Chapters gave St. Benedict students special treatment when they opened their doors a little early for the Book Club members. After a brief ‘book talk’ about the latest and top selling teen fiction, students were eager to spend time wandering the aisles, perusing their favourite genres of literature, and making a purchase or two to take home with them. Then it was back to school for the afternoon.
Category: Schools
Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Dual Credit Program Announced
The press room was filled to capacity at Laurentian University as the Right Honourable Paul Martin announced the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Dual Credit Program on April 27, 2010. In partnership with Laurentian and the Rainbow District School Board, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board made the announcement about this initiative that is the first of its kind in Ontario and is a program that enables Aboriginal youth to earn high school and university credits at the same time.
Throughout his business and political careers, the Right Honourable Paul Martin has been devoted to the cause of Canada’s Inuit peoples, First Nations and the Metis Nation. After retiring from politics, the former Prime Minister Paul Martin and his family established the Martin Aboriginal Initiative (MAI). MAI’s overall goal is to work with Canada’s Aboriginal peoples to enable them to enjoy greater economic self-reliance and an ever-increasing quality of life. The new dual credit program announce at Laurentian evolved as part of this initiative.
Domenic Giroux, President of Laurentian University talked excitedly about this new initiative. “Today’s announcement builds on the successful work completed in the Ontario college sector and the secondary school boards. This pilot program will extend the dual credit concept to the university environment for the first time ever in Ontario.”
Jody Cameron, Sudbury Catholic District Board Chair also felt that it was an important and necessary step to support aboriginal youth. “The SCDSB is proud to support Aboriginal secondary students in such an exciting and innovative initiative. We continue to build pathways that engage, challenge and provide new and varied learning opportunities for Aboriginal students. It is through these real world opportunities that our youth can achieve success in the future.”
Vanessa Lewis, a Grade 11 student from St. Charles College had the opportunity to be one of the few students chosen to be a part of the pilot dual credit program in Native Human Services with Laurentian this past year. According to Lewis, this program allowed her expand her plans for the future and the experience has been excellent. Lewis has, in fact, decided that she will be signing up for the new Entrepreneurship Dual Credit program for the fall.
SCDSB Students are “Spellbound” at C.P.C.O. Spelling Bee
Elementary students from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board spelled their way to the Championship at the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario ( C.P.C.O. -Sudbury Chapter) Spelling Bee on April 21, 2010. Every two years, the C.P.C.O. sponsors this event and the Sudbury Catholic students have the opportunity to compete for the title of Spelling Bee Champion. In order to qualify for this event, each school participated in their own spelling bees and a semi-final competition was held in early April. The students that placed in the top three then qualified to compete in the final event. At the end of the night, the students that claimed the title of top spellers were Kaedan Cronk (Grade 7, St. Paul Catholic Elementary School) for the Intermediate Division and Kamilla Kowal (Grade 6, St. Michael Catholic Elementary School) for the Junior Division.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board wishes to congratulate all of the participants for their excellent spelling efforts!
St. Mary Students Make the Most of Earth Day
St. Mary Catholic School students celebrated Earth Day by cleaning debris and picking up garbage along Lakeshore Street in Capreol..They filled 39 bags, some pieces of wood, collected several discarded large items and even found a bicycle! The Vermillion River area by the beach looks so much cleaner. Even the Canada geese came for a visit and honked their appreciation. Upon their return to school students created chalk Earth Day messages in the school yard.
Technology Showcased at St. Francis
Sudbury Catholic District School Board Trustee Estelle Scappatura stopped by St. Francis Catholic Elementary School recently. She was invited to join teacher Lyanne Marion’s Grade 5/6 French Immersion class as they worked with Tina Timpano, a Sudbury Catholic Teacher Integration Mentor teacher. The class was learning how to use different programs like Comic Life on the macbook as well as incorporating different technology like the ipod and digital video cameras into the classroom. Trustee Scappatura was amazed at how well the students could utilize the technology and was quite proud of their accomplishments!
Families Have Fun at St. Mary’s Family Math Night
St. Mary Catholic Elementary School recently was involved in another in the series of the Esso Family Math Nights where everyday materials and math games are used to help children understand math ideas and where parents and children have fun sharing their thinking and understanding of Mathematics.
“Don’t Bug Me” was the focus of the Early Years (ages 4-6) workshop facilitated by Miss Waern. Both present and future St. Mary Monarchs listened to the story “Mouse Count” and then participated in several activities: singing about going on a Math Walk, a bug count using dice, finding red things in a school wide scavenger hunt and playing with home made play dough. Ms Bruneau,lent her expertise as well.
Miss O’Reilly, Mr. Merigioli and Miss Mantha, led the “Number Sense and Numeration” workshops for Grade 2-5 students. Students were able to estimate, use a number line, play card games and Go Fish.
All families were treated to a pasta supper before beginning the math projects. Many thanks to all who participated, cooked, and cleaned up! Thanks as well to the St. Mary Catholic School Council who funded the meal. We eagerly look forward to the next Math session. For more information about the Esso Family Math Nights please visit www.edu.uwo.ca/essofamilymath.
St. Anne Supports the Relief Efforts in Haiti
Recently, the students at St. Anne Catholic School held a Bake Sale in support of Haiti. It was a huge success! The funds were presented to Sister Therese Lamoureux, a missionary in Haiti and a survivor of the earthquake. Some students, like Emily in Grade 1, collected money on their own and presented it to Sister. Sister Therese was very moved and pleased with all the support from the parents and students at St. Anne. She was very thankful for all of their efforts and will present the money to her mission where it will be put to good use. Sister Therese had a wonderful time visiting the children at the Bake Sale and she extends her thanks to all the students and families for their generosity!
St. Anne Students Have Fun on the Ice
The students at St. Anne Catholic Elementary school laced up their skates recently for a field trip to Centennial Arena. Parents were invited to join their children as they skated around the ice enjoying themselves. There was fun for everyone!
Sudbury Star Male Athlete of the Week – Garrett Duff – St. Ben’s
Name – Garrett Duff
Grade – 11
Age – 16
Sports – Cross Country Skiing, Track & Field, Soccer, Badminton
Garrett has been a very active St. Benedict Bear since arriving from Timmins. He has competed in cross country skiing, advancing to OFSAA and even the Ontario Winter Games. He still trains regularly with the Walden Ski club.
In Track and Field, Garrett was a sprinter but has now focused more on jumping events. He has qualified for NOSSA in the long, and triple jumps. He hopes to qualify for OFSSA this year.
In soccer, Garrett was a part of the Jr. Boys NOSSA team in 2009.
In Badminton, Garrett won the SDSSAA and NOSSA championships in singles as a Gr. 9 student. In Gr.10 he competed in the Sr. Division in doubles with partner, freshman Hans Agnihotri, and came in 2nd in the district and in regionals. Both Hans and Garret placed 3rd in “C” at OFSSA. Garrett also competed in the Northern Ontario Badminton Association (NOBA) and completed the triple crown in the U16 division. He won in the singles, doubles, and mixed events. Garrett competes regularly all over the province and just finished the Sudbury Invitational where he placed 1st in both singles and doubles. Both Garrett and Hans (playing U19 at age 15) are hoping to advance to OFSAA again. The finals will be held this Saturday.
Garrett is also an avid kayaker and can be found on Ramsey most days of the summer. He says that it keeps your arms in shape for badminton! He is looking forward to the day when he will kayaking in Killarney.
Congratulations Garrett!