World renowned motivational speaker, performer and artist Lesley Andrew was the keynote speaker at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board’s Professional Development Day on April 23, 2010. All S.C.D.S.B. staff including teachers and educational assistants were blown away by Andrew’s presentation entitled “Beating the Odds”. The staff gathered at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School to take part in a day dedicated to special education. Andrew, who is gifted learning disabled, spoke to the group about overcoming her learning difficulties and not only surviving but thriving in the arts. She inspired the crowd with her story of her life growing up with a learning disability and then becoming a successful singer, actor, textile artist and speaker. Her message was clear – one single teacher can make a huge difference in the life of a child. The teachers showed their appreciation for Andrew’s message with a standing ovation and it set the stage for an innovative and inspiriing inservice for staff on the subject of special education.
Category: Topic
SCDSB Students are “Spellbound” at C.P.C.O. Spelling Bee
Elementary students from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board spelled their way to the Championship at the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario ( C.P.C.O. -Sudbury Chapter) Spelling Bee on April 21, 2010. Every two years, the C.P.C.O. sponsors this event and the Sudbury Catholic students have the opportunity to compete for the title of Spelling Bee Champion. In order to qualify for this event, each school participated in their own spelling bees and a semi-final competition was held in early April. The students that placed in the top three then qualified to compete in the final event. At the end of the night, the students that claimed the title of top spellers were Kaedan Cronk (Grade 7, St. Paul Catholic Elementary School) for the Intermediate Division and Kamilla Kowal (Grade 6, St. Michael Catholic Elementary School) for the Junior Division.
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board wishes to congratulate all of the participants for their excellent spelling efforts!
SCDSB Elementary Band Makes the Grade
On Wednesday April 7, students from our Sudbury Catholic Elementary School Band took first place in the Elementary School Band category at the Kiwanis Music Festival with a high Gold award and a score of 91. The adjudicator was so impressed with the students that he would like to recommend them to the Provincial level of the Kiwanis Music Festival ) The band consists of grade 7 and 8 students from three different schools, St. Francis, St. Raphael, and Pius XII and is under the direction of teacher Leanne Urso. (And formerly teacher Joanne Comisso). The students are being presented with a special award at the Final Concert and Awards Ceremony for the Kiwanis Music Festival on May 10. Urso said that she is very proud of the hard work the students have put into this band and it is because of these efforts, the band has been so successful!
St. Christopher Student’s Poem Advances to Provincial Finals
On April 22nd, St. Christopher School was very proud to celebrate Demerice Smith’s (Gr. 4) writing talents. As a part of the OECTA Young Authors Awards, Demerice’s poem, If I Were A Painting, claimed top honours at the city and unit levels. As a result, Demerice was presented with a certificate of accomplishment and her poem will advance to the provincial finals. Winners will be announced in early June. A big thank you to Mrs. DiGioseffo for co-ordinating the in-school event.
St. Mary Students Make the Most of Earth Day
St. Mary Catholic School students celebrated Earth Day by cleaning debris and picking up garbage along Lakeshore Street in Capreol..They filled 39 bags, some pieces of wood, collected several discarded large items and even found a bicycle! The Vermillion River area by the beach looks so much cleaner. Even the Canada geese came for a visit and honked their appreciation. Upon their return to school students created chalk Earth Day messages in the school yard.
Technology Showcased at St. Francis
Sudbury Catholic District School Board Trustee Estelle Scappatura stopped by St. Francis Catholic Elementary School recently. She was invited to join teacher Lyanne Marion’s Grade 5/6 French Immersion class as they worked with Tina Timpano, a Sudbury Catholic Teacher Integration Mentor teacher. The class was learning how to use different programs like Comic Life on the macbook as well as incorporating different technology like the ipod and digital video cameras into the classroom. Trustee Scappatura was amazed at how well the students could utilize the technology and was quite proud of their accomplishments!
Families Have Fun at St. Mary’s Family Math Night
St. Mary Catholic Elementary School recently was involved in another in the series of the Esso Family Math Nights where everyday materials and math games are used to help children understand math ideas and where parents and children have fun sharing their thinking and understanding of Mathematics.
“Don’t Bug Me” was the focus of the Early Years (ages 4-6) workshop facilitated by Miss Waern. Both present and future St. Mary Monarchs listened to the story “Mouse Count” and then participated in several activities: singing about going on a Math Walk, a bug count using dice, finding red things in a school wide scavenger hunt and playing with home made play dough. Ms Bruneau,lent her expertise as well.
Miss O’Reilly, Mr. Merigioli and Miss Mantha, led the “Number Sense and Numeration” workshops for Grade 2-5 students. Students were able to estimate, use a number line, play card games and Go Fish.
All families were treated to a pasta supper before beginning the math projects. Many thanks to all who participated, cooked, and cleaned up! Thanks as well to the St. Mary Catholic School Council who funded the meal. We eagerly look forward to the next Math session. For more information about the Esso Family Math Nights please visit www.edu.uwo.ca/essofamilymath.
St. Anne Supports the Relief Efforts in Haiti
Recently, the students at St. Anne Catholic School held a Bake Sale in support of Haiti. It was a huge success! The funds were presented to Sister Therese Lamoureux, a missionary in Haiti and a survivor of the earthquake. Some students, like Emily in Grade 1, collected money on their own and presented it to Sister. Sister Therese was very moved and pleased with all the support from the parents and students at St. Anne. She was very thankful for all of their efforts and will present the money to her mission where it will be put to good use. Sister Therese had a wonderful time visiting the children at the Bake Sale and she extends her thanks to all the students and families for their generosity!
St. Anne Students Have Fun on the Ice
The students at St. Anne Catholic Elementary school laced up their skates recently for a field trip to Centennial Arena. Parents were invited to join their children as they skated around the ice enjoying themselves. There was fun for everyone!