This past weekend an Earth Day Festival was held at Market Square at which there was food, information, and artwork on display. Students in both systems were encouraged to submit works of art that dealt with environmental issues. These works were juried and Cassidy McAuliffe, a Grade 11 student from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School won first place. This was Cassidy’s second time she and her artwork have gained recognition in the community as she was one of the students whose work was also on display at the Art Gallery of Sudbury recently.
Category: Arts
St. Benedict Shares the Gift of Music
On April 13th, St. Christopher staff and students were treated to a wonderful concert by the St. Benedict Secondary School Concert Band. Under the direction of Ms. JoAnne Comisso the band performed contemporary favourites, which included selections from the Lion King, Princess and the Frog and Phantom of the Opera. This was a great opportunity for St. Christopher’s students to experience a live orchestra. They were definitely entertained and had lots of fun.
A big thank you to Ms. Comisso and her band for taking the time to share the gift of music with St. Christopher School!
St. Ben’s Students “Make the Cut” in Art
Every year, the Art Gallery of Sudbury has an exhibition showcasing local high school students. This year, three students from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School have been selected to be a part of a juried exhibition which means that not every piece of work submitted “makes the cut”. St. Ben’s students Matt White, Katy Peacock and Cassidy McAuliffe have been chosen to be a part of the group of selected artists making up this showcase of art work. The students art teacher, Bruno Timpano, was thrilled that his students were chosen to be a part of this exhibition and was really proud of them for being selected. The exhibition begins on March 4 and runs through right to the end of the month. The opening gala will be held on Thursday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m.
Two Thumbs Up for “The Nickel Stops Here”!
“The Nickel Stops Here” is a play written and produced by Marlene Lee, the Grade 6/7 teacher at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School.This musical/comedy is an original script and score that Lee wrote about the Greater Sudbury area. As someone who moved here from southern Ontario, Lee wanted to give her perspective on life in the North. The play includes the Grade 6/7 class playing the parts of the leads, the JK/K class as the black flies and the JK FI class as the blueberries. The story is about King Inco and Queen Nephawin who need their son, Moose, to take over the throne of the Kingdom of Sudbury. Moose only wants to hunt and fish. His sister, the Princess Laurentian, is eager and willing to put Sudbury on the map environmentally and to rule it. According to the kingdom’s constitution, however, she must be married to do so. Laurentian must battle the two princes from Espanola and Wahnapitae in a game of Jeopardy to see who wins the throne. The students have been working for months in preparation for their show and it is very evident that the hard work has paid off. The play deserves two very big thumbs up for the efforts of the students and Marlene Lee for their outstanding production!
Sudbury Catholic Schools Gets Big Boost from the Community of Killarney
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Outdoor Education Centre is one step closer to completion thanks to a huge financial boost from the municipality of Killarney.
The Killarney Shebanoning Outdoor Environmental Education Centre received a cheque from the municipality for the sum of $20,000. Dawn Wemigwans, Vice-Principal of the Centre was thrilled that the municipality was able to contribute to the Centre’s development. “The municipality of Killarney has given us its full support from the very beginning of this project,” stated Wemigwans. From our first original meeting with the town and its community members a year ago, Killarney has been a true partner.” Three staff members of the municipality office presented Wemigwans with the cheque. “This money is a significant sum, and will go toward our next steps in making this centre a truly unique adventure for all that come to experience it.”
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is once again very thankful to the town of Killarney for continuing to champion the Centre.
St. Charles College Creates New Aboriginal Award in Honour of Grand Council Chief
A visit from Grand Council Chief John Beaucage has inspired St. Charles College to dedicate an award in his name at its most recent graduation ceremonies. The Chief John Beaucage Award is presented each year to an outstanding graduating student of Aboriginal ancestry who demonstrates leadership, a positive attitude, extra-curricular involvement, and pride in cultural identity. The student must also exemplify the St. Charles College motto of “Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge” and holds in high regard the Seven Grandfather Teachings- Wisdom, Love, Respect, Bravery, Honesty, Humility and Truth.
St. Charles College is proud to announce that the 2009 Chief John Beaucage Award was presented to Brent Toulouse. Brent is both a football player and a basketball player at St. Charles College and demonstrated his dedication to extra curricular activity by coaching his little brother’s football team in the Joe MacDonald football league over the summer.
Brent is a graduate of the Mkwa Police Mentorship Program offered at St. Charles College, and aspires to be a police officer. He is also a strong advocate with respect to restoring and resurrecting his Native culture and heritage by stating very strongly and humbly that he would like his language, Anishinabemowin, taught in his school. He is a leader in his Native Studies and Outdoor Education classes. Brent Toulouse is truly deserving of the Chief John Beaucage Award.
Chief John Beaucage was deeply honoured to have the award presented in his name. The school is planning to set up a visit with John Beaucage and the students again in the fall.
Donation is music to our ears, says Sudbury Catholic Board
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board enthusiastically welcomed a cheque presentation from Newcap Radio’s Director of Programming, Rick Tompkins, at its first regular board meeting of the 2009-2010 school year. The cheque in the amount of $4,665 was donated to the Board to purchase and/or repair musical equipment in the Board’s family of schools.
The presentation also honours Newcap’s part of the agreement wherein if the Sudbury Catholic District School Board wrote a letter to the CRTC supporting Newcap Radio’s application to launch a new FM Radio Station in Sudbury; if Newcap was successful in that bid it would in return donate monies to the Board’s music program. The CRTC did in fact sanction Newcap’s request for a new radio station which led to the subsequent launch of the company’s new “Top Forty” radio station “the new Hot 93.5” a couple of weeks ago.
Jody Cameron, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is very pleased with the donation. “We truly appreciate Newcap Radio’s support for our music program,” stated Cameron. “This money will allow us to enhance the compliment of instruments and the music program in our schools. Newcap Radio has established itself as community-based radio station that will go to great lengths to support many of the City of Greater Sudbury’s and our Board’s local initiatives and charitable events, such as our annual Big Daddy Food Drive with St. Charles College.”
According to Rick Tompkins, Director of Programming for Newcap Radio, there is a definite need for a TOP FORTY format focusing on new music here in Sudbury. The new music will also attract many new radio listeners including students of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board in both the elementary and secondary schools. Tompkins believes, “Before the launch of the new Hot 93.5 there really was no radio station in the City of Greater Sudbury that played a format that catered to an audience that wants new music. Sudbury deserves a radio station like the new Hot 93.5, we welcome our listeners to reach out to us by inviting us into their homes, cars and events.”
Aboriginal art show to be held today
Sudbury Catholic District School Board will be hosting an Aboriginal Art show today from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Board’s Catholic Education Office located at 165A D’Youville Street.
There will be an Opportunity for the media to take pictures and do interviews with successful young elementary and secondary artists who use culture and spirituality in the creation of their artwork to transmit feelings, emotions and ideas of our world and our identity. Student hand drumming and Drumming with the grandfather drum will occur throughout the evening as well.
St. Charles College Presents Tony Award Winning Broadway Play, “Into the Woods”
St. Charles College Theatre recently presented one of their best performances to date. Their drama, art and music students have once again joined forces to showcase their incredible talents!
Into the Woods is a fractured fairy tale that borrows from the original fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson. Characters such as Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood, Jack and the Beanstock, The Baker and his Wife, a Wicked Witch, princes, stepmothers and a hungry wolf go on an adventurous journey “into the woods” to find their wish.
The show explores what happens after “happily ever after.” The “Shrek-like” humour, excellent music, singing and dancing is a definite hit with all audiences and the St. Charles College Theatre group is excited for what will come out of the woodwork for next year!