Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Category: Administration

2005 Grade 10 OSSLT Results Highest in Northeastern Ontario; SCDSB Proud of Staff, Students

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Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has announced the results of its annual province-wide Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) for the 2005-2006 school year. Of the 383 Sudbury Catholic District School Board students who wrote the OSSLT test for the first time, 90 percent were successful in passing. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board scores were the highest in Northeastern Ontario.

The report also profiles 17 secondary schools made notable for their progress in OSSLT results since the tests were first introduced in 2002. St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School has been selected by EQAO in the province of Ontario as one of the English-language schools that has demonstrated continued student success in the OSSLT.

The school’s success rate for students writing the OSSLT for the first time rose from 80 percent in February 2002 to 92 percent in March 2006. St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School has a population of 650 students, of whom 23 percent are identified as having special needs. Now in its 12th year, the school offers a wide variety of programming, including French Immersion, locally developed
not-for-credit courses and a Wireless Laptop Grade 9 Math program.

“Underlying the many initiatives to build school-wide literacy at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School is the philosophy that literacy is critical for every subject,” states Guy Mathieu, Principal of St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. “Strategies such as think-alouds and focused readings have become standard practice in every classroom. Our teachers articulate how they
will promote the development of literacy skills in the course outlines that go home with students.”

In addition to providing dedicated literacy days, the school also offers Grade 9 literature activities which focus on the literacy skills reflected in the curriculum and the OSSLT. This approach will be extended to Grade 10. In order to build capacity, the school has partnered with the local university, colleges and retired teachers to enhance support for students in need of additional assistance.
Paula Peroni, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased with the recent OSSLT results.

“I would like to congratulate our secondary students, parents, teachers and staff on their excellent results in the recent OSSLT scores,” states Peroni. “The results are a tribute to their hard work and dedication.” Zandra Zubac Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board shares Peroni’s optimism given the latest test results. “Literacy and student success rates have always been a major priority with our Board,” states, Zubac. “We are continuing our work with our cross-curricular teams and school staff to build successful learning environments for
students to ensure continued success rates.”

A record-high 125,830 Grade 10 secondary school students in Ontario met the literacy standard this year as the provincial success rate on the literacy test continues to rise, increasing to 84% in 2006.

Longtime Sudbury Catholic District School Board Teacher Honoured at Annual Banquet

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Chris Bartolucci, a thirty year teacher with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board was presented with the SCDSB Chairperson’s Award by Board Chair, Paula Peroni at SCDSB’s annual 25 Year and Retirement Banquet held at Bryston’s On The Park.

Mr. Bartolucci has been involved with St. Charles College, as a student from 1969 to 1973, and as a teacher/program coordinator from 1976 to present day. He received the prestigious award for his many years of service and dedication to both students and staff and for his long term commitment as a football, basketball and alpine skiing coach at St. Charles College.

“Chris Bartolucci has devoted his entire teaching career to educating and coaching students in an effort to make them better students and athletes,” stated Paula Peroni in the Board’s tribute to Bartolucci. “He is known by his present and former students as a great motivator who has inspired them to go on to careers in law, business, sociology, anthropology, religion and numerous other professions,” concluded Peroni

Effective May 1, Chris Bartolucci has taken on a new role in the football community as the Head Coach of the Sudbury Spartans Football Team. Over the years, whether on the field or off he has been an excellent role model for both students and staff, demonstrating a high degree of professionalism in both the teaching and coaching professions.

SCDSB Hosts Kashechewan Students

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is in the process of preparing the old St Albert Adult Learning Centre, located at 135 Eyre Street in Sudbury to accommodate 110 Kashechewan students for Wednesday, May 10, 2006.

This past weekend the board completed a general cleanup of the school and furniture was also delivered.

Teachers will be in the school on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. to setup and prepare the classrooms with students starting classes the following day.

The students and staff will be making use of eight classrooms, an office, staff room and there will be access to the gym. The Sudbury Catholic District School board is coordinating the purchase of supplies for the teachers and students.

Hugh Lee, Superintendent of Business and Finance for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is overseeing the organization and setup of the school on behalf of the board.

Paula Peroni, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is looking forward to the opportunity to have the Kashechewan students continuing their studies here in Sudbury. “The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased once again to be of assistance to the members of the Kashechewan community in providing a school so that they may continue with their academic studies. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the Board’s staff for working so hard and so diligently to prepare the school for the Kashechewan students,” stated Peroni.

SCDSB Chairperson Acclaimed as Vice-President of OCSTA

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Paula Peroni, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board has been acclaimed as Vice-President of the Ontario Catholic Schools Trustees Association (OCSTA) for a two-year term, effective April 21, 2006.

Mrs. Peroni was first elected as Director of the OCSTA in 2000. In accepting the acclamation, Peroni commented on what she feels are some of the major issues facing the educational sector today. “Our greatest challenge as a board is to help the new Minister of Education understand the important issues in education such as ongoing funding for transportation and special education,” stated Peroni. “The vision of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will be to continue our excellent faith-based education and Wireless Laptop programs for our students.”

Bernard Murray, Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board trustee, has been acclaimed as President of OCSTA with former OCSTA President, Paul C. Whitehead, continuing to serve the Association as Past President. The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association is the provincial voice for Catholic education. Founded in 1930, OCSTA represents Catholic school boards that collectively educate more than 600,000 students in Ontario, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.

SCDSB Hosts Kindergarten Information Night, “Programs to Power Young Minds Through Play”

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board welcomed prospective kindergarten parents and students to its first annual Kindergarten Information Night held at Marymount Academy recently. The evening was designed to inform and enlighten parents regarding the Board’s kindergarten program and allow them to gain an understanding of the Catholic system which integrates faith and culture.

Sudbury Catholic District School Board Trustees, Senior Administration as well as school principals, vice-principals, kindergarten teachers and members of the Academic Services staff were also on hand to discuss the different supports that the Board has to offer, including community partnerships that enhance and support its programs.

Rossella Bagnato, Academic Superintendent of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board invited parents to visit many of the school and special interest group displays and kiosks and to personally connect with staff and agencies that were located on site throughout the evening. “Kindergarten is a bridge between early childhood development and the compulsory school system,” stated Bagnato in her address to parents. “Classrooms of young children function as caring communities. They are in effect, extensions of the home. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board offers that same warmness in the classroom that allows children to thrive and grow. We educate the whole child. As well as meeting the physical, intellectual, emotional and social needs we also have an added dimension and that is spirituality. We are there to nurture the faith of our early learners,” concluded Bagnato.

Highlights of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s kindergarten program that were shared with parents throughout the evening included;

– A religion program centred around the theme of the child being created in God’s image. The Board promotes a sensitive, caring environment where Catholic values are integrated throughout the day. Prayer and religious symbols are part of everyday life.

– An enhanced early literacy and numeracy program which focuses on developing language, problem solving and critical thinking skills. Technology is used as a tool to promote literacy/numeracy as a strong link to the real world. (Kindergarten students have access to wireless laptop computers in preparation for the Board’s Learning With Laptop programs).

– French Immersion programs – are a highly successful approach to learning a second language and are available to all students.

– The Home/School Connection; The Sudbury Catholic District School Board believes in a strong partnership between the home, family and church. Ongoing communication and parent involvement is key to student success.

In her closing remarks, Paula Peroni, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board expressed the Board’s appreciation for the commitment of the academic services support staff, community partners and especially parents and guardians for making the evening such a tremendous success.

SCDSB Hosts MISA Workshop with WOW FACTOR

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Sudbury Catholic District School secretaries, vice-principals, principals and members of the Board’s administrative team were treated to a very informative and entertaining workshop on Managing Information for Student Achievement , (MISA) at the Howard Johnson Hotel recently.

Brian Woodland, Director of Communications with the Peel District School Board was also a keynote speaker at the workshop. Mr. Woodlands presentation focused primarily on the ‘WOW FACTOR’ which he claims many boards/schools in Ontario and in Canada are failing to take advantage of. “‘The WOW FACTOR’ deals with the education of public relations, a planned systematic two-way communication process to encourage public involvement and earn public understanding and support,” states Woodland.

“It always amazes me that the very people who are responsible for the good news stories… the secretaries, teachers, vice-principals, and principals along with the school board administrative teams are so very reticent to promote all the great things happening in their schools. Practicing good public relations helps build community respect for teachers and support for education.”

SCDSB Elects Chair and Vice-Chair For 2005-06

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The Sudbury Catholic District School Board held elections for the positions of chair and vice-chair at the regular meeting of the board at the Catholic Education Centre on December 6, 2005. Paula Peroni, a longtime Trustee with the Board was acclaimed during the meeting and returns as Board Chair for the second consecutive year.

Mrs. Peroni served as Chair of the Board on three previous occasions in 2000, 2001 and 2004 and is currently an executive member of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) and the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association (CCSTA). In claiming her role as chair, Peroni is looking forward to the guiding the Sudbury Catholic District School Board through many of the challenges that lay ahead.

“With labour peace in our schools guaranteed for at least the next three years, now is the time for the provincial government to address the shortcomings inherent in the education formula,” stated Peroni. “I along with my fellow Trustees, colleagues at the Ontario Catholic Schools Trustees Association and representatives from all School Boards in Ontario will be pressuring this government to increase the funding benchmarks for salaries and benefits over the next year. The implementation of a coordinated model of care and service for children with special needs is also a matter that deserves a great deal of attention,” concluded Peroni.

Barry MacDonald, having been elected as a Trustee with the Sudbury Catholic Board in December 2004 was also acclaimed and returns for a second year in the position of Vice-Chair. “I would like to thank my fellow Trustees for their vote of confidence in granting me the opportunity to become vice-chair for a second term,” stated MacDonald. “I would also like to congratulate Paula Peroni on returning to her position as Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. The Board has experienced excellent leadership under Trustee Peroni’s tutelage and I look forward to working with her, my fellow trustees and Board administration in continuing to deliver quality Catholic education for our students.”

Dialogue With the Director

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Alexandra Hickey, a Grade 12 student at Marymount Academy and President of the school’s Student Council recently shadowed SCDSB Director Zanda Zubac as part of the ‘YouthThink Switch Shoes’ program. ‘YouthThink’ is a unique educational campaign that seeks to raise awareness and dialogue among adults and youth about the inclusion of young people in the community of Greater Sudbury. The project is part of the Social Planning Council of Sudbury’s Closing the Distant initiative.

As a guest at SCDSB’s weekly marketing meeting, Alex shared her views and interpretations of a number of media topics which included the Annual Director’s Report, radio and television commercials, print ads, and promotional materials for the print media. “It was a genuine pleasure to have Alexandra take part in our marketing meeting,” stated Zandra Zubac. “Alex brought keen insight and a new and interesting perspective to many media and promotional issues that are unique to youth and students in our schools.”

Zandra Zubac, “shadowed” Alexandra at Marymount Academy earlier this month by taking part in a Marymount Student Council Executive meeting and accompanying Alexandra to Ida Sauve’s Dance studio for Alexandra’s dance lessons.

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