Sudbury Catholic District School Board

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Local Author and Educator Visits St. Christopher School

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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

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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!

Sudbury Catholic Schools Partners with Laurentian University to Support Aboriginal Student Success

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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.

Visitors from the United Kingdom Visit SCDSB to Observe Educational Best Practice

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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.

St. Mary School Celebrates Valentine’s Day

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Even though it was a little early to celebrate Valentine’s Day, students in the Kindergarten classes along with grade 1 and 2 students decorated and then enjoyed special Valentine cookies. Students at the school were encouraged to wear red, pink and white in honour of Valentine’s Day. The day began with the prayer for Valentine’s Day, taken from the Virtues of the Month daily prayers. February’s virtue is Compassion. Students will enjoy pancakes on Shrove Tuesday with their friends from Capreol Child Care, along with their parents and members of the community. The school will attend Ash Wednesday services at Our Lady of Peace Church with Father Pat Woods on Wednesday. During Lent students will be encouraged to donate loose change to the Holy Childhood Association, whose motto is “Children Helping Children”.

St. Andrew Catches the Olympic Spirit

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Students and Staff at St. Andrew Catholic Elementary gathered in the gym on February 12, 2010 to celebrate the Olympic Spirit. Students spoke about the different traditions and history of the Olympics and built an Inukshuk. As well, the students dressed in different colours and made a living Inukshuk on the floor of the gym. Together they sang inspirational songs and ended their celebration standing and singing O Canada.

Bishop Simard Shares His Message of the Importance of Catholic Education

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The Principals and Senior Administration met at the Sudbury Diocesan Centre on Thursday, February 11, 2010 to celebrate their faith and share best practice. The group was very honoured to start their day with a Mass led by His Excellence Bishop Noel Simard. During the mass, the principals listened to the Bishop’s message of the importance of Catholic education. “ We have to be proactive in proclaiming and showing the importance of Catholic Education.” said the Bishop. “Catholic education will allow our students to become people full of compassion and this is our challenge – to be strong and unite in the celebration of our faith.” When speaking of the sacrifices the principals as leaders face, the Bishop asked the question is it all worth it? He answered his own question very simply but emphatically – “you bet!” The group was asked to act as pillars of strength in their own school communities and were given the task of taking their inspiration back to their staff and students to engage them in their renewal of their faith.

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