St. Francis Catholic Elementary School teacher Rhonda Martel wanted to do something different for her students. As a teacher of the Junior Communications class, she knew that many of her students would be more engaged with hands on learning and looked for a way to bring this experience to her classroom. Made up of students ages 7-10 who have been identified with Autism or a communication learning disability, Martel knew that this class would really benefit with a unique hands on activity that would blend learning with a physical activity that the students would enjoy. Martel decided to apply for a grant she saw online through Learning for a Sustainable Future and Environmental Education. Successful in her application, Martel received money for her class to plant and grow a butterfly garden on the property of the school. Fortunately, there was an already existing empty planter that they chose for their project. Bringing the learning into focus, the class researched the lifecycle of the butterfly, migration patterns, and what kind of plants were good for and also attracted butterflies in our community. The students then started their garden from the dirt-up. They set up, planted, weeded and watered their selected plants that included perennial sage, milkweek, Shasta daisies, and Miss Ruby butterfly bush. The students take turns watering and weeding their garden and are quite excited each day to check out its progress. For the summer months, they have even set up a partnership with the daycare in the school – Jubilee Heritage Daycare, which will have some of its students take over the watering and weeding duties during the summer months to sustain the garden for the class into the fall. Martel was thrilled with the end result and knew that her class was quite proud of their butterfly garden. “It is so nice for my students to have this type of hands on experience and see the garden take shape from just soil, to flourishing, healthy plants,” Martel explained. “ It is these types of experience that really engage our students and give them the opportunity to have positive hands on learning, success and fun at the same time.”
Category: St. Francis School
St. Francis Students – Stewards of the Earth
Grade 2 & 3 students in teacher Graziella Visentin’s class at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School learned about their carbon footprint as part of their Earth Day activities. Understanding the effects of our carbon footprint helped the students deepen their sensitivity and connection to a special virtue celebrated this month-Stewardship. Students read a variety of information books and researched ways to be good stewards of the earth by reducing, reusing and recycling resources. The students designed buttons to wear and promote their friendly Earth Day message to others. The class also created a book with student tips on how to reduce our carbon footprint on the earth. Ideas included walking to a nearby destination, riding their bicycles more often, donating used clothing, planting trees and composting.
Franco-Fun at St. Francis
As part of St. Francis Catholic Elementary School’s Franco-Fun celebrations, students in teacher Angele Lachance’s French Immersion full-day kindergarten class proudly donned their green and white crowns. Pictured are Kenadie Bayard and Sophia Legendre.
St. Francis Stands Up to Bullying
The St. Francis School community kicked off Bullying Awareness Week with a prayer service and school-wide pledge to “Stand Up to Bullying”.
On November 18th, students, staff, and parents wore blue as a sign of peace and safety. Sunglasses and logos stating “Bullying Gives Us the BLUES” were worn with pride.
Recognizing World Diabetes Day at St. Francis
On Thursday, November 14, students and staff of St. Francis Catholic Elementary School showed their support for World Diabetes Day. As there are three students at the school who have diabetes, the students and staff came together and wore the colour blue to acknowledge the day and show their friends/students their support. They are all hopeful that one day a cure will be found!
St. Francis Students REMEMBER War Veterans
Students from St. Francis Catholic Elementary School in grade 2 and 3 eagerly wrote postcards to war veterans for Remembrance Day. The postcards were provided by Veteran Affairs Canada. The class put their friendly letter writing skills to use in order to compose a thoughtful message. Students in teacher Graziella Visentin’s class annually write postcards to thank veterans for being brave and courageous in order to protect others. The grade 2 and 3 students acknowledged the veterans’ efforts and their gratitude for the freedom we so much enjoy today. This year the postcards were sent to war veterans residing in Ottawa, Ontario.
Grade 2 and 3 students pictured above, participated in a Remembrance Day Service with their classmates and members of the Royal Canadian Legion. Students read an acrostic poem entitled, REMEMBER, after the laying of wreaths during the service.
St. Francis Students Connecting Globally Through Reading
Students in teacher Lyanne Marion’s grade 5/6 French Immersion class at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School have been involved in the 2013 Global Read Aloud. Students have been listening to their teacher read “Out Of My Mind” by Sharon Draper, and have connected with classes from around the world, such as California, Brazil and India, through Twitter, Kidblog and Edmodo. This global project allows one book to connect the world!
Student also have iPad minis for a six week period, and are creating book trailers and Inclusion slideshows to share with the school community.
St. Francis Teacher – Recipient of the 2013 SCDSB Chairperson’s Award
Lise Malette, the French Immersion Senior Kindergarten teacher at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School is this year’s recipient of the Sudbury Catholic 2013 Chairperson’s Award. Selected by trustees, the award recipient is someone who embraces Catholic values, demonstrates initiative and ingenuity and contributes positively to the lives of students and staff. On June 12, Malette was presented this award by Vice Chair of the Board, Michael Bellmore. Bellmore, who is also a parent of a student at St. Francis told the crowd that he was thrilled that Malette was the award winner as he has seen first hand what an outstanding educator Malette is. As well, he has seen just how much more she does for the students on top of teaching in the classroom.
Nominated by the parents of student Karissa Kruk, Malette spent numerous hours helping her family by supporting them with multiple fundraisers. Kruk was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia, and the entire family was able to be with her in Toronto where she received treatment, through the financial support of these fundraisers organized by Malette. According to Terra Kruk (Karissa’s mom) “There are no words to put into perspective the generosity and kindness that Lise Malette has given our family. She has unceasingly demonstrated the Love of God by her continued acts of compassion with never a thought of anything in return. From the moment that Lise Malette found out of our tragedy, she began to pull support together from teachers, staff and parents from St. Francis where our children attend school. Lise Malette has gone way beyond the call of duty of being just a teacher but rather has been lead to be one of God’s servants to help others in our time of need. We are so blessed and thankful for the outpouring of support we have received because of this one very special teacher. Without her we would not have been able to stay together as a family all this time.”
A second nomination for Malette was also submitted by the Parent Council Chair –Cathy Kulos– on behalf of the entire school. Kulos explained, “Personally as a parent at St. Francis for the past eight years, I can attest to Lise Malette’s dedication to the students, staff and parents… Lise is a true inspiration to all who meet her – and I have never met someone more giving of themselves.”
Malette was quite overwhelmed upon receiving the award, and thanked her students, co-workers, family and the nominators for being selected as the 2013 Chairperson’s Award winner.
St. Francis Student Takes Top Honours in 5th Annual Fast Flowing Water Contest
On Thursday, June 6th, members of the community, as well as several classes from area elementary schools were on hand at Tom Davies Square for a news conference and awards ceremony for the fifth annual Fast Flowering Water Contest. Deputy Mayor Joscelyn Landry-Altmann (Ward 12) who is also Chair of the Junction Creek Safety Committee was on hand to address the crowd and announce the winners of both the video and poster contests. St. Francis Catholic Elementary School grade 6 student Sophia Zulich was the first place winner and had her poster unveiled on a 10’ x 20’ billboard that will be placed prominently in Sudbury. Sophia’s first place win earned an ipad mini for herself, and a smartboard for her class. Coming in third place was Makayla Kruk, another grade 6 student from St. Francis Catholic Elementary School winning a $200 iTunes gift card.
Alongside Landry-Altmann was the contest mascot Milly the Muskrat as well as Adam Dickie’s grandfather Ray Croteau. Adam was a thirteen year old boy who drowned in 2007 in fast flowing water and the inspiration for this safety initiative. Croteau who has been a part of this campaign from its inception, also addressed the crowd and asked the students and members of the community to always remember the motto “Where waters flow, do not go!”
Vicki Mcguire, principal of St. Francis was extremely pleased that her students took two of the top spots in the contest. “I am so proud of both Sophia and Makayla, as well as all of our students who participated in this contest,” Mcguire stated. “This is such an important message for all in our community, and I am extremely impressed with our students in getting this message out so creatively.”