Category: Administration
3rd Annual Northern Life Community Builders Awards of Excellence Seeking Nominations Until December 9, 2005
These awards are given over eight categories including Junior Citizen, Education and Sports & Recreation. Do you know a student or staff member who should be recognized for their special contribution to our community?
Nominations are being accepted until December 9, 2005. Download the nomination form (pdf).
Making Physical Fitness A Daily Activity
Sudbury Catholic District School Board principals recently participated in an inservice session on how to implement the Ministry of Education’s new policy/program memorandum regarding Daily Physical Activity in Elementary Schools, Grades 1 to 8.
Bob Soroko from the Ontario Physical Health and Education Association (OPHEA) provided the principals with a framework of daily physical fitness activities as an important part of making schools healtheir places for students to learn.
Rossella Bagnato, Academic Superintendent of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board was also in attendance at the Ministry’s presentation. “Our principals were the first in the province to receive this workshop,” stated Bagnato. “While the Ministry recognizes there will be differences in approaches and implementation, all elementary schools are expected to make their best efforts to ensure that all students are receiving at least 20 minutes of sustained moderate to vigorous daily physical activity during instructional time as soon as possible”, concluded Bagnato.
Over the next few weeks the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will begin the work of developing a Board Action Plan with full implementation in all schools by September 2006.
A Celebration of Blessing at St. Albert Adult Learning Centre
Students, teachers, staff, trustees, and senior administration from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board joined honoured guests, and His Excellency, The Most Reverend, Bishop Jean-Louise Plouffe in the official celebration and blessing of the new site of the St. Albert Adult Learning Centre recently.
Formerly located on Eyre Street in Sudbury’s West End, the Centre has been the mainstay of Adult Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board for the past twelve years. With the move to the new site at 504 St. Raphael Street, (off Howey Drive) the Board renewed its commitment to adult students and their children by relocating the programs and daycare services offered on Eyre Street.
“With the new location comes a renewed vigor to help adults reach the goals they have set for themselves,” stated Rob Pappin, Master of Ceremonies for the event and Coordinator of the St. Albert Adult Learning Centre in his opening remarks to the assembly.
According to Pappin, the St. Albert Adult Learning Centre opened its doors in the fall of 1992. The approach to adult education was and continues to be twofold: To identify and meet the academic needs of adults returning to school, and to provide on-site and off-site community supports and services to cope with the challenges facing re-entry to learning.
An overview of the history of St. Albert reveals that numerous staff within the Sudbury Catholic District School Board have either started their teaching career at the school or retired from St. Albert after holding various teaching positions throughout the Board. Zandra Zubac, the present Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board was a former principal of the St. Albert Adult Learning Centre.
Mrs. Zubac highlighted the distinctiveness of Catholic education in her address to the many students who were in attendance. “When you enrol in a Catholic School, you become part of a larger family,” stated Zubac. “In partnership with families, parishes and communities, Catholic schools encourage academic excellence within an environment that nurtures and recognizes the individual capabilities of all students.”
Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe, Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie echoed Mrs. Zubac’s remarks in his blessing of the school. “It is never too late for a new beginning,” the Bishop told his audience. “Life is a journey that must be made in balance, and Jesus is the one who teaches us to walk this journey, carefully balancing the input from the spirit, the body, the heart, and the mind,” concluded His Excellency.
With reference to the accessibility of quality education, Pappin noted that; “Every individual, regardless of age or background, has the right to respect, and equity of access. Adults who attend the St. Albert Adult Learning Centre upgrade their academic needs and access supports such as daycare, food donations, clothing donations and counseling. Local service agencies, income support programs, health care providers and local businesses in the City of Greater Sudbury are community partners.”
The St. Albert Adult Learning Centre offers such programs as Office Skills, Entry Level Skills for office and clerical work, a Writer’s Guild for aspiring writers and poets, Pre-employment Training, Computer Literacy, and Entrepreneurship Preparation.
Sudbury Catholic Board Partner in RISKWATCH
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is the latest Board to partner with the City of Greater Sudbury Safe Communities Coalition and the RISK WATCH program which is an injury prevention-based program stressing child safety in the home and at school.
More than 60 teachers from three schools,(St. Raphael, St. David and Pius XII Catholic Schools) took part in the one-day seminar at the inaugural RISK WATCH training partnership.
“RISK WATCH is a school-based curriculum that links teachers with community safety experts and parents,” stated Academic Superintendent of Education Jean McHarg. “The curriculum is divided into five age-appropriate teaching modules, (Pre-K/Kindergarten, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, Grades 5-6 and Grades 7-8), each of which addresses such topics as Fire and Burn Prevention, Bike Safety, Water Safety, Poisoning Prevention and Motor Vehicle Safety, among others. This program gives children and their families the skills and knowledge they need to create safer homes and communities.”
Council for Exceptional Children Hosts 49th Annual Provincial Conference
The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), Ontario CEC Chapter 503 Sudbury, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board and the Rainbow District School Board hosted the 49th Annual Provincial Conference at Sudbury’s Holiday Inn, recently. This year’s theme was entitled “Embracing our Uniqueness: A Northern Perspective.”
During the three-day conference, members and guests were treated to the humourous and highly motivational presentations of keynote speakers Gerry Lougheed Jr. and John Novak. In addition, professionals in their respective fields provided workshops for parents, teachers, educational assistants and administrators on all exceptionalities including autism, behaviour, visual, hearing and speech impairments, learning disabilities as well as assistive technology.
The highlight of the conference was the “Yes I Can” Awards where children and youth from across the province, with a variety of exceptionalities, were recognized for their outstanding achievements
The Council for Exceptional Children is the largest international organization of professionals, parents, paraprofessionals and students who are dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or those who are gifted. CEC’s specialized divisions provide additional focus and depth of information to a particular exceptionality or interest area in special education.
Recent Provincial Test Results: SCDSB Proud of Students, Staff
Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) announced the results of its annual province-wide tests in Grades 3, 6 and 9 yesterday. This year’s provincial report profiles 18 schools that exemplify the many successful learning environments in publicly funded schools in Ontario.
“The profiles confirm that student learning is a shared responsibility,” says Marguerite Jackson, chief executive officer of EQAO. “EQAO is privileged to celebrate and share these school stories and commends the efforts of Ontario educators, parents and members of the public who are working together to ensure that each and every student is a successful learner.”
With respect to the Grade 3 & 6 EQAO Provincial Assessment Results for May 2005, students at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board continue to demonstrate steady and sustainable gains. “When reviewing the EQAO achievement demonstrated by our Grade 3 and 6 students over time, we see improvements made in small but solid increments,” stated Rossella Bagnato, Academic Superintendent of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “We must now analyze critically the data that EQAO provides to us along with our school collected data and use the information to inform instructional decisions we make for our students,” concluded Bagnato.
Working as teams, the Board’s principals and teachers have developed professional learning communities that collaborate in all aspects of planning and instruction with the ultimate focus on improving student learning across the whole school. Paula Peroni, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic School Board sees this student focus initiative as the key to the success in the latest test results. “Across the system we have begun the ongoing tracking of individual student achievement in literacy and offer an early intervention reading program for those students who struggle with learning to read along with making assistive technology available through the implementation of wireless laptops for students with special needs,” noted Peroni. “Using the key concepts from Professor Michael Fullan’s research, as a Board we will move ahead slowly, with a purpose, while creating a culture of learning for both students and staff.”
Students in the Sudbury Catholic Board’s Secondary Schools scored equally well in the Grade 9 Provincial Math tests in 2004–2005. Board results indicate that students maintained their scores from last year in the academic program and increased their scores in the applied program. Zandra Zubac, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board introduced the Learning With Laptops One to One Grade 9 Mathematics program in the Board’s four secondary schools last year. “In the second semester of 2005, we embarked upon a process of building a Professional Learning Community with our Grade 9 Math teachers by establishing and maintaining partnerships with companies such as Apple Canada,” stated Zubac. “These kinds of partnerships not only develop resources for our students but also play a vital role in improving student achievement as witnessed in the latest Grade 9 Provincial test results.”
2005 Grade 3, 6 & 9 EQAO Results Announced; SCDSB Proud of Staff, Students
On–Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) today announced the results of its annual province-wide tests in
Grades 3, 6 and 9. This year’s provincial report profiles 18 schools that exemplify the many successful learning environments in publicly funded schools in Ontario.
“The profiles confirm that student learning is a shared responsibility,” says Marguerite Jackson, chief executive officer of EQAO. “EQAO is privileged to celebrate and share these school stories and commends the efforts of Ontario educators, parents and members of the public who are working together to ensure that each and every student is a successful learner.”
With respect to the Grade 3 & 6 EQAO Provincial Assessment Results for May 2005, students at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board continue to demonstrate steady and sustainable gains. “When reviewing the EQAO achievement demonstrated by our Grade 3 and 6 students over time, we see improvements made in small but solid increments,” stated Rossella Bagnato, Academic Superintendent of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “We must now analyze critically the data that EQAO provides to us along with our school collected data and use the information to inform instructional decisions we make for our students,” concluded Bagnato.
Working as teams, the Board’s principals and teachers have developed professional learning communities that collaborate in all aspects of planning and instruction with the ultimate focus on improving student learning across the whole school. Paula Peroni, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic School Board sees this student focus initiative as the key to the success in the latest test results. “Across the system we have begun the ongoing tracking of individual student achievement in literacy and offer an early intervention reading program for those students who struggle with learning to read along with making assistive technology available through the implementation of wireless laptops for students with special needs,” noted Peroni. “Using the key concepts from Professor Michael Fullan’s research, as a Board we will move ahead slowly, with a purpose, while creating a culture of learning for both students and staff.”
Students in the Sudbury Catholic Board’s Secondary Schools scored equally well in the Grade 9 Provincial Math tests in 2004–2005. Board results indicate that students maintained their scores from last year in the academic program and increased their scores in the applied program. Zandra Zubac, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board introduced the Learning With Laptops One to One Grade 9 Mathematics program in the Board’s four secondary schools last year. “In the second semester of 2005, we embarked upon a process of building a Professional Learning Community with our Grade 9 Math teachers by establishing and maintaining partnerships with companies such as Apple Canada,” stated Zubac. “These kinds of partnerships not only develop resources for our students but also play a vital role in improving student achievement as witnessed in the latest Grade 9 Provincial test results.”
SCDSB Takes Lead in Region with Student Safety Initiative
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board will be presenting a Lifesavers course to train Lunchroom Supervisors in the various aspects of first aid on Friday, October 21, 2005 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the St. John Ambulance Training Centre, 2935 Bancroft Drive.
The three-hour Lifesaver course has been set up specifically for the lunchroom supervisors in the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. The initial concept to provide a training course for lunchroom supervisors came from Immaculate Catholic School parents and Catholic School Council. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board in conjunction with the Regional Catholic School Council is presenting this training course as a follow up to the Lifesavers course provided to the Board’s secretaries in August 2005.
“The board takes the safety of our students very seriously,” stated Zandra Zubac, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Our Board is one of the first boards in the province to train lunchroom supervisors and the very first in the region.”
To compliment the Lifesavers course, the Board has also agreed to purchase portable first aid kits to be used by lunch room supervisors (inside or outside), First Aid posters to be posted in all classrooms, reference manuals displayed at the office and mobile First Aid kits with a manual for all field trips and outside activities.
For more information on the Lifesavers course, please contact Clara Steele,Regional Catholic School Council Chair at ph: (w) 855-4955 or (h) 983-1966.