Students from Marymount Academy hosted “NSAID” Day (National Students Against Impaired Driving) along with students from high schools all across the country recently. To help focus on the day’s theme, Marymount’s OSAID council (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) played a selection of songs that promoted awareness of this very important event. An information area was also set up in the cafeteria to answer questions from the student body.

The OSAID council had more than 500 students and staff sign their names to the “chain of life,” a huge paper link chain that has become an annual part of NSAID day at Marymount Academy. The signatures on the “chain of life” are a promise that the individuals who have committed to this cause will not drink and drive, nor will they get into a car with a drunk driver. The chain was posted in the cafeteria to remind everyone involved of their commitment. The goal of the “chain of life” is to convey the message to everyone in the school and community that “drinking and driving” is never acceptable.

Over two dozen high school students from the Sudbury Catholic District
School Board learned of the dangers of behaviourial and drug-related
risks at a dramatic day long presentation at the Sudbury Regional
Hospital recently. The Grade 11 students from St. Charles College
were participants in the Prevent Alcohol & Risk Related Trauma in Youth also known as the P.A.R.T.Y. Program. This national program was developed in 1986 by an Emergency Nurse at Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre in Toronto at the request of area teenagers concerned about the growing number of their peers being injured or killed because of risk-taking behaviour. Vanda Cooper,
Administrative Director, Emergency and Medical Program in reference to this special program stated that, “Our intention is to eventually present the program once a month during the school year. With four school boards in this community, the challenge will be to get this message out to all students.” Through the course of the day, students were walked through the steps they might take if they were involved in a trauma, including contact with Paramedic services, the
Emergency Department and the Intensive Care Unit. This was followed by a spinal cord/traumatic brain injury presentation and a tour of the
Rehabilitation Unit. The P.A.R.T.Y. Program is now run at 60 hospitals across North America, including the Sudbury Regional Hospital. Cooper states the program already has a proven track record. “A study undertaken by Sunnybrook Hospital demonstrated the positive benefits of this program, with past participants involved in far fewer traumas and alcohol-related driving offences. It really makes young people think before they make an unfortunate, life altering decision,” concluded Cooper.

Students from grades 7 through 12 and their parents are invited to attend Transitions, an evening designed to help you make key decisions in the transition from elementary school to high school and from high school to a post-secondary institution. With the different streams in high school designed for apprenticeships, college and university, it’s important to know what choices are available to your children as they enter high school, a enter post-secondary institution or the workforce.

The Transitions information session will take place at the St. Charles College auditorium, 1940 Hawthorne Drive, Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.

Admission to this event is free.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board, the Rainbow District School Board, and Cambrian College have partnered with Collège Boréal and Laurentian University to present Transitions. A representative from each organization will be there to present information and to answer your questions. We hope you are able to attend this informative evening.

On October 26, 2004, students from Marymount Academy will be hosting NSAID day (National Students Against Impaired Driving) along with students from all across the country. Marymount’s OSAID council (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) will be in the DJ booth in the cafeteria with a selection of songs that will promote awareness of this very important NSAID day. An information area will be also be available to answer any questions that students may have.

In addition, the OSAID council will have more than 500 students and
staff sign their names to the “chain of life,” a huge paper link chain that has become an annual part of NSAID day at Marymount Academy. The signatures on the “chain of life” are a promise that the individuals who have committed to this cause will not drink and drive, nor will they get into a car with a drunk driver. The chain will be posted in the cafeteria to remind everyone involved of their commitment. The goal is to convey the message to everyone in the school and community that “drinking and driving” is never acceptable.

For more information please contact, Irene Hill-Rondina, Principal at
Marymount Academy, ph. 674-4231.

Grade 11 students at St. Charles College will be attending the P.A.R.T.Y. Program (Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth) at Hôpital Régional de Sudbury Regional Hospital on October 26, 2004 starting at 12:00 p.m. The P.A.R.T.Y. Program is a nationally established one-day, in hospital, injury awareness and prevention program for youth. The program targets teens to educate them about the consequences of poor decision making in relation to
risk-taking behaviours such as drinking and driving, lack of seatbelt
use, not wearing a bike helmet, etc.

Students follow the course of injury from occurrence, through transport, treatment and community reintegration. During this day they interact with a team of health professionals directly involved in the care of trauma patients including paramedics, nurses, physicians and therapists.

For more information on the P.A.R.T.Y Program, please contact Paola
Ciaverlla at St. Charles College, ph. 566-9605.

Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary School in Hanmer Ontario may only house 187 students, but their size doesn’t affect their community spirit.

Bishop Alexander Carter recently hosted its first “Wheel “N” The Hoops” wheelchair basketball exhibition match, helping create awareness and raise funds for both Sudbury’s premier wheelchair basketball team – Sudbury Rolling Thunder – and for Ontario March of Dimes North East Region. Students raised $1,300 in support of Ontario March of Dimes’ Recreation and Integration Program, and to help Sudbury Rolling Thunder purchase a sports wheelchair.

“Students demonstrated incredible spirit towards both our causes during this event,” says Richard P. Migneault, Ontario March of Dimes North East Region fundraising coordinator. “They truly rallied together and made a significant impact in helping to support community programs which will greatly benefit people with disabilities.”

As part of the event, Bishop Alexander Carter students and teachers rolled onto the court to challenge “The Thunder” to two afternoon wheelchair basketball exhibition matches. Counsellor Ron Dupuis and MCTV news anchor Tony Raina joined the teachers on the celebrity team. For many of the challengers, the matches represented the first time they had attempted to manoeuvre a manual wheelchair. As a result, Sudbury Rolling Thunder won both contests.

“Wheel “N” The Hoops is a wonderful educational vehicle to promote the talents and abilities of people with disabilities through the game of wheelchair basketball,” states Richard Marcotte, Sudbury Rolling Thunder’s team captain. “Many are often reluctant to interact with people with disabilities on a social level, however, these matches help to break down some of these types of barriers.”

Organizers wish to thank Beverly Belanger, teacher and event coordinator from Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary, for being so instrumental in organizing the event. Beverly did a marvellous job in coordinating all necessary aspects of the event, and clearly motivated everyone to take part. A very special thanks is also extended to the event timekeepers and referee for ensuring that players from all teams played honestly and fairly. These matches would not have been possible without their involvement on the court. Mr. Brian Beaupre, who supplied outstanding commentary during the matches, must be recognized for his super play-by-play action and for adding so much great humour to the environment. Shoppers Home Healthcare must also be acknowledged for providing several manual wheelchairs for the event, as well as Rolly’s ATV, Marine & Snowmobile, for sponsoring Sudbury Rolling Thunder.

We also wish to congratulate Eric Bellefeuille, the event’s highest pledge earner. Eric collected $320 and won a Sony Discman and a Sony MP3 player. Many thanks go to the Sony Store, Toppers Pizza and other local merchants for supplying prizes for the pledge competition. Last but not least, we once again thank all the students. Their genuine interest and participation has played a significant role in ensuring our programs continue, grow and meet the needs of the disabled community.

Sudbury Rolling Thunder is a group of individuals with its own distinct identity within the sporting community. Sharing a common passion for the game of wheelchair basketball for the past 10 years, the team is the only one of its kind in the Sudbury area dedicated in integrating persons with disabilities and able-bodied game enthusiasts of all ages.

To book a wheelchair basketball exhibition match, please call 1-705-521-1301.

Story reprinted with the permission of Ontario March of Dimes North East Region. Visit their website to learn more.