Several students from Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School had an amazing opportunity on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 when they got the chance to enjoy a day of snowmobile riding for their winter carnival activity. Students that chose the ride as their option met with staff and several Greater Sudbury Regional Police officers in the parking lot of the Knights of Columbus Hall in Hanmer before heading out for a day long ride that involved a stop at Rocky’s restaurant where they enjoyed a lunch provided by the Sudbury District Health Unit. The day before the ride, the students spent the entire day being inserviced on different health and safety topics related to safe snowmobile riding. The students listened to presentations on survival techniques, how to read maps, safety on the trails, as well as one woman’s experience of being hit by a speeding snowmachine. The officers were some of the presenters of the day and felt that it was very important to have the students ride informed of all safety information. “ I want the kids to go out informed and educated.” said Constable Bilcik. “We went out on the weekend to make sure the trail was safe and by educating the students, it is the only we can do rides like this.” This ride along program with the police provided the students with the confidence that they were learning important lessons to keep them safe on the trails. As one father dropped off his son before the ride, it was evident he was aware of the theme of the day as he patted him on the back and said, “Have fun, son… and be safe!”
Category: Topic
One Room School House Opens its Doors to Welcome Full Day Junior Kindergarten
Located in the small village of Killarney, St. Joseph Catholic School welcomed junior kindergarten registrations by planning a student run Winter Carnival afternoon with help from the Killarney Shebanoning Outdoor Education Center. The seven current students and their teachers welcomed the new registrations and their families by organizing an afternoon of fun – Olympic games in the gym, First Nation drumming and singing with an Elder, peer story telling, healthy snacks, bird feeder construction and an outdoor scavenger hunt. Teacher Irene Dembek explains, “It is important to integrate the new kindergarten children and their families into a welcoming and safe school environment”. Students, parents and grandparents all celebrated this special school welcome with current staff and students. Fun and education went hand in hand during the “welcome to kindergarten” afternoon at St. Joseph Catholic School.
S.C.C. Hosts Feeder Schools for Winter Carnival Fun
On Tuesday, February 23, Grade 8 students from St. Raphael, St. John, St. Paul, St. David and Pius XII were bussed to St. Charles College to take part in their annual Winter Carnival. Upon arrival, all of the students were brought into the gym and are divided up into mixed teams and, in a tribute to the Olympics, were assigned a country. The first challenge for each group was to come up with a cheer for their country and then had to perform it in front of the entire crowd. The leadership class was the official host of the 5 feeder school students and set up many different activities for all of the groups to participate in including ball hockey, dodgeball, relay races and bocker (a combination of basketball and soccer). Patty Mardero, Principal of St. Charles College explained that it was a really great day of winter fun challenges for the students. “It is such a positive day on two different levels.” stated Mardero. “First, it is a great way for the Grade 8 students from the feeder schools to get to know each other before they start here in grade nine, and secondly, it is also an opportunity for S.C.C. staff to meet with Grade 8 staff for transitional activities.” Twenty teams in total participated in the day’s events.
“Gangs and Youth. A Community Action Plan.”
The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is proud to be a partner in the “Gangs and Youth. A Community Action Plan” initiative in conjunction with our fellow school boards and community agencies in Sudbury.
Representatives from the Board staff and Trustees participated in a “Gangs and Youth” Media Conference held at the Greater Sudbury Police Service to promote awareness around gang activity. The Board took this opportunity to reinforce the fact the Sudbury Catholic District School Board works hard to engage our students in our educational programs and extra-curricular activities. We believe that our school communities offer the best opportunities for our youth, thus enabling them to become positive members of society. Our Board supports and maintains positive school climates that enhance safety and focus on prevention and early intervention with opportunities for reconciliation, forgiveness and restoration of the community.
Pilot Apple Technology Project Huge Success for St. David’s Grade Fives
The Grade 5 students were so excited they could hardly sit still as their St. David teacher Jennifer Gran asked them to open their macbooks and turn on their ipods. Gran along with Leann Laframboise, one of the Sudbury Catholic Technology Integration Mentor Teachers had put together a proposal and submitted it to Apple Canada with the hopes that the Grade 5 class would be selected to pilot a technology project. Luckily, the two teachers’ proposal was selected out of the hundreds of proposals submitted from across Canada. Apple selected Gran’s class which allowed the students the use of ten MacBook computers with wireless connectivity, digital still and video cameras, and iLife ’09, Apple’s award-winning digital media software as well as ten ipods. For the last four weeks, the class has created podcasts, comics, digital stories, movies and posters. As well, the students used ipods for different activities such as reading, navigating apps and browsers and literacy and numeracy games. Gran was thrilled that her class had the opportunity to have some really hands on learning time with the provided technology. “If you have a high number of identified students, the technology really levels the playing field in regards to learning. “said Gran. “The technology gives the students many different options for learning. They don’t all learn the same way and with the macbooks and ipods, they can choose the way they learn most effectively, which makes teaching easier for the teacher.” For each different activity, the students were divided into groups and sat down with either Gran or Laframboise to consult on their projects. All of the students got the opportunity to use both pieces of technology daily. After St. David’s, the next school to receive the kit will be St. Francis Catholic Elementary School which was also one of the schools to be selected from across Canada.
Local Author and Educator Visits St. Christopher School
On Friday February 19th/10, students of St. Christopher School were afforded the opportunity to take part in presentations by award-winning local author and educator, Rosanna Battigelli. Through dynamic story-telling Ms. Battigelli engaged and amused the students by reading from her collection of stories and poems. Ms. Battigelli’s presentations were truly enriching and rewarding for the staff and students of St. Christopher.
A special thank you to Mrs. DiGioseffo for organizing and co-ordinating this very successful event.
Aboriginal Celebration and Feast to Send Off U.K. Visitors
On Thursday, February 18, 2010 the Sudbury Catholic District School Board had an Aboriginal Celebration and Feast for the 12 educators from the United Kingdom as well as all of the Sudbury Catholic District School Board staff involved with the planning and implementation of their visit. The U.K. educators spent the week visiting several schools to observe different educational strategies implemented in our elementary school system. On Thursday night, the entire group gathered in the gym of Marymount Academy to learn about Aboriginal Culture and Heritage. The guests were treated to beautiful Aboriginal dancing and drumming – including the St. Charles College Drumming group the Red Bird Singers. Also attending the event were community partners, Traditional Elders, SCDSB Trustees Barry MacDonald, Paula Peroni, Estelle Scappatura and Jack MacDonald. The night began with a welcoming prayer, smudge and dancing,and then the visitors from the United Kingdom as well as the rest of the group were provided a traditional Aboriginal Feast including corn soup, wild rice casserole and bannock. After spending the week observing different classrooms and teaching strategies, the U.K. educators were thrilled to end their visit with such an outstanding cultural celebration!
Visitors from the United Kingdom Visit SCDSB to Observe Educational Best Practice
Twelve people from the United Kingdom including teachers, principals and administrators began their visit at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board on February 16, 2010 to observe best practice in the field of education. The group, who will be in Sudbury for seven days, came over from across the pond to learn about Ontario’s approach to change and how it embraces continual transition. The initial welcome included greetings from representatives from both the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, the Rainbow Board, as well as a warm welcome from Mayor John Rodriguez. Adam Higgins, a School Improvement Officer which is similar to our Supervisory Officer, spoke on behalf of the group as he thanked the two boards for welcoming them to Sudbury. “We look forward to walking a mile in your shoes as we share similar obstacles and we want to ensure that all of our youngsters are getting the best possible start that they can.” Higgins went on to say that their first three days in Sudbury were excellent as they were constantly greeted by very friendly citizens. From bus drivers to school staff, their encounters so far have been all positive despite the initial loss of luggage of eight of the twelve in the group!
The guests will be visiting several schools over the next few days from both the Sudbury Catholic District School Board as well as the Rainbow Board to observe many different educational initiatives including boys literacy, aboriginal education, technology and French Immersion. All of the people involved in the visit will end off the week on Thursday with a presentation of Aboriginal Culture and Dance as well as an Aboriginal feast at Marymount Academy. The group will also be getting the chance to visit a Sudbury Wolves practice, Science North, Adanac Ski Hill and a Sudbury Wolves game.
Sudbury Catholic Schools Partners with Laurentian University to Support Aboriginal Student Success
The Dual Credit program offered through Sudbury Catholic Schools, Rainbow District School Board and Laurentian University provides opportunities for Aboriginal secondary school students to participate in postsecondary courses, earning dual credits that count towards both their secondary school diploma and their post secondary degree.
While dual credits are increasingly common between high schools and colleges, this is the only dual credit between Ontario high schools and universities approved by the Ontario Ministry of Education. This particular dual credit pilot program is designed to: increase the number of Aboriginal students graduating from secondary school and to assist with the transition between secondary and post secondary education.
The unique advantage of dual credit programs is their ability to provide new and varied learning opportunities to students by providing real world applications to help them achieve their potential. Dual credit courses also engage students through exposure to the university setting and culture, provide more student choice and ensure a smooth transition pathway from secondary to post secondary education. Evidence has shown that dual credit programs increase the likelihood of graduation success.
Sudbury Catholic Schools, Rainbow District School Board and Laurentian University have partnered to provide this opportunity for their students to better support and engage the Aboriginal youth in our community.