Students, family members and staff gathered at St. James Catholic Elementary School in Lively on the evening of May 7 as the school hosted a family barbecue and celebration. In honour of Catholic Education Week, the night kicked off with a performance by the school choir (under the direction of teacher Tammy Lanci), and was followed by a short service that included a student presentation of the Virtues that are celebrated by all SCDSB schools. After grace, the crowd feasted on food that was donated by Perkins, and prepared by the Knights of Columbus. As well, the Catholic Women’s League supplied desserts for the gathering. “It is a great way to come together as a community,” Cara Soehner, Principal of the school said. “It also gives our students and their families the opportunity to meet each other socially and spend some time getting to know one another.”
Category: St. James School
St. James Gets “Wild at Heart”
The Grade One classes at St. James School in Lively enjoyed a visit by Sarah Wendorf, Education Co-ordinator for the Wild at Heart Wildlife Refuge Centre in Lively. Sarah gave a wonderful and informative laptop presentation showing how the refuge centre rehabilitates sick, injured and orphaned animals. She also had the pupils participate in an activity to help them understand the use of materials employed at the centre. The students had previously collected many supplies from the Centre’s Wish List, and were happy to actively help in supporting the animals. They also made bookmarks with wild animal pictures and slogans to encourage others to care for animals. These bookmarks were sold at St. James School and the proceeds were also given to Wild at Heart.
The pupils’ science teacher, Rosanna Battigelli, had registered her class for a Wild at Heart membership, which included many resource materials for her “Animals: Wild at Heart!” Unit. More information about getting a class membership, along with a visit from Sarah Wendorf, can be found at [ http://www.wahrefugecentre.org/ ]www.wahrefugecentre.org
Torch Run Kicks Off St. James Winter Olympics
St. James Catholic School was thrilled to have Olympic Torchbearer Chris Jeffkins lead the school in a Torch Relay to officially open their Winter Olympic Day. Chris shared his amazing, once in a lifetime experience of being a part of the Olympic Torch run and explained how the torch “symbolizes Hope” and in carrying the torch Chris “felt like he was holding Canada in his arm”. Pictured with Chris are the Grade 6 torch run organizers Madison Kvaltin, Nikki Lemieux, Evan Collins,Vanessa Larocque and Holly Gran and Kindergarten students Bradley Markic and Aaric Rautiainen.
St. James Student Council and Custodian Unite to Create Hopes and Dreams for Haiti
Five hundred dollars was collected during a recent theme day hosted by the St. James student council for Haitian relief. The student council has forwarded the donations to Mr. Sunny Fournier, staff custodian and accomplished musician. Mr. Fournier, who hopes to raise $10,000 will be hosting a benefit concert for Haiti relief later this month and monies will be forwarded to aid Haitian Children.
St. James Recycles for Haiti
Along with all of the money raising efforts going on at our Sudbury Catholic Schools, Grade 5 Eco-Squad leaders at St. James Catholic School in Lively are collecting milk bags which are used to make sleeping mats. The bags are then crocheted by a neighbour Cindy Kavanaugh into comfortable, waterproof mats which will be forwarded to Haiti. The mats can be used for eating or sleeping and also due to their bright colours these mats do not attract bugs. It takes 250 milk bags to make one large mat and 150 bags to make a smaller mat. To date the students have collected over one thousand milk bags. The St. James students will continue their campaign until the end of March.
Singing for Literacy at St. James Catholic Elementary School
Musician Chuck Roberts led a sing-along at St. James Catholic School in celebration of Family Literacy Day. Grade 7 and 8 students proved that literacy can come in many forms, including in song, as was the case as they wrote and performed songs about the importance of literacy in their lives. Joining the “Sing for Literacy” celebration were all St. James students and staff, parents and grandparents as well as Trustee Estelle Scappatura.
St. James Catholic School Receives Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Award
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is pleased to announce that St. James Catholic School has been presented with the Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Award in recognition of the school community’s dedication to student achievement and use of provincial assessment results to improve student learning. EQAO would also like to acknowledge and congratulate St. James Catholic School’s principal, staff and parents for their leadership, positive attitude and sincere efforts in helping every child to succeed. The award was presented to a contingent of St. James parents and staff in Toronto in early November.
St. James Catholic School Supports the United Way
During the school year the St. James Student Council and staff held various in-school fundraisers such as selling candy grams and special luncheons to help local “people in need” through the United Way.
Presenting the cheque are student council members (left to right); Angelica Gervais, Emma Campbell, Brandy Saikkonen, Emily Mackwood (United Way), Thalia Pisaric, and Zachary Laframboise.
St. James Idol a Hit with School Community
St. James Catholic School held its Idol competition recently. The event was viewed as major success as a large crowd of supporters (friends, parents, grand-parents, classmates, and teachers), came to watch the students perform.
The students were thrilled to see that Mayor John Rodriguez took the time out to come and be one of their judges. Mr. Rodriguez congratulated the ten finalists who competed saying that they demonstrated much courage and talent. Selecting a first place winner was difficult for the judges as all 10 participants were very talented singers.
The students and judges in the photo are – front row, L-R: Reese Babcock, Sheila Fyfe, Kurtis Desormeaux, Holly Horvath, Emma Campbell. Second row: Melissa Fairbairn, Maggie Campbell, Koralyssa Nisbet, Brooke St. Jacques, Adam Laframboise. Third row (adults – judges): Veronica Prowse, Don Hopkins and Mayor J. Rodriguez. Adam Laframboise was the first place winner, Brooke St. Jacques placed second and Koralyssa Nisbet, the third place winner composed the music and lyrics to her song.