The Chinese new year began as a day to pray to the Gods for spring harvest and good planting and while there is no spring weather yet here in Sudbury, the celebrations were in full force. Students were encouraged to dress down and wear red clothing.
Mrs. Church also put on a Chinese new year celebration in her classroom complete with all the fixings which included food, a portrait wall and loot bags complete with chocolate coins for good luck.
The Grade 6 students at Holy Cross Elementary School acknowledged the Lunar (Chinese) New Year in respect of the diversity of the student population. In their classroom, there are two students that celebrate the Lunar New Year. The class participated in an afternoon High Tea with Green Iced Tea, fortune cookies, and mandarin oranges wrapped in red tissue (a tradition that symbolizes good luck and fortune). They also completed a craft activity, customizing fans made from paper doilies.
St. Francis staff and students celebrated Literacy Day and their love of books with its annual book swap organized by the school’s resource teacher, Ms. G. Visentin. Staff and students kicked off the special event arriving to school dressed as their favourite story book character. Students donated gently used books from their home and traded them in for “new” books. The school’s gathering room had a large selection of book titles on display for students to choose from in both English and French languages. The book swap provided an excellent opportunity for students to reuse, exchange books and encourage reading.
Congratulations to Mrs. Jutila’s Grade 8 Marymount Academy students Emma Vellow, Beth Richard, Odossa Oriakhi, Cassidy McLardie and Mackenzie Michalowicz (not pictured) for winning second place in the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association video contest. The students created a video about how Marymount Academy students are “Community Builders.” The contest was province wide and these elementary students competed in the high school category! Way to go REGALS!
Immaculate Conception School community celebrated Mass and the Virtue of Peace with Father Jackson. Mme Martin’s Gr. 1/2 FI class truly proclaimed God’s word as well as what Peace means to them!
After 1 175 days of chemo, St. John School is thrilled to announce that brave Nicky Steinke is done his treatment and is an official Cancer Survivor! Surprised by mom with a bouquet of balloons and a bag full of snacks, Nicky celebrated his win along with school staff, Discovery Early Learning and Care, students and family. Swarmed by his schoolmates with hugs, cards and well wishes, Nicky also celebrated by ringing an old-fashioned school bell three times to mark his huge win and new beginning at school! Special guest, Cathy Burns, of the Canadian Cancer Society Sudbury and area, presented Nicky with a stuffed “survivor” animal as well as a baton that he is invited to bring to the Relay for Life 2019 being held at Laurentian University on Friday, June 21st. Congratulations Nicky – we are so proud of you!
Chief Valerie Richer visited Mr. Beaudry’s Native Second Language classroom at St. James recently and shared the history of Atikmeksheng with all the students. Chief Richer is a practicing lawyer and discussed some of the economic initiatives that her community will be planning in the near future. She was happy to meet with all the students and encouraged them to learn the Ojibwe language. She said that some of our stories need to be shared in our language. The students provided her with some gifts following the presentation.
St. Francis students and staff are building community and collaboration through regular CLAN challenges. Today St. Francis School’s CLANs were challenged to build a snowman using the recycled materials from our Christmas door decorating contest. The students and staff had to build their snowman and were awarded points.
Each student and staff member is placed in a CLAN which is represented through the Medicine Wheel. Our CLAN challenges are held throughout the year, challenging students and staff to work together on common activities. Each CLAN challenge results in points being earned.
Maggie Polischuk, CLAN Captain said, “Our CLANs program gives us a chance to work collaboratively, be creative, have a voice and contribute to our school and community; all while being silly and having fun! Being part of a CLAN is like being part of a big family. We all become one!”
In partnership with Myths & Mirrors, the Aboriginal EarlyON Child and Family Centre has been working on a project to depict “family”. Each week, the project focusses on a different theme which helps people to better understand and express the community’s view of family. This week, St. David School Native Language teacher, Mrs. Fielding and her class took part in the project which is ongoing until the final celebration which includes a traditional feast and seasonal teachings.
“It is a wonderful experience for my students and gives them the opportunity to express their views and build confidence in gaining a voice which supports diversity, identity and community. We are proud to participate”, stated Dawn Fielding, Native Language teacher at St. David School.
