“Read, Return, Repeat!”, was the library’s motto during a school-wide celebration of books held at St. Benedict CSS during Catholic Education Week. To further develop the love of reading, teachers encouraged students to use integrated technology like Facebook, Twitter or YouTube to share their favourite novel with a friend. Students were given time to Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) using their e-readers or an old-fashioned book. Later in the week, students met for Book Club, to swap books and journaling on the library’s Graffiti Wall. Grade 9 student Alexandria Folino stated, “I especially liked the Book Club meeting because are the first to see and take out the new books. It’s also fun to mingle with the other members, and discuss the interesting books we’ve read.”
Category: Schools
St. Benedict Students Lend a Helping Hand
Students from St. Benedict teacher Krysten Purawec’s Grade 9 French Immersion class prepared sandwiches for the Elgin Street Mission recently. Twenty-seven students made more than 125 sandwiches, carefully packaged with homemade cookies and a brief note of encouragement. Mme Purawec commented that, “It is our collective mission as a classroom to make our entire community a better place”. The students had fun putting together the tasty snacks, which were delivered to the mission after school that day. Maurizio Visentin, a Guidance Counsellor at St. Benedict, shared a story on the origins of sandwiches and complimented the students on putting the gospel into action to help those who use the Mission on a daily basis.
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.
St. James Students Look Through “God’s Eye”
Using an ancient tradition originating from Mexico, the Grade 5/6 French Immersion class at St. James Catholic School wove yarn around two sticks glued in the shape of a cross to create a “Sikuli”–“God’s Eye”. This tradition of the Huicholl Indians of Mexico is based on the belief that the person that “God’s Eye” was created for, will be more knowledgeable to the ways of Jesus and wiser. According to the belief, the father creates a Sikuli (God’s Eye) for their newborn and continues to add a length of yarn to the Sikuli on the child’s birthday until the child is 5 years old.
St. James Students Look Through “God’s Eye”
Using an ancient tradition originating from Mexico, the Grade 5/6 French Immersion class at St. James Catholic School wove yarn around two sticks glued in the shape of a cross to create a “Sikuli”–“God’s Eye”. This tradition of the Huicholl Indians of Mexico is based on the belief that the person that “God’s Eye” was created for, will be more knowledgeable to the ways of Jesus and wiser. According to the belief, the father creates a Sikuli (God’s Eye) for their newborn and continues to add a length of yarn to the Sikuli on the child’s birthday until the child is 5 years old.
St. James Students Look Through “God’s Eye”
Using an ancient tradition originating from Mexico, the Grade 5/6 French Immersion class at St. James Catholic School wove yarn around two sticks glued in the shape of a cross to create a “Sikuli”–“God’s Eye”. This tradition of the Huicholl Indians of Mexico is based on the belief that the person that “God’s Eye” was created for, will be more knowledgeable to the ways of Jesus and wiser. According to the belief, the father creates a Sikuli (God’s Eye) for their newborn and continues to add a length of yarn to the Sikuli on the child’s birthday until the child is 5 years old.
Cards Runners Race for Diabetes
The goal for the St. Charles College marathon team this fall was to enter and complete a half marathon and they did it. Ten students, along with their teacher/coach and principal took part in the Sudbury Rocks Half-Marathon for Diabetes this past weekend in Sudbury. Ms. Catherine Levesque headed up the team in the fall with a commitment to run everyday no matter what weather conditions greeted them after school. They were ecstatic about having their principal, Patty Mardero join them in the 50-59 age bracket.
Other highlights:
Danielle Provencher got 1st in her age/gender category out of 3 females up to 19 years of age. Katie McDowell came 2nd in the same division.
Cody Malette and Jayden Lepack finished 3rd and 4th in their age/gender category out of 11 males up to 19 years of age.
St. David Participates in Police Week
Students at St. David Catholic School were very excited to have Constable Lapalme visit the school. The students were welcomed by Constable Lapalme first thing this morning in the school yard, he then assisted with the Breakfast Program and had the opportunity to speak with all students in the classrooms. Ms. Lepage, Gr.2/3 students were very thrilled to sit in the police cruiser, sound the siren and look at the radar and other devices in the vehicle. Police week runs from May 13-19 and is dedicated to increasing community awareness and recognition of policing services and strengthening partnerships between police and the community. ” What a great experience for students to interact with the police in a positive way” says Grade 1/2 teacher, Eleanor Anderson.
Marymount Academy Student Selected as Youth Ambassador for National French Forum
With a French father, and an English mother, Amanda Daigle knew that speaking both of Canada’s official languages would be an asset in her life. As a result, the grade 11 Marymount Academy student has been in French Immersion her entire academic career, and this year, it has provided her with an amazing opportunity. Daigle has been selected as one of thirty students from across the country to be a youth ambassador at the National Ambassador Youth Forum (Le Forum National des jeunes Ambassadeurs) which provides bilingual high school students the chance to meet like-minded student leaders from across the country. This event is hosted by French for the Future, a non-profit student-centred educational program that encourages and promotes bilingualism in Canada.
The one week forum will be taking place in Edmonton, Alberta, in which students will learn about diverse career paths and possibilities, take part in unique cultural events, as well as share their experiences and discuss the challenges and advantages of learning two languages. This opportunity came about from her teacher Christine Masimiliano. Masimiliano informed her class about the forum and Daigle decided that this was something she wanted to apply for. After writing her own letter explaining why she would be a great candidate, Daigle also had to provide two letters of recommendation to support her application. At the end of April, she got the call. This all expenses paid trip is something that Daigle is very, very excited for. “I am so grateful for this opportunity,” Daigle stated. “Not only will it allow me to strengthen my French-language skills, but I will get to make new friends, and learn how to be a better leader in my community.” Daigle is no stranger to being a leader, as she often takes part in community service activities in Sudbury, as well as being a part of the Girl Guides of Canada for many years. “I am very honoured to have been chosen to join the 29 other students for this national forum,” Daigle said. “French Immersion has opened many doors for me in the past, and I am confident that being selected as a youth ambassador for this national French forum will continue to open doors for me in the future!”