Every year at Thanksgiving, the community of Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S. gives thanks by giving back to the community with our canned food drive. These students believe it is important, as John the Baptist said, that “the one who has food should share with him who has none.” (Luke 3:11). This year, the staff and students definitely outdid themselves! They blew their goal of 2000 cans out of the water, with a final total of 5517 items of food! There was a tight competition between four homerooms, with Ms. Kozak’s class finally winning a free dress-down day with 1335 cans. Mr. McKee’s homeroom will also be sharing in the prize, as their small class of just 5 students managed to gather 1018 cans! Great fun was had by all, but more importantly, a great amount of food was donated to both the Hanmer food bank and the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Val Caron! Your generosity never ceases, Gators!
Category: Community
Casting their Ballots at St. Benedict
As part of Government Week, Students at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School took part in a parallel election and held a student vote on Friday October 22, 2010. On hand was M.P.P. Rick Bartolucci who congratulated the students for getting involved and explained to them the significance of their participation. “Local government includes school board trustees, and that has a direct impact on you and your education,” Bartolucci said. “By learning about your local government, you are learning that voting is something you should take very seriously, and this will be the foundation piece for your future activity as responsible citizens in your community.”
Also addressing the students was St. Benedict Principal Karl Dreger who reinforced Bartolucci’s message regarding the importance of their participation in the vote.
Marli Kicz, St. Benedict student and Sudbury Catholic Student Trustee also spoke to the students about the significance of students getting involved and the power of the student voice. “By getting involved,” Kicz said, “students can have a positive impact – it is very empowering.”
The program run by Student Vote, in partnership with the Ontario government, encourages youth under the voting age to participate in the democratic process through parallel elections, and develop voting habits they can apply as adults.
Over 640 students at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School participated in Friday’s parallel election and Student Vote will share their results after the official polls close on October 25.
St. David Catholic School Partners with Aboriginal Best Start Hub to Celebrate Community
St. David Catholic School and Better Beginnings, Better Futures Aboriginal Best Start Hub proudly partnered Wednesday evening to welcome their community for a free community dinner and celebration. Families gathered for corn soup and bannock as well as fruit and homemade desserts. School Board personnel and Best Start Hub employees worked together to teach all family members how to make a rattle craft. Entertainment was provided by the grade 8 students of the school and community volunteers worked to set up and prepare for the evening. All children in attendance received gift bags from Better Beginnings filled with toys and school tools. “It was a wonderful celebration and showcase of what community can do when we all work together. St. David School is very proud to be a part of such a community based, fun, opportunity for learning and laughing with our local families”, said Tina Timpano, vice principal of St. David School. Lana Trudeau, the Aboriginal Support Worker for SCDSB stated, “We are off to a fantastic start and look forward to many more celebrations similar to this in our future partnership with Better Beginnings. Everyone had a great time, laughed a lot and filled their bellies. We appreciate Better Beginnings and everything they offer the community”.
Mayoral candidate Visits Grade 8 Students at Pius
Mayoral candidate Ted Callaghan visited Pius X11 School recently to discuss his platform with Mr. Horn’s grade 8 class. Students listened attentively and voiced concerns that they had about the city. Mr. Callaghan answered all the questions and a thought provoking discussion ensued.
Sudbury Catholic Teacher Named Elementary Teacher of the Year
“It is still surreal to me…I keep expecting a phone call saying there has been some sort of mistake and they have picked someone else.” Early Learning French Immersion Teacher Alice Desormeaux still cannot believe that she has been selected to be the recipient of the 2010 OTIP Teaching Award in the category of Elementary Teacher. The Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF), in partnership with the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP), honours educators each year whose commitment, creativity and energy result in a superior experience for students. This initiative began in 1991 and over the years the honourees have covered a wide range of disciplines, teaching methods, age groups and geographical locations. Up to four awards are given annually to outstanding teachers in the categories of elementary, secondary, francophone and beginning teachers.
Desormeaux, who is just starting her twenty-first year of teaching with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board has been at St. Anne’s Catholic Elementary School since the beginning of her career. The bulk of her teaching has been in the Primary division and this year she is teaching in the school's Early Learning French Immersion classroom. “To be recognized by my peers, as well as provincially, it is a true honour,” Desormeaux stated. “With this honour, also comes a huge responsibility in that I know I have to always make sure that I am living up to this expectation.” According to her colleagues, she is more than up for that task. As several of her co-workers nominated her for this award, they also had to submit testimonials as to why they thought she was deserving. Jody Odaiskey, also a teacher at St. Anne's knew that Alice was the perfect fit for this award. “Alice has a gift that makes her approachable in every way,” Odaiskey said. “She has impacted more lives than I think she is aware of as she always treats all students with the utmost respect and always finds their shining qualities.”
Lucie Cullen, Principal of Marymount Academy had the opportunity to work with Desormeaux as her principal at St. Anne's several years ago and also feels that she is deserving of this award. “I have known Alice for over 20 years, as a colleague, friend, and fellow parishioner. Her positive attitude, her love of children, her passion for student success, her dedication to literacy and numeracy initiatives and her insatiable hunger for personal and professional growth are reflected in the outstanding quality of her work as a teacher.” Cullen said.
Over twenty different submissions from co-workers and parents were sent on Desormeaux's behalf and it is clearly evident that she is truly deserving of this award. On St. Anne's website, it speaks to the school providing a safe haven for children, instilling a sense of pride and respect for themselves, others, and for their environment, where students are continuously encouraged to strive to achieve their own personal potential in every aspect of their spiritual, academic, social and physical growth. Alice Desormeaux does just that each and every day with all students and staff that come into her life.
Catherine McCullough, Director of Education expressed her joy regarding Desormeaux’s win. “On behalf of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, I would like to congratulate Alice on this tremendous accomplishment and it is with great pride that we call her a Sudbury Catholic teacher, and consider her an integral member of the Sudbury Catholic family.”
Desormeaux travelled to Toronto for the awards ceremony on Thursday, September 30 at which time they bestowed her with the award as well as presented a documentary that was filmed by TV Ontario reflecting a day with Desormeaux in the classroom. The Toronto Star has also done an interview with Desormeaux along with the other recipients that will be a part of their weekend edition story on the awards.
Walking for a Legend They Never Met
They never knew him. They never met him, but more than $3200 was raised for Terry Fox today by the students of St. Raphael School in Sudbury. This shatters the St. Raphael Royals record for most money raised in the history of the event. All students and staff members participated in a walk to remember the great Canadian legend on September 30th.
Newcap Radio Gives Generously Once Again to Sudbury Catholic Schools
Sudbury Catholic Trustees once again greeted Newcap Radio Director of Programming Rick Tompkins with a round of applause as he presented Board Chair Jody Cameron with a cheque for over $7,500. For the second year in a row, Newcap gifted Sudbury Catholic with a significant donation a result of their commitment to supporting music programs and education in Sudbury as part of an agreement between Newcap Radio and the CRTC. Through this agreement, the radio station made a promised to help foster musicianship among area youth, particularly through providing support of local school board music programming, including the purchase of instruments.
Jody Cameron, Board Chair was thrilled with the donation. “As always, when a business like Newcap supports Sudbury Catholic students, were are extremely pleased and know that their donation will make a huge difference to our music programs,” Cameron said. “The purchase and repair of new instruments will enhance our music programs even further and once again we are thankful to Newcap as they continue to be committed to the Sudbury Catholic community.” Last year, the radio station donated a cheque in the amount of $4665 for the board’s music programs.
Sudbury Catholic Receives Provincial Literacy and Basic Skills Funding
Community partners gathered in the office of the Mid-North Network for the Coordination and Development of Adult Learning to receive funding news from M.P.P. Rick Bartolucci as he announced that the McGuinty Government has recently committed over 1.2 million dollars to support Ontario’s Literacy and Basic Skills Programs. As a result, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board will receive funding in the amount of $115,930 to build on their already successful LBS program which is designed for adults seeking to improve their reading, writing, math and computer skills. Bartolucci spoke of his past experience as a Principal at St. David Catholic Elementary School, when he was approached by a few adults who wanted to get involved in their children’s education but were unable to read or write. The Sudbury Catholic Board at that time decided to pilot a program for these and a few more parents and the result was the first steps of a Literacy and Basic Skills program. “It was because this school board was brave enough to take a chance on these people and try to meet their needs of wanting to improve their skills – this is why this announcement truly touches my heart in a real, real way,” Bartolucci said. “It is with our community partners working together that we can really make a difference.”
Sudbury Catholic Director of Education, Catherine McCullough also spoke at the press conference about the significance of this funding. For years she has met and talked with many of the students who are taking part in the Board’s LBS program and recognizes the courage it takes for them to decide to make these positive changes in their lives. “It really is a most powerful experience talking to these students and seeing what huge accomplishments they are achieving through our LBS program,’ McCullough stated. “It is all about a shared goal and working together with other organizations, so Sudbury Catholic is thankful that it can play a positive role in the lives of many learners working to get closer to their education, training and education goals.”
For more information on Sudbury Catholic Literacy and Basic Skills programs, please contact St. Albert Adult Learning Centre at 673-3031.
St. Bernadette Host Family Open House Gathering
The gym at St. Bernadette Catholic School was full to capacity for the Family Open House Gathering. What better way to start off a new and exciting school year than gathering together as a school community to enjoy a delicious a pasta dinner? Megan Abate in Grade 6 was thrilled when her table was called as it was an extra special treat to have her teachers serve her a delicious, hot meal.