Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Category: Technology

Director Joanne Bénard in the hot seat at St. Bernadette

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During her recent visit to St. Bernadette Catholic School, Director of Education Joanne Bénard sat in the “hot seat” with students in Grades 3 through 6.

The Director joined in as students used an application on their iPads called Puppet Pals to practise their French language oral communication skills. Students recorded themselves interviewing each other and they asked and answered questions “en français”. Once the interviews were over, students shared their creations with their classmates using the SmartBoard. Mme Perron (Gr. 3), Mme Chevrier (Gr. 4) and Mme Therrien (Gr. 5/6) have been team-teaching with a focus on increasing self-confidence, motivation and engagement for second language French Immersion students for the past school year. “Students are always enthusiastic to participate in authentic opportunities to use their oral communication skills. Using technology to enhance their performance is a very successful approach!”, stated Mme Perron. Mme Therrien said, “The students were thrilled when Mme Bénard partnered with Grade 5 student, Sabrina Crossthwaite! Interviewing the Director of Education, en français, a great opportunity to showcase how well our students are able to communicate in their second language!”

Start your engines!

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Start your engines! Students participated in the annual Remote Control car races on October 22nd at Bishop Alexander Carter. Students, staff and special guests raced the 1/10th scale racing machines on the student built track at the Bishop Carter R/C Speedway. As an added twist to this year’s Bishop Cup event, the Gators invited the R/C club from Franco Cité, located in Sturgeon Falls, to take part in the festivities.

It was an afternoon of high speed and high flying action as over 20 cars raced in 4 exciting classes. At stake were trophies and school pride. To keep track of the action, Bishop Carter set up a state-of-the-art electronic timing system. The system not only tells drivers when to go and stop, but it also keeps track of the number of laps, lap times, and fastest lap all while giving verbal cues to the drivers about their performance during the race.

Not only were students and teachers racing, but a special group of “All Stars” came out to try their hand at R/C racing. This group of star racers included, Bishop Carter’s Principal Mrs. Cassandra MacGregor, Joanne Benard Director of Education, Michael Bellmore Trustee, GRant and Skerri from Hot 93.5, Brad and Leanne from KICX, and Mr. Dan Turnbull from the Greater Sudbury Fire Service. Not only did the All Stars have fun, but they also gained a whole new respect for how difficult these little racers are to control.

Bishop Carter’s R/C club practices every Wednesday at the school. Many students have joined the club. Some students are racers. Some students are part of a tech crew, while others are part of the track crew. Some students serve as race marshals. There is a part for everyone who is interested in participating in this club.

Technology in the Classrooms at SCDSB

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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.

St. Anne Students Use Technology To “Envision” More Than Sugarplums

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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.

St. Anne Students “Hit The Big Screen”

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Many people often dream of hitting the big stage. Students from St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer are no exception. Recently, they were able to experience the feel of being in the spotlight with a visit to Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School. This Catholic Secondary School is the only high school in Sudbury with a Specialist High Skills Major program in Information and Communications Technology. In this program, the students learn a large variety of media production skills such as: 2D Graphics Design and Digital Image Editing and Enhancement, 3D Graphics Modeling, Texturing, Rigging and Animation, Video and Sound Production, Integrating 2D and 3D Graphics into Film, Special Effects for Film, and Website Development. Students use Autodesk Maya to create 3D models and animations. This is the same software used by professionals to create most of the 3D movies out today. It’s also used to create most of the 3D special effects seen in most action movies.

St. Anne intermediate students, working with high school students currently enroled in the program, began to create their grade 8 graduation video with the use of some media software and a green screen that was built by Bishop’s own tech class. “It was a really good experience and exciting to learn about the about the effects that are used in most movies,” said Olivia Boudreau, a grade 8 student at St. Anne School. BAC also uses their green screen to digitally place student actors in any location, including those created in 3D. The actor/actress simply acts out the scene in front of the green screen and the green is then removed using editing software and replaced with the desired background or animation. BAC has a stationary green screen and two portable ones that can be used outside of the classroom. Who knows? With this taste of “the big screen” under their belts, we may someday actually be viewing some of the Catholic Board students on the larger than life screens around the city. The entertainment business may want to start a new slogan. “Lights, camera, Angels”!

Technology in Action

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Grade 1 students in Mme Perrin’s class at St. Bernadette Catholic School have been working on descriptive short stories with the help of the Sudbury Catholic Schools Technology Integration Mentor, Ginette Toivonen. The students recorded their stories into Garage Band and turned them into short movies that included an illustration of their imaginary characters. Pictured here are Graciella Ngwana and her Grade 6 peer helper, Stephanie Lagrandeur, as they put the final touches on Graciella’s story. Mme Toivenen stated, ” This is a great way for teachers to integrate literacy, art and technology and best of all, student are very excited to learn!”

St. Anne Junior-Intermediate Students Practice “Test Driving” For The Future

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Recently, Mr. Thomson’s Grade 6/7 class from St. Anne Catholic School in Hanmer participated in a culminating Science activity where they put together their knowledge of energy, motion, force and structures to build Spool Racers. The Sudbury Catholic School Racers were put through a thorough testing phase that included speed racing, distance endurance and design analysis. These budding Junior/Intermediate Scientists did a great job in designing some very unique racers while at the same time developing scientific skills of perseverance and creativity. Who knows? One day these young creators may be the next inventors for such events as the Molson Indy, the Indy 500, and the Grand Prix. We will wait to see. Well done Angels!

E-Waste Collection at Marymount Academy

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The entire student body of Marymount Academy was issued a challenged by one of the computer studies classes. “Bring in your garbage” was what the girls were asked – but not just any garbage. Students and staff have been asked to bring in all of their e-waste for the week of May 30 to June 3, 2011. This collection was the idea of teacher Desiree Lacourciere’s class after having several conversations about the effect of electronic waste on the environment. The students contacted a company called Greentec to help them with their collection. As well, the class divided into groups and put together short videos to inspire the entire school to join them in their collection. All of the videos were viewed and voted on, and the winning video was premiered for the entire school at the e-waste collection launch on May 30. When addressing the students, Lacourciere encouraged all students and staff to talk to their families and find whatever old electronics they had to contribute. “My students were the inspiration for this initiative,” Lacourciere said. “ In class we learned so much about the harmful effects of electronics on the environment and we knew that we couldn’t just sit back – we had to get on board as a school community.” Lucie Cullen, principal of the school echoed Lacourciere’s encouragement and spoke of the importance of getting involved. “At Sudbury Catholic Schools, we are called to be stewards of the earth, and at Marymount Academy we always take action when we are passionate about what we believe in.”
The students have one week to collect items such as old computers, printers, printer cartridges, cell phones, batteries, digital cameras, monitors, televisions etc.

Sharing the Love of a Good Book at St. Benedict

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A school-wide celebration of books was held at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School during Reading Week April 11th -15th. To further develop the love of reading, students were encouraged to use integrated technology to share with a friend their favourite story on Facebook, Twitter or You Tube. Students were given time to Drop Everything And Read, using their e-readers such as Kindle or just old- fashioned books. The activities continued all week with Book Club meetings,book swaps, and a graffiti wall to journal about their love of a good book.

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