On Wednesday, October 10, students at St. James Catholic School joined thousands worldwide as they gave their school a hug.
“Give Your School a Hug™ day provides an opportunity for students all over the world to identify how to make their school better and invite members of the school community to join them to create a caring, safe and accepting school.” (Idea created by Heartspeak)
Superintendent Rossella Bagnato joined staff, students and parents as they gathered to literally give their school a hug.
Category: St. James School
St. James – Bears Who Care!
Dressed in their best jammies, brothers Jackson and Carter Drigo proudly show off their coin donation in a specially decorated can. St. James held a PJ Day and coin drive on Friday, October 5th. Students brought in loose change in support of a local family whose young son has been diagnosed with cancer. Heading into the Thanksgiving weekend, students were reminded that even though the young boy attends a different school, we are all part of a larger community and we are thankful for the chance to show our support . The single day event raised more than $1700 for the family of 5 yr-old Carson Widdifield.
Costco Donates Backpacks to Students at St. James School
St. James students Paige, Torance and Ava celebrated their first day of school with new backpacks. These backpacks were graciously donated by Costco Wholesale, Sudbury.
St. James School Celebrates the Anniversary of the Franco-Ontarien Flag
St. James Catholic Elementary School Core French classes, lead by teacher Sabrina Rocca, celebrated the anniversary of the franco-ontarien flag on September 25, 2012. The flag was unveiled on September 25, 1975 at Laurentian University. On this day, students learned about its inception and significance. They celebrated by making their own franco-ontarien flags.
St. James Has Green Thumbs
Miss Cuda (grade 8 teacher) along with the Grade 7 and 8 students as St. James Catholic planted a native species garden at the front of the school. Financial support was received for this action project through the EcoLeague™ Program at Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF).
Family Time in St. James JK class
Sara Allen, a Junior Kindergarten student in the French Immersion program at St. James, enjoys having mom and dad at school. Together the JK class and their family members participated in a sing-a-long and created crafts together. This event reflects the importance of the home-school relationships that are nurtured at St. James.
Springtime in Kindergarten at St. James
The Senior Kindergarten class at St. James Catholic School invited their family members to help assemble crafts that represent the wonderful season of spring. Photographed is Kindergarten student Hannah Swearengen with her grandmother designing butterflies in celebration of the season of rebirth, renewal and regrowth.
Commitment to Stewardship at St. James
During Catholic Education week the Grade 8 students at St. James Catholic school painted birdhouses as a demonstration of the Virtue of Stewardship. The students learned the importance of placing birdhouses around their home because they provide nesting sites for birds. Providing nesting sites helps preserve bird populations. Stewardship is the responsible management of God’s Earth and the simple act of hanging a birdhouse is living out this commitment.
Celebrating Safe Schools at St. James
Earlier this year, the St. James Safe Schools student council, named C3 (Catholic, Community and Culture) was awarded a Government of Ontario “Speak Up Grant” for their inclusive education campaign. In organizing activities, the C3 aims promote a positive school culture of mutual acceptance and inclusion.
A recent C3 campaign was an in-school Safe Schools Button Contest. All students were given the opportunity to design a button that reflects the safe, caring, inclusive environment at St. James Catholic School. Several members of the school community judged the button submissions and three student designs were published as button badges for every student in the school.
The three winners are Lidia Campagnaro (grade 4), Joshua Laronde (grade 4) and Christopher De Poli (SK).
Lidia Campagnaro’s explains that in her design “everyone is holding hands to show that at St. James we’re like a family and we treat each other respectfully”.
Joshua Laronde’s button is “meant to show that St. James school is welcoming to everyone”.
SK student Christopher De Poli’s button depicts a bear, the St. James mascot “because we are all St. James Bears”.