On a chilly Monday morning, the St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School Photography club headed out to shoot some pictures in the local neighbourhoods. Teacher Angela Hodgins and chaplain Rob Pappin led the students on a walk about the Mallard’s landing area and captured many stunning images of the beauty of an Autumn morning. The photography club is a newer club in the school and students and staff are excited to display some of their work. They also work closely with the year book club to capture the various sports and other activities that are happening at the school. The club is open to all students and new members are always welcome.
Category: Programs
St. Francis Students REMEMBER War Veterans
Students from St. Francis Catholic Elementary School in grade 2 and 3 eagerly wrote postcards to war veterans for Remembrance Day. The postcards were provided by Veteran Affairs Canada. The class put their friendly letter writing skills to use in order to compose a thoughtful message. Students in teacher Graziella Visentin’s class annually write postcards to thank veterans for being brave and courageous in order to protect others. The grade 2 and 3 students acknowledged the veterans’ efforts and their gratitude for the freedom we so much enjoy today. This year the postcards were sent to war veterans residing in Ottawa, Ontario.
Grade 2 and 3 students pictured above, participated in a Remembrance Day Service with their classmates and members of the Royal Canadian Legion. Students read an acrostic poem entitled, REMEMBER, after the laying of wreaths during the service.
St. James Students Connecting Globally
The Grade 7 and 8 students at St. James Catholic Elementary School have prepared care packages for an orphanage in Kenya this past month. Mary Crowder from the Rehena In Step Ministry came to pick up the goods and thanked the students for their generosity. Students also wrote letters and are hoping to Skype with them later on this year.
St. Francis Students Connecting Globally Through Reading
Students in teacher Lyanne Marion’s grade 5/6 French Immersion class at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School have been involved in the 2013 Global Read Aloud. Students have been listening to their teacher read “Out Of My Mind” by Sharon Draper, and have connected with classes from around the world, such as California, Brazil and India, through Twitter, Kidblog and Edmodo. This global project allows one book to connect the world!
Student also have iPad minis for a six week period, and are creating book trailers and Inclusion slideshows to share with the school community.
Today we “bring God’s peace into the world”
St. Charles College and St. Bernadette students came together in song on November 11 for a special Remembrance Day faith celebration. The presentation was pulled together by Drama teacher Diandra Zafiiris.
It featured a medley of recognizeable songs such as “One” by U2, “21 Guns” by Green Day and “Meant to Live” by Switchfoot.
An eagle’s staff was also used as part of the memorable presentation to honour the fallen.
In photo: Vesna Kelsey on piano, Paighton Mills, Sean Lynott and Jenna Daypuk singing, John Bronicheski and guitar teacher Mr. Teddy Bubalo on guitar.
Postcards for Peace
The Grade 2 students at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School sent their Postcards for Peace to veterans to thank them for having served in the past wars. The students recognized that many of Canada’s service men and women continue today, to leave their families and friends, in order to bring peace to many countries around the world. The children discussed how they are all peacekeepers here in Canada. They learned that they can all help with “peacekeeping missions” by respecting and helping each other in the school playgrounds, at home, and in their neighbourhoods. One of the biggest lessons learned is that It’s so important to learn from the past.
NOFCC Presents Plaque to St. Charles Elementary
On October 29th, Dayna Caruso a representative from the NOFCC visited St. Charles Elementary to award them with a donation plaque for the donations that have been raised from the Johnathan Hetu walk. The plaque shows the nine years of donations that St. Charles has been able to raise for the NOFCC. The walk to date has raised just over $50,000. The walk has flourished over the years with the first year donation being around $1,300 to the last years donation of over $7,400. The walk is in remembrance of former student Johnathan Hetu, who past away from cancer.
MMA & CYGA Visit the Idywylde
On Tuesday, October 29th fifteen students from Marymount Academy’s Gr. 11 Fitness Class visited the Idylwylde Golf and Country Club for a Day Event as part of the Canadian Youth Golf Alliance’s (CYGA) Search for Self I course. The students have been studying philosophy of life issues under the instruction Ryan Cooney, founder of the CYGA every three weeks. The program is a voluntary one that the students are offered and the feedback has been nothing but incredibly positive. Brandon Beeson, chairman and Northern Ontario Director of the CYGA says that “the partnership with Marymount Academy over the past couple of years has been wonderful. The students are eager, very cooperative, and appreciate the opportunities that are presented to them with the CYGA. The Canadian Youth Golf Alliance is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on assisting youth in “at-risk” environments with issues that they sometimes struggle with that surround every day discussions. Dan Bartolucci, teacher at Marymount Academy and the CYGA Board’s Education Chair agrees that “the opportunities presented to these youth through the programs offered by the CYGA are outstanding. Last year, the CYGA employed 28 youth from around the province and three of these youth were Marymount students”.
The Day Event at the Idylwylde offered seminars by the managers of a number of departments from greenskeeping and course management to event coordination, to every day bookings through the pro shop. For more information about the CYGA please visit:
www.canadianyouthgolfalliance.com
A Beary Scary Halloween
On October 31’st 2013, students from St Benedict Catholic Secondary School visited Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School. Student Council president Brendan Sullivan, vice president and student trustee Mackenzie Connelly, and beloved mascot, Benny the Bear represented St Benedict as they read to grade 1 and 2 students in both English and french. “We thought this would be a great opportunity to bond with the students who share our campus and spread some Halloween cheer,” said Connelly.
After reading the books, Benny and the students donated them to Holy Cross and gave out Halloween stickers and high fives from Benny. “This experience has been very rewarding for us. We were able to practice our bilingualism and meet the students who will become future Bears,” stated Sullivan. “I look forward to continuing to connect our two school communities.”