On Tuesday September 8, 2014 the staff, students and some parents from St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School joined Father Sam D’Angelo in the gym for a celebration of the Eucharist. In the introduction the children were reminded that God has given us special gifts and talents. Each one of us is unique and we celebrate the different gifts we have been given. Each classroom teacher brought a candle to the altar to represent each class. These candles are a reminder that we are called to light up the world with our talents.
Pictured are Ben and Isaiah with Father Sam.
Category: Programs
St Charles Elementary Comes Together to Share Who They Are
Staff and students at St Charles Catholic Elementary School began the school year by reflecting on who they each are as individuals and what gifts and talents they bring to the school community. Everyone completed an “I am…” statement to share with the school.
Pictured are Jodie-Lee Clance and Emma Carpenter. Emma Carpenter, a grade 5 student explained, “doing this activity tells everyone about yourself and helps people get to know you. You can see that everyone is unique in their own way and this makes our school a special place!”
Putting the Fun in Summer Learning
Forty-five Grades 1 and 2 Sudbury Catholic Students had the opportunity to take part in some summer learning programs from July 2-18. Working out of St. David Catholic Elementary School, students were enroled in literacy, numeracy and aboriginal education programming. The literacy and numeracy components included games and activities with an emphasis on the fun of learning. The aboriginal component included learning about the Seven Grandfather Teachings, Metis history and culture, as well as traditional cooking lessons and culturally based activities. Also included in the programming, were Tae Kwon Do lessons each morning to start the day, with the Sudbury Catholic mental health nurse and black belt – Roland Dutrisac.
Program co-ordinator and the Board’s Special Education consultant, Christina Raso was pleased with the student engagement at this year’s summer school programming. “We have been running these programs for a number of years now,” Raso explained. “and every year, the students are eager to get here and start as they really enjoy the play based activities and fun learning environments. The Tae Kwon Do component also really excites the students as they get to work off some energy first thing in the morning, and have a lot of fun learning the different moves involved.”
SCDSB New Director Joanne Bénard Receives National Award
In the very first week of her new job, Sudbury Catholic Director Joanne Bénard attended the Canadian Association of School System Administrators (CASSA) national conference in Calgary from July 5-10 to receive an award. Bénard was selected as this year’s Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officer’ Association’s (OCSOA) recipient of the CASSA EXL Award. This award was launched in 2002 to recognize excellence among Superintendents and is sponsored by Xerox Canada Ltd. as well as CASSA. According to the CASSA website, “the EXL Award Program is based on three premises:
• It is important that the dedication and enthusiasm of administrators who guide children’s educational experiences be acknowledged. Recognition is a powerful instrument for building pride in accomplishment and continued determination to pursue excellence.
• The scope and quality of children’s educational experiences are determined primarily by the system’s leaders, who establish, through the important work of teachers and the support of school boards and caring parents, the character of a particular school system’s programs.
• Children’s attitudes toward learning and their perceptions of themselves as lifelong learners are established in their school years. Effective leadership, mentoring and modelling determine whether the school jurisdiction effectively creates this environment”
According to the Sudbury Catholic Board Chair, Jody Cameron, Bénard really fits the bill with this award, and the board is quite fortunate to have her join the Sudbury Catholic community as its next Director. “ Joanne truly exemplifies excellence, as we have seen through her past experience,” Cameron explained. “Having her recognized nationally for her dedication and service to students really speaks to the exemplary quality of service that Joanne delivers, and we are quite excited to have her join our team!”
Bénard was pleased to receive the award, as she was joined by her husband and daughter for the presentation. “It is a blessing and an honour to be recognized by my peers for doing what I love to do and that is working with others to improve outcomes for our youth. This award is certainly a highlight in my career and a great way to begin my new role with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.”
St. John Celebrates National Aboriginal Day
St. John Catholic Elementary School students gathered on June 20 to celebrate a day in which we are called to learn more about First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples. Student participated in a Prayer Service and had the opportunity to hear from local First Nation people about what National Aboriginal Day means to them. Will Morin guest speaker addresses the group about gaining understanding and respecting the contributions of the First people of Canada.
Sudbury Catholic Student Dancers Shine at Community Pow Wow
Over 200 Sudbury Catholic School students and families participated in the community pow wow hosted by the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre. The students and their teachers were honoured to be invited to the National Aboriginal Day celebration. National Aboriginal Day is celebrated across Canada annually on June 21. On this day Canadians are encouraged to learn more about First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples and celebrate their unique and diverse cultures.
Lynise Royer, St. David School grade 4 teacher stated that, “the pow wow was an amazing opportunity not only for my students but also for myself. It was a beautiful day. Our students were extremely respectful and 100 percent engaged in the teachings presented by the Elders and community representatives. I learned a lot today as well about the students I teach and their rich heritages.” Miss Royer continued to say, “on behalf of the Sudbury Catholic Schools community, I would like to thank the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre as well as Joel Agowissa and the 4 school board pow wow committee members on a beautiful celebration of culture and identity. Their hard work and dedication is much appreciated by myself, the students and their families. Miigwech to everyone involved in the planning of this spectacular day”.
Sudbury Catholic Student Dancers Shine at Community Pow Wow
Over 200 Sudbury Catholic School students and families participated in the community pow wow hosted by the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre. The students and their teachers were honoured to be invited to the National Aboriginal Day celebration. National Aboriginal Day is celebrated across Canada annually on June 21. On this day Canadians are encouraged to learn more about First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples and celebrate their unique and diverse cultures.
Lynise Royer, St. David School grade 4 teacher stated that, “the pow wow was an amazing opportunity not only for my students but also for myself. It was a beautiful day. Our students were extremely respectful and 100 percent engaged in the teachings presented by the Elders and community representatives. I learned a lot today as well about the students I teach and their rich heritages.” Miss Royer continued to say, “on behalf of the Sudbury Catholic Schools community, I would like to thank the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre as well as Joel Agowissa and the 4 school board pow wow committee members on a beautiful celebration of culture and identity. Their hard work and dedication is much appreciated by myself, the students and their families. Miigwech to everyone involved in the planning of this spectacular day”.
St. David Celebrates Their Hubby Award with a Video
St. David School is the proud recipient of the 2014 Edgar Burton Youth “Hubby” Award in
Education. This award is awarded to deserving individuals or organizations as a public
acknowledgment of their compassion, dedication, integrity and hard work for the people of
Greater Sudbury. The “Hubby” is a uniquely Sudbury Award. Award receivers are decided on criteria’s of giving, commitment, and belief in the people and City of Greater Sudbury.
The award is in memory of Hub Bray who was 60 when he died of cancer, leaving behind family and a city to mourn him. Hub Bray was a popular community leader and local lawyer who tended to avoid the limelight, but worked hard behind the scenes to improve
life in the city. He was president of the Sudbury Food Bank, which has organized the Annual Hubby Awards in his memory. The school created this video to celebrate their award and each other! Enjoy!
Technology in the Classrooms at SCDSB
On Friday, June 13, SCDSB secondary teacher and educational assistants were provided with an ipad for the day and given the option to sign it out for the summer. The teachers and EA’s had pre-registered for several of the 8 different workshops focusing on the integration of ipads. These are the workshops that were offered:
• Foundations of Using an iPad as a Tool for Innovation and Instruction
• Traversing the Digital Realm: Recreation of Content in the 21st Century Classroom- This workshop will focus on a new way to offer content to students through the use of the vLE (Virtual Learning Environment) and NearPod
• Conquering the iPad Frontier: PionEAring iPads for Educational Assistants- This workshop will focus on universal access to: document and support learners, explore social stories to support Kelso and apps for behaviour management.Conquering the iPad Frontier: PionEAring iPads for Educational Assistants- This workshop will focus on universal access to: document and support learners, explore social stories to support Kelso and apps for behaviour management.
• You Really Can “Explain Everything”- This workshop will introduce the multi-talented design, screencasting, interactive whiteboard app. “Animation can explain whatever the mind of man can conceive”- Walt Disney
• Don’t Flip Out Over Flipping Your Classroom! – This workshop will introduce the concept of a flipped classroom. Why, when and how. Learn about Doceri and other apps that support this concept. Be prepared for hands-on activities.
• Let iPads lead the way for ALL – Let ALL students contribute and show their learning every day through the use of these tips, tools and tricks. (Special Education Focus)Let iPads Lead the Way for ALL – Let ALL students contribute and show their learning every day through the use of these tips, tools and tricks. (Special Education Focus)
• Go with the Flow!- Join this Apple Development Executive with hands-on navigation of the iOS App environment, focusing on multi-app use and tools that support collaboration, workflow, communication amongst and between teacher and student and student to student.
• Innovation in Instruction- The iPad is having a transformational impact on teaching and learning all over the planet. In this “Hands-on” session, come experience and learn about how the iPad, iTunes U and a few powerful apps can be used to differentiate, enhance and transform instruction and assessment practices in any classroom.
This session was lead an Apple Development Executive.