On Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Immaculate Conception School organized a Family Numeracy Hour. Parents and grandparents were invited to come play cards with their children. Not only was it fun, but parents and grandparents became involved in helping their children learn math while they engaged in “hands-on learning” with playing cards. JK and SK students practiced number recognition, primary students focused on adding card numbers together and junior students practiced their multiplication skills by playing a new version of High Card. All students received a deck of cards to bring home so that they can play exciting “math” card games with their parents. Parents have a very important role in helping their child practice math skills at home, and when it is disguised as a math game, students enjoy it so much more!
Author: admin
Sudbury Catholic Music Extravaganza
On Wednesday May 4, Sudbury Catholic Schools presented a “Music Extravaganza” for students, parents and community at Marymount Academy. This event, organized by Sudbury Catholic teachers Leanne Urso, JoAnne Comisso and Brittany Goldsborough, was held during Catholic Education Week as a celebration of music education. Students from St. Francis, St. Raphael, Pius XII, St. Anne, Marymount Academy, St. Charles College and St. Benedict gathered together to showcase all their hard work and talent. There were several award-winning bands performing, fresh from competition at the Northern Ontario Music Festival and the Kiwanis Music Festival, as well as the cast of St. Charles’ production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. The night was such a great success that plans are already underway to make it an annual event!
School Works as a Team to Support Community
St. David School parent Council, along with parent and community volunteers support the Donovan and Flour Mill communities by hosting a “Community Closet” every month at St. David Catholic School. The volunteers collect gently used clothing, toys, books and home appliances throughout each month and then offer these items to community members, students and families in need. The volunteers include grade 8 students, parents and community members wanting to support their neighbours. The “community closet” will start again in September 2011, when the next school year begins. St. David parent Council, “thanks everyone for their generosity and support”. They “appreciate the donations and feel great that they were able to give back to their community”.
Have you spotted your first monarch of the season?
Spring is an exciting time for kindergarten students. It is an opportunity for them to look for signs of spring. This month, the Early Learning Kindergarten students at St. Raphael School were learning about the life cycle of these butterflies. They even made one in art class. The students learned that monarch butterflies begin to arrive in Canada at the end of May. The bulk of them arrive in June.
Pius Students Take Part in “Read With Me”
With the increased emphasis on community outreach and parent involvement in ELK classrooms, Pius XII school is pleased to announce their “Read With Me” program which offers parents the opportunity to come into the classroom to read with the children. The program was launched during Catholic Education Week and featured a comic story about the night before Mother’s Day. After the reading, students shared their plans for their Moms and made connections to other similar texts read throughout the year. ELK teams are always looking for ways to promote a love for reading and this program is doing just that!”
St. John’s Third Annual Relay for Life
As part of the school’s Catholic Education activities, St. John Elementary School held their third annual relay for life on May 6, 2011. Students, staff and invited guests started off their day in the gymnasium to listen to speakers from local cancer organizations talk about the positive impact the school’s relay has had on the community. As well, survivors connected to the school– be it parents, grandparents, friends etc, were introduced as honoured guests (donning yellow survivor t-shirts) and all were holding balloons with inspirational messages written on them. For the first part of the relay, the survivors and their family did their own few laps and the students stood in the middle of the loop and clapped and encouraged them shouting this year’s relay theme – “Fight Back!” At the end of the survivor’s loop, they released their balloons into the air taking with them, their hopes and wishes. The students then joined in and the relay officially began. After the walking portion was over, the entire school took part in a votive ceremony presided over by Father Sam D’Angelo. The grand total collected by St. John’s was an astounding $3437.94. “It is a day about celebrating courage and strength,” said Tricia Dowdall-Cerilli, principal of the school. “We remember those who have lost their battle and support the students and family left behind. It truly connects the school, parish and community as we stand united againstt cancer and whole-heartedly encourage those with the disease to Fight Back!”
St. Francis Students Learn from Sudbury Rising Stars
The students and staff at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School had the opportunity recently to watch a performance by the Sudbury Rising Stars. The Rising Stars is an organization that performs skits related to issues for seniors such as hazards, health issues, hearing issues, using walkers etc. The group has previously performed for adult groups including the Catholic Women’s League for the past three years, but their performance for the St. Francis students was their first time in front of children. Shirley Miles, coordinator of the group wanted the students to learn about these different issues that seniors face. As many of the students have grandparents and other seniors in their life, Miles explained that it is a great opportunity for them to have a better understanding of their potential problems and how to deal with them. Laurie Petryna, St. Francis Principal, felt it was a great way for their students to connect with all of the seniors in their life and to reinforce the importance of encouraging respectful relationships with them.
St. James School and Sunny Fournier team up for Haiti
St. James Catholic School kicked off its May virtue of Empathy with an inspirational presentation by the school custodian Sunny Fournier. Fournier visited Haiti after the devastating earthquakes and he shared a slideshow with the students depicting the struggles but also the hopes of Haitians as they try to rebuild. As a living testament to the virtue of empathy—(putting yourself in someone else’s shoes) a silver coin collection took place and in the usual generous ways St. James school donated the proceeds to “Mission Par La Foie” Orphanage.
Sunny Fournier continues to collect donations and support to help build “Mission Par La Foie”—an orphanage, school and medical clinic—three connected service buildings for the community of Gressier (Epic Centre). If anyone wishes to donate to this cause contact Sunny Fournier at St. James Catholic School or visit www.saveourhaiti.com.
St. Christopher Culminates Catholic Education Week With “Living Rosary”
The Spirit of God was alive at St. Christopher School during Catholic Education Week. Teachers and students took part in several activities that reflected the theme, “Celebrating the Spirit.” One of the highlights of the week was a presentation by the entire school to family and friends, which included songs, poems, cards and a video presentation. On Friday, the school created a beautiful depiction of a living Rosary. The activity began with all of our students circling the gym – the lights were turned off. As they prayed each part of the Rosary, candles were lit, and, ultimately the entire gym was illuminated in a representation of the Rosary. It was a glorious sight!
A special thank you to all staff and students for making Catholic Education Week a great success.