Mira Lahoud, kindergarten student at St. David Catholic School beats the heat at the Victory Park Splashpad with her class to celebrate the beginning of summer.
Category: St. David School
The Arts are alive and well at St. David School
On Wednesday, June 22 2016 Jeff Stewart from the Spirit of World Drumming spent the day at St. David Catholic School, drumming with students ranging from kindergarten to grade 6. In the drum circles, students were introduced to a variety of drums and percussion instruments from around the world. Music concepts, verbal / non-verbal language and mathematical awareness were integrated into cultural awareness to create a fun learning experience for all students!
“Mr. Stewart was a wonderful teacher, not only for our students, but also for our staff members. He re-inforced the importance of the arts in the curriculum and its positive impact on both literacy and mathematical achievement. He also spoke of music supporting students find their voice. It was a wonderfully positive and fun day.” stated Cindy Blinn, kindergarten teacher at St. David School.
St. David School celebrates National Aboriginal Day with a fun filled outdoor playday
St. David Catholic School celebrated National Aboriginal Day with a school wide Indigenous themed payday. The students learned about First Nation identity and culture while having fun outdoors. All students received a complimentary pizza lunch by local company, “Over the Atlantic” owned by former St. David School student, Joseph Mansourian. “Caring for each other, teamwork, and overcoming obstacles were the theme for the day. The students enjoyed the outdoor experience and opportunity to be leaders”, stated Lindsay Michel, FDK teacher and National Aboriginal Fun Day planner.
2016 Chairperson Award winners announced
Michael Fabiilli, Kacey Boulrice and John Jamieson are the 2016 Chairperson’s Award Winners.
Every year the Sudbury Catholic District School Board Trustees select recipients for the Board’s prestigious Chairperson’s Award. These individuals embrace our Catholic values, exemplify the Board’s vision and mission, demonstrate initiative and ingenuity and contribute positively to the lives of students and staff. This year’s three recipients certainly exemplify all of these qualities.
John Jamieson is described as a very caring person who takes great pride in his work. John presents himself as a positive role model to both staff and students, his work ethic is inspirational and he constantly shows his capacity to treat all with respect and compassion. Currently John is employed as a Building Services Technician at St. Charles College where his positive presence enhances school life for all.
Kacey Boulrice is an Educational Assistant working at St. David’s Catholic School. Kacey is described as a dynamic staff member who contributes meaningfully to the lives of the people at St. David each and every day. She contributes in many ways including making breakfast for over 220 students each day and facilitates a peer support system for girls at recess. She is a problem solver and a true gift to the students and staff at St. David School.
Michael Fabiilli is a distinguished educator and coach. Currently on staff at St. Charles College he is described as a man of integrity and character who embodies the school motto of goodness, discipline and knowledge. Among his many contributions to school life, Mike has coached the Senior Football Team for his entire teaching career of twenty-nine years. His coaching goes well beyond the field as he guides his young athletes on how to be people of sound character. He is also described as an outstanding Math Teacher who has a soft spot for the most vulnerable of our students. He is indeed a strong role model whose gifts have helped to nurture the mind, body and spirit of the students who have had the opportunity to learn from “Coach Fabs” for the past 29 years.
This year’s award winners pictured with Chair Michael Bellmore will be honoured on May 25, 2016 during the Board’s retirement dinner and celebration of 25 year employees.
Elders pass down quilting tradition to St. David students
For Catholic Education Week, Mrs. Gran’s Full Day Kindergarten class at St. David Catholic School, invited Elders into the classroom to teach youth the skill of quilting. Previous to the quilting lesson, students learned about shapes and transformations in their math inquiry. Pictured are student, Xavier Wesley and quilter, Katie Begley working together to plan out his quilt square.
Catholic Education Week ended in a culminating activity whereby the students worked with Elders to create a paper quilt that is now on display for the school to view. Classroom teacher Jennifer Gran said, “it is important for the children to interact with people of various ages as they share their ideas and learn from each other. This was a wonderful sharing of generational knowledge”.
St. David School Celebrates Catholic Education Week by Focusing on the Value of Empathy
Rossella Bagnato, Superintendent of Effectiveness for Sudbury Catholic Schools visited Mrs. Cimino’s grade 1 class during Catholic Education Week to teach the students about the importance of empathy. “Empathy helps to create a healthy, loving school community. As a classroom teacher, I see the importance of teaching students to be empathetic at a very young age. Mrs. Bagnato used humour and literacy to connect a Inuit story to my students’ everyday life. They discussed how to build trusting friendships and how to support others less fortunate than themselves. This was all done through the lens of humour and it was a wonderful life lesson.” stated Mrs. Cimino, grade 1 teacher.
Flat Stanley Visits St. David Catholic School
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is supporting learning across the border. Mrs. Gardner’s first grade class at Scared Heart School in Lyndhurst, New Jersey read the book “Flat Stanley” by Jeff Brown. It is the story of a boy named Stanley Lambchop. In the story, one night, a bulletin board falls on him and flattens him in his sleep. Stanley lives through the ordeal and makes the best of his new “flatten” state. Stanley discovers that he can be folded up and mailed in an envelope to different places. Stanley visits his friend in California and has a great time.
In supporting the students at Sacred Heart School, in New Jersey, Mrs. Christina Raso, Special Education Consultant for Sudbury Catholic Schools received an envelope in the mail containing Flat Stanley. Mrs. Raso brought Flat Stanley around the city of Sudbury and to the grade one class at St. David Catholic School. Mrs. Cimino’s grade one class read the story “Flat Stanley”, then had the privilege to meet him. Mrs. Raso will soon be mailing “Flat Stanley” back to New Jersey with a journal of his activities while visiting the city of Sudbury, including visiting Mrs. Cimino’s grade one class at St. David School. “It was really neat meeting Flat Stanley. He is really paper flat.” stated Gary Card, grade one student.
FDK Hatches Chicks
Egg-Citing News at St. David School!
For the past 21 days the Full Day Kindergarten students at St. David Catholic School have been doing an inquiry on chickens. Through books, drama activities, art projects, videos and songs the students have been learning about the hatching process of chicks. This week the students were very excited as they watched 14 new chicks hatch from their eggs in their classroom incubator!
“At St. David School, we strive to provide our students with authentic, hands on learning opportunities. This is an inquiry the entire school gets involved in and looks forward to every year” said Lindsay Michel, FDK teacher. “It builds community through learning, fun and hands-on real life experiences”.
“I learned that when the chicks come out of the incubator they are wet and when they dry off they go in the brooder. I like that my mommy can come to my school and see what we are learning” stated Emma Carlucci, St. David FDK student.
Parents and families that live in the Donovan, Flour Mill and Louis Street areas are reminded that St. David School is hosting it’s “Welcome to Kindergarten” morning on Tuesday May 10 at 11 am. All newly registered kindergarten students and their families are encouraged to attend.
St. David School Celebrates Earth Day 2016
The students and staff at St. David Catholic School recognized this year’s Earth Day by “wild flower bombing” the new school site. St. David Catholic School will be moving to a brand new school in September 2016. The new school is located at 549 Frood Road, just a block away from their current school.
Teachers, students and staff members created wild flower bombs to prepare for the Earth Day celebration. Recycled paper, water and flowers seeds were mixed together to create “flower bombs”, then students and staff walked to the new school site to throw their “wild flower bombs” around exterior of the school site.
“We are excited to move to the new school and want to have a hand in creating a beautiful, welcoming school culture. This was a simple, fun way to contribute to the development of a natural setting around the school. We had fun creating the “wild flower bombs” and we had fun walking to the new site and throwing our creations. Now we patiently wait until September to move in.” stated Nancy Costanzi, St. David School Resource teacher.