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.
Category: Character Development
Taking the Pledge for Caitlin, Jazmine and Steven at St. Charles College
On April 14, 2015 students were reminded of the horrific accident that took the life of a St. Charles College student all because of drinking and driving.
Caitlin was one of three teenagers killed while walking with friends on the side of the road in Sudbury in the wee hours of Father’s day more than five years ago.
Students were urged to take the drinking and driving pledge by signing a banner in their memories. They were also invited to the walk to remember in June by signing up to the Impact 6/21 Facebook page.
Sudbury Catholic Schools – Running for Terry
Sudbury Catholic Schools are extremely proud of their history with the Terry Fox Foundation. Over the last eleven years, several of the board’s schools, including St. Andrew, St. James, St. John, St. Paul and St. Raphael Catholic Elementary Schools have taken part in the annual Terry Fox run collectively raising almost $60,000. The Sudbury Catholic schools are part of more than 4,000 schools across Canada taking part – raising $6.8 million dollars for cancer research. On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, SCDSB schools will again take part in the annual Terry Fox run with this year’s run commemorating the 35 anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope. “We are very fortunate to have extremely dedicated and engaging staff,” stated Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Board. “We recognize as a board the powerful and positive impact that the Terry Fox Foundation and the Marathon of Hope represent, and we are proud of the past efforts of our students and staff collectively supporting this important cause. We will continue to support this national school run with our school communities.”
Sudbury Catholic Schools – Running for Terry
Sudbury Catholic Schools are extremely proud of their history with the Terry Fox Foundation. Over the last eleven years, several of the board’s schools, including St. Andrew, St. James, St. John, St. Paul and St. Raphael Catholic Elementary Schools have taken part in the annual Terry Fox run collectively raising almost $60,000. The Sudbury Catholic schools are part of more than 4,000 schools across Canada taking part – raising $6.8 million dollars for cancer research. On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, SCDSB schools will again take part in the annual Terry Fox run with this year’s run commemorating the 35 anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope. “We are very fortunate to have extremely dedicated and engaging staff,” stated Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Board. “We recognize as a board the powerful and positive impact that the Terry Fox Foundation and the Marathon of Hope represent, and we are proud of the past efforts of our students and staff collectively supporting this important cause. We will continue to support this national school run with our school communities.”
Sudbury Catholic Schools – Running for Terry
Sudbury Catholic Schools are extremely proud of their history with the Terry Fox Foundation. Over the last eleven years, several of the board’s schools, including St. Andrew, St. James, St. John, St. Paul and St. Raphael Catholic Elementary Schools have taken part in the annual Terry Fox run collectively raising almost $60,000. The Sudbury Catholic schools are part of more than 4,000 schools across Canada taking part – raising $6.8 million dollars for cancer research. On Wednesday, September 30, 2015, SCDSB schools will again take part in the annual Terry Fox run with this year’s run commemorating the 35 anniversary of Terry’s Marathon of Hope. “We are very fortunate to have extremely dedicated and engaging staff,” stated Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Board. “We recognize as a board the powerful and positive impact that the Terry Fox Foundation and the Marathon of Hope represent, and we are proud of the past efforts of our students and staff collectively supporting this important cause. We will continue to support this national school run with our school communities.”
SCC Concert Choir Shining Bright like Diamonds Again
The concert choir at St. Charles College can safely say they are the top secondary school choir in the city. More than twenty-five SCC students performed at the 70th annual Kiwanis Festival in Sudbury this week to take home diamond standing yet again. Under the direction of teacher Ms. Shannon Coyle, this is the second year in a row that the choir has scored 90 or above – securing a diamond title for St. Charles College. The group performed All of Me by John Legend and the title song from Mama Mia. On Monday, April 13th at 7 p.m., the concert choir will be performing its rendition of Mamma Mia at the Kiwanis Festival final concert and awards ceremony at St.Andrews Place. There, they will receive the top secondary school choir award.
Raise the Flag – St. Francis School Recognizes Autism Awareness Day on Thursday, April 2, 2015
April is Autism Awareness month and April 2nd was dedicated World Autism Day.
Autism Ontario’s Raise the Flag campaign, through the simple act of raising a flag, unites families, schools, communities, government and professionals in recognizing World Autism Awareness Day, and brings to light to struggles and triumphs of people on the autism spectrum.
Staff and students at St. Francis Catholic Elementary School took part in this event to support World Autism day.
The (W)rites of Spring Poetry Evening – April 17, 2015
First and foremost, Kim Fahner is a writer. With three published books of poetry under her belt, another almost complete, as well as a new novel in the works, Fahner is immersed in the world of writing. On top of this, Fahner is also a full time teacher at Marymount Academy, where she often brings her world of writing and the appreciation of the written word, her students, and the community together. The result is the event that she has planned for April 17, 2015.
Remembering a similar event back in 1998 put on by Roger Nash, former Greater Sudbury Poet Laureate, and Ontario Representative for the League of Canadian Poets at the time, Fahner thought that a similar event would be a great way for the Sudbury community to celebrate National Poetry Month in April. Contacting some of her poet friends, the (W)rites of Spring Poetry Evening came into being, sponsored by the League of Canadian Poets, The Canada Council for the Arts, and Marymount Academy. The evening will be a celebration of poetry for the community, with five notable Canadian poets slated to perform: Tom Leduc (current Poet Laureate for Greater Sudbury), Roger Nash (past Poet Laureate), Kim Fahner (Sudbury poet), Susan McMaster (Ottawa poet), and Tanya Neumeyer (Toronto performance poet). The theme for this month is poetry that celebrates food, but a wide variety of poems will be performed. People of all ages are invited to attend, and it is Fahner’s hope that the evening is an opportunity for the community to appreciate really great poetry. “When I think back to the event in 1998, I recall a really amazing evening that brought together talented writers and people who really appreciated poetry,” Fahner stated. “ I really believe that art elevates people, so I think this will be a brilliant evening that celebrates the beauty of poetry.”
Books will be for sale, with poets available for signings after the event. Refreshments will also be for sale. Admission is free, but there will be a silver collection with proceeds being directed to support the Poet Laureate’s Young Writers’ Guild at the Greater Sudbury Public Library. For further information, please call Kim Fahner at Marymount Academy at (705) 674-4231.
St. David School Welcomes SWST Initiative
The St. David Catholic Elementary School Student Work Study Teacher initiative is a Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat research program that is based in a collaborative relationship between the classroom teacher and the student work study teacher. The SWS teacher focuses on the student classroom experience and the student’s ability to learn. This model of student support is responsive to student needs and supports classroom best practices.
St. David School’s SWST initiative focuses on understanding student learning in the classroom and building knowledge of the classroom experience. Megan Murphy, St. David School student work study teacher and vice principal states, “The SWST role allows me to co-learn with the teacher and students. By sitting with students and listening to them as they learn, it makes the students’ learning more visible. I am able to share this information with the teacher on a regular basis, and together we discuss effective strategies for student success. Together we all work to better support the students learning based directly on the students’ voice”.
“This year one of school improvement goals in mathematics is accountable talk. The SWST program helps us to develop our students as independent thinkers. It helps us to better inform our lessons and adapt to meet our students’ needs. The students also see the adults in the school working together, having fun learning and supporting each other. It makes for a great learning environment at St. David’s”, says grade 2/3 classroom teacher, Shelley Turner.