Earth Rangers (Kids’ Conservation Organization) visited St. James Catholic Elementary School recently and delivered a dynamic, fun and interactive presentation featuring live Animal Ambassadors. The program uses science-based information to educate students about the importance of protecting biodiversity while highlighting different conservation initiatives across Canada. St. James students have been inspired to adopt sustainable behaviours and have been empowered to become directly involved in protecting animals and their habitats.
Category: Character Development
Regals Ready to Wrap the Town in Red
Students at Marymount Academy have been working extremely hard these past few weeks trying to prepare as many red scarves as possible. Several weeks ago, Réseau ACCESS Network contacted local secondary schools to see if they would assist in their “Bundle Up in Red” campaign. According to their press release, the “Bundle Up in Red” campaign “is an awareness promotion utilizing red scarves to capture the attention of Sudburians. Red scarves will be distributed throughout the city. They will be tied around lampposts throughout major city streets and will be attached to trees in both Memorial and Bell Park. Individuals are encouraged to take and wear the scarves which will be tagged with facts about HIV/AIDS.” This campaign is to support HIV Awareness Week which begins November 23rd. Several Marymount Academy students took up this challenge and have been working diligently to get as many scarves as possible in preparation for distribution and already have over 350 scarves ready to go. It is the hope that this campaign will get people thinking and talking about HIV and is a unique way to get this very important messaging out into the community. Scarves can be kept or passed along and any leftover scarves will be donated to shelters. According to Brenda Thompson, teacher at Marymount, her students were onboard right from the first request. “We immediately had students approach us and say they wanted to be a part of this campaign,” Thompson explained. “That is the culture at Marymount Academy. Our students all the way from grade 7-12 are strongly encouraged to get involved in our community, and know that is it very important to give back. The students recognized that this “Bundle Up in Red” campaign was something very relevant for today’s s
Honouring our Veterans in Killarney
Under a brilliant sun, with only the sound of the flapping Canadian flag in the background, students and staff from St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School in Killarney gathered around the town’s cenotaph on November 11, 2015 to remember those who have fought for their freedoms. Joined by Sudbury Catholic Superintendent Rossella Bagnato and several local residents, the students held their Remembrance Day prayer service, observed two minutes of silence, and ended the ceremony by singing O’Canada. “It is so very important that our students understand the sacrifices that were made by our veterans to ensure our freedom today, “ explained Monika Jost, principal. “We always want to ensure that future generations never take for granted what has been fought for in the past and the people who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us – our students know – we must always remember.”
MMA Regals Inspired to be “Change Agents” At Ottawa WEDay
On November 9th, 2015, 35 Marymount Academy students travelled to Ottawa excited for the big event the next day. On November 10, these students had the opportunity to attend the Ottawa WeDay event at the Canadian Tire Centre joining more than 15,000 students and teachers from over 500 schools. Tickets are not available for purchase for this event. Instead, they have to be earned through social justice actions the year before. This is done so that the students can celebrate what they have already done, and be motivated to do more the next year. Students must take part in a local and global challenge, so Marymount Academy students organized a food drive locally, and sold rafiki bracelets made by, and to support women in villages in Africa.
During WEDay, the students were inspired by several outstanding speakers and bands including Rick Hansen, Spencer West, Henry Winkler, Waneek Horn-Miller, Simple Plan and Shawn Hook. A last minute addition to the line up proved to be the most exciting for the crowd as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie took to the stage for his very first large scale public appearance and speech. As the new Minister for Youth, Trudeau spoke to the crowd and told them that they are not to think of themselves as leaders of tomorrow, instead to be leaders today. Marymount Academy teacher Lise Callaghan described the day – “It is so fast paced and the feeling is electric in the space,” explained Callaghan. “The students are bombarded with positivity and are told that they truly can make a difference. They are told they need to become “Change Agents” and to find their spark and take steps forward, no matter how small, to achieve their dreams.” The Regals left the event energized, and have already started discussions to continue the momentum from the day, with plans in place to continue to make a difference at the school, community, and global levels.
St. David Catholic School; Lest We Forget
St. David Catholic Elementary School staff and students remembered the brave men and women who have given their lives for freedom around the world. Deacon Roland Muzzatti led the school in a prayer service celebrating the precious gift of peace. Deacon Muzzatti spoke about everyone’s responsibility for ensuring peace exists in our everyday lives. He engaged in a school wide conversation about peace and real world, kid friendly ways students can promote peace in their everyday lives. The school prayed for those families personally affected by war and those who have family members currently serving in the military. The students learned that they all have the power to be peacemakers in their lives and that they can be role models and leaders in their community.
Louis Mailloux, St. David School Core French teacher stated that, “Today’s celebration was a powerful remembrance of how important it is for people to be reflective and take time to honour those who have died for our freedom. Students need direct instruction on our history as nation and the sacrifices that have been made by previous generations. Deacon Muzzatti spoke eloquently about the importance of peace in our world and the importance of prayer to our community”.
St. John Remembers
On Wednesday November 11th, St John Catholic Elementary School in Garson held a service commemorating members of the armed forces put on by the Grade 7/8 class. All students and staff attended the prayer service observing two minutes of silence to remember those who have fought for their freedom. All observed as students expressed a heartfelt gratitude to all those who have worked and fought courageously throughout our history, so that we might enjoy peace.
St. John Remembers
On Wednesday November 11th, St John Catholic Elementary School in Garson held a service commemorating members of the armed forces put on by the Grade 7/8 class. All students and staff attended the prayer service observing two minutes of silence to remember those who have fought for their freedom. All observed as students expressed a heartfelt gratitude to all those who have worked and fought courageously throughout our history, so that we might enjoy peace.
“Dear Veteran” Letters Being Penned at St. Charles College
As part of a letter writing unit in Literacy studies, students in teacher Sarah Bock’s grade seven class at St. Charles College are writing war veterans.
The students are writing the letters in an effort to show veterans why there are valued. The unit ties in nicely to the Remembrance Day theme.
Bock says in the past, her students have written troops in combat but she thought it would be an interesting twist to write veterans who have served in the past.
Once completed and assessed, the letters will be mailed out to veterans listed on the Veteran Affairs website through a campaign called “Postcards for Peace.”
PIus XII Walk-A-Thon Supports NEO Kids
The students and staff of Pius XII Catholic Elementary School, alongside staff and volunteers from Holy Redeemer Parish couldn’t have asked for better weather on November 3, 2015 as they all took part in the Pius Walk-a-Thon for NEO Kids. Jocelyne Bene from Holy Redeemer had approached the school a while back to see if they could partner up to support this local initiative. “The motto for Holy Redeemer Parish is Walk the Talk,” explained Bene. “This saying became more meaningful to them as they became the hands and feet of Jesus for other children in our community.” Students from grades 3-6 at Pius, including students from the Care and Development class arrived at the church at 9:45 a.m., and after a brief rundown of the day and prayer, the students began their two-hour trek around the church grounds under brilliant sunshine. Funds were collected through pledged donations and a total of over $1600.00 was raised to support the NEO Kids initiative.
“We have a really great relationship with Holy Redeemer Parish,” explained Laurie Zahra, principal of the school. “We are so proud of our students and staff for taking part in this most important initiative, and we also want to recognize and thank our parish partner for allowing us to join them in supporting NEO Kids.”