Sudbury Catholic District School Board

SCDSB Launches Year Two of “Dearness Conservation Program and Challenge”

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board recently launched the 2007-2008 Dearness Conservation Program and Challenge. The School Conservation Challenge was created by the Sudbury Catholic District School Board to increase the participation in the Dearness Conservation (DC) initiative that was introduced into all of the Board’s schools in 2001. Since the inception of the DC program, the Board has been able to achieve substantial utility savings by educating teachers, students and staff and providing them with the necessary resources through this program.

The Dearness Conservation Program is geared toward both secondary school and elementary schools. The program consists of an in-school presentation/workshop and seeks to incorporate all students in the school in its conservation efforts.

The DC in-school program launch consisted of two components:

Part 1: A viewing of the widely acclaimed environmental movie trailer, An Inconvenient Truth followed by a “Changes” and a “Choices” presentation which focused on the choices that students have to make with respect to the environment. Discussion also centred around the key aspects of the Board’s Conservation Challenge.

Part 2: A conservation trade show was held on energy efficient technologies. Students learned about energy and water saving technologies, how to perform technical audits, and how to run campaigns to involve all students and staff in energy, water and waste reduction.

Workshops are being presented in all secondary and elementary schools over the next two weeks, and all SCDSB Dearness Schools, Classes and Clubs are invited to participate in the “Conservation Challenge” which will run from October 30, 2007 to May 1, 2008.

The winner of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s 2007-2008 School Conservation Challenge will be awarded a Grand Prize of $500.00 (toward an approved greening/grounds improvement project) and the right to display the “SCDSB School Conservation Challenge Champions” banner for a year.

For more information on the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s DC Program and Challenge please contact, Mark Gervais, Energy Coordinator at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

SCDSB Proud Partner in RISK WATCH

Educators at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board work hard to help students prepare for a bright and challenging future. For this reason, teaching children the skills and strategies they require to make educated decisions to avoid preventable injury and death has always been of paramount importance.

Students from Ms. Marcon’s Gr. 5/6 class at St. Michael Catholic School learned first hand how to minimize their risks through a presentation on “RISK WATCH” delivered by the City of Greater Sudbury’s Fire and Police Services recently.

Leo Frappier, Public Safety Officer, Greater Sudbury Fire Services and Denise Fraser, School Liaison Officer, Greater Sudbury Police Force presented the theme of personal safety through the use of the innovative “Hazard House.”

Risk Watch is an injury prevention program from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). “It is our hope that all students within the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will learn and reinforce behaviours to prevent injury,” states Sandra St. Denis, Principal of St. Michael Catholic School. The program also provides parents and caregivers with additional information about injury prevention.

Early Christmas Present for St. Mary Catholic School

Christmas came early to St. Mary Catholic School in Capreol thanks to FNX Mining Company, Podolsky Mine. The school was in need of a freezer – not only for storage of First Aid ice packs but also for the storage of hot dogs,buns, and food for Parent Night Socials.

Thanks to Podolsky Mine Manager Frank Flynn and the Podolsky Staff, the students of St. Mary Catholic School now have enough room to store all they need in the beautiful upright freezer that FNX Mining purchased on the school’s behalf. St. Mary Catholic School would also like to thank Mr. Frank Mazzuca of Mazzuca Furniture and Appliance Company of Capreol for his support of the school.

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary Presents “Stepping Into Secondary School”

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School extends an invitation to all grade 7 and 8 students, parents and guardians to attend an information night entitled ‘Stepping Into Secondary School’ on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the school located at 2993 Algonquin Road, Sudbury.

The evening will provide information on the secondary school Catholic curriculum and allow students and parents the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the various programs that the school has to offer and how it may impact on their son’s or daughter’s career plans.

For additional information on “Stepping Into Secondary School,” please contact Mr. Maurizio Visentin, Program Leader, Academic Services, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School at ph. 523-9235.

“Absolute Leadership” Presentation hosted by St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School has invited the grade 7 and 8 students from St James, St Francis and St David Catholic Schools to join the grade 9 and 10 students at the Absolute presentation on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the St. Benedict Catholic School gymnasium.

Absolute Leadership Development is a nonprofit organization that partners with schools to help students realize their incredible value and potential – and be empowered to change their world. This leading in-school presentation inspires students with a relevant message that their lives have purpose and value. Not just a speech; not just a screen: the Motivational Experience combines young motivational speakers, live bands, and video segments with professional audio and lighting to create a very high-end multimedia production. Absolute’s high energy presentation covers key youth issues such as bullying, self-worth, and social responsibility in an engaging and positive manner.

Marymount Academy Hosts “OSAID ’07: Sink or Swim” Regional Conference

Marymount Academy will be hosting its very first Regional OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) conference this weekend (November 16 to 18) at Marymount Academy, 165 D’Youville Street, Sudbury.

Seventy OSAID members from across Northern Ontario will be participating in the event representing seven schools; (Korah Collegiate and Vocational School, Sir James Dunn Collegiate, Alexander Henry High School, Michipicoten High School, Lasalle Secondary School, Sudbury Secondary School and Marymount Academy).

The three-day conference will include a number of workshops such as yoga, self defence, smart serve presentation as well as a number of guest speakers. Keynote speakers will include Ron Roy of Action Sudbury (who will be performing a smart serve workshop for forty students), and Stephanie Kovala, a student from Sault Ste. Marie, whose father passed away in an impaired driving accident.

OSAID was created in 1987 by students who passionately wanted to spread the anti-impaired driving message. Marymount Academy is the only school in the City of Greater Sudbury with an active OSAID chapter.

St. Benedict Science Teachers and Laurentian Students Represent Ontario at National Science Competition

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School students were treated to edge-of-their-seat action and suspense at the Ontario Iron Science Competition which was held at Science North on November 3, 2007. Bearing signs and banners, St. Benedict students cheered on two of their own science teachers, Mr. Aaron Barry and Mr. Michael Sipos, who were competing againstt another local and two Southern Ontario teams for the Ontario championship title.

The Iron Science Competition is held across Canada with the intention of increasing the appeal of science and scientific experiments to students and the general public. The goal was undoubtedly met as the crowd which consisted of both students and adults responded to the scientific displays with incredible enthusiasm. Each ten minute presentation was based on the “secret ingredient” in the human body. The teams were judged by a panel of scientists, teachers, and local media.

St. Benedict Catholic School teachers, Mr. Barry and Mr. Sipos, teamed up with two graduate students from the Laurentian University/Science North Science Communications program, Lisa Lambert and Brandi Chuchman. Together, they formed the “Ferral Nerds” and solved the baffling mysteries of the human body. The sinuses were explained through the use of a “Booger Cannon” and the steps of the Digestive System were demonstrated with a larger-than-life working model. Their presentation impressed the crowd and judges alike, and their supporters were delighted with their scientific antics. After lengthy deliberation, the “Ferral Nerds” were crowned the champions of the Ontario Iron Science Competition for their unparalleled originality, delivery, entertainment value, overall knowledge of scientific principals and general “nerdiness.” St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School received a Smart Board as the top prize which will benefit all students in the science classrooms.

The “Ferral Nerds” will represent the province at the National Iron Science Competition in Calgary, Alberta on November 22, 2007. The entire event will be webcasted live at 12:00 p.m. local time from www.ironscience.ca.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board would like to congratulate the “Ferral Nerds” on their excellent achievement in winning the Ontario Iron Science Competition and wish them the best of luck as they represent St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, Laurentian University, and Ontario on the national stage.

SCDSB Students Participate in Young Philanthropist Challenge

Sudbury Catholic District School Board students from Marymount Academy, St. Benedict and Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary Schools have been presented with a unique opportunity to learn and appreciate the value of volunteer action in the City of Greater Sudbury.

In conjunction with Volunteer Sudbury, the 2007 Young Philanthropist Challenge will require students (in a four to six-person team) to select a nonprofit organization that provides a valuable social service to the community. The students will prepare a research paper outlining the history, past accomplishments, and future challenges of that organization. Upon completion of the research stage, students will prepare a report and later present their findings to a panel of judges. The team which best portrays their organization as accomplishing a valuable social cause through volunteer involvement will win the $5,000 first place prize.

The Challenge kicked off with a Media Conference on Monday at Better Beginnings, Better Futures. Two teams from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School have entered the competition in hopes of promoting two essential community organizations. Dayna Corelli, Kathryn Piché, Kyle Deegan, and Karen Lee will be representing the Sudbury Action Centre for Youth in hopes of raising awareness and appreciation for the social services that the organization provides. Veronica Summerhill, Erica Sorensen and Shannon Fyfe have chosen the Elgin Street Mission, which has worked with the people of Sudbury’s inner city since 1989. Both teams hope to be able to help their organization financially, but are pleased at being able to raise awareness for these nonprofit organizations.

All teams are actively working and preparing in hopes of winning the $5, 000 grand prize for their organization. Regardless of the outcome, it is certain that these young students will gain an appreciation for the value of volunteer organizations in Greater Sudbury.

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