Sudbury Catholic District School Board

Category: Community

Sudbury Catholic Schools Launches Specialist High Skills Major

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Rick Bartolucci, MPP for the City of Greater Sudbury joined George Middleton, Chair of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Catherine McCullough, Director of Education, Trustees, Senior Administration, students, staff and many of the Board’s partners in education in celebrating the launch of the Specialist High Skills Major (Health and Wellness) program recently at St. Charles College.

The Specialist High Skills Major program (SHSM) enables students to customize their high school experience to suit their interests and talents, and prepare for a successful post secondary transition to apprenticeship training, college, university or employment while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Sudbury Catholic through the Student Success Initiative has implemented the SHSM (Health and Wellness) program at St. Charles College to provide students interested in health sciences an opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and experience in a health care setting. SHSM students will be exposed to facets of health science at the post secondary level as they participate in the dual credit program through Cambrian College. Sudbury Catholic has also been fortunate to partner with the Sudbury Regional Hospital, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, St. Joseph’s Villa, Science North, Extendicare Falconbridge, Cambrian College, the Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre and numerous private community partners who will assist in providing experiential learning cooperative educational opportunities for the Board’s students.

Racing Against Drugs at Lionel E. Lalonde Centre

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More than 600 students from eleven Sudbury Catholic Schools participated in the Racing Against Drugs (RAD) event at the Lionel Lalonde Centre in Azilda recently. RAD is a community-based drug, alcohol and tobacco awareness program offering different learning opportunities, (racing pit stops) from police, public health, addictions agencies and numerous other community partners.

The car racing also afforded students the ability to take part in numerous “hands on” interactive teaching events such as Day Construction’s Driving Simulator, the Sudbury and District Health Unit’s Impaired Goggles, and a Racing Slot Car Track. As the students moved through 11 pits stops or teaching events they learned about the consequences of “drinking and driving,” driving too fast, the effects of alcohol drugs and tobacco on the body as well as its legal and social consequences. The students were also introduced to educational modules on nutrition, diet, physical fitness and motivational sessions to inspire them to make the right leisure and social activity choices.

The purpose of the drug education initiative is to utilize the sport of auto racing to capture the attention of young people and communicate with them through an exciting and high profile sport (such as auto racing) which has no tolerance for substance abuse. Students raced each other by remote control on 1:24 slot car race track with the winner of the day’s event winning a bike for their school.

Sudbury Catholic Schools would like to thank the following service groups, corporations and agencies for supporting the Racing Against Drugs Event. ATV Safety, EMS (Bike Safety), Day Construction (Driving Simulator), Healthy Choices, Megan McGrath, (Positive Role Models), Greater Sudbury Police Services, Sudbury Action Committee for Youth, (SACY) Sudbury and District Health Unit, the City of Greater Sudbury Fire Department, Ministry of Transportation, (MTO) and the Racing Slot Car Track.

St. Benedict Students Passionate About the Environment

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St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School is located in the south end of the City of Greater Sudbury. Like many other high schools in the region it has great sports teams, high academic standings, terrific school spirit and a deep and caring concern for the planet. However, it is level, breadth and intensity of this concern for the environment that makes it unique. Through a core group of passionate and enthusiastic students coupled with supportive teachers and the integration of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s comprehensive Dearness Conservation (DC) program, St. Benedict has developed a reputation for being a dedicated steward of the earth.

In Spring 2006, DC approached St. Benedict CSS students to campaign in their neighbourhoods to promote the Interactive Home Audit. The Interactive Home Audit was an online survey that homeowners would complete to determine their energy consumption. The audit then offered suggestions on how energy and money could be saved by implementing simple, efficient changes.

Groups of two to three students canvassed their neighbourhoods distributing pamphlets and florescent light bulbs to residents who agreed to complete the Home Audit. The students were overwhelmed with the results of the campaign as they felt that they had reached a great number of homeowners in the Sudbury area with their targeted message. Upon the completion of the Home Audit program, Efficient Sudbury deemed the St. Benedict groups as the most efficient representatives based on the feedback from residents who were targeted by the campaign.

In November 2007, Dearness Conservation held a school wide presentation to give students and staff an update on climate change. The students were enthralled by a dynamic, comprehensive presentation highlighting the effects of climate change and individual choices that can be made to reduce the impacts on our planet. Following the presentation, interactive workshops were held with grade ten science classes which peaked the interest of many younger environmentalists.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s DC Conservation Challenge was launched to encourage each school to reduce their waste, water, and energy usage with the incentive of winning $500 for re-greening initiatives. St. Benedict has also established itself as an environmental icon purely through the initiatives of its students. Each year the St. Benedict Environmental club competes in the Ontario Annual Envirothon and have won the Oral Presentation Award for the most practical solution for pressing environmental issues for the past two years. Students must employ their extensive knowledge of environmental topics, as well as their originality and creativity. Students are also in charge of many environmental services within the school. Weekly recycling is coordinated by students as well the collection of cell phones and used batteries for proper disposal. The Environment team is adamant about ensuring that all recyclables are placed in the proper bins and that students and staff are being environmentally conscious with energy and water consumption.

St. Benedict is a remarkable school that takes environmentalism to heart. With the culmination of the DC initiatives and resources, supportive teachers, and passionate students, St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School is a school with an environmental conscience.

Marymount Academy Wraps up Heart and Stroke Campaign

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Marymount Academy launched the start of its Heart and Stroke campaign on February 12, in the school gym with a series of skits, physical activities and short speeches from special guests, Michel Toner, MCTV News Anchor and 8-year-old Celina McKinnon, Spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Representatives from the Marymount MC3 Catholic Charities Council and the Heart and Stroke Foundation were in attendance to help raise awareness for the kick off.

The actual blitz took place on February 20, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with students canvassing the areas encompassing the Marymount community. The school also raised money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation by participating in a “Red & White Day” on Valentine’s Day. Students paid $2 to dress in red, white and pink and will be directing the funds raised in this event to the Heart and Stroke Foundation as well bringing the total donation to close to $1,000.

Congratulations Marymount Academy.

St. Charles Catholic Elementary School Launches BestStart Hub

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Following in the footsteps of sister schools, (Pius XII and St. Francis), St. Charles Catholic school launched the start of its BestStart Hub today in Chelmsford.

Children and families from the school community joined child care agencies and Sudbury Catholic Schools’ Director of Education, Catherine McCullough, Senior Administration and Board staff in helping to celebrate the grand opening. The Best Start Program referred to as “Hubs” is a one-stop centre for families, bringing together kindergarten, childcare, parent-child programs, parenting supports and a wide range of specialized services. The Hubs are located in schools or other locations that are closely linked to schools. Best Start is an initiative of the Provincial Government but is directed at the local level by a Best Start Network which is made up of representatives from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, the City of Greater Sudbury, all four school boards, and the child care, family support, health and specialized children’s services sectors.

The Best Start Hubs incorporate services for families such as kindergarten, childcare and family supports, tot playgrounds, workshops for parents, dad and baby night as well as access to other services. Over time, more services such as selected Preschool Speech and Language and Health Services will be offered in the hubs. The goal of the Best Start Hub is to integrate all of these services so that they are all working together and providing families with seamless services.

For more information on Best Start Hubs, please call 311 to find a Best Start near you!

Sudbury Catholic Board Places Schools Under Accommodation Review

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In accordance with the its Pupil/School Accommodation Review Regulation BR 10, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is in the process of conducting an Accommodation Review for its South/Central and North/West family of schools. Schools were selected for review purposes based on their potential for growth over the coming years (given the present trend) and the possibility that they may qualify for funding to build new schools under the Ministry of Education’s Prohibitive to Repair grants. Sudbury Catholic Schools Director of Education, Catherine McCullough will recommend an action plan to Trustees on the meeting of May 6, 2008.

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is committed to providing a full range of educational opportunities equitably distributed across a broad and diverse geographical area. Due to ever-changing factors such as mobile population, changes in funding, new legislation, changing in educational objectives, community aspirations and physical limitations of buildings, the Board is mitigated to monitor and evaluate all schools on a regular basis.

Given the present state of its priorities, the Board will be focussing its attention on the “South/Central” and “North/West” schools planning areas for the purpose of this Accommodation Review which will include the following schools;

South/Central Elementary:
Corpus Christi, Marymount Academy (Elementary),
St. Christopher, St. David, St. Francis, St. James, St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. Theresa

South/Central Secondary:
St. Benedict CSS, Marymount Academy (secondary)

North/West Elementary Schools:
Immaculate Conception, St. Anne, St. Charles (elementary), St. Mary

North/West Secondary:
Bishop Alexander Carter CSS

The School Accommodation Review may result in such changes as boundary adjustments, major additions, renovations and alterations to school buildings, blending or twinning arrangements for school organization and/or programs or school consolidations

The Board is in the process of informing parents, staff, school councils, and school communities of the logistics and time lines regarding its Accommodation Review. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board has hired the firm of CN Waston and Associates, (one of Canada’s leading economic firms) to prepare population, household, employment and student enrolment forecasts in the City of Greater Sudbury and more specifically in the planning areas of the schools under review. This information will greatly assist the Sudbury Catholic District School Board in assessing opportunities for long term growth and development and help guide the Board in the implementation of accommodation strategies that will serve to enhance student learning.
Accommodation Review Committees (ARC’s) will be created to provide the Sudbury Catholic District School Board with information re School Valuation Framework and applying this framework to the schools under review, giving consideration to the value of the students, community, school board and the local economy.

The members of the ARC’s will include representative membership from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, each school, school community and a municipal representative from each of the local municipalities in which the school(s) under review are located.

George Middleton, Chair of Sudbury Catholic Schools welcomes the Accommodation Review. “The Accommodation Review is a process that all Board’s in Ontario undertake in order to continually update their long term capital plans,” stated Middleton. “It provides our board with the opportunity to update student enrolment perspectives and assess long term capital expenditures to provide optimum programs and facilities for our students. This is the start of a year long process and decisions will be made only after an extensive review is conducted. Through consultation, a plan will be developed to benefit students and a business case will be presented for funding from the Ministry of Education whether it be for expansion of some schools or to build new school(s).

St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School Students Participate in “Benefair”

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St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School students will be participating in Benefair on Thursday February 21, 2008 at College Boreal.

Benefair is a pro-active effort to recruit volunteers to help community organizations fullfill their mandate. Seventy-eight community organizations, not-for profit and charitable will be on site to offer students volunteer opportunities. Students will have the ability to sign-up with the organization of their choice. They will also have the opportunity to meet a contact person from that organization that will help them reach their 40 hours of community service.

For additional information, please contact Maurizio Visentin, Guidance Counsellor at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School at ph. 523-9235.

Marymount Academy Students Kick Off Heart and Stroke Campaign

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Marymount Academy will be kicking off the start of its Heart and Stroke campaign on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. in the school gym. Representatives from the Marymount MC3 Catholic Charities Council and the Heart and Stroke Foundation will be in attendance to help raise awareness for the kick off.

The actual canvassing blitz will take place on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. starting at the Marymount Academy. Students will then disseminate out from the school to cover as much of City of Greater Sudbury as possible in a two-hour period to raise funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

St. John Catholic School Shows Their Support For Canadian Troops in Afghanistan

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On Wednesday, December 19 St. John Catholic School students and staff will gather in the gymnasium to show their support for Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan. The school has been collecting gifts for the troops (mouthwash, candy, sun screen, shampoo etc.) and has solicited corporate sponsors to donate as well.

The managers of COSTO, WALMART and GIANT TIGER (retired warrant officer) will also be present at the assembly as well as the parents of Captain Christopher Duncan, a Coniston boy who is with the TANK TROOP TF AFGANISTAN ROTO 5 (Royal Canadian Dragoons). The school will present the parents of Captain Duncan with a banner signed by students, parents and grandparents wishing their son, his troop and all Canadian soldiers a very Merry Christmas

The St. John Catholic School students have also been writing letters and making Christmas cards for the Canadian Troops. The Falconbridge Post Office will ensure the speedy, safe FREE delivery of the school’s messages and supplies.

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