The Right to Learn, The Power to Achieve! October is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. On Friday, October 16, 2015, Special Education Resource Teacher Martina Reynolds organized two workshops for students to highlight that everyone learns differently and that all students should use their unique abilities. Students in grades 2 to 6 were active participants in two presentations entitled “Be Cool in School” and “LD 101” delivered by Jarah Preston of LDAS. Deputy Mayor Joyce Landry-Altman was on hand to make the Official Proclamation, along with LDAS Board Chair Liz Brett-Dickie. Students also heard from Matthew Turcotte, a grade 11 St. Charles College student and Honorary Chair of LDAS. Matthew is an encouraging example of someone who has overcome a recognized learning disability.
Category: Community
Pius XII Staff Supporting Students Through Outdoor Art
With a focus on the importance of having fun at school, the staff at Pius XII Catholic Elementary School decided to make the school yard more appealing to students. Staff put their artistic and creative skills to the test and painted the cement slabs, large rocks, and wooden ramps with dynamic colours and themes. While playing in the yard students can read positive messages promoting peace and cooperation. They can imagine themselves in a game of Minecraft or stand on a turtle’s back and go for a ride! The staff and students at Pius XII are definitely having fun!
Staff and Students at St. Charles Elementary Celebrate Jays Day
The St. Charles Catholic Elementary School RAMS showed their spirit as they cheered on the Jays! As the Toronto Blue Jays entered game 5 of the division series on Wednesday, October 14th, staff and students wore their Jays gear for a Jays Day. Since this is the first time in 22 years a Canadian team has won in the MLB playoffs, Jays fever is spreading!
“It was great to see the school’s support as they came together to cheer for the Toronto Blue Jays” says principal Dave Soehner. “Now that the Jays have won game 5 and have moved on to the American League finals againstt Kansas City, our support for the Jays will continue! Stay tuned for more school spirit throughout the playoffs.”
O-K, O-K. Blue Jays! Blue Jays! Let’s-Play-Ball!
Holy Trinity Officially Opens its Doors – October 15, 2015
The sun poured in the gymnasium’s windows on Thursday, October 15 for the official opening of Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School. Students, staff, parents, invited guests and community partners gathered for the official ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s newest elementary school. The Sudbury Catholic District School Board conducted an accommodation review process in 2009-2010, concluding that St. Andrew, St. Bernadette and St. Raphael Schools would be consolidated into a new dual track JK to Grade 6 school. The Ministry of Education approved the construction of the new facility on July 7, 2011. After this approval was received, a request for proposal for Architectural Services was issued, with Yallowega Belanger Architecture being awarded the contract. Construction documents were prepared and tendered with Build North Construction being awarded the construction contract. Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School open its doors for students on September 8, 2015.
The official opening started off with songs from the school choir and also had Bishop Plouffe celebrate the event with a blessing. Invited guests including M.P.P. Glenn Thibeault, Mayor Brian Bigger, Ministry of Education Regional Representative Irene Charette, and Amber Salach from Yallowega Belanger Architecture Sudbury. As well, SCDSB Aboriginal Youth Worker Carla Petahtegoose brought greetings from the traditional territory of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation. School Principal Diana Salvador, Superintendent Nicole Bédard, Board Chair Jody Cameron and Director of Education Joanne Bénard also addressed the crowd. All speakers expressed their joy in seeing the vision of the new school come together so beautifully.
“Today we celebrate together what started off as a vision – a new school for our New Sudbury area that would pull together three individual schools as one – with a brand new identity. I can say with confidence that Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School certainly fits that bill, and is a facility that is a positive asset to the collaborative nature of teaching and learning,” Stated Jody Cameron. “While we know that a building does not determine the quality of a student’s education, it can however be a facilitative factor in making the educational process a more effective one and a more pleasant experience for all. This beautiful school is a result of the collaboration of many different people, organizations and departments.”
Holy Trinity Catholic Elementary School is a dual track English and French Immersion programming school from Kindergarten to grade six and has over 520 students currently enroled.
SCDSB Cheers on LU
Sudbury Catholic District School Board elementary students were invited to cheer on their local Laurentian University Voyageurs hockey team during one of their season games. Students from St. Francis, Holy Cross, St. David, Holy Trinity, and St. Benedict packed the arena as they cheered on the Voyageurs as they won a victory over Nipissing 3-2 in a shootout.
“Thanks for Thanksgiving” at St. David School
St. David Catholic School, kindergarten students have been busy this week reading stories, poems, prayers and recipes all about the season of Thanksgiving. The class made homemade apple sauce and pumpkin pies while learning about measurement and procedural text. Angela Ross, early childhood educator states, “As a full day kindergarten team, we strive to cover the kindergarten curriculum in creative and meaningful ways for our students.” The week ended with the students enjoying a full Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, potatoes and of course the pumpkin pie they made as a class.
Grade 7 and 8 Students at St. Charles College Create a New Yearly Tradition to Give Thanks
The grade 7 and 8 Student Council at St. Charles College wanted to find a way to celebrate the fall harvest and give thanks for everything they have at school and home. The council decided to break bread and share a meal together. This meal fed the more than two hundred elementary students enroled at the school.
In addition to dining together to celebrate Thanksgiving ahead of the holiday weekend, the students also contributed a few dollars or a few cans to the upcoming school canned food drive initiative.
Principal Mrs. Patty Mardero says “it was nice to see these elementary students starting their own yearly tradition as they find their niche here at SCC. We, too have to be thankful for these students joining our Cards family.”
St. James Sisters Donate to Cancer
In lieu of gifts for her 12th Birthday, St. James Catholic Elementary School student, Alyssa Derro asked that family and friends give her a small donation for the Northern Cancer Foundation. The $410.00 that Alyssa received is going towards the purchase of a P.E.T scanner for Northern Ontario.
Ava Derro cut her hair and donated her braide that will be used to create wigs for cancer patients.
The Derro sisters are quite a team and their efforts towards cancer are an inspiration to all.
Thanksgiving Feast at St. Francis
St. Francis Catholic Elementary School Life Skills and Communication classes celebrated Thanksgiving with a feast at the school. The students were given the opportunity to participate in preparing the delicious meal — turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and corn. The students decorated the room with beautiful artwork posters of what they are thankful for during this blessed occasion. Life Skills student, Shane Dempsey, stated that ‘I am thankful for my teacher and her sister to help make the delicious turkey’.