Students at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School recently became a little ‘greener’. The school, in partnership with the Killarney Outdoor Education Centre created a vermicomposting program that will help the school to reduce organic waste. The project, funded by TD Friends of the Environment and Learning for a Sustainable Future, is aimed at helping teach students how composting can have a positive impact on the environment. Both the students of St. Joseph and all visitors to the outdoor centre will weigh their organic waste that enters the compost. This will allow the students to track the amount of waste they prevented from entering the local landfill. The castings left over will be harvested by the students and added to soil used in gardens and planters.
Vermicomposting, is a process that uses worms to digest waste such as food scraps. Bins containing soil, water, worms and bedding material, such as leaves and shredded newspaper, are filled once or twice a week with worm food – for example, fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and other organic material. The end product is an excellent fertilizer for soil.
Category: Schools
SCDSB Celebrates Sixth Annual Turning Points Essay Contest Awards
Invited students, parents, teachers and invited guests gathered together on May 6, 2015 to take part in the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Sixth annual Turning Points Essay Contest Awards ceremony. This essay contest is an initiative that stems from the Learning Partnership, which is an organization that champions a strong public education system to deliver innovative programs, credible research, policy initiatives, executive leadership and public engagement across Canada. Turning Points is a character development and literacy program that allows students to reflect on their fundamental values and, through a process of self-reflection and dialogue, write a narrative essay about a significant event, or turning point in their lives. The Turning Points Essay Contest is a powerful character development and literacy program that all 4 of our secondary schools, as well as the intermediate students at St. Anne participated in this year. There are 3 divisions, Grade 7/8, Grade 9/10 and Grade 11/12. Cash prizes were awarded for secondary essays and all essays will also be published in an annual anthology that will be sent to students and participating schools next year. The students that took part in this contest and authored the winning essays were awarded plaques, a copy of the publication, as well as monetary awards at the celebration. Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Board was on hand for the celebration and awarded the students their prizes. After hearing the students read their essays, Bénard was visibly moved by their words and experiences. “I want to thank these students for sharing with us your strength and resiliency, and for being able to see the shining light in your experiences,” Bénard stated. “You have shown us that everyday is a blessing by sharing your emotional stories of strength and courage, accounts of laughter and tears, your deepest secrets, greatest fears, and biggest triumphs. What emerges as these essays take shape is just magic, and it reminds us all of the goodness and beauty in all of our students.”
Top Winners include:
Grade 11/12 Division
First Place – Mia Tullio
Second Place – Emily Brohart
Third Place – Taylor Emery
Grade 9/10 Division
First Place – Jenna Hoolans
Second Place – Julia Moore
Third Place – Alexis Gunther
Grade 7/8 Awards
First Place- Madison Penrose
Second Place – Amy Lucas
Third Place – Kaylee Kruk
Cardinal Girls Told to “Love the Skin You’re In!”
Cardinal Girls told to “Love the Skin You’re In!” St. Charles College girls’ were told their voices and imaginations are far more important than being eye candy. Brie Mathers, a presenter who hails from small town Bracebridge but now spends winters in California delivered a presentation on Media Literacy and Body Image. Mathers says this message is needed for young girls now more than ever as a culture of self-objectification creates mental health issues such as disordred eating, anxiety and depression. Brie’s work speaks to media idealizations of women and the influence they are having on young women’s self perception, shifting the conversation to a focus on inner resilience and loving yourself, your body, and one another. The presentation was made available through a Speak Up Grant from the government aimed at creating confident girls who don’t concern themselves with negative body image. And it seemed to work. Wrote one participant in a follow-up evaluation: “This presentation made me feel like a strong, beautiful, independent young woman. I appreciate what you’re doing and I would like to help other girls feel as confident as I do today.” It also reached young women already struggling, inspiring them to attitudinal and behavioural change. During the presentation, Brie stopped the girls and implemented energy breaks.
Panthers Hit the Streets of Downtown Sudbury
The St. Paul Running Club participated in the 10th annual SudburyROCKS road race on Sunday, May 10th 2015. A total of 17 students and 4 teachers participated in the 5km race around downtown Sudbury. Pictured are the students and teachers Mme Gautheir, Mme Hayes and Mlle Vendramin sporting their race shirts and finishing medals.
Joining Together As One
Students from St. Andrew, St. Bernadette and St. St. Raphael Catholic Elementary Schools came together in prayer to celebrate Catholic Youth Day at St. Andrew the Apostle Church.
The three schools will form Holy Trinity Catholic School in the fall. This is the first time all three student bodies came together in the church to celebrate the Eucharist. Students at all three schools helped in the mass presenting the readings, altar serving and forming a choir. Father Sam D’Angelo presided over the mass.
Faith Based Play Day at St. Andrew
St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School celebrated Catholic Education week with a Faith Based Play Day. Each classroom teacher and the Core French teacher lead the teams of children in faith based activities. There was singing, creating a story, forgiveness melts a frozen heart activity , love letters, the parable of the Good Samaratin and discussion of the miracles of Jesus. Pictured is the group who explored “what joy means to me.” Thank you to each teacher who planned, organized and led each team in an activity.
Connecting with Community Partners at St. John
During Catholic Education Week, St. John Catholic Elementary School students in Mrs. Vendramin’s grade 1 social studies class enjoyed a visit from Constable Coluzzi. The police officer was asked to answer some questions that the students developed together before having an opportunity to sit in the Greater Sudbury Police’s brand new dodge charger. Students learned the value of having police officers as one of our community partners.
Exploring Paths of Joy at St. Charles Elementary
To prepare for this year’s Catholic Education Week theme, “Exploring Paths of Joy”, St. Charles Catholic Elementary School students created their own unique footprint to symbolize their personal journey within our school community. The footprints were put together by Mme Bouzane’s class to make a giant quilt!
Students in all grades enjoy walking past the mural to admire the many patterns and designs and to find their own!
Planting Seeds of Joy at St. John
During Catholic Education Week at St. John Catholic Elementary School, Mrs. Gionet’s grade 1/2 class enjoyed listening to the book “The Tiny Seed” before having the opportunity to plant some flowers and vegetables with trustee Nancy Deni.