This year’s students and staff at St. Charles Catholic Elementary School may not have had the opportunity to meet Johnathan Hetu, a student who passed away in 2004 after a two year battle with leukemia, however his memory continues to live on each year as the school holds its annual Johnathan Hetu walk. Teacher David Nicholls felt compelled to do something to honour Johnathan’s memory and so he started the Johathan Hetu walk 11 years ago, and has continued it every year. Funds are collected and donated to the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer. Principal David Soehner was overwhelmed with the support that his school brings forward. “Johnathan’s spirit is our inspiration each and every year,” explained Soehner. “We are so proud of our students and staff for their outstanding efforts once again in fundraising for such an important group, as well as honouring Johnathan and his family. We are overwhelmed with gratitude as our school community has once again showed its tremendous Ram spirit, and allowed us to give back to an outstanding organization that is the N.O.F.C.C. as well as remember and celebrate Johnathan.” This year’s the school collected over $6200 bringing the grand total to over $65,000 in eleven years.
Category: Character Development
Coffee Drive at Pius XII to Support Elgin St. Mission
Kathleen Donnelly, Resource Teacher at Pius XII Catholic Elementary School has initiated an urgently needed “coffee drive” to assist the Elgin Street Mission, who are in short supply of the popular beverage that helps many people get through a rough day and provide some comfort. In the spirit of helping our community, Kathleen has inspired the students and their families to help support the organization by donating such items as coffee, coffeemate creamer, tea bags, disposable cups, coffee filters and sugar.
St. David School Parents “Show Off” their “Love of Reading”
Parents and Grandparents flooded the hallways of St. David Catholic School to share their love of reading with the students in the school. Family members were welcomed into St. David School for breakfast and to read a book with their children. Parents and grandparents learned about the developmental reading assessment program (DRA) the school uses to assess student reading levels and skills they can use at home to support their children improve in reading.
As a parent, reading to your child is one of the most important things you can do to ensure school success. Even after children learn to read by themselves, it’s important for families to read aloud together. By reading stories that are interesting, but alittle beyond a child’s reading level, parents can motivate their children to improve their skills.
“One of our school improvement goals is to motivate our students to read so they will practice reading and become fluent readers. This happens when they enjoy reading and continue to read for pleasure” states St. David Learning Strategies Teacher, Cathy Dore.
St. David School “Planting for the Future”
Together with St. David students and staff, Local Ojibwe artist and educator, Will Morin conducted a planting ceremony at the school to support the students transition to the new school site. Fifty two planters were filled with sweetgrass seeds. The newly planted seedlings will be cared for over the summer by Mr. Morin and his family and in the fall will be transplanted at the new St. David School site.
As part of the Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury, Mr. Morin was selected as a Project Impact recipient. This project included involving students in the regreening of a native species plant, sweetgrass. Sweetgrass is also a First Nation traditional medicine.
As part of the ceremony, the outgoing students in grade 6, 7 and 8 were honoured by the school community. Mr. Morin stated, “We all plant seeds to prepare for the future. It is only together that we can nurture their growth and ensure their success”.
St. David Catholic School Offers the Community a Chance to Say a Last Goodbye to the Building
The staff, students and families of St. David Catholic School are preparing for a September move to a new building at 549 Frood Road. As construction continues on the new school, the staff prepare for the big move by packing books and school tools, resources and student technology.
St. David has been a constant in Sudbury’s Donovan area for over 70 years. The school has had many renovations over the years, but in 2010 received funding for a new building. The school’s new K – 6 building features a creative design blended into the natural environment and landscape that will surround the school. It will have generous daylight, warm wood features and a safe, green school yard for students to play with their peers.
The school recently hosted an open house. St. David School opened its doors to the community and former students to reminisce about years gone by and take home memorabilia that reminds them of their time at the school. Many former students stopped in for great conversation with former classmates, cake and coffee. St. David parent, Theresa Lalone, stated that all 6 of her children attended St. David School. Four of them, Stephanie, Amanda, Justin and Rebecca, are previous graduates and her two youngest, Noah and Nic, still attend the school.
The school staff would like express its appreciation to the community and to the many families who have made St. David their home over the past 70 years. It is with a heavy heart and great respect that the school prepares for their new, exciting home!
St. David School Proudly Supports Student Well Being Through Tae Kwon Do Lessons
St. David Catholic Elementary School continues to offer grades 3 – 5 students Tae Kwon Do lessons every Monday for an hour at lunch. The program focus remains the 5 tenets that Tae Kwon Do practitioners live their lives by:
Courtesy
Integrity
Perseverance
Self Control
Indomitable Spirit
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s CCAC Health Nurse, Roland Dutrisac, uses Tae Kwon Do as an effective strategy to encourage students to live healthy lives through physical activity as well as learn such important skills as: focus, concentration, discipline, self control and perseverance. The Tae Kwon Do program also stresses the importance of confidence and how to deal with conflict in a proactive manner.
Next year, the school will move from its original location on Jean Street to a brand new home at 459 Frood Road. The program has seen such success that it will continue to be offered at the new location. The school hopes all returning students and new registrants will continue to take advantage of this inter disciplinary opportunity. The school would also like to take this time to thank Mr. Roland Dutrisac for his wonderful contribution to the St. David School community!
SCC Supports Bill 45
In support of World no Tobacco day, which is May 30th, youth advocates from St. Charles College showed their support for the recent passing of bill 45 in the Ontario Legislature. The students wanted to raise awareness of the bill, which has the goal of enhancing public health by putting restrictions on flavoured tobacco, e-cigarettes, and on tobacco in public spaces. The SCC students created a sign along the Falconbridge highway to raise awareness of the passing of the bill. Please share #thx4bill45 if you would like to see a smoke free Ontario, and an Ontario where no youth feels the need to inappropriately use tobacco products.
Cultural Skyping with “Mr. Tim” and Students in Egypt
It was a morning of cultural education in Mr. Emond’s World Issues classroom on May 28. The St. Charles College students skyped with Mr. Tim Kingshott and his students in Cairo, Egypt today where it was more than 40 degrees Celsius mid afternoon.
Mr. Tim Kingshott is a St. Charles College teacher but is teaching Physics and Math in English at a high school in Egypt this year, where students refer to him as “Mr. Tim”. The two groups of students got together to exchange questions about each other’s countries.
Students in Egypt asked questions about maple syrup, World Cup soccer, the Canadian army, as well as after school jobs, bullying, safety and British monarchy. While the Egyptian students fielded questions about life in the Middle East.
Next week, the SCC students will be skyping with an English teacher situated in Damascus, Syria.
A number of students at St. Charles College have created a World Issues Club. The club will be hosting its first big charity fundraising gala Friday night at the Croatian Hall. If interested, call the school at 566-9605 for more information.
Cultural Skyping with “Mr. Tim” and Students in Egypt
It was a morning of cultural education in Mr. Emond’s World Issues classroom on May 28. The St. Charles College students skyped with Mr. Tim Kingshott and his students in Cairo, Egypt today where it was more than 40 degrees Celsius mid afternoon.
Mr. Tim Kingshott is a St. Charles College teacher but is teaching Physics and Math in English at a high school in Egypt this year, where students refer to him as “Mr. Tim”. The two groups of students got together to exchange questions about each other’s countries.
Students in Egypt asked questions about maple syrup, World Cup soccer, the Canadian army, as well as after school jobs, bullying, safety and British monarchy. While the Egyptian students fielded questions about life in the Middle East.
Next week, the SCC students will be skyping with an English teacher situated in Damascus, Syria.
A number of students at St. Charles College have created a World Issues Club. The club will be hosting its first big charity fundraising gala Friday night at the Croatian Hall. If interested, call the school at 566-9605 for more information.