Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Category: St. James School

Students Create Their Own Space Probe Lander!

Posted on by Carlee Vendramin

Stem Class #3 

Students create their Own Space Probe Lander!

Nicholas Butt, Outreach Coordinator for Let’s Talk Science, lead a group of grades 4-6 students at St. Anne, St. Charles, St. John, Holy Trinity, and Immaculate Conception in both a minds on and hands-on activity about Space Probes. Students learned about the three types of Space Probes: orbiter, interplanetary and the lander. Then, from recycled materials students created their very own Space Probe Lander.

Mrs. Bradley, Grade 5 & 6 Teacher at Immaculate Conception School stated “Students enjoyed exploring ways to stabilize their space probes to be sure they didn’t fall over when hitting the ground.  The engagement and sharing of ideas with each other was amazing!”

To watch the recording of this lesson in either French and English Click Here. 

STEM Club is ideal for busy educators, whether teaching face to face or remotely! There is still time to Register Your Class for fun and interactive STEM activities intended for Grade 4-6 students! Each week, Let’s Talk Science, features a different hands-on activity using minimal, easy-to-find materials. Students will also have the chance to learn from and ask questions to inspire STEM role models. 

An English activity is offered two times per week (Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. ET & Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. ET), and a French activity is offered once a week (Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. ET).

The second cohort starts November 2nd, and the third on January 27th, 2022.

For more information, visit: Join the Let’s Talk Science STEM club or contact christina.raso@sudburycatholicschools.ca if you would like more details about participating in this activity.

St. James Students Participate in Live Inspirational Talk with Dr. Jane Goodall

Posted on by Carlee Vendramin

Students in Mr. MacNeill’s grade 7 & 8 class signed up for the annual Take Me Outside for Learning Challenge. The challenge is a commitment to ongoing outdoor learning throughout the school year.  Mr. MacNeill, his students and 700 000 other students across Canada made the commitment to learning outside at least one day per week.

This year marked the 11th annual Take Me Outside to Learn Day and in partnership with Canada’s Non-profit Outdoor Learning Store and MEC, they hosted a full week of speakers, activities and events that not only engaged students but deepened their connections with Indigenous perspectives, strengthened their health and well-being with outdoor learning, and increased their knowledge on climate change and the environment. 

On Thursday October 21st, Mr. MacNeill’s class along with seven hundred classes across the country were excited to participate in a live inspirational talk and Q&A with Dr. Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada. Dr. Goodall spoke about growing up without television and social media and how she spent most of her time outdoors. She stressed the importance of living in harmony with nature as it improves our mental well-being.

The Jane Goodall Institute explained the opportunity for students to participate in their Roots & Shoots funding program. Roots & Shoots focuses on Jane Goodall’s inspirational message of hope, reminding participants that every individual is important and every individual can make a difference. Through a unique 4-step program, educators lead youth from inspiration; to mapping their community for sustainability issues for people, animals and the environment; to taking action to solve those issues; and then celebrating the impact they have made. Through this journey, youth are engaged to take action on sustainability issues and become compassionate leaders.

We can’t wait to hear about the action project ideas that Mr. MacNeill’s class will discuss next week!


For more information about this initiative please visit Roots and Shoots or for additional support in filling out an application contact: christina.raso@sudburycatholicschools.ca

Students in Mr. MacNeill’s grade 7 & 8 class listen to Jane Goodall speak as part of the 2021 Take Me Outside for Learning Challenge!

Free Skills Ontario Summer Camps To Be Offered to Grade 7-9 Students

Posted on by Carlee Vendramin

Skills Ontario has officially opened registration for its July virtual workshops so students can explore skilled trades and tech-related workshops, demonstrations, virtual tours and presentations that pique their interest.

Sessions will run from July 5 to 30 and there is no fee to participate. Another session is set to run in August, with sign-up opening June 21. The virtual workshops are being held in place of summer camps.

Virtual workshops are open to all ages however are typically suited to Grades 7, 8 and 9. Each event’s individual registration page provides details regarding difficulty level and required skills and some sessions include a free hands-on kit that will be shipped to registered participants.

For more information, please visit: Skills Ontario’s Summer Camps

Students and Staff Embrace Franco-Fun Day

Posted on by Carlee Vendramin

Staff and students took part in Franco- Fun Day: a day dedicated to celebrating French language and Franco-Ontarian culture! Here are just a few ways our schools joined in on the fun:

  • St. Charles College students were treated to a live concert by Steph Paquette!
A man plays a song on-screen.
  • Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School staff and students got into the spirit by wearing white and green in honour of the Franco-Ontarian flag.
a collage of students and staff wearing white and green.
  • Immaculate Conception Catholic School students participated in a workshop by Ariko. They loved learning how to play the spoons and learning the dance steps. They listened to the song Mon beau drapeau and discussed the meaning of the Franco-Ontarian flag. The students then drew their own flag while listening to les chansons à répondre!

Sudbury Catholic District School Board Lowers Flags in Honour of BC Residential School Victims

Posted on by Carlee Vendramin

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board joins communities across Canada in honouring and praying for the 215 Indigenous children whose bodies were discovered on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Tk-emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation territory. 

To honour their lives, flags at all SCDSB schools and board buildings will be lowered for nine days (May 31-June 8) – a total of 215 hours to represent each of the 215 children. As a sign of our collective mourning, the Board will also be participating in the National moment of silence at 2:15 p.m. today as we honour and acknowledge the children who never returned home.

“Today, we honour the lives of the 215 Indigenous children who will not be coming home. It is a heartbreaking tragedy and while there are no words to truly express the deep mourning those impacted are experiencing, we humbly offer our prayers that they and their families will find healing. We also acknowledge the pain and trauma this brings to all Indigenous peoples across the country, and we recognize the need for ongoing truth and reconciliation. May God continue to watch over the 215 souls and their families,” said Michael Bellmore, Chair of the Board of the Trustees for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

“All Sudbury Catholic District School Boards schools and facilities are standing in solidarity with communities across Canada in honouring the 215 Indigenous children. While it is indeed an unspeakable tragedy, we send continued prayers and healing to all those affected and to the Indigenous communities in the Sudbury area and across the country. We have lowered all flags for 215 hours and will join the National moment of silence at 2:15 p.m. As a system, we are also wearing orange shirts on Wednesday, June 2 and will unite in a collective prayer service as a reminder that every child matters,” said Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ Attempt Event 2021!

Posted on by Carlee Vendramin

What do these three young men have in common?

They just submitted their video to smash a world record!

Skills Ontario is excited to announce a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ attempt event. We would like to invite everyone to participate in making history by helping them to break the record for Largest Online Video Chain of People Passing and Using a Screwdriver!

The call went out yesterday to Sudbury Catholic staff and students to help Skills Ontario. Both staff and students have been eagerly participating.  Kent MacNeill, remote learning teacher assigned the challenge to all his grade 7 & 8 science students!

Anyone of any age, across the province can join the fun!  Skills Ontario’s minimum goal is to receive 251 individual video submissions.

In order, to secure the record please make sure all guidelines are followed,  refer to the   Educational Guide & Attempt Guidelines and video. For additional information, refer to: Guinness World Record Attempt 2021

All participants must sign a photo/video release form when uploading their video. Participants 18 years and younger must have a parent/guardian sign the form.

All participants will be added into a draw for a chance to win 1 of 20 $50 prizes!

Deadline to submit is June 2nd 2021!

Join Us and Learn How to Be Future Ready With XELLO!

Posted on by Carlee Vendramin

The Parent Involvement Committee is very pleased to once again to support virtual learning sessions throughout the winter and spring.

XELLO is an engaging university/ college and career readiness software that unlocks every student’s potential by opening their eyes to future possibilities and equipping them with skills and resources for the future. In this session hosted by XELLO,participants will explore and learn more about the many tools and features of this platform, and how XELLO can be used to support students and parents as they navigate secondary and post-secondary opportunities.

Don’t miss out, register HERE!

Canadian Parents for French Offering Programs This Spring

Posted on by Carlee Vendramin

Canadian Parents for French Ontario is offering free French virtual programs for students from Grade 1 to 12 funded by the Ministry of Education from May to August to support French as a Second Language students.

Click the link below for more information about this exciting opportunity!

Free French Virtual Programs

Join Us and Learn What Influences Vaping and Cannabis Use!

Posted on by Carlee Vendramin

The Parent Involvement Committee is very pleased to once again to support virtual learning sessions throughout the winter and spring.

This presentation will look at what influences the use of vaping and cannabis, with vaping as a form of cannabis use, as well as a substitute for cigarette smoking. Dr. Bassis has been a licensed Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario since 1982, practicing in the area of clinical psychology. He is a member in good standing of the Ontario PsychologicalAssociation, AAPB, and the American Clinical Hypnosis Society. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology & Human Behaviour from United States International University, San Diego,California in 1972 and has been in private practice since 1989.

Don’t miss out, register HERE!

Stay tuned for more information this upcoming session!

May 19 – 5 Steps for High School Success: Broadening Student Horizons Through the Exploration of Xello and Specialized Secondary Programs in the SCDSB.

Register Now! E-mail Copied to Clipboard