November 10th, 2011 – Aboriginal students at St. Charles College took part in a university and college fair on November 10 in the school gymnasium. The information sessions allowed students to choose their post secondary options with the help of each school’s Aboriginal Recruitment Officer. There were twenty-two post secondary institutions from across the province taking part.
The event was arranged by the school’s Native Studies department. Native Studies teacher Jennifer Petahtegoose has been organizing the event for the last three years. She says students from grades 10 to 12 are being included.
Melvin Peltier, a Native Student Recruitment Officer with Sault College says, “Aboriginal students don’t always go to the big university and college information nights. These students much prefer a small setting and more of a one-on-one experience.”
Category: Indigenous Education
Representing and Honouring Culture
On Friday, October 28th, Maclean’s 2011 Universtiy Rankings hit newstands. On that same day, Kelly Nootchtai, St Benedict’s Class of 2009, visited a Native Studies class at St. Charles College to talk about the importance of making good choices and Aboriginal Education. This is significant because Kelly is on the cover of this issue. She is a third year Native Studies and Philosophy student at Laurentian University and understands the value of a good education. She talks fondly of her years in elementary school taking Ojibwe classes at St James. Kelly looked forward to continuing the language program at the secondary level but, it wasn’t until her graduating year that St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School was able to offer any Native Studies programming. Kelly talked about how lucky the students are to have Native Studies as an option and having great teachers like St. Charles College teacher Jennifer Petahtegoose. Both Kelly and Ms. Petahtegoose are members of Atikameksheng Anishinawbek (formerly Whitefish Lake First Nation near Naughton). Students listening to Kelly’s message were inspired and felt a sense of cultural pride. Ms. Petahtegoose stated “As a community member we are very proud of Kelly’s accomplishments and as an Anishinaabe educator I am always looking for positive First Nation, Metis and Inuit role models. Kelly has overcome obstacles to get where she is today and we are proud that she is one of our graduates and can share her story to inspire those coming up behind her.” After the talk, Kelly signed covers of the magazine and Ms Petahtegoose served homemade cookies and cedar tea.
St. Charles Elementary Kicks Off Dearness Conservation
Students at St. Charles Elementary Catholic School gathered in the gymnasium on October 14, 2011 in a traditional way for their Dearness Conservation kickoff. Students and staff support, promote and practice programs that foster stewardship of the earth which are integrated with the Medicine Wheel teachings, Catholic Graduate Expectations and Virtues of the month.
St. Charles teachers and students were assigned a Direction and asked to dress in the colour corresponding in the Medicine Wheel (East-yellow, South-red, West-black and North-white). They were called down to the gym by Direction starting with the East and ending in the North. Students wrapped around the gym forming a human Medicine Wheel as they sat attentively and listened to the teachings of Elder, Vince Pawis. Following the teachings, Gr. 5 teacher, Ms. Cormier explained the importance of the Dearness Conservation Program and how each student is responsible for making a commitment to a healtheir Mother Earth.
The students are excited to learn about their role as stewards of the earth and how they can make a difference.
Thank You Teacher!
Since 1994, World Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5. It is a day to celebrate the profession and to promote international standards for the teaching profession. The theme for this year is : Teachers for gender equality. Today, Daven Neddo, a Grade 3 student at St. Charles Elementary Catholic school, said thank you to his classroom teacher, Mrs. Harris, by reading her the book ‘Thank You Bear’. Today, all St. Charles Elementary students said a special blessing and thank you to all of their teachers to show them how grateful they are for all that they do. Tina Timpano, vice principal of the school encouraged all of the students to express their gratitude to their teachers. “Being a teacher is a very hard job,” Timpano said. “We want our students to recognize the dedication, hard-work and passion of our teachers in making our students the very best they can be – and we are very thankful to them.”
Sharing Best Practice and Honouring Culture
Visitors from the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board were in town on Wednesday, September 29 to learn more about the inclusion of aboriginal culture within the school system. Dufferin-Peel CDSB’s Director of Education John Kostoff, Superintendent Clara Pitoscia and General Manager of Communication and Media Relations, Bruce Campbell visited with administration from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board to discuss the inclusion of aboriginal culture into the teaching and learning practices at the Sudbury Catholic Board. The group visited three of the Sudbury Catholic schools including St. Charles College, St. David Catholic Elementary School and St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. At each of the sites, the principals, teachers and students spoke about the importance of the presence of aboriginal culture physically in the learning spaces, as well as embedded in their curriculum and teaching.”At Sudbury Catholic, we are so privileged to have key people in place in our organization who are passionate about honouring aboriginal culture in our educational community,” Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic Board stated. “We always welcome the opportunity to share what we continue to learn, with other Boards across the province.”
Sudbury Catholic Schools Launch Poster Campaign – “In the Wisdom of Our Grandmothers”
National Aboriginal Day is about celebrating pride and culture and that is just what
Sudbury Catholic District School Board did with the launch of their poster campaign “In the Wisdom of Our Grandmothers” during Better Beginnings Better Futures’ celebrations at O’Connor Park. This series of seven posters represents each of the Seven Grandfather Teachings. It also features families from our schools. The concept is about honouring our first teachers, our mothers. Each poster has three generations of women on them, grandmother, mother and daughter. Director, Catherine McCullough commented, “we are honoured to have families involved in creating this excellent resource for our schools. Their participation in this initiative speaks to their pride as Aboriginal women and to their commitment to Aboriginal Education at Sudbury Catholic. What better day to celebrate this but, National Aboriginal Day.”
St. James welcomes Elder Vince Pawis
As part of the “Elders in the School Program”, Elder Vince Pawis (middle) shares his wise counsel and guidance with the students of St. James School. Vince uses the Medicine Wheel to express the meaning of the Four Sacred Directions which encompass all the teachings of the Seven Grandfathers. The students and school Deacon Pat Raymond and principal Cara Soehner participated in a smudging ceremony followed by a hands-on-approach to the Aboriginal Teachings.
St. David Catholic School Partners with Aboriginal Best Start Hub to Celebrate Community
St. David Catholic School and Better Beginnings, Better Futures Aboriginal Best Start Hub proudly partnered Wednesday evening to welcome their community for a free community dinner and celebration. Families gathered for corn soup and bannock as well as fruit and homemade desserts. School Board personnel and Best Start Hub employees worked together to teach all family members how to make a rattle craft. Entertainment was provided by the grade 8 students of the school and community volunteers worked to set up and prepare for the evening. All children in attendance received gift bags from Better Beginnings filled with toys and school tools. “It was a wonderful celebration and showcase of what community can do when we all work together. St. David School is very proud to be a part of such a community based, fun, opportunity for learning and laughing with our local families”, said Tina Timpano, vice principal of St. David School. Lana Trudeau, the Aboriginal Support Worker for SCDSB stated, “We are off to a fantastic start and look forward to many more celebrations similar to this in our future partnership with Better Beginnings. Everyone had a great time, laughed a lot and filled their bellies. We appreciate Better Beginnings and everything they offer the community”.
Congratulations all Award Recipients
It was a great night for Aboriginal students from St. Benedict CSS, Marymount Academy, and St. Charles College. Students from all three Catholic Secondary Schools walked away with awards ranging from excellence in athletics, extra-curricular involvement, academic achievement and cultural recognition. “It’s a wonderful way for the community to come together to support our students’ achievements” Shelly Frappier, Native Studies Teacher from St. Benedict CSS stated.
For the past six years, aboriginal students across the Sudbury area have been honoured for their accomplishments during the school year at the Aboriginal Secondary School Awards Banquet. The banquet honours achievements in a number of categories and encourages community, family and peers to come out and support our youth. “It makes me feel very proud when I see former students of mine up on stage being honoured for graduating secondary school” explained Verna Hardwick, Native Language Teacher at St. David and St. Raphael schools. Verna Hardwick and her Ojibwe language students sang the opening honour song, said the opening prayer in Ojibwe and closed the evening with a closing song.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff of the United Way and Gezhtoojig Employment and Training who sponsor this event, in conjunction with local school boards and community agencies.
Congratulations to all award winners and graduates!