aware of Ryan’s Well, and the lack of clean water in Africa. These students had a goal to raise $750. Through pledges from families, the collection of coins in our class piggy banks, and a truly amazing participation in our Wacky Hair for Water Day- Bringing in small change to make BIG Change in Africa-, the students of Holy Cross were able to more than double their goal. They raised $1689! “We are extremely proud of our students,” said Shanna. Whalen. “They demonstrated a genuine concern for people they don’t even know. They were able to get their message across to their peers, through their great Christian leadership. They wanted to make a difference, and they definitely did.”
TRANSPORTATION CANCELLED, SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN – SUDBURY, ESPANOLA AND MASSEY DISTRICTS
Due to road conditions and in the interest of safety, all school related transportation services for English catholic, English public, French catholic and French public schools, operating in the districts of SUDBURY, ESPANOLA AND MASSEY (this includes all areas such as St-Charles, Noelville, Monetville, Markstay, Hagar, Warren, Wahnapitae, Coniston, Killarney, Whitefish, Whitefish River First Nations, Onaping, Chelmsford, Capreol, Valley East, Garson, Chelmsford, Azilda, …) are cancelled today. All schools will remain open, however, NO transportation will be provided. Parents who transport their children to school are reminded that they must pick their children up at the end of the school day.
FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS – As transportation has been cancelled for today – Thursday, January 31st, the Period 4 exam will be held on Monday, February 4th. Monday will be a regular school day. All students will report to homeroom. Following homeroom, the Period 4 exam will be written. Those students not writing an exam will be given an alternative activity. Semester 2 Period 1, 2. 3 and 4 classes will begin following lunch. Please contact your school for more information.
Collected 2, 286 and still counting….
The Grade 5 ‘Dearness Conservation’ students at Pius XII Catholic Elementary School are collecting used batteries that the students have brought in as part of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board Environmental Policy, “Catholic education is to encourage students and staff to develop respect for the environment and become committed to the wise use of resources” as well as promote and foster “the concept of the stewardship of the earth.” Classroom teacher, Amanda Schiafone, states the importance of the program at the school. Schiafone says that ‘our school participates in many activities/events throughout the school year, such the ‘3 R’s’, energy conservation, litterless lunches and many more, however, I am very impressed with all the support from students and parents from our battery recycling collection’. To this date, the students at Pius have brought in 2,286 batteries! The students will continue collecting batteries until June 1st.
FULL DAY Kindergarten Information/Registration Night -TODAY – Tuesday, February 5, 2013
There will be an information/registration night TODAY – Tuesday, February 5, 2013 for all parents interested in registering their child(ren) at one of the Sudbury Catholic elementary schools for FULL DAY Kindergarten beginning September, 2013.
The information/registration night will start at 6:00 p.m. For more information about this event, please contact your local Catholic elementary school. For contact information about each school, go to http://www.scdsb.edu.on.ca/schools/schools.php, or contact the board office at (705)673-5620.
TRANSPORTATION CANCELLED, SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN – SUDBURY, ESPANOLA MASSEY AND MANITOULIN DISTRICTS
Due to the road conditions and in the interest of safety, all school related transportation services for English catholic, English public, French catholic and French public schools, operating in the districts of SUDBURY, ESPANOLA, MASSEY AND MANITOULIN are cancelled today. All schools will remain open, however, NO transportation will be provided. Parents who transport their children to school are reminded that they must pick their children up at the end of the school day.
The School Boards advise students and parents that secondary school exams taking place today will be rescheduled to tomorrow. Please check your school’s website, or call the school, for revisions to the exam schedule.