The students of Mme. Brunelleʼs Grade 4 French Immersion class from St. Theresa Catholic School had a taste of what it is like to be documentary filmmakers. The enthusiastic students prepared questions in both French and English and interviewed seniors at The Walford Retirement Residence on November 11, 2011. With the help of Technology Integration Mentor Leann Laframboise and classroom teacher Julie Brunelle, the students are creating a documentary film about Faith. Students were partnered with elders and they asked questions about what their faith has meant to them, what special prayers they like to say and how they celebrated Christʼs birthday in the past. The interviews then evolved into natural conversations as the students connected with the seniors through their faith in God. “This experience allows the students to use technology, practice their oral communication skills and to learn from an older generation in their faith community. However, the best part about it is to see the smiles on the faces of the students and the seniors” says Brunelle. Once the students have completed their film, they will make a “movie date” and bring it to share with the seniors.
Category: Programs
St. Anne English Kindergarten Students Choose Not To “Leaf” Fall Outdoors
The smell of fresh fallen leaves is one of the joys of fall. But why “leaf” it outside? During the last month, the English Early Learning Kindergarten Students at St. Anne School in Hanmer decided to bring fall inside so they could enjoy it right up until the snow came. They used a freshly raked bag of leaves and placed it within their housekeeping center. Armed with rakes and a wading pool, the Sudbury Catholic Board students practiced all the activities that their parents were doing outside. Raking, jumping, and burying each other in leaves mimicked the activities that the students were experiencing within their own yards. How about fun? Well, just ask students Jenna Deveau Peddie and Olivia Dunbabin. Their smiling faces say it all. Fall is a great time of the year, especially when you can enjoy it with friends!
A Magical Time at St. Joseph’s School
Recently, Father Alex Saurianthadathil, from Holy Redeemer Parish paid a special visit to St. Joseph School in Killarney. His unique approach to teaching uses magic tricks to capture the students’ imagination and explain how, for example, bread is transformed into the body of Christ during Mass. He also helped to reinforce the message that Jesus is found in our hearts. As the students prepare for Reconciliation, they welcome God’s mercy and begin to develop a healthy conscience. Father Alex helped the students realize that they too are created in God’s image and likeness.
St. Anne Angel’s “NET” Some Faith
On November 1st, 2011,students in the grade 8 classes at St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer participated in a “NET” retreat at St. Kevin’s Church. They were joined by the NET Team (National Evangelization Team) where they shared Jesus’ gospel message in a team format. The NET team was comprised of a group of young people who challenge young Catholics to embrace Christ and the life of the church, through song, skits, small group discussions, and prayer. Students from the Sudbury Catholic School board embraced the day, participating in every facet of the retreat. Lunch from Perkin’s Restaurant and the Caruso Club was also provided/donated to the NET team and students to allow further intimate discussions about the gospel of Christ and practicing faith. Both staff and students at St. Anne School were overheard describing the day as an “awesome” and “inspiring” one! Your faith shines through Angels!
Hula Hooping at Immaculate
Each month students at Immaculate Conception School are able to demonstrate their athletic abilities in a physical ability challenge. This month the Cougars demonstrated their hula hooping abilities as their classmates, teachers and families cheered them on. Students practiced their hula hooping skills during gym class, outside at recess and even at home. Some students were even able to twist and dance with 4 hula hoops around their waist. WAY TO GO COUGARS!
Immaculate Conception Students “Remember”
The students at Immaculate Conception School honoured and remembered
all of the men and women who served and continue to serve our country
during times of war, conflict and peace. Members of the Royal Canadian Legion
and the Knights of Columbus in full uniform helped our young Canadian students
understand and appreciate all those who have served our community and
died for our country so that they could leave us with the gift of peace, freedom,
community and democracy. Students understand that we all have a responsibility
to spread the Word of God, love, compassion, justice and forgiveness so that never again
do we allow violence and war be the means to solving our differences.
Choosing Post Secondary Schools from an Aboriginal Lens
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.”
Newcap Radio Gives Generously to Sudbury Catholic Schools Once Again
Newcap Radio Director of Programming Rick Tompkins visited the Sudbury Catholic District School Board recently to present them with a significant cheque. For the third year in a row, Newcap gifted Sudbury Catholic with a generous donation of over $7,500. The cheque is a result of their commitment to supporting music programs and education in Sudbury as part of an agreement between Newcap Radio and the CRTC. Through this agreement, the radio station promised to help foster musicianship among area youth, particularly through providing support of local school board music programming – including the purchase of instruments.
Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for the Catholic Board expressed her gratitude for the donation. “ We are so pleased to have such a supportive partner in Newcap radio,” McCullough stated. “Our music programs are an important part of our board, and through this type of monetary support, we are able to further enhance and build this programming. We are very thankful to Newcap as they continue to show their commitment to our community partnership.” Over the past three years, the radio station has donated close to $20,00 to the Sudbury Catholic Board’s music programs.
Who is Teaching Whom?
Students and teachers might know each other, they see each other each day in their classrooms. But what happens when a visitor arrives?
Every visitor brings with him something to be offered, something to enrich, something new to be learned. But those lessons will only be learned if they are presented in a way that is interesting and attractive to the audience. Students at St. David Catholic Elementary School had the unique opportunity to share in their learning with a familiar guest to the school. Father Tony Man-Son-Hing from Christ the King Parish, who is a regular guest to St. David, had a chance to interact with the students and, along with the students is also learning how to be comfortable with technology.
Every Wednesday, Father Tony Man-Son-Hing shares breakfast with one of the classes at St. David Catholic School. On Wednesday, November 2, coffee cup in hand, he arrived in Ms. Gran’s grade 4/5 class to share raisin toast and grapes almost the size of clementines. Almost immediately students were willing to engage. They were excited about challenging the priest to “Find Jesus” in the iPad app by the same name. They also wanted to know how well he would do with the “Catholic Quiz”. At level 1, Father Tony scored 10 out 11 questions right and the computer said he was “genius”.
Firing up the smart board, the children then were eager to demonstrate to this newcomer their expertise in naming and locating all the provinces and territories of this vast land. They did well. Much better than the computer did. Somewhere between Saskatchewan and British Columbia there was a crash. Was the computer de-railed or was it challenged? We will never know. Thinking fast, Ms. Gran chose another alternative and thus the students were introduced to Father Tony’s blog (www.aaog.blogspot.com). After a brief tour of the site, the students then helped Father Tony to compose his post — all about his visit to their classroom (http://aaog.blogspot.com/2011/10/technology-in-classroom.html).
Father Tony left the students of Ms. Gran’s class with the message, “ipads and blogs are tools for today to find Jesus, to find faith, to find something to inspire and to feed the heart and soul”.