Christmas is a time for sharing and giving. That was very evident when Mrs. Belanger’s Grade 7 English students at St. Anne school in Hanmer shared their laptops and their time with the Grade 3 English students in Mme. Lafrance’s class. In keeping with the holiday spirit, the Grade 7 students within the Sudbury Catholic Board helped their new friends in Grade 3 type out their letter to Santa Claus. The younger children were excited about their thoughts of what they should ask for. The Grade 7 students were not only able to assist in the typing out of the wishes of the Grade 3 children, but while both groups were typing, the Intermediate students were also showing the primary students some of the skills that were needed to use the laptops. Both groups of students really enjoyed working together. Jaida Sabzali worked with her older brother Hunter on her letter. She said, “It was fun to work with my big brother. It was fun using Hunter’s computer and I learned a lot.” Hunter was quoted as saying, “It was fun to help out my little sister. I helped her type out her letter to Santa and I was impressed to watch her type.” The Grade 3 students will be mailing their printed letters to Santa Claus. They will anxiously be awaiting for their return letters from the North Pole.
Category: Programs
Marymount Midget Volleyball Teams Go the Distance at Lady Lancer Volleyball Tournament
On Friday, December 9, Marymount Academy entered two separate teams in the Lady Lancer Invitational Midget Tournament hosted by Lasalle Secondary School. The Midget tournament included grade 9 volleyball teams from several of the city’s school boards. Marymount coaches decided to enter their grade 9 volleyball team, as well as their grade 8 team to help them gain experience with highschool volleyball.
At the end of the tournament, both teams came out on top with the Marymount grade 9 team taking first in the tournament, and the Marymount grade 8 team taking the top consolation spot.
Celebrating St. Andrew
Students and staff celebrated the feast of Saint Andrew Patron Saint on Nov.30th, an important date in the annual liturgical calendar, because it determines the date of the First Sunday of Advent. Saint Andrew is the patron saint fisherman of Scotland and Russia. Andrew, the first Apostle called by Jesus, was a fisherman and he was the brother of Simon Peter. A school and parish connection was made as parents, staff and students celebrated the event at St Andrew parish with a mass, and pizza lunch at the church. As well, a special painting was sketched of St Andrew the Patron Saint and was blessed by Father Sam.
Our Lady of Peace and St. Mary Catholic School Partner to Help Out the Less Fortunate
When Mrs. Paul, Catholic Women’s League president called St. Mary School to elicit the school’s support for the Operation Christmas Child Project, St. Mary’s Catholic School Principal and staff said they would be happy to provide support to such a worthwhile project.
“It’s important that young people in our schools feel they are part of the parish community, and the global community at large. There is no better way to reduce poverty than by participating in goodwill projects,” said principal Sherry Bortolotti.
The school has thanked their school secretary Claire Olivier who passionately embraced this idea and ensured there were enough boxes for every student to give one shoe box stacked with toys, soap, socks, books etc. to a child in need. “I fill good knowing that we’ve made Christmas better for a handful of children, that is the true meaning of Christmas,” said Olivier.
Local Co-ordinator for Operation Christmas Child, Karyn Stenbraaten stated, “The key to being a happy person is giving to others.” St. Mary’s children are happily waiting to take on their next goodwill project
Corpus Christi Celebrates Mass with the Bishop
Recently at Corpus Christi, students and staff were honoured that Bishop Simard and Father Larry Rymes came to say Mass. School trustee Estelle Scappatura was also on hand to celebrate with the Corpus Christi family.
Victory for the St. Charles Boys’ Hockey Team
The boy’s Senior Hockey team won the Nippissing District Association tournament in North Bay on the weekend of December 2-4th.
The boys had a round robin record of 2-0-1 which gave them a birth in the quarter finals versus the Scollard Hall Bears. The boys won the game 6-4 which lead to a semi-final game versus the Franco Cite Patriotes. S.C.C. won the game 4-1 which gave the team a feeling of retribution over a finals loss to the Patriotes in the recent Lively tournament. The win gave the team a birth in the finals versus St. Mary’s Eagles from Kitchener. This was the team that the Cards had tied in round robin play.
The Cards were tied 1-1 after one period and 2-2 after two periods. Zach Belanger scored with just over 5 minutes to play to win the game and bring home the championship!
Belanger lead the team with 13 points in the tournament, earning MVP honours. Trevor Bedard also had twelve points to help seal the victory.
St. Anne Students “Author” Their Way Into Christmas
The English Early Learning Kindergarten students at St. Anne School in Hanmer welcomed parents and grandparents into their classroom to begin getting into the mood for the start of the Christmas season. The Kindergarten children had been working on creating and writing all kinds of “non-fiction” stories throughout the fall. They authored books on Garden Harvests, Baking Apple Pies, and Caring For a Classroom Pet. With a bare classroom Christmas tree sitting within the room, the children and their family members worked on creating, decorating, and hanging their ornaments. Junior Kindergarten student Celyna Anzil was overheard saying “I love working with sparkles.” What was the result for the students within the Sudbury Catholic System? One beautifully decorated tree and a step by step picture sequence for the class’ newest non-fiction story. When asked what title the story should have, their was only one choice of course. “A Christmas Tree Decorating Special Classroom Day!”
The Spirit of Christmas Alive at St. Anne
By 6:30 a.m. on December 2, St. Anne Catholic Elementary was a-buzz with excitement. The arrival of Q92’s Terry and Mel and the TD Toy Caravan had staff and students prepping the school’s foyer and library with decorations, breakfast items, and most importantly, Christmas cheer.
Guy Mathieu, Principal of St. Anne said the school was approached to be a possible location for the Q92 Toy Caravan live on location spot and without hesitation, accepted immediately. “We started sending out flyers to the community and encouraging as many people as possible to come out and donate this morning,” Mathieu stated. “This event is one that really encourages people to dig deep inside themselves and truly give from the heart. So many of the children in the Greater Sudbury community are in need of our support – we are just glad to be a part of something that helps us see what’s right with the world.”
From 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. both Terry and Mel encouraged listeners to come in and donate either a new toy or a monetary donation and people came out in droves. Students, both present and past, as well as parents, grandparents, friends and community members came through the school’s main doors and brought with them hundreds of toys as well as over $600 in money donations. Mathieu was overwhelmed by the support. “What has happened here this morning has really set the stage for us all to get in to the holiday spirit. That’s what I love about this community – everybody comes together and shows us that the true spirit of Christmas is alive and well at St. Anne’s – I couldn’t be more proud. Kids helping kids. Children giving to other children. I don’t know that I can think of anything that is more powerful than that.”
As well as getting to meet Terry and Mel – the students and staff got to see how the show worked and teacher Alice Desormeaux and custodian Dan Sauve even got to take part in the “Battle of the Sexes” of which Sauve came out as champion. By 9:15, the foyer was stuffed with hundreds of toys and the students were amazed at the piles of donations in front of them. Some teachers even walked their classes down to see just how generous the community and their school had been. “I am just so proud of our school-students, staff and parents alike,” Mathieu stated. “The Christmas spirit is alive and well at St. Anne!”
Roaring Runners Do the Santa Shuffle
St. David Catholic School participated in the 19th annual Santa Shuffle / Elf Walk at Science North. The school raised over $400.00 for the Salvation Army to help to build a playground and community garden for Cedar Place the Salvation Army’s Women & Children’s shelter. The students, teachers, parents, secretary and principal ran, walked and cheered their way through the 1 km race. The students were proud be be able to donate to such a worthy cause while demonstrating their running abilities. They have been in training since early September and have seen improvements in their endurance, energy levels and overall feelings of improved confidence.