Ms. Royer’s grade 7 and 8 students have been learning about the life and times of artist Vasily Kandinsky in an effort to recreate his work.
The Moscow born artist was known for colour and abstract. The students then recreated his work by creating a ‘Kandinsky wall’ with patchwork from each student included in the overall effect.
Christine McCracken, a teacher with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board does not teach out of your typical classroom. With the board since October, 2015, McCracken works with adult learners in two different locations. One of her locations is on the Atkikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation Reserve. The second is at the Sudbury jail. It is this second location that inspired a call-out to her fellow SCDSB staff. After meeting with the learners in jail, she realized that many were desperate for something to read. McCracken brought the newspaper in with her during her visits and they couldn’t get enough. After some inquiry, she realized that there weren’t very many books available to the inmates. Inspired by the enthusiasm of these learners, McCracken discussed some strategies with her principal at St. Albert, Aaron Barry. The two decided to do a call-out to all SCDSB staff to see if anyone wanted to donate any new or gently used books to the Sudbury jail. After only a two-week collection period, the staff had donated close to 500 books. “We currently have at least 50 inmates taking part in this programming at the Sudbury jail,” explain McCracken. “We even already have a few really close to getting their high school diplomas. Reaching out to them in this environment has inspired them to want to continue their education after as well, which is wonderful. These books will really help in their learning!”
The St. Albert principal explained that through the St. Albert Learning Centre, some of these individuals were able to gets some credits through PLAR which is the Prior Learning Assessment Recognition program. This assigns credits to individuals towards the secondary school diploma (OSSD) for knowledge and skills that they have acquired outside of secondary school. “McCracken has been a real inspiration with these particular learners as she really motivates learning and encourages them to continue working towards their OSSD,” Barry stated. “Through the support of the SCDSB, we are able to bring continuing education to a group that may otherwise not consider continuing on with their education. It is a great program, and we are thankful to all of our coworkers and SCDSB staff for their generous book donations –they will make a positive difference!”
For more information about continuing education, PLAR, or getting your OSSD, contact St. Albert Learning Centre at (705) 673-3031.
On Wednesday, March 9, 2016, Olympic Athlete Angella Goran, visited MMA to introduce FitSpirit. FitSpirit is a specialized program solely for women and girls. It is a cardio-based program, alternating between running, calisthenics and fitness. SCDSB teacher Chantal Dagostino hosted the launch, and invited female students from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School, St Anne Catholic Elementary School, St. Paul Catholic Elementary School and St. John Catholic Elementary School who will be participating in Fitspirit to the event launch. Fitspirit is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help teenage girls discover the advantages and the enjoyment that come from taking part in physical activity. This knowledge will allow them to develop a healthy lifestyle based on realizing their own potential.
Since 2007, FitSpirit has travelled to the four corners of Ontario and Quebec to create awareness among teenage girls about the various ways they can take part in physical activity. Through the school based FitClub program, FitSpirit provides the opportunity for teenage girls to learn the basics of healthy nutrition and exposes them to activities that inspire physical activity with their friends. In Ontario and Quebec last year, over 10,000 girls participated in Fitspirit.
Last year the Sudbury Catholic District School Board had ten Catholic Elementary and Secondary schools involved with even more participating this year. In the final culminating run that was held at Laurentian University at the end of last year, there were over 286 girls who participated. This year looks very promising with a potential of over 500 girls gathering at Laurentian University on June 5th, 2016 to partake in their final task, completing either a 5 k or 10 k with over 20 schools from the Sudbury Region participating. As well, this 5k and 10 k will be open to all women and girls in Sudbury!
For more information on FitSpirit, please contact Chantal Dagostino at: Chantal.dagostino@fitspirit.ca
Students at St. Charles Catholic Elementary School in Chelmsford had the opportunity to admire a commemorative door that arrived at their school. This symbolic door contains beautifully laser-etched panels representing every school in the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. The door unites all of our schools with this year’s Catholic Education Week theme “Opening Doors of Mercy”, which aligns with Pope Francis’s declaration that this be a Holy Year.
This stunning piece of woodcraft has students, parents and visitors stopping in their tracks to marvel in it’s beauty. Several students shared what they thought of the door. Emma Carpenter, Grade 6, said “this door shows us that each school is different in their own way”.
Nicole Walker, Grade 8 explained, “I like how the door represents our Catholic school communities and how much we love each other through God by showing each other mercy”.
Andrew O’Brien, Grade 5 shared that “this door reminds us that the door to God is always open”.
Delia Ross-Arseneault, Grade 6, stated “I like how the door shows us all of the Catholic schools around Sudbury that come together to pray to God”.
Students gathered in the gymnasium for a brief introduction and prayer service. The door was then sent to St. Alexander’s Parish for a school mass and shared with the parishioners on the weekend and will return to St. Charles for another week before moving on.
To highlight February’s virtue of the month and continue to instil in students the importance of compassion, St. David Catholic Elementary School students from teacher Lindsey Michel’s FDK class, teacher Todd Rayne’s grade 2/3 class, and teacher Terry-Lynn Lepage’s grade 3 class made get-well cards for children across Northern Ontario who are currently undergoing treatment for various types of cancer. “When I contacted the NOFCC (Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer) and explained to them what we wanted to do they thought it was a great idea” Rayne explained. The cards of hope will be given to the Pediatric Interlink Nurse who will deliver them to the children as she travels across Northern Ontario.
To find out how you can help, you are encouraged to visit http://nofcc.ca
Or stop by their head office:
Northern Ontario Families of Children With Cancer
667 St. Clair Street
Sudbury, Ontario
P3E 4G9
Phone Number: 705-586-3229
Toll Free: 1-888-993-9227
Fax Number: 705-673-7715
To celebrate the Year of Mercy, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board ‘Door of Mercy’, created by SCDSB staff has been “traveling” throughout the system and is on display at our schools and some parishes. Launched in December at St. David Catholic Elementary School, the door is pictured here at St. Alexander Parish with St. Charles Catholic Elementary School Principal David Soehner and SCDSB Trustee Ray Desjardins.
St. David Catholic Elementary School approached parent -teacher interviews a little differently this year. This year the students in the school led their parents through the interview process. In order to report student progress to parents each year, schools usually host an evening of interviews. This year, the students at St. David School created their own invitations and invited their parents to participate in conferences that were led by the children themselves. Each child created a showcase portfolio that outlined their work throughout the semester and was in charge of facilitating a conversation with their parents that demonstrated individual student strengths, weaknesses and next steps. Student led conferencing and showcase portfolios are an authentic refection of student learning and an effective tool to promote open communication with families about student success and well being. “It was an enjoyable morning. Our school was bustling with activity. All classrooms were filled with families and our students definitely took pride in their accomplishments. Even the youngest students spoke eloquently about their learning. The primary students were able to articulate their reading goals to their parents and were also able to discuss what they needed as support from their parents to accomplish their goals. Overall, it was an extremely successful morning.” stated grade one St. David School Teacher, Maria Cimino.
Students in teacher Tammy Lanci’s grade 1/2 class at St. James Catholic Elementary School had a tasty opportunity recently. After reading the classic storybook “Stone Soup” together, the entire class got to enjoy their own bowl of stone soup prepared by resource teacher Sarah Pappin and student helpers Noah Wulff and Hope Nyabeze.
The students of FDKFI in teacher Mme Lachance and Mme Lynne’s (ECE) class at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School had a special guest recently. Charms the cat came by for a special visit as the students have been learning about the value of having a pet in the home. Although they are cute and cuddly, the children soon found out that owning a cat also requires care and responsibility. A pet is like a family member and it requires special care and love.
