Since October, the Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School grade 3 students from teacher Eva Scola’s class, and the grade 3/4 students from teacher Shanna Whalen’s class have been learning about the water crisis in Ghana, Africa. The students were involved in the 2012/2013 School Challenge through the Ryan’s Well Foundation, that involved raising awareness, and money, to build a well and laterines in Ghana. The students came together to engage in discussions, and to create a plan that would make others in the school aware of Ryan’s Well, and the lack of clean water in Africa. These students had a goal to raise $750. Through pledges from families, the collection of coins in our class piggy banks, and a truly amazing participation in our Wacky Hair for Water Day- Bringing in small change to make BIG Change in Africa-, the students of Holy Cross were able to more than double their goal. They raised $1689! “We are extremely proud of our students,” said Shanna. Whalen. “They demonstrated a genuine concern for people they don’t even know. They were able to get their message across to their peers, through their great Christian leadership. They wanted to make a difference, and they definitely did.”
Category: Holy Cross School
FULL DAY Kindergarten Information/Registration Night -TODAY – Tuesday, February 5, 2013
There will be an information/registration night TODAY – Tuesday, February 5, 2013 for all parents interested in registering their child(ren) at one of the Sudbury Catholic elementary schools for FULL DAY Kindergarten beginning September, 2013.
The information/registration night will start at 6:00 p.m. For more information about this event, please contact your local Catholic elementary school. For contact information about each school, go to http://www.scdsb.edu.on.ca/schools/schools.php, or contact the board office at (705)673-5620.
Inaugural Cubs and Bears Junior Co-ed Volleyball Tournament
On December 9th, Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School held its first Junior Coed Volleyball Tournament. This tournament was run in collaboration with St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School.
Newly dubbed the “Cubs and Bears Junior Co-ed Volleyball Tournament”, there was a total of 15 teams entered with a round robin in three pools with the top 2 teams in each pool advancing to the finals (also included the top two 3rd place teams advancing as well to the quarter finals).
The results are as follows: Gold medal winners Holy Cross 2 coach Mr. Gallien.
Silver medallist St. James A team coach Mr. Lariviere
Bronze medallist St. Anne B team coaches: Mrs. Mazerolle and
Mr. Merigioli
Fourth place finalist St. Paul coaches: Mrs. Valiquette and Stacey Vendramin
This was history in the making as it is the first year of existence for Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School and were able to have four teams entered in this tournament. This is the first of many types of tournaments that will run as a joint effort.
Holy Cross Students’ Transit Ride to Public Library
The Gr. 2 students in the Regular English program at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School recently participated in a program arranged between the Sudbury Public Library and the Greater Sudbury Transit. A class bus pass granted them the opportunity to ride the Sudbury Transit in order to spend the morning at the South End Public Library. For many of the students, this was their first time using the public transit and it proved to be an exciting adventure. The school program consisted of a tour of the new South End Library, a demonstration of how to locate and access books on the computer, story time and a craft. By the end of the session, students were able to leave with their personal library card, a good book to read and a reason to return with their family or classmates.
Water Walk at Holy Cross
On Friday, November 2, Holy Cross teacher Shanna Whalen’s Grade 3/4 class and teacher Eva Scola’s Grade 3 class, set off to obtain some understanding of how difficult it is for those living in Africa. They took with them their water bottles, one huge jug, and a jerry can, to collect water from the water filling station on Countryside. Both classes have been learning about the poor water conditions in Africa, and how children there need to walk for 2 hours and 10 000 steps to get water- dirty water. Upon arriving at our destination, Ms. Scola lead the students in a water prayer, a prayer for those who do not have the wonderful, clean water that we do, and usually take for granted. On the way back to the school, the students took turns carrying the heavy containers of water. The two classes have been introduced to Ryan’s Well, and have been given the task of educating the whole school about the water conditions in Africa and how we can make a difference. They want to make others realize that they can be kids and think about Africa too.
Holy Cross Celebrates Official Grand Opening
On Thursday, November 1, 2012, students, parents, staff, and community partners gathered at 2997 Algonquin Road for a joyous celebration. Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School held its official grand opening and all in attendance were thrilled with the morning’s events. Bishop Plouffe began the ceremony with an opening prayer, and several invited guests spoke to the wonderful celebration and school opening including M.P.P. Rick Bartolucci and Mayor Matichuk. The entire group was welcomed by the school principal Louise Franklin as well as Director of Education Catherine McCullough. As part of the celebration, the school choir performed and a slideshow was shown highlighting the building and students now occupying the school. After the official ribbon cutting, the guests were invited to a reception and tour of the school facility.
Barry MacDonald, Chair of the Board was on hand during the celebration and was delighted with the morning celebration. “This is truly an occasion of great significance as its completion has occurred through the hard work of many dedicated individuals and strong community partners. This outstanding school was created with the communities of Corpus Christi, St. Theresa and St. Christopher coming together as one, and building on positive relationships,” MacDonald stated. “This new school’s commitment to excellence embodies the true spirit of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board positively supporting our students, and providing an outstanding and exceptional learning environment. On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic Board of Trustees, I congratulate all involved in this project, and look forward to the years to come watching the future growth of the school, and its students.”
Learning Handwashing Rules at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary
The grade one/two classroom at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School was the backdrop for a press conference put on by the Sudbury District Health Unit on October 22, 2012. On hand was public health inspector Miranda Berardelli and public health nurse Danielle Richard to talk about the prevention of spreading germs as we enter into flu and cold season. As part of their Infections Control Program, S.D.H.U. staff thought that a classroom would be a great fit for the media event, as the main message is that most infections that cause colds, flues, and a series of other illnesses, come down to hands, coughing and sneezing – with schools often prime locations for these illnesses. The students in the classroom were excited to share their knowledge of handwashing rules and had the opportunity to see the germs on their hands with ultraviolet light. As well, as part of the S.D.H.U. initiative, the students each received a musical handwashing timer to assist in the handwashing length of time. Students were encouraged to share what they learned with their friends, siblings, and other family members.
Louise Franklin, principal of the school was pleased to have Health Unit visiting the classroom. “What a great partnership we have with this community organization,” Franklin stated. “We are grateful to the Sudbury District Health Unit for taking the time to help educate our students about illness prevention, and encourage the entire school to follow these important hand-washing guidelines to ensure a healthy school community!”
Doors Now Open at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School
There were a lot smiles on students’ faces this past week at Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School. The brand new school for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board has had a great first week opening its doors on September 4th, for over 410 south end students.
The JK to Grade 6 school is an outstanding new facility and incorporates a multitude of energy saving measures marking it as an extremely “green” school. As well, Holy Cross has implemented brand new technology features that will allow all the students to “be connected” on a variety of levels with computers, smartboards, ipads, amplification systems, etc. It is a dual track school with both regular English as well as French Immersion programming available starting off with four full day early learning classrooms (two regular English and two French Immersion).
Louise Franklin, Principal of Holy Cross was delighted with the first week and is excited to see both the students and staff settling into their classrooms. “It is wonderful how in only a few days, we have forged extremely positive relationships between staff, students and families in this new Catholic school community.” Franklin said. “We are so fortunate to be able to offer this outstanding facility, and exceptional educational opportunities to our south end families.”
Barry MacDonald, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board echoed Franklin’s comments. “Holy Cross is an amazing school with myriad of cutting edge attributes including its green features, as well as its technology infrastructure. We are very proud of the hard work done by the staff and the board to ensure a smooth opening, and are excited to experience this brand new environment during this upcoming school year. What makes it exceptionally unique is the campus approach in the south end – servicing the needs of families for pre-school (daycare), elementary (Holy Cross) and secondary (St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School) students all on the same property – making it a truly full-service campus.”
Gathering Stone Ritual
On May 17 Father Jim Hutton and parent Brenda Cavallin travelled to three of the Sudbury Catholic District Schools that are closing in June – St. Theresa, St. Christopher and Corpus Christi. Students at each of these schools collected stones from the yard to symbolize something they wanted to bring to the new site of Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School opening in September. The stones will be placed in the yard but will represent the spirit of the school that have travelled from all three sites. With Father Him Hutton and Brenda Cavallin’s visit to each of the schools, students were invited to remember love, patience and the virtues they hold true at their school while holding onto the stone. The stones were then collected and brought to St. Patrick’s Parish to be stored until the students begin their new school year at Holy Cross.