On April 24, 2015, Katherine Boyce, Marymount Academy student and the school’s Catholic Charities Council president asked the entire school student body to stand up if they have ever had anyone in their life that had been affected by cancer. One by one, every single student, staff member, and invited guest stood up. Upon seeing the entire gym full of people on their feet, Boyce spoke to the group, “This is why we stand up to Cancer –this is why Regals Fight Cancer!” The school wrapped up their Regals Fight Cancer campaign with a variety of head-shaving, dying, hair donating, and leg shaving – which was all dependent upon the amount of monies raised to support one of their own – a grade 12 student who is battling cancer, and to give to the Northeastern Ontario Cancer Foundation. In the end, the Regals surpassed their $10,000 goal, raising over 21,000 dollars to support their fellow regal and the NOCF. Heads were shaved and dyed, and the students enjoyed seeing their teachers support both Marymount, and Greater Sudbury community by following through on their promises. Several students and teachers also had their hair cut and donated for wigs for chemotherapy patients who have lost their hair. Lucie Cullen, principal of the school was emotional throughout the presentation. “Katherine Boyce made mention at the beginning of the presentation that Marymount is a family,” Cullen explained. “And in every sense of the word this is true. Today shows how close we are as a school community, a strong Regal family, supporting one of our own as well as giving back to our city. As always this school community makes us incredibly proud!”
Category: Character Development
Holy Trinity Families Unite through Exercise
It was all in the name of building new friendships for the future students of Holy Trinity Catholic School in an active and healthy way!
Families of children who currently attend St. Andrew, St. Bernadette and St. Raphael Catholic Elementary Schools came together in the gymnasium at St. Charles College on April 16th, 2015 to participate in a fun-filled evening of Zumba and Yoga. Many parents and teachers enthusiastically took to the gymnasium floor and the gym mats to participate in the exercises!
The night was made possible through the funding of a Ministry of Education Parents Reaching Out grant focused on increasing parental engagement in education.
As gracious hosts, the St. Bernadette School families collected items to create gift baskets with themes like “cooking with family”, “a family indoor movie night” and “outdoor family activities”. Sudbury & District Health Unit Public Health Nurses, Stacey Gilbeau and KC Rautiainen, also joined in the amusements and helped out by drawing the winners of the three baskets at the end of the evening.
Celebrating Administrative Assistants’ Day at St. Raphael
The Early Learning Kindergarten class at St. Raphael Catholic Elementary School surprised Laura Owens, the school administrative assistant, with a message from the class to honour her today. Mrs. Owens is the first person people meet as they enter the school. She is always smiling and helpful. The students of St. Raphael School are grateful for all she does to help students.
St. Andrew Open House Celebrates Memories
St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School hosted a Come and Go Open House on Sunday April 19th from noon to 2pm. The principal and the classroom teachers welcomed many former students, teachers and parents to the school to walk the halls and share memories. They learned that at one time St. Andrew School was St. Conrad school and subjects were taught in both of our national languages. There were many memories shared about former teachers and principals and activities that happened in this little community school. Many of the visitors were interested in viewing the architect’s rendering of the new Holy Trinity School. Pictured is Mrs. Henry, the present principal, with Brittany and Brandon Schroeder two former students. Mrs. Henry remembers when she was taller than both of these students!
St. James Supports the Canadian Cancer Society
St. James Catholic Elementary School students recently wore yellow to show their support for “Daffodil Week” and the Canadian Cancer Society. Thank you to staff and students for your donations that help fund life-saving cancer research. Go Bears Go!!
Experiencing Performance Art and the Written Word at MMA
“If you were an animal, what animal would you be?” This was the question that Tanya Neumeyer, a Toronto based poet posed to one of the English classes at Marymount Academy on April 17, 2015. Neumeyer, a published poet and workshop facilitator, was in town to perform at the (W)rites of Poetry event that night, but visited several of the English classes on April 16 and 17 to work with the students to help encourage their development of poetry and their creative process. The students had to immediately react to the question by acting out which animal best reflected their own personalities. Through these types of activities – performance art and written word, Neumyer encouraged the students to break down their own barriers and feel confident to perform in front of others. “It is always such a great experience for our students when Tanya comes to visit and work with them in small groups and classes,” Lucie Cullen, principal of Marymount Academy explained. “It is such a unique, positive experience that is hugely impactful on the students. It really helps give them a voice and expresses their own creativity.”
“The Blue Dot Movement” at St. Charles Elementary
St Charles Catholic Elementary School participated in the National Day of Action with “The Blue Dot Movement” from the David Suzuki Foundation on April 17, 2015 All 344 students wrote their wishes for the planet Earth on their own blue dot and watched a video about Canadians wishing to make a difference for our country and our Earth as part of the monthly virtue of Stewardship. The students are excited about celebrating Earth Day as they will also be signing a letter addressed to the mayor and Sudbury council asking for their support in adding the following 3 items to the Charter of Rights and Freedom:
1) The right to clean air
2) The right to clean drinking water
3) The right to pesticide free food
“We want our students to understand just how important it is to be stewards of the earth,” Dave Soehner, principal of St. Charles. “Through this Blue Dot Movement, our students have really come to understand how important these basic necessities are to the entire planet and that it is everyone’s job to help make it happen. They understand that they have a voice and can help be a part of the change.”
Anyone can join from coast to coast to protect the people and places we love. Find out more at bluedot.nationbuilder.com
Regals Fight Cancer
As part of the school’s new fundraising campaign, the students at Marymount Academy are getting a sweet treat. For the month of April, students and staff are raising funds to support the Northern Ontario Cancer Foundation, as well as one of their fellow students who is fighting her own battle with cancer. The school’s cafeteria supplier – Chartwell’s, donated 250 cookies for students to purchase with monies raises to go towards their Regals Fight Cancer fundraiser. Students also had the opportunity to purchase Regals Fight Cancer sweatshirts that they can wear certain days every week for the month of April in place of their regular uniform top.
Marymount Academy students will be out in all areas in Greater Sudbury on the evening of April 23 to do door-to-door canvassing for their fundraising initiative. The school’s fundraising efforts will be announced on the morning of April 24 with several teachers willing to have their hair shaved, dyed cut and donated depending on how much money has been raised. For more information, please call the school at (705) 674-4231.
Marymount Academy Celebrates International Moment of Laughter Day – April 14th
Studies have shown that laughing not only lowers blood pressure and reduces stress hormone levels, it also improves cardiac health, boosts T cells, triggers endorphins, and is a fabulous ab workout! Best of all, laughter has been proven to increase our overall sense of well-being. So, the goal for the day at Marymount Academy on April 14, 2015 was to get people laughing!
The staff posted several hilarious visual jokes around the school, and told jokes between periods over the P.A. system.
At lunch, students who told the librarian a funny joke won a prize. Also, secondary students were invited to join the Improv Club for several “moments of improvised laughter” while elementary students were invited to vote for their funniest teacher.
The winner by a landslide was teacher Debra Michaud! She received a silly headband and a jar of candy along with the coveted Wand of Laughter. Teacher Colin Lapalme came in a distant 2nd and received a bag of leftover candy.
It was a “funderful” day at Marymount Academy. Laughter really is the best medicine.