The students and staff at St. David Catholic School participated in a special day of “good food education, ending in a massive, synchronized bite into a crunchy apple”. The school prepared for this special day playing student created public service announcements celebrating the benefits of choosing locally grown foods and eating healthy. St. David School works throughout the year to promote healthy eating habits, the benefits of daily physical activity and positive self esteem. “It was a fun activity to support positive lifestyle choices. The students enjoyed the fresh apple and especially enjoyed that this learning experience was done as a school community”, said Ms. Cimino, St. David School Grade 1 teacher.
Category: St. David School
St. David School welcomes the Indigenous duo, Waaban
Mrs. Fielding and her St. David School Native Language students gathered together to welcome the Indigenous duo Waaban, which means “first break of light in the morning” in Anishnaabemowin. Nathalie Restoule (former Miss Wikwemikong and Anishinabek Nation Youth Representative) and Jordan Mowat first shared their gift of song and drumming with a concert for the students. Then they shared their struggles growing up with bullying in schools. They passed on advice on how they overcame their struggles by the power of resilience and having pride in their culture. After the young role models delivered their motivational speeches, they “broke bannock” with the inspired students during the Native Language Feast in honour of Nathalie and Jordan’s classroom visit.
St. David School Students Inspired to “bookitforward”
St. David Catholic School students have challenged themselves and their families to share books and encourage all those around them to appreciate and better understand the knowledge and power that comes with reading. Inspired by the notion that we can change the world by sharing stories that matter, Ms. Lepage’s grade 3/4 class has called on their school community and the Greater Sudbury community to think of books that have inspired them and “book it forward”.
On Valentine’s Day, students hoped to get 100 people to gift a book that they love! Why? Because books are full of ideas, and ideas change things! Families were encouraged to share their pictures online with the hash-tag #bookitforwardstdavid
“What a wonderful, simple and inspiring idea”, stated Kacey Boulrice, school Educational Assistant and support staff that works with Ms. Lepage’s grade 3/4 class. “The students are excited about reading and more importantly they are excited about sharing books they love. The students are very intrigued by the idea that their peers are making decisions based on their reading recommendations. It is a wonderful thing to see students empowered and truly interested in sharing their ideas on books and reading for enjoyment”.
Shrove Tuesday Celebrated at St. David Catholic School
St. David Catholic school celebrated Shrove Tuesday, more commonly known as Pancake Tuesday, by making pancakes for all staff and students. The school staff gathered at 7 am in the school kitchen and started the task of making pancakes for all 250 students and their teachers. In the Catholic faith, Shrove Tuesday is the day preceding Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The penitential season of Lent is a period of 40 days ending with the celebration of Easter. Eating pancakes the day before Lent started as a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk and sugar.
The students enjoyed their pancake breakfasts with their teachers. “They were yummy” commented grade 2 student Fred Ranger after finishing his meal. “I really liked the blueberry topping on my pancakes. I think the fruit was my favourite part” stated Tate Armstrong, grade 1 student. The students also learned the term “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday”, again referring to the tradition of eating foods rich in fats and sugars on Shove Tuesday. “This is a wonderful tradition at St. David School. We have been making pancakes for the students and staff for as long as I can remember on Shrove Tuesday. It is a wonderful time to come together as a community of faith and enjoy good food and good company. It makes for a great start to the day”, stated Nancy Costanzi, the school’s resource teacher.
St. David school hosts aspiring teacher
Mrs. Turner’s Grade 2/3 class at St David welcomed Lakehead (Orillia’s Campus) student teacher, Rebecca Hamilton into our classroom for the past 5 weeks.
In this art piece, Mrs. Hamilton taught the students how to tint the colour blue by mixing in white paint to give the effect of lighter to darker blue starting with the white circle in the middle of the art piece. The white circle is significant in many ways. “We spoke to the students about how God’s love for us is never ending; just like the advent wreath in the shape of a circle. His love is continuous and never ending.” said Hamilton.
Adding the silhouette of the Manger Scene to such a beautiful art piece is absolutely stunning. The students “awed” as they were putting all its pieces together. One student was heard saying, “This is beautiful”. The bright yellow star brought in discussions about geometric polygons when the students were observing Mrs. Hamilton draw one on the blackboard. “I see a pentagon, if you join the points around the star,” said one student. “I see lots of triangles inside the star,” said another. “I see an upside pentagon in the middle of the star!” A clear indication that the geometric unit just completed was successful!!
Christmas is such a special and important time for us in Catholic schools as it brings us right back to our core beliefs. “My students love hearing the Christmas Story read to them year after year. They love learning about the advent wreath, the candles and all that it symbolizes. It is a time to reflect upon patience, peace, love, joy, and Jesus…the true reason for the season! I think this art piece demonstrates this message beautifully.” said Mrs Turner.
Great job, Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs Turner and Grade 2/3’s!!
Christmas Arts Spectacular tonight at St. Charles College
This morning, students at the feeder schools were wowed by the magical performances of St. Charles’ performing arts students.
The yearly Christmas concert featured MC Jenna Daypuk belting out “Let it Go” from Disney’s “Frozen” which created a sing along by some 550 grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 students.
Other highlights include the choir and band ensembles as well as Parker Szilva and Ava Danyluk singing “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”.
The Arts concert is open to the public this evening, Thursday, December 11th at 7 p.m. in the St. Charles College gymnasium.
Christmas for Kids Campaign in full swing at St. Charles College
Each year, the students at St. Charles College join forces with the students in their homeroom to help put gifts under the Christmas tree in a home somewhere in Sudbury.
Deacon Steve Callaghan organizes the campaign with the administrators working in the eight feeder schools – St. Bernadette, St. Andrew, St. John, Pius, St. Paul, St. Mark, St. David and St. Raphael. Deacon Steve says “The administrators at each of these schools know which family is in dire need of support and what life is like for them.”
After students are selected, the child writes a letter to Santa and each homeroom “adopts” one of the children. Money is then raised during the month in the mission envelope. All money is then given to a designated student on December 11th so that the shopping can be done.
Deacon Steve Callaghan then brings the wrapped gifts to the school principal on December 17th and 18th and the principal contacts the family for pick-up. He says, “When the principal and the secretary see us hauling in present after present – they are overwhelmed and often cry because of the generosity of our children.”
Cardinal Can Total Crushed Once Again
St. Charles College and its feeder schools have collected more than 115 thousand cans to stock Sudbury Food Bank shelves during the winter months. This exceeds the goal to collect 60 thousand cans that the student council set at the beginning of the week.
Together with St. Raphael, St. Paul, St. Andrew, St. Bernadette, St. John, St. David and Pius, the Cards went door-to-door all over the city in pursuit of cans or cash.
The schools also teamed up with Q92 and Kiss FM to promote what has become the largest single donation to the Sudbury Food Bank in its history.
SCC Principal Patty Mardero says, “I congratulate every Card and future who went door-to-door these last few weeks so that people in this city can eat.”
Rallying the Can Collecting Troops
Tomorrow, St. Charles College along with its feeder schools will know if they have crushed their can collecting goal. The school set out to collect 60 thousand cans in support of the Sudbury Food Bank this season as part of its annual collection blitz.
The high school is working in partnership with St. Paul, St. John, St. Bernadette, Pius, St. David, St. Raphael, St. Andrew Catholic Elementary schools. Student can collect a combination of canned foods and cash. Last year, they surpassed their goal by collecting more than 112 thousand cans.
The food drive began more than 25 years ago and its founder, former student Jim Szilva still takes part in the drive with his former high school. The school also teams up with Q92 and KISS 105.3 to Stuff a Bus full of food. The radio stations also broadcasted live from the school parking lot on the bus all week.
Tomorrow morning, the collection totals will be revealed and the food will then be transported to the Sudbury Food Bank warehouse.