The Sudbury Catholic Elementary Band, directed by Vice Principal JoAnne Comisso and teaher Leanne Urso, has just finished a very successful Festival season. On February 27 the students performed at the Northern Ontario Music Festival, held at Sudbury Secondary School, where the students received a Silver award. To follow up that achievement, they competed at the Kiwanis Music Festival on March 24 at St. Benedict School. The band was very excited to receive a Gold award! All their hard work is definitely paying off, and we wish them continued success as they head into their spring concert season. This band is comprised of students from St. Anne, St. Benedict, St. Raphael and Pius XII Catholic Elementary Schools.
Category: St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School
Franco-Fun at St. Ben’s
Students at St Benedict Catholic Secondary School participated actively in an afternoon of Franco Fun Day activities on Friday March 21st 2014. The students were submerged in the French culture, music, language, and food in a series of challenges which involved some friendly competition againstt each other for a chance to participate in the grand finale. There were many laughs shared as the day was a huge success and enjoyed by all!
Parent Survey: Share Your Views about Careers in the Skilled Trades
The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum is conducting a national survey with parents and we want to hear from you!
We are interested in your opinions on careers in the skilled trades and your approaches to career planning with your child. Your views will shape future career awareness programs and resources so they will better meet your children’s needs as they explore potential careers.
To be eligible for this survey, you must have a child under the age of 24. If you have more than one child, complete the survey only thinking about the child who most recently had his or her birthday. You may only do the survey once.
The results are anonymous. The survey will take 10 minutes to complete.
All surveys must be complete by February 28th, 2014.
The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum is a non-profit organization that promotes apprenticeship training. We share information about careers in the skilled trades with youth and parents across the country by distributing career resources and conducting information workshops on apprenticeship.
For more information about the survey or the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum contact Emily Arrowsmith, Project Manager (t) 613-235-4004 ext. 201; or by email at emily@caf-fca.org
Explore Carpentry Day for Girls
On November 28th, December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, female students from Bishop Alexander Carter, Marymount Academy, St. Benedict Elementary and St. Charles College participated in an “Explore Carpentry Day” at the Local 2486 United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America Training Centre located in Azilda. A great time was had by all. In the morning the girls were introduced to the trade by Cindy Hykin and Rhéal Gélinas, both journeypersons and members of local 2486. After a question and answer period the girls were outfitted with safety apparel including safety glasses, hard hats and safety footwear. Each girl also sported a fashionable pink T-shirt and a carpenter’s tool belt complete with hammer. The girls were divided into teams to frame two walls. Under the supervision of Cindy and Rhéal, they measured, cut, hammered and framed one wall with a window opening and a second regular wall.
Once framing of the two walls was complete they continued on to drywall the interior. After a full day of measuring, cutting and swinging of the hammer, the girls felt proud of their accomplishments and truly appreciated a glimpse into the carpentry trade. This event was organized in partnership with Tom Cardinal Union co-ordinator with Local 2486 United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America and Michel Grandmont co-ordinator with the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.
Jersey Day at St. Benedict
Students and staff at St. Benedict Catholic Elementary School recently donned their favorite sports jersey to attend their pep rally and celebrate jersey day. Saturday November 30th is “Sports Day in Canada”, and what better way than to wear favorite sport’s team jersey and have a raucous pep rally. The pep rally highlighted the fall sports season with all of its great successes as well as introducing the slate of winter sports.
St. Ben’s Robotics Team Mentor Rookie BAC Team
On November 14th, 2013, seven St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School students along with the teacher lead, Julianne Falconi, conducted grade level presentations to Bishop Alexander Carter students.
St. Benedict was the first school in the Catholic Board to participate in FIRST Robotics, an innovative competition that combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams are challenged to raise funds, hone teamwork skills, design, manufacture, and program robots to perform prescribed tasks againstt a field of competitors (www.usfirst.org). Last year, team ‘RoBenedicts’ attended a regional competition in Toronto as well as the World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri.
St. Benedict is excited to announce that there will be two new schools joining in on the robotics program: Bishop Alexander Carter and St. Charles College. St. Benedict will be mentoring and guiding these two teams throughout the off-season, robot build-season, and competitions. “We are happy to be mentoring other schools that are participating in FIRST Robotics. The experience is incredible and it’s exciting to see more people getting involved,” said Team Captain, Mark Abantao.
The goal of the presentation was to spark student interest and recruit members for the newly formed BAC team. Overall, it was very successful, and the St. Benedict students will be attending St. Charles on Monday November 25th.
In attendance from St. Benedict were Mark Abantao (Team Captain), Max Bennett and Brendan Sullivan (Engineering Leads), Elisa Basik and Francesco Modesto (Business Leads), Carter Bourette (Programming Lead), Owen Sarmatiuk (Strategy Lead), and Ms. Falconi (Teacher Lead).
“Check….mate!”
Students in Grade 7 and 8 at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School have come up with a great way to spend part of their lunch break. Several of the students have formed a Chess Club and each Tuesday and Thursday they battle againstt each other for chess board supremacy. New students can join, and all skill levels are welcome. The students in the chess club would like to thank Richard Ouellette, the grade 8 French Immersion teacher, for helping them get this club started and making sure they have everything they need for this game of strategy.
St. Benedict Remembers
On Monday, November 11th, the staff and students at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School paused to remember the thousands of men and women who fought and who fought and died, defending Canada. Using the monthly virtue of Justice as a theme, the students were invited to consider the connection between Justice and Peace. Without Justice there can be no Peace. There were poignant songs to remind the school community that even though the brave have fallen, we will see them again one day and we will have the opportunity to say “Thank You”. The school’s librarian, MaryBeth. Miller, read “In Flanders Fields”, which has a special significance for her as she is related to the author, Col. John McCrae. Through prayer and song, the entire school community offered thanks for the bravery of our Canadian Forces for the gift of freedom won for us on distant battlefields. To conclude the service, as students departed they were invited to place their poppy on the “Justice” banner between the crosses, as in the poem “In Flanders Fields”.”
St. Benedict Photography Club Out and About
On a chilly Monday morning, the St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School Photography club headed out to shoot some pictures in the local neighbourhoods. Teacher Angela Hodgins and chaplain Rob Pappin led the students on a walk about the Mallard’s landing area and captured many stunning images of the beauty of an Autumn morning. The photography club is a newer club in the school and students and staff are excited to display some of their work. They also work closely with the year book club to capture the various sports and other activities that are happening at the school. The club is open to all students and new members are always welcome.