This year’s students and staff at St. Charles Catholic Elementary School may not have had the opportunity to meet Johnathan Hetu, a student who passed away in 2004 after a two year battle with leukemia, however his memory continues to live on each year as the school holds its annual Johnathan Hetu walk. Teacher David Nicholls felt compelled to do something to honour Johnathan’s memory and so he started the Johathan Hetu walk 11 years ago, and has continued it every year. Funds are collected and donated to the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer. Principal David Soehner was overwhelmed with the support that his school brings forward. “Johnathan’s spirit is our inspiration each and every year,” explained Soehner. “We are so proud of our students and staff for their outstanding efforts once again in fundraising for such an important group, as well as honouring Johnathan and his family. We are overwhelmed with gratitude as our school community has once again showed its tremendous Ram spirit, and allowed us to give back to an outstanding organization that is the N.O.F.C.C. as well as remember and celebrate Johnathan.” This year’s the school collected over $6200 bringing the grand total to over $65,000 in eleven years.
Category: St. Charles School
Exploring Paths of Joy at St. Charles Elementary
To prepare for this year’s Catholic Education Week theme, “Exploring Paths of Joy”, St. Charles Catholic Elementary School students created their own unique footprint to symbolize their personal journey within our school community. The footprints were put together by Mme Bouzane’s class to make a giant quilt!
Students in all grades enjoy walking past the mural to admire the many patterns and designs and to find their own!
Staff and Students at St. Charles Pray the Living Rosary to Kick Off Catholic Education Week
The St. Charles Catholic Elementary school community came together to pray the Living Rosary to kick off Catholic Education Week 2015. Students in grades 6, 7 and 8 made up the individual beads of the rosary, surrounding the remaining students with the peaceful prayer.
The word rosary means “crown of roses”. Our Lady has revealed to several people that each time they say a Hail Mary they are giving Her a beautiful rose and that each complete rosary makes Her a crown of roses. The Holy Rosary is considered a perfect prayer because within it lies the awesome story of our salvation. With the rosary, in fact we meditate the mysteries of joy, of sorrow and the glory of Jesus and Mary. It’s a simple prayer, humble so much like Mary. The heavenly Mother has invited us to say the Rosary as a powerful weapon againstt evil, to bring us to true peace.
Indigenous Celebration Held
The Diocesan Centre is planning an inclusive day of celebration based on indigenous culture, and would love a big turn out at this event. All students, staff, families and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend! It looks to be a great day planned!
INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Fielding Park
5:30 am. Sunrise Ceremony ~
8:00 am. Pancake Breakfast ~
9:00 am. Teaching Carousel – Stations will be set up to be rotated through – 6 stations with 20 minute presentations at each~
a) Children drumming station~
b) Craft – decade of the rosary with four/six colour beads + leather OR~leather bookmark
c) 7 Grandfather teachings
d) Legends – Elders telling the stories~
e) Medicines and Wheel
f) Sacred Elements (fire keeper, tobacco, stones, feather, pipe, drums, smudge, animals) ~
11:00 am. Healing Circle – prayers, scripture (trilingual), blessing~
1:30 pm. Feast – “pot luck”
3:00 pm Travelling Song/Blessing~
For more information and access to resources, please consult:
http://arise-ssm.weebly.com
“The Blue Dot Movement” at St. Charles Elementary
St Charles Catholic Elementary School participated in the National Day of Action with “The Blue Dot Movement” from the David Suzuki Foundation on April 17, 2015 All 344 students wrote their wishes for the planet Earth on their own blue dot and watched a video about Canadians wishing to make a difference for our country and our Earth as part of the monthly virtue of Stewardship. The students are excited about celebrating Earth Day as they will also be signing a letter addressed to the mayor and Sudbury council asking for their support in adding the following 3 items to the Charter of Rights and Freedom:
1) The right to clean air
2) The right to clean drinking water
3) The right to pesticide free food
“We want our students to understand just how important it is to be stewards of the earth,” Dave Soehner, principal of St. Charles. “Through this Blue Dot Movement, our students have really come to understand how important these basic necessities are to the entire planet and that it is everyone’s job to help make it happen. They understand that they have a voice and can help be a part of the change.”
Anyone can join from coast to coast to protect the people and places we love. Find out more at bluedot.nationbuilder.com
OAPCE Monthly Newsletter
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting our Sudbury Catholic parents, the SCDSB would like to provide a link to the latest newsletter from The Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education (OAPCE). To read this month’s newsletter, click here: Parent Partner Newsletter – Easter 2015
Sporting a ‘Stache for a Cause at St Charles Elementary
After questions about all of the moustaches the students have seen lately, FDK FI students had a discussion about Movember. Students had the chance to sport a “moose-stache” for the day, along side principal David Soehner, as he read them the story Moosetache, by Margie Palatini. Students were entertained with all the crazy antics that Moose does to get his out-of-control moustache tamed!
Kelso’s Choices moves up to Junior classes at St. Charles Elementary
At St. Charles Elementary, the primary students have been using Kelso’s Choices for a few years with great success! During Bullying Awareness Week, students in junior classes learned about Kelso’s Choices and the KC conflict management program. Vice-Principal Laura Stirrett went to junior classrooms to lead students through a variety of activities to explore the difference between minor and serious problems, and how to approach each. For example, with minor problems, students can choose 2 strategies that are either verbal (talk it out, apologize, tell them to stop or make a deal) or non-verbal (wait and cool off, walk away, go to another game or ignore it) to resolve a conflict, and then tell an adult if that doesn’t work. With serious problems students would tell an adult right away.
Students share feedback and strategies with St. Charles Elementary Safe Schools Team
During National Bullying Prevention Week at St. Charles Elementary, students Valerie Lowes, Kira Gouchie and Daniella Lowes shared feedback and suggestions with the safe schools team. Principal David Soehner asked the students about their ideas on how the school can be improved, and if they feel welcomed and safe. Valerie, Kira and Daniella enjoyed the chance to share their ideas. Kira Gouchie stated that “St. Charles is a really good school. We can tell the staff if there is a problem and they listen”.