St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School proudly welcomes two international students to its school community. ESL Teacher Monica Dailey joins her new students in the school’s learning commons on the first day of semester two.
Khoa (left) is from Da Nang, Vietnam while Yuliang (right) is from Taipei, Taiwan. Both students say that they are looking forward to improving their English and the opportunity to experience all that Sudbury has to offer.
On November 11th 2016, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board had the pleasure of visiting Chongqing #37 Secondary School in China. We visited a class, the grounds, the bridge of success and had the privilege of witnessing the morning daily physical activity.
This school offers a high quality education to over 4,000 students from grades 7 to 12. Hopefully, some of the staff from the school will come to Sudbury to visit our schools and to discuss the possibility of a “sister” school partnership in the future. The school celebrated it’s 60th anniversary in 2015 and we are convinced that it will continue to grow in the next 60 years thanks to its dedicated and competent staff, as well as its visionary leadership.
View the photo album of our visit.
The grade 8 students at St. Benedict try their hand at cooking under the watchful eye of Mr. Sipos, Science and Foods Teacher. All the grade 8 students are shown how to work safely in the kitchen and prepare a delicious and authentic Mexican Quesadilla. Mr. Sipos was assisted in the kitchen with some of his Foods class students, who helped the Grade 8 students in preparing their dishes. One more delicious reason to try our Foods Class!
Recently our secondary schools students had an opportunity to attend a sweat lodge building and ceremony as part of the “Bundle Roots Program”. The event was hosted by Indigenous Education Secondary Support staff & teachers. At this event we had students from various cultures take part. The turnout was great and the weather was wonderful. There were three secondary schools that took part in this activity. The Sweat lodge was held on Atikameksheng Anishnawbek territory.
The sweat lodge is a structure, which is dome shaped made using natural materials given to us by the land. sweat lodges are used by Indigenous people on Turtle Island for ceremonial prayers. The ceremony and traditions associated with the sweat lodge vary from region to region but are similar in nature.
Students were able to partake in constructing the sweat lodge which was a rich learning experience for all staff and students. All the young men and women took part in constructing the sweat lodge. The Elders were both helpful and insightful for the youth and the staff, and shared their knowledge.
We completed our very full day with a very delicious feast, along with a spirit plate given back to our sacred helpers during this ceremony.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board hosted a secondary Powwow on June 1st 2016 at St. Benedict School. This was an opportunity for our Indigenous community to share their culture with non-Indigenous community members. Some of the dancers at the Powwow were secondary school students who attend our schools. It was exciting for our participants to see the dancers. Students were also able to share their culture and the style of dance. Those who partook in this event were able to celebrate Indigenous tradition and culture.
Through SCDSB we integrate First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures, history and perspectives in our curriculum. As an indigenous support worker we try to bridge gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. Having a celebration like this brings people together.
The Pow wow celebration was our first this year for our Catholic secondary schools. Many of those who attended the Powwow have never experienced a cultural activity such as this. It is with hope that with the continued support of secondary staff we can strive for more exposure of First Nations, Inuit and Metis Culture. Our students and faculty were given the opportunity to see dancers in full regalia. The students shared songs and the drumming was breathtaking Miigwetch.
The St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School Business Program continued its annual international field trip this spring by visiting Washington DC from May 18-22. The business students visited various attractions including: the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the US Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, the Washington Monument, the J. F. Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts, and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (recently visited by Pope Francis). The Business Studies program has also visited New York City, Chicago, and Boston in recent years. 30 students attended the trip, led by business studies teacher Giuseppe Politi.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board in partnership with the Child and Family Centre is offering a unique service to all our secondary students. We will have a Youth Walk-In Service available on Tuesdays from 10:30am to 6:00pm (last one hour session at 5pm). Starting tomorrow!
Where do you go to see a clinician? Go to the Guidance Area at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. This service is open to all secondary students, not just those from St. Benedict.
For more information please call 705-525-1008.
Remember: You don’t have to face your problems alone.
On Wednesday, March 9, 2016, Olympic Athlete Angella Goran, visited MMA to introduce FitSpirit. FitSpirit is a specialized program solely for women and girls. It is a cardio-based program, alternating between running, calisthenics and fitness. SCDSB teacher Chantal Dagostino hosted the launch, and invited female students from St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School, St Anne Catholic Elementary School, St. Paul Catholic Elementary School and St. John Catholic Elementary School who will be participating in Fitspirit to the event launch. Fitspirit is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help teenage girls discover the advantages and the enjoyment that come from taking part in physical activity. This knowledge will allow them to develop a healthy lifestyle based on realizing their own potential.
Since 2007, FitSpirit has travelled to the four corners of Ontario and Quebec to create awareness among teenage girls about the various ways they can take part in physical activity. Through the school based FitClub program, FitSpirit provides the opportunity for teenage girls to learn the basics of healthy nutrition and exposes them to activities that inspire physical activity with their friends. In Ontario and Quebec last year, over 10,000 girls participated in Fitspirit.
Last year the Sudbury Catholic District School Board had ten Catholic Elementary and Secondary schools involved with even more participating this year. In the final culminating run that was held at Laurentian University at the end of last year, there were over 286 girls who participated. This year looks very promising with a potential of over 500 girls gathering at Laurentian University on June 5th, 2016 to partake in their final task, completing either a 5 k or 10 k with over 20 schools from the Sudbury Region participating. As well, this 5k and 10 k will be open to all women and girls in Sudbury!
For more information on FitSpirit, please contact Chantal Dagostino at: Chantal.dagostino@fitspirit.ca
On Friday December 4th, St. Benedict welcomed a couple of special guests to help with the TD Bank Toy Caravan. Terry and Mell, from Q92, Sudbury’s Best Rock, dropped by to help TD Canada Trust promote their annual toy drive. St. Benedict has been a great supporter of this annual event and has collected more than 2300 new toys over the past three years to be placed under the Christmas Tree on Christmas morning to brighten hundreds of homes across the city. People from across the city were invited to drop by the school with their new unwrapped toy and in return enjoy a free breakfast sandwich. Ms. Kuzenko expressed her pride in the generosity of the staff and students, and Ms. Catalano the school’s lunchroom supervisor and Mr. Pappin the school Chaplaincy Lead battled it out in Battle of the Sexes. Terry and Mell also spoke to Ethan Jodouin and Alassandra Marone and asked why the school was so passionate about this toy drive. “Our students care about others…we want to make sure everyone has a Merry Christmas,” and so the generous number of gifts continues to grow. So far this year the school is well on the way to surpassing its goal of collecting 850 toys for children across the city.”
