Buster the Bus visited St. Francis to review bus safety rules when travelling on the bus recently. The students were excited to see Buster and review bus rules to keep students safe.
Category: Community
Giving St. James School a BIG Bear Hug
Students, teachers, parents, school staff, clergy and educational partners held hands together to literally form a “human circle” and gave St. James School a BIG Bear Hug on October 26, 2011. Forming a circle by holding hands recognized that everyone makes a difference and plays an important role in the education of the St James students.
Prior to going outside to form a circle, Bishop Noel Simard addressed the students and explained how hugs are a sign of welcoming and acceptance of everyone.
This simple hug created such a positive synergy and was a visible sign of the fondness for St. James School. Giving St. James a BIG Bear hug was a special and memorable moment and as one Grade 8 student summed it up “This is the coolest thing we ever did at school”.
Sudbury Catholic Student Helping Others to “See the Ability”
It all started with a photo submission for a calendar. Little did Lisa Wright know that this one simple act would have her daughter Holly’s smiling face on 700 billboards across the country. Holly is a twelve year old girl who attends Pius XII Catholic Secondary School, and who happens to have Down syndrome.
Each year, Lisa liked to submit a photo of Holly to the Canadian Down Syndrome Society for their yearly calendar publication. A photo taken by her brother-in-law the previous summer depicted Holly kayaking at their camp on Fairbank Lake. Holly had just learned to kayak and the photo was captured on her very first attempt. Lisa describes Holly as very much like girls her age – loves music, movies, all of today’s “pop stars” and young actors. Holly also enjoys numerous activities – especially the ones that have to do with water. After seeing Holly’s love of the water in the kayak, captured in the picture, Lisa knew that this was the one she wanted to submit. “Shocked” is the word Lisa used when she received the phone call from the Down Syndrome Association saying not only was she selected, Holly was going to be the poster girl for their national campaign – involving a full page ad in the Globe and Mail, as well a the hundreds of billboards across Canada. “We are so proud of Holly and also quite excited – she is quite the gal,” Wright said. “She is certainly more alike children her age than she is different, and that is the message we need to get out to the public. People are encouraged to ‘see the ability’”. When asked about how she felt about all of the attention and seeing herself in the ads, Holly smiled and said that it makes her happy and makes her smile more.
Lisa takes part in the Canadian Down Syndrome Buddy Walk each year, and, as it is Down syndrome Awareness week November 1-7, the Buddy Walk will be taking place on Sunday, November 6, beginning at 11:00 at Lockerby Composite School. The walk is to raise awareness of the capabilities of people with Down Syndrome. All are encouraged to attend!
St. Charles Elementary Staff Participate in “Take Our Kids to Work” Program
St. Charles Elementary Catholic School opened their door for students participating in ‘Take Our Kids to Work’ program. This program provides an opportunity for Grade 9 students to develop an appreciation for the importance of staying in school, begin career discussions with adults about the work they do, and to gain a better understanding of the complexity of career choices and the benefits of early education’ states Sandra St.Denis, principal at St. Charles Elementary. While job shadowing, the Gr.9 students were able to participate in Aboriginal Medicine Wheel and Grandfather teaching presented by Elder, Vince Pawis.
Parents Honoured at Annual Commissioning Celebration
Once again, parents, principals, vice-principals, teachers and other Sudbury Catholic staff gathered together as a Catholic community to take part in the annual Regional Catholic Parent Involvement Commissioning celebration. On October 25, 2011, the group gathered for a short prayer service, and each school was presented with a poster – with an anti-bullying message – comprised of thousands of pictures of Sudbury Catholic students, to take back to their schools. After the presentation of the poster, the parent council members were blessed and the entire group gathered for some refreshments and comradery. “It is such a lovely evening for staff and parents to come together,” stated Catherine McCullough, Director of Education for Sudbury Catholic. “We are so blessed to have such wonderful and involved parents. Parent involvement is so key in the success of our students and, recognizing this, we feel very strongly that we must honour them, and their important role in student learning.”
Representing and Honouring Culture
On Friday, October 28th, Maclean’s 2011 Universtiy Rankings hit newstands. On that same day, Kelly Nootchtai, St Benedict’s Class of 2009, visited a Native Studies class at St. Charles College to talk about the importance of making good choices and Aboriginal Education. This is significant because Kelly is on the cover of this issue. She is a third year Native Studies and Philosophy student at Laurentian University and understands the value of a good education. She talks fondly of her years in elementary school taking Ojibwe classes at St James. Kelly looked forward to continuing the language program at the secondary level but, it wasn’t until her graduating year that St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School was able to offer any Native Studies programming. Kelly talked about how lucky the students are to have Native Studies as an option and having great teachers like St. Charles College teacher Jennifer Petahtegoose. Both Kelly and Ms. Petahtegoose are members of Atikameksheng Anishinawbek (formerly Whitefish Lake First Nation near Naughton). Students listening to Kelly’s message were inspired and felt a sense of cultural pride. Ms. Petahtegoose stated “As a community member we are very proud of Kelly’s accomplishments and as an Anishinaabe educator I am always looking for positive First Nation, Metis and Inuit role models. Kelly has overcome obstacles to get where she is today and we are proud that she is one of our graduates and can share her story to inspire those coming up behind her.” After the talk, Kelly signed covers of the magazine and Ms Petahtegoose served homemade cookies and cedar tea.
Robots, Princesses, and Vampires – Oh My!
The entire student body at St. Christopher Catholic Elementary School gathered in the gym on October 31 to take part in the school’s halloween parade. All of the gym walls were lined with parents holding cameras – ready to snap photos and take video. As part of their annual halloween celebration, parents were invited to participate in the festivities and celebrate the spookiest of holidays with their children. Each class had the opportunity to show off their costumes, as well as their dance moves as they took turns strolling around the gym and moving to the music. Some of the classes also recited poems and performed plays for the audience – all having to do with Halloween. Principal Enzo Del Riccio grinned with delight as they students began their parade for the parents. “As always, holidays are a great opportunity to have parents visit the school,” Del Riccio stated. “Halloween is certainly no exception – we love having parents take part in our celebrations and it brings much joy to both the student and the parents.”
Fun Had By All Ages
St. David School celebrated Halloween this year by hosting a school wide halloween parade. This year, teachers, educational assistants and even lunchroom monitors got into the spirit. The school also shared messages about halloween safety and precautions students and their families should take to ensure all children enjoy a fun-filled evening of trick or treating.
St. Charles College Supports Community With Most Successful Canned Food Drive Ever
The students at St. Charles College greatly surpassed their goal on October 28, 2011 of collecting 60 thousand cans for the Sudbury Food Bank. More than 121 thousand cans were collected for the food bank and many of the cans will be housed at the Sudbury Food Bank’s new can stock location on Webbwood Drive. The school presented Chief Elsner, President of The Sudbury Food Bank with all of the food as well as a cheque for $21 000. St. Charles College is proud to be the first organization to stock the new Food Bank on Webbwood Drive.
Jim Szilva of Freedom 55 and graduate of the high school continued the yearly tradition of remaining on a Greater Sudbury transit bus for a whole week until the students’ achieved the goal set by school administration to commemorate the 60 year anniversary of the school.
The bus also made stops to St. Andrew, St. Bernadette, Pius XII, St. Raphael, St. John, St. Paul and St. David schools. Students there traditionally join the cause and collect in their respective neighbourhoods.
Principal Patty Mardero said: “Seeing our students succeeding and doing well academically inspires me, but there is nothing more uplifting than watching the students at St. Charles College pull an entire community together by collecting one can at a time.”
In partnership with Rogers Radio Q92 and EZRock 105.3, the students worked tirelessly to collect as many food items as possible, and also worked at many of the local grocery store chains by bagging groceries in exchange for cans or monetary donations. Buses were also sent out every night of the week for students to reach out to every part of the large community and canvass the area.
The secondary school has been taking part in a community food drive since the mid eighties.