On March 20, all Sudbury Catholic Schools took part in Franco-Fun Day activities. Franco-Fun day is a day dedicated to celebrating French language and culture. Whether it be French Immersion or core French students, each school set up a variety of activities to honour French language for all the classes. Staff put a great deal of time and effort into planning the events, and the students had an outstanding time learning new words and taking part in all of the activities, some of which included French concerts, cooking French foods, French-themed playdays, and sport activities instructed in French, etc. Lianne Perreault Raymond, a curriculum consultant for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board who was responsible for the coordination of the Franco-Fun Day activities, was thrilled with the efforts made by all the schools to embrace French culture and language on Franco-Fun day. “What an outstanding effort by our schools and staff,” Perreault-Raymond stated. “They have really outdone themselves, as they do every year, by making this year’s Franco-Fun day truly a day that honours and celebrates the Francophone culture in our community. From cooking crepes to singing French songs, I am very proud of everyone’s contribution to making this year’s Franco-fun day such a success!”
Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for the board echoed Perreault-Raymond’s comments. “Our staff has once again done an outstanding job for our students through their Franco-Fun day activities and celebrations. We recognize the importance of supporting French language skills, and know that our Board’s French Immersion programming is such a success because it is supported throughout our system.”
Category: Schools
French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario Visits St. Benedict
On Wednesday, March 20th, all Sudbury Catholic Schools celebrated Franco-Fun day, which is a day dedicated to celebrating French language and culture. As part of St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School’s Franco-Fun Day activities, grade 11 and 12 French Immersion students were honoured to welcome Francois Boileau, the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario to their school. Francois Boileau is currently pursuing his third mandate as the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario and his role is to receive complaints from members of the public and present recommendations regarding the application of the French Language Services Act. Currently, Mr. Boileau reports directly to the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, and has the power to make recommendations on matters pertaining to the application of the French Language Services Act. Since his appointment, Commissioner Boileau has worked diligently to improve the quality of French-language services in Ontario, and to ensure its full development and preserve its culture.
Introducing Mr. Boileau to the students was Sudbury Catholic consultant Lianne Perreault-Raymond, who was thrilled about the opportunity for the students to interact with the Commissioner. “It was wonderful to see our French Immersion (F.I.) students participating in an open discussion with M. Boileau, completely in French. We were honoured that he recognized both the students and staff for speaking the language so fluently, and he encouraged them to continue their journey even after leaving high school,” Perreault-Raymond stated. “I was very proud of our students, as well as the teaching staff, as they demonstrated such skill and confidence during the entire discussion, which is strong evidence that our French Immersion program is very successful!”
The students spoke with the Commissioner for approximately an hour, and discussed the importance of carrying on with the language after graduation, as well as how French can play a great role in one’s career and contribute to personal and cultural growth. “To take on a new language, is to take on new thinking,” Boileau told the students. “To take on new thinking is to take on a new world and new possibilities!”
Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for the board echoed Mr. Boileau’s sentiments. “We are so honoured that Commissioner Boileau spoke to our students about the importance of bilingualism in today’s society as part of the board’s Franco-fun day,” McCullough said. “At Sudbury Catholic, we recognize that French language skills can certainly improve a student’s career options later on in life and the Commissioner’s visit reinforced this message for the students.”
Making Their Votes Count
There are no current national or provincial elections to study so students at St. Charles College have created a mock election of their own.
The grade ten Civics students in teacher James Suchoplas’ class had to create a political party complete with name and platform and deliver their enticing speeches to the students in the Life Skills classes.
The Life Skills students have the job of selecting a mock leader and party to run the school by way of secret ballot.
Suchoplas says “The election was an excellent way for students to study issues that impact students and then find ways to strive for change.”
Some groups even went so far as to create their own political campaign commercial.
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St. James Celebrates Franco-Fun Day
March 20th was International Francophone Day and to celebrate the occasion, St. James Catholic Elementary School students dressed in green and white. This day is a celebration of French language in all countries. Some students participated in an activity called “New Age Kurling”, others sang French songs and participated in French DPA (daily physical activity). Teachers organized various classroom activities including colouring the fancophone flag and making crowns.
“Le 20 mars * marque comme chaque année la Journée internationale de la Francophonie. L’occasion pour les francophones de fêter leur bien commun, la langue française, mais aussi d’exprimer leur solidarité et leur désir de vivre ensemble au travers de centaines d’événements organisés dans le monde entier.” www.francophonie.org
Francais! Francais! at St. Bernadette
Francais! Francais! The students at St. Bernadette Catholic School welcomed French singer/songwriter Roland Bibeau Tuesday, March 19th to celebrate the International Francophone day. Mr. Bibeau performed a concert for the french immersion school that had the students putting on a fashion show, playing their air guitars and enjoying an explosion of confetti. “The students had a wonderful time dancing and singing along with the French music. What a great way for our students to celebrate being Franco-Ontarians!” said Diana Salvador, principal.
St. James Celebrates Their 2nd Annual Family, Fun, Faith Night
St. James Catholic Elementary School students, staff and school council collaborated with Pius X Roman Catholic Church on February 27th to bring the community another fun filled faith-based evening. The evening offered several faith-based activities such as: pin the halo on the angel, virtue bowling and the very popular “inclusion Bingo”. Inclusion Bingo was created by the schools C3 council (Catholic, Community and Culture). Each space in the Bingo card contains a faith based word such as “family, God, helping, caring, compassion, etc…” Prizes were graciously donated by various community partners. Families were greeted by Father Terry Fournier and Deacon Pat Raymond.
Gearing Up for Franco-Fun Day at St. Anne Catholic School
St. Anne Catholic School is proud to announce that one of their students, Kyle Denis was selected as this year’s Sudbury Catholic District School Board Intermediate student Franco Fun Day button contest winner.
The Core French student took part in this contest in preparation for our 3rd annual Franco Fun Day. “I was very proud to see the students so motivated and put so much effort into designing potential button templates for this day. Many of them really wanted to win this contest,” said Liane Dutrisac, Core French teacher at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School. Kyle’s button has now been sent out for printing. “I think it’s really cool that many students in our school board will be wearing a button that I designed for this day,” says Kyle Denis, a grade 7 student. Franco Fun Day, scheduled for March 20, 2013, is a day when our school gathers to celebrate Canada’s other official language and French culture in our school community.
St. John’s Hallway to Spiritual Journey
As staff and students walk down the halls of St. John Catholic Elementary School, they will be making way into the St. John’s Hallway to Spiritual Journey. The primary, junior, intermediate hallways have been named after positive Character/Virtue Building traits. For example, walk down Happy Lane, or Empathy Rd. when visiting the Kindergarten students who are busy in the hallways ready to enter class. Empathy Rd. connects with the Rootsof Empathy program that takes place in the Full Day Kindergarten classes. The Roots of Empathy is a bullying prevention program that teaches young children social/emotional competencies. Or, why not saunter down the junior hallway of Peace Blvd.and Faith Avenue. Then, there is the Gr.8 hallway, where students enter Stewardship Blvd. As the leaders of the School, the students are responsible stewards in setting an example to carrying out the work God is calling them to do.
Thank you to the St. John School Safe School Team for creating a warm culture of respect and inclusivity for all staff and students.
Riley’s Request
Riley Callander, a grade 6 student at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Elementary School came up with a great idea. He suggested that the school designate Thursday, March 7th as Hat Day. Each student that wore a hat gave a donation to the Maison Vale Hospice. Riley was thrilled to learn that $300 was raised. A huge, heart-felt thank you goes out to Riley and to the wonderful students and staff at St. Paul the Apostle School. Riley visited the hospice on Saturday, March 9th to deliver the donation.